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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 13:02:07 GMT
IMO train station is very important. Think we could draw in loads from Bicester as population is rising which would be far easier by train. Would like to see the stats done for feasibility & forecasted numbers and locations of our potential fans. Agree with that - but it will be a small train carrying relatively few people and run every 30 minutes or so. How much difference will it make? Uh, won't you have to change at Oxford from Bicester? Have they agreed the size and train times already then? It was only confirmed the other day that the station would go ahead. Maybe services would be increased on match day. Would that many people use the train, cost me a fortune last couple of times I've been on one, would add a lot to ur cost of watching Oxford if u got to pay that 23+ times a season
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Post by ox1yellow on Jan 4, 2016 13:23:48 GMT
How many years are left on the Kassam lease?
Location is just one part of it. The stadium construction itself is of at least as much importance and I'd like to see this factored into the debate. Moving from one soulless structure to another would seem pretty pointless. I get how the location debate takes over, but there is definitely more to it IMO.
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 13:47:10 GMT
Agree with that - but it will be a small train carrying relatively few people and run every 30 minutes or so. How much difference will it make? Uh, won't you have to change at Oxford from Bicester? Have they agreed the size and train times already then? It was only confirmed the other day that the station would go ahead. Maybe services would be increased on match day. Would that many people use the train, cost me a fortune last couple of times I've been on one, would add a lot to ur cost of watching Oxford if u got to pay that 23+ times a season i assume you travel by car? if so do you factor in all releative costs of using the car (not just fuel) as someone who travelled 100+ miles by car it is definately cheaper by train, the problem as we all know is the ground is miles from the train station and you then have to further rely on public transport. (on sunday this is nigh on impossible hence my non attendence) A station close to the ground has many benefits not least not having to fight traffic...of course the train times would still have some bearing.
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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 13:54:01 GMT
I do travel by car, and in not having a go at the train station, I have said its a major plus for the kassam when that one is built. How often do trains go into Kidlington from Bicester? I'm sure when that facility is there it's something the club can then work with, like maybe subsidisedby rain travel on that line on match days to attract more fans, or a deal with the rail company
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 14:31:52 GMT
I do travel by car, and in not having a go at the train station, I have said its a major plus for the kassam when that one is built. How often do trains go into Kidlington from Bicester? I'm sure when that facility is there it's something the club can then work with, like maybe subsidisedby rain travel on that line on match days to attract more fans, or a deal with the rail company yes i mentioned a long time ago about the club doing deals with local petrol stations, transport companies etc of course there is no way of knowing if a train station would have much bearing on increased attendence but anything that ticks another box or put another way is not an obstacle can help people make a decision to attend
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 14:36:00 GMT
Do they have a bus service from the train station to the Kassam? If so why not do the same from the Park and ride car parks around the city. Have set times, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm - one or two buses waiting at each site.
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 14:52:01 GMT
Do they have a bus service from the train station to the Kassam? If so why not do the same from the Park and ride car parks around the city. Have set times, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm - one or two buses waiting at each site. There are buses from the station to blackbird leys though not direct with the club/stadium---just a short walk....After the game catching a bus can be a bit of a lottery and they stop at various ports prior to the station which is not ideal when you have limited time to catch a train home (certainly night games) I doubt club involvement with a direct bus to and from the stadium would be viable.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 15:00:33 GMT
Do they have a bus service from the train station to the Kassam? If so why not do the same from the Park and ride car parks around the city. Have set times, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm - one or two buses waiting at each site. There are buses from the station to blackbird leys though not direct with the club/stadium---just a short walk....After the game catching a bus can be a bit of a lottery and they stop at various ports prior to the station which is not ideal when you have limited time to catch a train home (certainly night games) I doubt club involvement with a direct bus to and from the stadium would be viable. That's a shame, maybe they could have the buses lined up ready as they do the away supporters coaches and ensure that they leave at set time (5.05). Obviously the club would need to find a place to line them up!!
