https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/sites/def ... tation.pdf https://www.theshaymen.net/ipb/topic/30 ... y-stadium/

https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/sites/def ... tation.pdf https://www.theshaymen.net/ipb/topic/30 ... y-stadium/

The Shay has been a Millstone for the council ever since they took back control.

Let's be honest, it's not well maintained. The ground staff look after the pitch well but on a limited budget, the Skircoat Stand is close to getting condemned, the less said about the toilets the better. The East Stand is a bit better than the rest but is also 10+ years "younger".

I don't know what the alternatives are. I wouldn't have thought either club are in a position to take on the stadium and all the costs which come with doing that. And the previous set up of a "Stadium Trust" just treaded water for years with no real progress.

Council's are good at taking money, but not creating it. They have never maximised the opportunities that the stadium offers, and their running costs will be much greater than what those of a private enterprise would be. But a £161k annual loss (or saving, should they sell it) isnt a lot of money in the grander scheme of things.

But I would still be against private ownership given the risks it could pose to both clubs. We saw what happend with Tony Abbott; the Shay would have been one of his assets which he would have probably had to surrender when his house of cards collapsed. Even if both clubs came together (which Ive heard mentioned on the odd occasion) to buy it, I would still be against it. When money is tight/sparse, sporting clubs will always be focused on on-field matters.

So I think community ownership/management is the only real option again though appreciate thats not a perfect option.

I wonder what the value for the stadium is now compared to when the council tried to offload it to Abbott. They were very keen then so you can't really imagine much has changed and they would still want to offload it. The two clubs now have the men with the money to do it if they so wished but realistically who would put their own personal money in to the place? It could be a really nice community stadium but would need quite a bit of money spent on it with the pitch itself costing hundreds of thousands of pounds just to be fit for purpose and give any owner a chance to use that as a way to bring in income.

Because its council property, a figure cant be plucked out of thin air, like the Council tried to do when Abbott was sniffing around. Even though we are now out of the EU, EU State Subsidy Laws still apply which makes it extremely difficult to sell for less than its value.

The Shay was valued on a Depreciated Replacement Cost basis at £20m but the council was looking more around £5-6m.

What was Huddersfield’s model? Obviously a stadium holding company but then Did they have 1 share each for the council, the rugby club and the football club? Is that feasible?

I think after a long drawn out argument where Ken Davy had purchased the Football Club's shares in the stadium company (KSDL) when they were skint, it eventually reverted to the ownership of Huddersfield Town (40%) Kirklees Council (40%) and Huddersfield Giants (20%)

I believe KSDL is pretty much insolvent.

Kirklees council want rid of the stadium as a liability, probably for similar reasons to Calderdale, It's reported to need £30m+ of work doing, mixture of backlogs in maintenance and other works which will keep it with a usable life upto 2040/50. I've been a few times recently and it's fairly tired under the surface. Some things haven't changed since it opened 30 years ago nearly

New Huddersfield Town owner is keen to take on the stadium, but I feel that will drag on for a long time.

For me it only works with a developer lined up for the skircoat side . Throw a holiday inn there and lease the car park and it might be a goer. The only way i can see the club surviving is to have its own clubhouse and bar income . They have the shop back in the clubs control so it would certainly be a gamble but maybe one worth the effort. The current business model just doesnt really work for either club they survive but dont thrive.

Holiday Inn have supposedly been moving into the derelict Theatre Royal in town since the Piece Hall reopened! Obviously not in a rush.

You'd think there would be a market for a large, budget hotel in Halifax now, especially with all the Piece Hall Events.

Council's survey on the budget proposals suggests 3 outcomes for the "disposal" of The Shay,

- Transfer to 1 club with other as tenant
- Transfer to Stadium Co with both clubs involved
- Dispose of on open market

I don't know what they're going to do, I think most options will get blocked by various means

The one thing we all know about calderfail council is that they have zero interest in sport or the wellbeing of youngsters in Halifax and district. They would rather back the growing of mushrooms on't verges of Tod than promote healthy activities whether that be in schools, youth centres or professionally. That is the biggest red flag we all should be aware of. As i've said elsewhere, the council should sell The Shay to the clubs for £1, put watertight rules regarding future use on it and tell both parties to pull their fingers out and get on with it. If that happened and the clubs failed, well then tough on 'em and pack it all in!