We can already be promoted as things stand. That was the whole point of the last seating expansion. To stay there, the capacity simply needs to be 4,000. It’s patently obvious that Blackwell can hold 4,000 with development. It’s not even open to sensible debate. It’s currently 3,000. It can clearly, easily be done.Yarblockos wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 10:34 pmI know you don't want us to have a stadium even one seat bigger than our average attedance, but to play in the NL you need a capacity of 4,000. I don't think the FA will give us an exemption on the basis that we only average of 1400. Not sure DJ agrees wth you on the scope for devloping BM.H1987 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 9:35 pmThat figure for our 7th place conference campaign says it all. 1,800 overall, and i've just looked at our highest league attendance that year... It was 3,000 against York. We literally could have fit our highest attendance that year in Blackwell Meadows as it stands. We do not need to occupy a stadium that is too big to occasionally have a bumper crowd if we happen to play Hartlepool or get someone decent in the cup. It is a false economy - you have to maintain the thing, and it's a rubbish matchday experience for those who go to more than one game every few years. Blackwell is ten times better than the Arena, even as is. Further development is the key.
Anyone with halcyon memories of what the Arena is like, stuff Walsall, I suggest one day when we don't have a game, going to see Gateshead at home. Go, watch that, and tell me that is what you want for this club. That's what you're advocating. I'm sure Gateshead get some nice financial benefits from being there A good deal financially, decent suites in the main stand with the corporate money spinning it offers (to a point). You know what, i don't care if that's the price we have to pay. It's s***, and the thought of having to do that as a home fan again is absolutely heartbreaking. That's what the Arena was, and the reason Gateshead have never been able to build crowds (in spite of being quite good in recent years) is because going to watch games there is unbelievably crap. Ok, they've had the odd bumper crowd like in the playoffs - does that make it worth being there? In short. No. They can't even attract disgruntled Mags and Mackems, who have gone to watch Shields instead (who play in a pokey, awkward, makeshift stadium with a clubhouse). They've wanted to move for years, but can't afford anything else. If we move back to the Arena, that is what it condemns this football club to.
If you want to debate the level above, that is fine, but I’d argue we are trying to run before we can walk. We are not going to trouble the football league any time soon, while there are still clubs at that level who are generously bankrolled.
I’m beginning to think we are being fed a stream of calculated comments, so that when it comes down to it, the fans are left with a choice of doom and gloom versus magical opportunity at the Arena. Don’t fall for it.