Interesting story earlier this week about how the Liberty Stadium in Swansea was publicly funded and how a peppercorn rent is paid for its use, £1 million maintenance fee a year is paid. Is under investigation by EU as it may fall foul of illegal state aid. Am no fan of the EU, but wonder how much rent Dartford pay for a stadium that after my first visit last week to me resembles an American Federal Penitentiary with its concrete walls, steep terraces and lack of soul and atmosphere. Have seen comments on Dartford forum as to how much money they make from their free stadium which it is not as is funded by public money. Can't think that the £4 million cost of the stadium can ever possibly be repaid by a club with dwindling support and a pitch that resembles a ploughed up waterlogged field. Amazed that they slag off our pitch and ground, our ground at least has some character and our pitch is better than their one will ever be.
Well, at least Tory Dartford Council helped its leading football club - presumably that's more than Tory Bexley Council has done for us. I must admit, I do not care for the style of the ground but it does have some redeeming features and some nice bars. Would we have looked a gift-horse in the mouth? I doubt it. I don't know whether this is correct or not, but I have been told that Dartford FC does not take the profit, or all of the profit, from its bars - the proceeds going to the Council or an arms-length company operating on behalf of the Council? Perhaps somebody in the know could put me right on that point. Also, from a democratic point of view, Dartford supporters, I believe, each have a vote in the way their club is run for a token outlay on a share.
Dfc fan here.. I think you will find that it's either 1of a few or possibly the only eco friendly ground in the country. We can't help we are fortunate in this way. As for atmosphere see I don't think welling is exactly intimidating. I don't think pvr is known for its big crowds or atmosphere either. If you were ever in the unlikely unfortunate position of losing 10 in a row I wonder how pvr for would be then? I think you may find a lot of dfc fans while embracing the rivalry respect what your club has achieved within your financial constraint.
I have watched Welling long enough to see them go months without winning a home game. We may not get big crowds but under the lights with a 1000 the atmosphere is good. Thanks for the comments. Is Dartford Fc run as a CIC by the way?
As far as I know, I don't think we have always owed the council money and, in those days, there was still no help forthcoming - even during the glory days (eg Cup match against Blackburn). I really believe that if the council invested more in the stadium - especially covered areas behind the goals - we would attract more fans, more revenue, more money to pay the council and the council would have the asset of a good quality ground (possibly with other revenue streams it could tap, wholly or partially, and encourage with the club's help). Let's face it, how many fans were dreading standing behind the goals during Saturday's torrential rain? I am sure that the lack of standing cover in inclement weather is a big factor in encouraging and sustaining attendances - even when the team is doing well.
-- Edited by OMERTA elb on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 10:22:05 PM
You're right. We haven't always owed then money. We didn't 50 years ago.
We owe them a lot. Trouble is we're in a no win situation. We won't invest in the ground as it isn't our ground. The Council won't as we owe them so much. Catch 22. Had things been different in the past we might not have problems now. All the same we did t have hindsight.
No one expected promotion. It's only a problem due to Jamie's brilliance with his squad and management team. Let's do the required works to ensure we stay in Conf Prem, and sign the manager up NOW for another couple of years so bigger plans can be made.
-- Edited by Kevin on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 10:49:03 PM
Over 50 years, I do not know what we have and what we have not paid the council. I do know, however, that a number of clubs in similar circumstances to ours did very well in terms of their councils investing in ground improvements - Dover being one of them. Also, I think the rent we pay is nearer the top rate than a lower rate - even one or two League clubs paid less than us. Also, of course, some clubs (no names no pack drill) have paid just nominal sums for a few years - something to be borne in mind when the council chases the Wings for arrears. In addition, some sports organisations in Bexley not only pay peppercorn rents in comparison but also have extremely long leases on their grounds.
It would be interesting if somebody could get verifiable information on all the council-owned grounds at our level and below - detailing the rents charged, the length of lease and the level of investments and improvements made over, say, the last 20 years. I would not mind betting that when it comes to runners in the parsimony stakes, Bexley takes some beating.
Over 50 years, I do not know what we have and what we have not paid the council. I do know, however, that a number of clubs in similar circumstances to ours did very well in terms of their councils investing in ground improvements - Dover being one of them. Also, I think the rent we pay is nearer the top rate than a lower rate - even one or two League clubs paid less than us. Also, of course, some clubs (no names no pack drill) have paid just nominal sums for a few years - something to be borne in mind when the council chases the Wings for arrears. In addition, some sports organisations in Bexley not only pay peppercorn rents in comparison but also have extremely long leases on their grounds.
It would be interesting if somebody could get verifiable information on all the council-owned grounds at our level and below - detailing the rents charged, the length of lease and the level of investments and improvements made over, say, the last 20 years. I would not mind betting that when it comes to runners in the parsimony stakes, Bexley takes some beating.