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 15:22:57 GMT
There are buses from the station to blackbird leys though not direct with the club/stadium---just a short walk....After the game catching a bus can be a bit of a lottery and they stop at various ports prior to the station which is not ideal when you have limited time to catch a train home (certainly night games) I doubt club involvement with a direct bus to and from the stadium would be viable. That's a shame, maybe they could have the buses lined up ready as they do the away supporters coaches and ensure that they leave at set time (5.05). Obviously the club would need to find a place to line them up!! in fairness there are buses there (where you get out Knights rd i think it is) but 2 different companies...the first bus is pretty much a scrum to get on (hence my lottery comment) and if you have return ticket with that company/ not the other, then you sometimes have to wait the next one. What of course has to be realised is that many people have used the bus to get to the ground from various parts of the city not just the station so would be impossible to operate Match buses from everywhere. With traffic it's around 45 minutes from station to stadium via various stops so a direct bus would be useful but as mentioned probably not viable.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 15:27:38 GMT
You can get a day pass for £4 which entitles you to travel on either of the bus company buses in Oxford. So walking up to Knights Road might be easier. But most fans are lazy b'stards
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 15:38:10 GMT
You can get a day pass for £4 which entitles you to travel on either of the bus company buses in Oxford. So walking up to Knights Road might be easier. But most fans are lazy b'stards Why didn't you mention that before rather than have me standing out in the rain waiting the next one that's worth knowing thx
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Post by oufcgav on Jan 4, 2016 15:39:10 GMT
That's a shame, maybe they could have the buses lined up ready as they do the away supporters coaches and ensure that they leave at set time (5.05). Obviously the club would need to find a place to line them up!! in fairness there are buses there (where you get out Knights rd i think it is) but 2 different companies...the first bus is pretty much a scrum to get on (hence my lottery comment) and if you have return ticket with that company/ not the other, then you sometimes have to wait the next one. On the shared bus routes (ie Stagecoach 1 & OxBusCo 5) there is shared ticketing, you don't need to wait just give your return on either.
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 15:41:04 GMT
in fairness there are buses there (where you get out Knights rd i think it is) but 2 different companies...the first bus is pretty much a scrum to get on (hence my lottery comment) and if you have return ticket with that company/ not the other, then you sometimes have to wait the next one. On the shared bus routes (ie Stagecoach 1 & OxBusCo 5) there is shared ticketing, you don't need to wait just give your return on either. thx to you also for the info
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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 16:25:00 GMT
The private busses from designated supporters pubs is a good idea as well, means people in abingdon/ Kidlington where ever can meet up have a few then get a coach together to the stadium and back.
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Post by horseman on Jan 4, 2016 17:00:33 GMT
The private busses from designated supporters pubs is a good idea as well, means people in abingdon/ Kidlington where ever can meet up have a few then get a coach together to the stadium and back. my dad use to organise one and to away games also his mate was the driver..at the leicester replay having done the away game they got to the turnstile to be told "no more" only for loads more to be let in after they'd walked away...neither of them went again.
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Post by harrycarry on Jan 4, 2016 17:07:47 GMT
The big question is what will travel be like in say 30 years from now. Any new stadium should be designed future proof for 50 years. Oxford is a science centre - maybe could get some businesses interested so we could really lead the way with new transport technology.
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Post by scotters on Jan 4, 2016 17:10:22 GMT
The big question is what will travel be like in say 30 years from now. Any new stadium should be designed future proof for 50 years. Oxford is a science centre - maybe could get some businesses interested so we could really lead the way with new transport technology. Massive queues for the teleportation device, no doubt.
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Post by harrycarry on Jan 4, 2016 17:12:31 GMT
The big question is what will travel be like in say 30 years from now. Any new stadium should be designed future proof for 50 years. Oxford is a science centre - maybe could get some businesses interested so we could really lead the way with new transport technology. Perhaps we should be talking to the businesses that use Harwell Labs. We could provide an opportunity to pioneer something really exciting with gov and business backing to share the costs.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 20:01:13 GMT
The big question is what will travel be like in say 30 years from now. Any new stadium should be designed future proof for 50 years. Oxford is a science centre - maybe could get some businesses interested so we could really lead the way with new transport technology. Massive queues for the teleportation device, no doubt. Nah! We'll all be armchair fans immersed in our own KasStad Holograms.
