Always a Wasp

I cant see the issue.  Wasps aren't trying to buy sixways they would be a tenant.  There is a facility with a new owner who wants some income and Wasps are a team who potentially need somewhere to play.  I believe from the report there will be at least two other 'clubs' playing there as well and presumably Worcester will play there in some form or other.  Looks like sound business for the new owners of sixways. 

Is it the right facility for new Wasps, well is it for us to say.  Leasing somewhere is temporary so provided the funds are there why not. Is it a precursor to a Worcester Wasps club then I hope not.  The two clubs had different philosophies and backgrounds and would not make a good fit in my view.  There is no suggestion this is the long term plan.

Sixways is a premiership standard ground.  This would appeal to sponsors and corporate hospitality income streams far better than a non league footie ground.  Crowds will be different to CBSA, likely fewer families and an attendance for most games of what, maybe 1500/2000.  Wasps have to start somewhere if there is to be a club at all.  The concept of being back in the Premiership in two years is just nonsense.  The new club have to build again from the ground up and it will be ten years maybe more in my view, without a sugar daddy, to even be close to moving up.

Sixways with just the main stand in use seems as good as any place to start.

What is there to discuss?  Cant keep discussing no news must be good news. 

I'm keen to get going again, but I cant say the same for the rest of the family who have lost interest. I suspect many casual fans and youngsters have moved on too.  Modern times, short attention spans etc.  Even a statement saying no news means we are still working hard to put everything in place, would be better than the current silence. Its very tough times out there raising finance and finding sponsors and suppliers who have the trust to get involved.

I'm not sure leasing Sixways would be a good plan for New Wasps compared to say Solihull Moors.  That's if Moors has ever been a realistic option.  Why lease a ground that will still be far too big for at least the first 5 years with all the costs associated with it especially if Worcester is probably not the right location for Wasps anyway.  The club will get so much bad feeling once again, and again unjustifiably so, for moving into dead mens shoes.  I understand the ambition to be back in the Prem but we are trying to sprint before we can even stumble.  Without the P Shares then entry to the Prem is not possible anyway.

Keep it simple, keep it within a manageable budget and build the club back up from sustainable base point.

I can see though that for an investor and sponsor you are more likely to commit your money and bring your clients to a game at Sixways than a small non league football ground sat between massive warehouses.  Swings and roundabouts perhaps to securing the funds to get the club off the ground.

As for Warriors.  The new owners are buying their way in at a price point they can afford.  Wont be long before Stourbridge/Sixways RFC becomes Worcester Sixways, the original club at Stourbridge gets dropped and separated off and a new Worcster club emerges, free of the old debt and ready to go again.

Compared to an open field that cows normally graze in, the Kassam is quite good.

It has awful parking, even worse access. Walking, it would take me close to two hours to walk to from the railway station, but I wouldn't be able to walk that far in reality. A fit person, maybe an hour and a half.

The ground isn't designed to keep rugby balls, so I can see cars getting damaged every week. All of which could be managed.

OTOH. A new ground next to the Oxford Parkway station and park & ride would be an excellent option. The fields around there have been decimated with aggregate workings, so might make an attractive 'fix'.

But, what then do you do with training centre? The ground would be an unworkable distance away.

The OUFC proposals were originally for the existing Stratfield Break site but this is attracting lots of opposition. None of those fields have been quarried. Ox City Council have proposed an adjacent site but its all within the green Belt. Ironic really as Ox City Council usually oppose anything in the greenbelt however the proposed site is not in their district. Long time before this development gets approval.  Unless someone  buys the current Kassam site then it will be flattened.  The science park is rapidly expanding that way and housing is always in demand around Oxford.

Why did Smith get subbed off when SA went down to 14 men? I'd have thought that's when you'd want your best 10 to start stretching the oppositions defence.

Fairly sure he picked an ankle knock

Monzo still giving it the ‘computer-says-no’ response and telling me there’s 41 days for the Merchant to respond and they can’t do anything about it.

I’ve asked them how/why both Lloyds and CapitalOne have already refunded and they also use Mastercard as their provider.

I’ve also asked what possible response are they expecting from Wasps/FRP other than they won’t be fulfilling any more fixtures as they’re suspended from the league, as well as having no players, coaching staff and almost zero back office staff.  It’s been escalated, apparently to someone who can give a straightforward answer beyond ‘sorry, we can’t help’

Have you sent them the letter from FRP. That clearly says on page one season tickets cannot be honoured any further due to administration.

Quote from: NellyWellyWaspy on November 03, 2022, 08:40:45 AM

Quote from: WonkyWasp on November 03, 2022, 08:20:53 AM

Suddenly I feel less hopeful of a good outcome for Wasps' survival, but hope it's just a passing mood. Is Ashley actually going to take over d'you think?  If so,  I hope it actually won't happen.

I think that he will take over the Arena, yes. I think he will leave everything in tickover mode for this and next season, while he negotiates use of land around the arena and in Ansty.

In the background, he might talk with SISU about buying CCFC, but he will not pay a silly price, so that is far from a done deal. He might then turn his attention to Wasps in the 2024/25 season.

He has stepped back from managing the stores part of his empire, so he may be looking for a project, and it is said that he likes the idea of owning a casino.

Totally agree with this scenario.

Except the land in Ansty is Rugby Borough Council not Coventry City and the amount he is intending to develop there far exceeds anything at the Arena.

He has shown he wants to own a footie team again with his failed bid to buy DCFC but he is not an idiot where money is concerned and IM sure that he can see that minus the bond debt the Arena on its own could be a good money making business.  Does he want a Rugby team ....who knows but I doubt it.  Does he want CCFC .....possibly. 

Wasps need to look elsewhere for a long term ground.  I'm not sure it will do Cov Rugby or Wasps any good to have two championship teams in one small city and Wasps in the Champ may only get 2-3k crowds.  We would look totally lost just using one stand at the Arena.  How bad was it for the Prem Cup games this year?  Wasps might be better off as tenants of another Rugby club such as Mossley or other lower league local club for first XV home games for a couple of years whilst they find their feet and seek a better solution for a long term facility.  Where though, Ive no idea.

Sharing with a lower league or non league footie club will not work because the  pitch quality just wont be good enough to take the rugby and footie wear.