Barrow Rising and the Mythical Field of Dreams

[Wintergreen]

It may come as a surprise to some to learn that Workington are well on the way with a new stadium complex championed and funded by their new-ish Cumberland Council and a local consortium. If ever there was a sign of us being left behind this is it.

In Barrow Rising’s ‘10-Year Plan for Barrow’ publication there are pictures of two Barrow AFC players at Holker Street followed by the statement; “We will work with local sports, culture, and youth organisations to identify opportunities for expansion, diversification and investment in the leisure and wellbeing offer in the town. These reforms aim to deliver better outcomes, increase opportunity, and build a stronger, healthier Barrow” But what do we collectively think of any potential joint venture with perhaps ourselves, Barrow RLFC and Barrow Rising to attract funding or maybe set about a leisure complex and stadium like the York City model to provide a lasting flagship facility to benefit the town? Please help with a poll using this link viewtopic.php?t=34022

[olbarrafancumbak]

It's definitely worth asking questions!!

We have two decent clubs in the area, us and the rugger.. we both have ramshackled but loved homes but is it time we got our heads together and look to the future? So for me, it's definitely worth exploring whilst there is a potential opportunity!

[BarrowLad71]

Have we not done this subject to death?

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

It's the best opportunity we have got. I don't see any potential investors running over the hill to help us out in a hurry. A new all purpose built community stadium based on the York model is far more likely to attract investors into both the rugby and the soccer than the current money pit stadiums both clubs currently have.

[Jonty]

I don’t think that the club can let any potential opportunity like this pass by without at least enquiring, and as the Trust represent the fans they should be involved too and gauging fan views. There will always be strong voices against such a thing, but I see absolutely nothing else on the horizon that presents an opportunity like this.
The area would benefit from such a facility and any doubters just look to the published report on the first year of York’s community stadium, to see a success story which has far exceeded all business case objectives. York’s crowds have tripled at the new stadium.

Anything with Barrow Rising / Team Barrow is a massive decision and would require public consultation to gauge views and address concerns.

[Wintergreen]

Have we not done this subject to death?

Yes we have discussed it annually since the millennium but the money was never there.

It is now and all we have to do is organise, lobby and ask for it - even as a Plan B.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Time to shake off our natural apathy, be bold and go for it.

[BarrowLad71]

Have we not done this subject to death?

Yes we have discussed it annually since the millennium but the money was never there.

It is now and all we have to do is organise, lobby and ask for it - even as a Plan B.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Time to shake off our natural apathy, be bold and go for it.

I think we’ve done it quarterly this year on the Barrow Rising/ Team Barrow but go on then!

I’ve been very vocal on this and have contacted numerous councillors and our local MP. I don’t think it would / should happen is my view. Reasonings for that this is about making Barrow better , do we really need a new football ground / rugby ground? People will say yes look at them both and trust me I can see that point but do we really want a soulless bowl down the ‘ Marina Village ‘ - is that really better than we’ve got now where the council take %s of the earnings and all that good stuff. Is it really going to bring another 1,000 people through the gates of both clubs? No

I think what this money is better spent on is investing in a state of the art multi sports facility that can be used by the community as well as both clubs. It can be designed by the clubs taking on board opinions of professional and semi professional athletes who play at a good level every week. In my opinion this is what it should be spent on , not a nice new plastic stadium for the club. Let’s be real , Yorks fully kitted out complex cost 44 Million. There is not a chance we would be working with that kind of money. But if you were to take 20m and replicate the sports facility side 4g pitches , gyms , swimming pools , padel courts , indoor sports venue and made it a reasonable price the community would widely benefit. Who knows one day we could run an academy out of it.

I think it’s about being realistic in the ask and what the best route really is, it’s only shiny for a few years before it’s just another ground.

[Wintergreen]

You're not going to be invited to the inaugural game v Real Madrid then.

[Jonty]

Yes we have discussed it annually since the millennium but the money was never there.

It is now and all we have to do is organise, lobby and ask for it - even as a Plan B.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Time to shake off our natural apathy, be bold and go for it.

I think we’ve done it quarterly this year on the Barrow Rising/ Team Barrow but go on then!

I’ve been very vocal on this and have contacted numerous councillors and our local MP. I don’t think it would / should happen is my view. Reasonings for that this is about making Barrow better , do we really need a new football ground / rugby ground? People will say yes look at them both and trust me I can see that point but do we really want a soulless bowl down the ‘ Marina Village ‘ - is that really better than we’ve got now where the council take %s of the earnings and all that good stuff. Is it really going to bring another 1,000 people through the gates of both clubs? No

I think what this money is better spent on is investing in a state of the art multi sports facility that can be used by the community as well as both clubs. It can be designed by the clubs taking on board opinions of professional and semi professional athletes who play at a good level every week. In my opinion this is what it should be spent on , not a nice new plastic stadium for the club. Let’s be real , Yorks fully kitted out complex cost 44 Million. There is not a chance we would be working with that kind of money. But if you were to take 20m and replicate the sports facility side 4g pitches , gyms , swimming pools , padel courts , indoor sports venue and made it a reasonable price the community would widely benefit. Who knows one day we could run an academy out of it.

I think it’s about being realistic in the ask and what the best route really is, it’s only shiny for a few years before it’s just another ground.