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Post by rollsy on Jan 4, 2016 21:18:47 GMT
People who moan that there's nothing to do at The Kassam, will moan even more if we had a stadium at Water Eaton! The nearest pub/restaurant would be the Harvester in Kidlington and there would be nothing else on site or for at least a 45 min walk, other than a supporters bar which we would have if we owned the Kassam anyway. Within a 10 min walk from the Kass stadium there's everything you really need at football isn't there? from the blackbird and chipshop in BBL, the Catherine wheel and all the stuff at the bowlplex. Yes I hate the Kassam, it looks shit, it's in a terrible location, and will never have an atmosphere with the high roofs, and distance from the pitch etc. But then neither would the new stadium if we're going to have it like Brightons or any of these new modern stadiums, and for these so called middle class people. All these new modern stadiums also have no atmosphere and no character. Wouldn't improve the matchday experience one bit for me personally other than I wouldn't need to get a 10-15 min taxi with my mates from town pre match, just a 10 min train ride.
Also the argument that the traffic would be better at the Kassam if we did a deal with the science park for parking in their car parks. How would it? All the cars would still be needing to use the same 1 road in and out. The only thing that would improve this would be if the club somehow did a deal with all the park and rides around the city and had numerous buses taking people to and from the stadium. And coaches from the other larger towns around the county which was tried before but failed miserably as most of them only had a couple of people use them!!
I hate the Kassam but don't think Water Eaton will ever happen.
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Post by myles on Jan 4, 2016 21:21:01 GMT
But if I interpret DE's recent remarks correctly then he sees it as the only current solid option. Spending money on it may be like putting lipstick on a pig (and not even our pig), but without a definite yes/no in regard to the planning permission at WE then it is all we have. Which is why I am interested in how much time, effort and money it might take to at least get to that stage. And this is an absolutely key point. On what basis does DE see the Kassam as being the only realistic option? If it's based on a full examination of all the issues you mention, then a properly informed decision looking at what's best for the longer term future of the club can be taken. And if, having done all that analysis, the decision is that the Kassam is the best option, so be it. However, the notes of the last OxVox meeting with DE record that his primary reason for not pursuing Water Eaton is the "funding gap in the interim". The words DE actually used in the meeting were "who covers the losses in the meantime?" whilst speaking of a 2-3 year period for delivery of Water Eaton. DE has already acknowledged on a number of occasions that he would require additional external funding to deliver the stadium, be that the Kassam or Water Eaton. So, this "funding gap" is actually just the ongoing losses of the club in that 2-3 year period. Which, to put a blunt spin on it, is a tacit admission from DE that he can't afford to carry on funding the club at it's current level of losses for that period. Which may also go some way to explaining the sudden departure of the CEO, the Director of Business Operations, the Head of Football Administration and the Event Manager.
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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 21:26:02 GMT
People who moan that there's nothing to do at The Kassam, will moan even more if we had a stadium at Water Eaton! The nearest pub/restaurant would be the Harvester in Kidlington and there would be nothing else on site or for at least a 45 min walk, other than a supporters bar which we would have if we owned the Kassam anyway. Within a 10 min walk from the Kass stadium there's everything you really need at football isn't there? from the blackbird and chipshop in BBL, the Catherine wheel and all the stuff at the bowlplex. Yes I hate the Kassam, it looks shit, it's in a terrible location, and will never have an atmosphere with the high roofs, and distance from the pitch etc. But then neither would the new stadium if we're going to have it like Brightons or any of these new modern stadiums, and for these so called middle class people. All these new modern stadiums also have no atmosphere and no character. Wouldn't improve the matchday experience one bit for me personally other than I wouldn't need to get a 10-15 min taxi with my mates from town pre match, just a 10 min train ride. Also the argument that the traffic would be better at the Kassam if we did a deal with the science park for parking in their car parks. How would it? All the cars would still be needing to use the same 1 road in and out. The only thing that would improve this would be if the club somehow did a deal with all the park and rides around the city and had numerous buses taking people to and from the stadium. And coaches from the other larger towns around the county which was tried before but failed miserably as most of them only had a couple of people use them!! I hate the Kassam but don't think Water Eaton will ever happen. Most of the "traffic issues" at the kassam isn't to do with Grenoble rd, just getting out of a car park, made worse by 1 exit which has cars trying to get into the car park at the same time. Unless the new carpark at WE had multiple exits then it would be the same problem, and like I've said before it is at most venues. The o2 on personal experience, and u couldn't get better bloody rail service and public transport around that.
