Are our finances getting better?

[red g]

Our new stadium's coming along really well too isn't it. That "sucker's" really taking shape now.

you go girl

[Rich]

Our new stadium's coming along really well too isn't it. That "sucker's" really taking shape now.

Seriously, who'd have built a stadium in 2008/2009 with the state of the credit markets?!

I'm no fan of the American owners but almost all potential owners would have used credit to build the stadium, and there pretty much wasn't any to be had.

Do you think that the commercial side of the club hasn't improved since they took over?

[wavydavy]

[QUOTE=Rich;1539338]Seriously, who'd have built a stadium in 2008/2009 with the state of the credit markets?!

I'm no fan of the American owners but almost all potential owners would have used credit to build the stadium, and there pretty much wasn't any to be had.

Do you think that the commercial side of the club hasn't improved since they took over? [/QUOTE]

Undoubtedly has Rich. However I wouldn't put that down to any stunning show of business acumen on their part. We had the great misfortune to have the other pair of dickheads in charge for the many years preceding the Yanks' ownership. People always said, even years ago, that the club wasn't maximising their popularity off the field yet those two (P&M) did nothing about it. The other pair have, just as anyone with half a brain would have.
You seem to be excited about our financial resurgance. I would hold back a little and wait and see how much of our new found wealth will actually be spent on the team and how much will go towards paying off their £300m+ loans. I'm not holding my breath as I suspect I already know the answer.

[cream]

We've improved the commercial side of the club beyond all recognition since our "terrible" new owners took over...

Just a shame none of THAT money is being invested back into the club.

[Dirk07]

Was speaking to my brother over the weekend who was involved with the origional "parry bowl" stadium, i'm shocked at how much we have spent on the various designs etc 35m + easily

[Exiled_red]

Was speaking to my brother over the weekend who was involved with the origional "parry bowl" stadium, i'm shocked at how much we have spent on the various designs etc 35m + easily

To be honest, I'm not shocked, this is our 3rd(??) design of a stadium that we're on now. I hadn't really though of a figure to put on it but I guess that's be close

[Scratch]

To be honest, I'm not shocked, this is our 3rd(??) design of a stadium that we're on now. I hadn't really though of a figure to put on it but I guess that's be close

£35 million for 3 designs?? I doubt that, that's over a £10 million a design. I'd guess more at £3.5 million as rough guess....but i'm sure the £35 million figure will quickly become "fact" amongst the interwebs, and be used as another stick to beat the Yanks with.

[Roboklopp]

Wasnt there one that was a £2m design? Truth is surely somewhere between £3.5m - £35m.

[BrianF80]

£35 million for 3 designs?? I doubt that, that's over a £10 million a design. I'd guess more at £3.5 million as rough guess....but i'm sure the £35 million figure will quickly become "fact" amongst the interwebs, and be used as another stick to beat the Yanks with.

It was up in the 10s of millions. I remember seeing an entry in the accounts for a write-down of 10+ million on the parry bowl alone. That's just how much that stuff costs these days the number of bureaucrats involved ensures it.

[Exiled_red]

£35 million for 3 designs?? I doubt that, that's over a £10 million a design. I'd guess more at £3.5 million as rough guess....but i'm sure the £35 million figure will quickly become "fact" amongst the interwebs, and be used as another stick to beat the Yanks with.

Football stadia are expensive to design because they are large unique structures. Plus it's not just the ground though it's all the infrastructure aswell, surveys, models, planning applications, costing, surveying local residents etc.

Maybe £10m is over the odds, but I'm not surprised by the high cost.

[stuartb]

Surely somewhere in all this there are financial models. Models that break down to the extremity what we can charge based on estimated attendance for any new stadium based on competition etc. This is the basic for any evaluation of net worth

Of course, for big games the demand isnt in question - you make a lot of money to some extent regardless of cost as everyone wants to go - you just have to charge enough to make money while still respecting the fans and community

Calculate net cost per game
Model # of seats (albeit different prices)
multiply by # of tickets bought
Deduct cost per game

On no occasion should there be empty seats. If demand is low, lower the cost to fill the stadium - think Priceline and other models that equate supply to demand. If you end up losing money, open up the seats to kids for free anyway

However, for lesser games theres a price point somewhere that determines how many you can get in. The larger the stadium, the lesser the price but the overall beneft to revenues.

Throw in better concessions (orderly lines for a variety of food rather than a rugby scrum for a pie), get rid of black market merchandise outside the ground by making it readily available inside and your already way up.

Dare I say it but anyone whose been into an American stadium for a yankee sport has probably seen this. Its pure math and we are in the dark ages right now

I went at Xmas and would happily have paid more:
To get some decent food and drink early before kick off (no atmosphere to warrant getting there early)
To get some decent food or drinks right before kick off ( no facilities to accomodate this - massive lines and no selection)
at half time (massive lines again. Left with money in my pocket id of happily paid to get a pint and pie with)
To get some souvenirs/clubshop items (sorry we are full and the clubshop is the only place you can go)
To buy merchandise outside the ground - I did but none of which was officially licensed and went to the club. Nothing against those selling this but the club is losing out on revenue by not controlling this. There should be club shops in every stand to allow everyone to buy whatever they want.
For someone to have come round with food/drink to me in my seat during the game (lots of income)

Sorry but we are in the dark ages.

BTW I fully expect a vitriol of responses dare I say anything against the status quo but im optimistic that my response might generate positive discussion

YNWA

[Pedenj]

Some decent suggestions there.

I never personally want to see some bloke walking around the stands selling peanuts and cokes. People should be focusing on the game and supporting the team, not trying to grab some blokes attention as there thirsty. American sports are in general a lot more stop start than football and therefore it's not as much of an issue.

I imagine when we move to a new stadium (or should that be if) then a lot of this matters like bar space will be looked into. However it's not easy, in fact may not even be possible, to just start building bars and restaurants inside Anfield as it is now, as there are constraints on space and most of it is probably being used.

In terms of people selling outside the ground, you'll never stop this. Happens at any match and any ground in England. I've even seen it outside Scunthorpe's stadium on home games.