Valid points made, but all could be taken on board in any feasibility / requirements study that would need to happen. This is where fan input and engagement would come in from the outset.
There is no reason why we could not have a modern stadium that retains all characteristics of a traditional stadium, with wrap around terracing in the corners, like HS, even a new “popular side”. It doesn’t have to be a York or Mazuma stadium “in Blue”, it could keep features that all fans want, whilst also providing a modern fit for purpose 52 week a year ground to take us forward for the next generation of fans.
Everything you've said about, academy, training pitches, padel courts, gyms, yes…, as part of the bigger complex. It could be all those things with the two professional clubs at the core of it.

As for crowds, the football on the pitch helps, but York City have tripled their crowds and playing in front of bigger crowds than at any time in the last 20 years. As for York City Knights, getting ready for Super League, this team was playing in front of 350 only 10 years ago.

Many have reservations about a shared facility, self included, but if that would be the only way that it could happen then I would looking for the reassurances like every one else. The clubs best interests and “next 30+ years” need to be looked at.

[Wintergreen]

Last chance to vote today – should Barrow pursue a joint venture for a mixed-use multi-purpose shared stadium or try to seek any Barrow Rising funding independently?

Vote here - viewtopic.php?t=34022

It’s good craic for sure as we explore the pros and cons of any future multi-use shared stadium and we have divided into yea-sayers and nay-sayers, with the former showing a clear edge on the poll but let's not forget we’re all on the same side.

We can easily produce 60+ pages on this but any proposals, applications, strategies or decisions won’t lie with us supporters of course. Our owners have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the club and their legacy will be of the very very best. They are astute businessmen and it would be naive on our part to think that they are not way ahead of the game with any such Barrow Rising conversations. They could well have their own plans for the ‘stadium’ which could be at an advanced stage for all we know. So until we know anything we must trust in our three wise men.

[bluessupporter]

Last chance to vote today – should Barrow pursue a joint venture for a mixed-use multi-purpose shared stadium or try to seek any Barrow Rising funding independently?

Vote here - viewtopic.php?t=34022

It’s good craic for sure as we explore the pros and cons of any future multi-use shared stadium and we have divided into yea-sayers and nay-sayers, with the former showing a clear edge on the poll but let's not forget we’re all on the same side.

We can easily produce 60+ pages on this but any proposals, applications, strategies or decisions won’t lie with us supporters of course. Our owners have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the club and their legacy will be of the very very best. They are astute businessmen and it would be naive on our part to think that they are not way ahead of the game with any such Barrow Rising conversations. They could well have their own plans for the ‘stadium’ which could be at an advanced stage for all we know. So until we know anything we must trust in our three wise men.

No matter which way you vote only 38 people have done so, from an average gate (at the moment) of around 3000.

That does not bode well, with those with the power saying, 'if the fans can't be bothered to vote, why don't we just do our own thing?'

[Wintergreen]

Last chance to vote today – should Barrow pursue a joint venture for a mixed-use multi-purpose shared stadium or try to seek any Barrow Rising funding independently?

Vote here - viewtopic.php?t=34022

It’s good craic for sure as we explore the pros and cons of any future multi-use shared stadium and we have divided into yea-sayers and nay-sayers, with the former showing a clear edge on the poll but let's not forget we’re all on the same side.

We can easily produce 60+ pages on this but any proposals, applications, strategies or decisions won’t lie with us supporters of course. Our owners have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the club and their legacy will be of the very very best. They are astute businessmen and it would be naive on our part to think that they are not way ahead of the game with any such Barrow Rising conversations. They could well have their own plans for the ‘stadium’ which could be at an advanced stage for all we know. So until we know anything we must trust in our three wise men.

No matter which way you vote only 38 people have done so, from an average gate (at the moment) of around 3000.

That does not bode well, with those with the power saying, 'if the fans can't be bothered to vote, why don't we just do our own thing?'

Well the thing to remember is not all supporters go on the Forum and not all Forum members can be bothered with something with no real value. It's a bit of fun and the vote carries no weight at all with any official body. But it does seem to show one thing; in theory, there are lots of supporters that would not want a new stadium over Holker Street. I know people get set in their ways and may have distrust, but the other side of that is we can't be the land that time forgot for another generation as there are no guarantees that the next generation will give a fig with what we are used to and the entertainment on offer.

I haven't been to all the grounds in EFL2 or the National League but I struggle to think of seeing one worse than our own. It is worse now than it was in the 60s and there's very little you can say that about.

[bluessupporter]

But it does seem to show one thing; in theory, there are lots of supporters that would not want a new stadium over Holker Street. I

I know it's a bit of fun, but when I looked this morning it showed that more people want change with a new joint stadium.

[Wintergreen]

But it does seem to show one thing; in theory, there are lots of supporters that would not want a new stadium over Holker Street. I

I know it's a bit of fun, but when I looked this morning it showed that more people want change with a new joint stadium.

Yes but it also shows that some people would not want that; i.e. 40% of all voters to date.

[bluessupporter]

I know it's a bit of fun, but when I looked this morning it showed that more people want change with a new joint stadium.

Yes but it also shows that some people would not want that; i.e. 40% of all voters to date.

40% is not a majority!