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Post by foley on Jan 4, 2016 21:28:34 GMT
And this is an absolutely key point. On what basis does DE see the Kassam as being the only realistic option? If it's based on a full examination of all the issues you mention, then a properly informed decision looking at what's best for the longer term future of the club can be taken. And if, having done all that analysis, the decision is that the Kassam is the best option, so be it. However, the notes of the last OxVox meeting with DE record that his primary reason for not pursuing Water Eaton is the "funding gap in the interim". The words DE actually used in the meeting were "who covers the losses in the meantime?" whilst speaking of a 2-3 year period for delivery of Water Eaton. DE has already acknowledged on a number of occasions that he would require additional external funding to deliver the stadium, be that the Kassam or Water Eaton. So, this "funding gap" is actually just the ongoing losses of the club in that 2-3 year period. Which, to put a blunt spin on it, is a tacit admission from DE that he can't afford to carry on funding the club at it's current level of losses for that period. Which may also go some way to explaining the sudden departure of the CEO, the Director of Business Operations, the Head of Football Administration and the Event Manager. Pretty worrying if true ...
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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 21:31:35 GMT
And this is an absolutely key point. On what basis does DE see the Kassam as being the only realistic option? If it's based on a full examination of all the issues you mention, then a properly informed decision looking at what's best for the longer term future of the club can be taken. And if, having done all that analysis, the decision is that the Kassam is the best option, so be it. However, the notes of the last OxVox meeting with DE record that his primary reason for not pursuing Water Eaton is the "funding gap in the interim". The words DE actually used in the meeting were "who covers the losses in the meantime?" whilst speaking of a 2-3 year period for delivery of Water Eaton. DE has already acknowledged on a number of occasions that he would require additional external funding to deliver the stadium, be that the Kassam or Water Eaton. So, this "funding gap" is actually just the ongoing losses of the club in that 2-3 year period. Which, to put a blunt spin on it, is a tacit admission from DE that he can't afford to carry on funding the club at it's current level of losses for that period. Which may also go some way to explaining the sudden departure of the CEO, the Director of Business Operations, the Head of Football Administration and the Event Manager. Pretty worrying if true ... I wouldnt worry to much a lot of guess work there. What does an event manager do at a football club ?
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Post by myles on Jan 4, 2016 21:32:59 GMT
Pretty worrying if true ... I wouldnt worry to much a lot of guess work there. What does an event manager do at a football club ? Sorry? What guess work?
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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 21:34:03 GMT
That all those staff might have left because of money issues !
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Post by scotters on Jan 4, 2016 21:38:38 GMT
So, this "funding gap" is actually just the ongoing losses of the club in that 2-3 year period. Which, to put a blunt spin on it, is a tacit admission from DE that he can't afford to carry on funding the club at it's current level of losses for that period. Something I think you're missing out on here - the funding gap is surely the cost of funding the club for those years PLUS the cost of the finance for the new stadium - which will have zero return until it's built.
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Post by myles on Jan 4, 2016 21:44:32 GMT
That all those staff might have left because of money issues ! Posing a logical suggestion based on the available information is a long way from "guess work".
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Post by oufcyellows on Jan 4, 2016 21:47:05 GMT
That all those staff might have left because of money issues ! Posing a logical suggestion based on the available information is a long way from "guess work". True, so what about the logical suggestion that Ashton has made way because eales wants more involvement and it doesn't need two people doing the same job. And that Kevin smith has left as he was only ever here in an advisory role, setting up and teaching other staff how to do the job. Way to logical I suppose, although at least we've moved on from eales and Ashton must have had a major bust up
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Post by myles on Jan 4, 2016 21:54:23 GMT
Posing a logical suggestion based on the available information is a long way from "guess work". True, so what about the logical suggestion that Ashton has made way because eales wants more involvement and it doesn't need two people doing the same job. And that Kevin smith has left as he was only ever here in an advisory role, setting up and teaching other staff how to do the job. Way to logical I suppose, although at least we've moved on from eales and Ashton must have had a major bust up If somebody is working in a purely temporary, advisory capacity, it's rare for them to have a title like "Director of Business Operations". And it's very odd that the completion of their advisory work coincides with the departure of the CEO. Plus a couple of others. Oh, and for the record, I haven't said anything about Eales and Ashton having a bust up.
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