Members Q&A April 25th

[nat]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

You're not going to find a new 'in town' location are you?

[Slogger]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

You're not going to find a new 'in town' location are you?

Very unlikely so I'd stay put. My guess is mass car ownership is going to be increasingly tenuous going forward.

[vim]

If the club is unhappy with the fine, they can always seek a judicial review. The ECB will do well, as well as the TCCB did sueing Kerry Packer.

[kingstonj1]

Somewhere round the godawful Beaulieu development would be feasible i suspect, new train station, relatively cost effect land assuming the CG sold for housing, and a notional population on the doorstep. I say notional as i suspect its a desert in the day time and would provide the number of fans you could count on one hand for most games.

It would be a disaster for attendances i think, however; train travel is horrendously over priced, the despite the ramshackle appearance, our town centre location is a huge plus. We are one of the few grounds slap bang in the middle of a town, taunton is too, worcester to a lesser extent, and it must help our attendances no end. in both 4 days cricket and t20 with boozed up off the the train commuters (before anyone takes objection to that, i have been that soldier) who can the  continue there evening out easily after (which they couldnt despite the station at Beaulieu. I think moving would be pointless, we may have a nicer looking more modern ground, but we wont get international cricket and we won't maintain the current attendances.

We could easily spruce the ground up if we so wished.

[kingstonj1]

If the club is unhappy with the fine, they can always seek a judicial review. The ECB will do well, as well as the TCCB did sueing Kerry Packer.

Sadly we would be hung out to dry such is the way of the world these days if we don't be seen to take our medicine, however unfair it is. Someone is always to blame for someones else's misfortune and have to be seen to be paying. Just surprised there have been no claims against the club, by disgruntled former failures...oops i mean players, perhaps there is and we are not aware, perhaps there will be after the ecb conclusions, perhaps part of our fines is going to them, or just perhaps these ex players have such a flimsy case it wouldn't even stand up in today's febrile 'right on' atmosphere.

[SirChef26]

Hopefully Chelmsford council being represented as part of this “ground development team” is an indication that they are willing to assist with our plans, maybe even financially. We won’t find a better location than where we are now, but the ground is simply unacceptable in its current state, which wouldn’t even be fit for National League football, let alone the top level of domestic cricket in England. The whole place needs pulling down and building up again from scratch.

It’s good if true that the club are exploring alternative locations though, maybe it will serve as the cattle prod Chelmsford council needs to assist us. It would be a disaster for them to lose Essex Cricket. However, I agree that we must be careful as an out of town location would be a death knell for attendances, no matter how big and nice the ground is.

[vim]

If the club had not faffed about in the past with paying money to a con man and producing unachievable plans, we would be in a new location by now.

I would prefer that a local authority area is chosen for the location that does not have the belt, braces and cycle clips approach that Chelmsford have to Health and Safety.

[essexfan548]

Members [if a member in 2020] are entitled to bring in a guest for free to County Championship matches. You should be getting an e-mail soon about this. I have received a refund for guest tickets for the Kent game.

If a Life Member there is also two one-day passes for the Premier Suite [watching only with free tea/coffee]

[Andy]

If the club had not faffed about in the past with paying money to a con man and producing unachievable plans, we would be in a new location by now.

Now, now I think you mean ‘legitimate businessperson’.

[Mog]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

[nat]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

Dream on. Any re-development will prioritise sponsors, corporates, players...and then finally, maybe, spectators.

Unless of course the members decide to unseat the board and install a board that truly reflects the wishes of its members and other spectators.

[SirChef26]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

Totally disagree with that. We could shift 10k tickets plus for a Friday night T20. Capacity might be up to standard for Championship games, but it's far too small for T20, meaning that we're forced to charge extortionate prices for Blast matches like £30 a head, pricing out younger fans, basically sacrificing them for the beer drinkers.

I shudder to think of how much cash the club has missed out on over the years due to the outdated facilities at Chelmsford for both corporates and regular fans alike.

Make no mistake, our future as a first class county depends on this redevelopment, whether it be Chelmsford or somewhere else. It has to be correct. Horrible mistakes have been made, they cannot be allowed to happen again.

[Andy]

If the club is unhappy with the fine, they can always seek a judicial review. The ECB will do well, as well as the TCCB did sueing Kerry Packer.

…which was yet another duff decision by an ex-ECCC player who later carved out a career at Lords.  What with non-selection of players because of ethnicity and a certain Yorkshire opener because of ‘slow scoring’.

History never repeats?!

[Mog]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

Totally disagree with that. We could shift 10k tickets plus for a Friday night T20. Capacity might be up to standard for Championship games, but it's far too small for T20, meaning that we're forced to charge extortionate prices for Blast matches like £30 a head, pricing out younger fans, basically sacrificing them for the beer drinkers.

I shudder to think of how much cash the club has missed out on over the years due to the outdated facilities at Chelmsford for both corporates and regular fans alike.

Make no mistake, our future as a first class county depends on this redevelopment, whether it be Chelmsford or somewhere else. It has to be correct. Horrible mistakes have been made, they cannot be allowed to happen again.

The point is that the ECG, even if redeveloped on the current site would not physically, or legislatively, be capable of a 10,000 capacity. The SGSA https://sgsa.org.uk/greenguide/ gives an insight. In essence a capacity of that size would entail strict licensing. One road serving the site would quickly eradicate that option before it reached a planning submission. The alternative is a new build (see my initial reply in this thread). A Club with a track record of plenty of talk and no action in this field....is one where I won't be holding my breath!

[Mog]

If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

Dream on. Any re-development will prioritise sponsors, corporates, players...and then finally, maybe, spectators.

Unless of course the members decide to unseat the board and install a board that truly reflects the wishes of its members and other spectators.

Yes. I prefer to take an idealistic perspective.