Hearts launch fresh study into ‘community stadium’
An artist's impression of the new stadium
HEARTS have ordered a new detailed study into building a “community stadium” – but this time without the help of taxpayers’ money.
The Evening News can reveal that Hearts are to carry out a further study into the plans to move away from Tynecastle, which will include looking in depth at possible sites for a new stadium.
An initial £30,000 consultants’ report that was jointly funded by the city council and the Gorgie club found that the redevelopment of Tynecastle Stadium was “not a viable option” and that the council should consider an “active role” in developing a replacement community stadium.
The new study will look to identify “if and how” a community stadium can be developed, including who would own and operate it, which uses would be within it, what funding would be needed and which sites would be suitable.
One option to be examined is whether the development could be linked to separate council-backed plans for a major 12,000-capacity concert arena next to Edinburgh Airport.
It has also emerged that Hearts are willing to swap the land that Tynecastle already sits on for any potential development site that is owned by the council or private landowners.
That again raises the prospect of council-owned land at Sighthill or Hermiston Gait becoming a possible location for the new stadium, while land owned by Sir David Murray in west Edinburgh and the “Edinburgh International” site next to Edinburgh Airport could also be seen as strong possibilities.
A new council report set to be published today has confirmed the council could still get involved in developing the stadium, but only if it was shown to be “economically viable and financially self-sustaining”.
But the city’s economic development leader, Councillor Tom Buchanan, insisted that the council would not get involved with the club in its current circumstances, when it has failed to pay wages due to many of its first-team stars.
Dave Anderson, the council’s director of city development, said: “Hearts will now carry out a more detailed study into the viability and deliverability of a community stadium. The council will provide appropriate officer support to this study as it would with any study of this kind but will not provide any further financial contribution.”
Today’s report confirms that property experts have judged there will be “limited interest” in Tynecastle from retail, office and upmarket residential developers, and that the only likely uses are student flats, “light industrial” and affordable housing.
It also warns of the negative impact that any Hearts move would have on the Gorgie/Dalry area and confirms that consultants have said that the need for a concert arena, a new Hearts ground and a new home for Edinburgh Rugby “lends support” to the creation of a community stadium.
Hearts are looking for sites of around 12-16 acres for a standalone stadium or 50-60 acres for a wider development, but any council participation would be reliant on the site being “economically viable and self-sustaining”.
Mr Anderson said: “The promoters of any such scheme would therefore need to clearly demonstrate these criteria have been met if there is to be any council involvement.”
Cllr Buchanan said: “It is for Hearts to come to their own decisions. At the moment, the council does not view its involvement as going further than [today’s] report. If Hearts go further forward they would have to establish a use that is economically sustainable. Any council involvement would only be around land discussions.
“One of the problems for Hearts is they are between a rock and a hard place. A council would not get involved with an organisation that is not currently paying its staff.”
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Comments
There are 42 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
runaway
Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11:26 AMYou can post all you like about investors but the size of your problem is reflected in the best post yet awhile back from Stephen Hendrie (Jambo) when asked, would you like to invest money into Hearts, answer..."..Do I Look Stupid.."..Unfortunately you are a Jambo Stephen so the answer is yes....
seenitawb4
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 11:28 PMSPECIAL ONE-MERCHANT BANKER-HARBOUR LIGHTS amongst others!! i find it very strange that a man in his FIRST inter-action with me personally on a scotsman(Hearts) thread in a fury of personal insults, ending with "are you still pimping your mother out" (which set a bench mark) that you expect people to take you seriously, when time and again you show your disdain of other posters and contempt for HMFC, you seldom comment on hibs thread and when challenged and time after time made to look like an incompitant fool, you dissappear from the threads for a few days, and return with new username but spout the same repetitive tom-tit, give up or straighten up and perhaps then you will be given any credibility that you so obviously desire !!!
seenitawb4
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:43 PMSpecial one..predictable claptrap with the usual personal insults (re rollie), not only in your walter mitty alter ego do you talk to Rod Stewart and his associates and he tells you he has no interest investing in football, but you hob nobbit with arabian oil rich families who share their business interests and speculative plans with a non-entity, who purports to be an ardent hibs fan, but spends all day making derogatory remarks on HMFC, and personal insults on other posters !!! re stadium imo opinion this is a David Murray benevolent bail out ands should not be entertained !!
Hannon
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 07:25 PMHave Hearts mentioned how they will fund the new study - with the players wages perhaps?
Mario Antoinette
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 06:25 PMCynical page filling sales attempt targetted at Jambos nonsense. They're Skint. Not going to happen any time in the next 20 years, 40 Is a slight possibility. Hilarious Artists Impression. All seater stadium, with no roof at the sides, obviuosly ideal for scottish winters.
RolIand
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 05:20 PMSpecial One, he did state "lets assume" you do know what an assumption is, in no way is he claiming it is going to happen. Must be some crystal ball you have if you know about my finances.
Billy Budd
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:56 PMKeyser sose. After you've whined to the council and various H&S inspectors mind and ask them about the asbestos riddled delapidated contraption masquerading as a stand you have
Ecky Dook
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:18 PMThis has to be a joke? It should be in the comics section!
keyser soze
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:15 PM33.... Foulkes and other wealtthy businessmen have approached the Qatari's. Fact. That is all I am saying. Purely a scenario as to how Edinburgh council would react. The Middle Eastern sovereign funds you think only buy big Englishn clubs is wrong. The Qatari's bought over Malaga in June 2010. An Dubai Goup bought Getafe in April this year. Now whilst you maybe having a laugh at our problems, I would if it were reversed, the fact is both these clubs are no bigger than Hearts.Who knows who will buy Hearts,but someone will, of that be assured.
The Special One
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:53 PM#31 Fatty Foulkes and the Qataris - biggest laugh of the week ! The Middle Eastern sovereign funds play in the big boys league (eg Man City, providing billions to bridge Barclays plc from state ownership). What exactly would they see in a dribbling, overweight and drunk peer and or an irrelevance of a football club, on its knees and waiting to be put out of its misery in the not too distant. Comedy gold. Hang on, I hear that Bill Gates is actually a Jambo.....no, hold the line, Hearts are planning a reverse merger with Real Madrid.....................comedy gold
The Special One
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:47 PM#25 Even if we did "entertain" you lot at our place, we wouldn't want your cash. Hibernian FC are not money launderers and I shudder to think where you get your cash from Rollie (Calton Hill still your stamping ground?). Your quote at #29 made me laugh - "Money talks." Indeed it does. And you have none. So shut up.
keyser soze
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:45 PMRolland..... Lets assume for one minute that George Foulkes did persuade the Qatari Royal Family to bail out Hearts, buy them over ,whatever. If the Qatari's said to Edinburgh council we also want to invest millions on other projects in the city,we will do so only if we can build a new stand at Tynecastle, you can bet the Health and Safety issue would be forgotten by the council.
The Wilbur
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:44 PM28 * Javaman: That's the most sensible comment so far!
RolIand
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:26 PM#28 Indeed, however it will happen, money talks and with so many Good Jambos on the Council money will be found and it will all systems go for the new Jambo Community Stadium (minus running track) It will include indoor track and field as that is more suited to the climate in Scotland. I note however the man who took credit for introducing and vetting Vlad isn't saying much? Come on Lord pash stains you are not normally shy at mouthing off.
javaman
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 03:14 PMThe headline should read FINANCIALLY TROUBLED DAVID MURRAY, MAKES ANOTHER SAD ATTEMPT TO SMASH HIS WAY INTO THE GREENBELT!!
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