If you can't get people to buy tickets, you won't get them buying bricks!

I sent an e-mail to the club in August regarding "buy a brick" and I got this reply back,

"This is something that we are looking into and are likely to propose for the construction of the new stadium so please keep checking the Saints website as the preparations for 2011 begin".

Kind Regards
Mark

Well, look, the bottom line is a project such as this (or something along similar lines) will have to be driven by the fans. Saints aren't going to commit on the [ipossibility[/i that fans will buy. So, I guess it's up to you.

I'd try to rally support but I know I'll get a load of hassle from people who'll say [i"You're only interested because you have a vested interest blah blah blah ... (which I suppose I do - but not the kind that will make money above what I already earn)"[/i - and that's the kind of hassle I can't be bothered with.

Our kid spoke to Eamonn about this recently and he said "I'm not interested in bricks". Maybe this means he's interested in statues, or engraved plaques or something else - but he certainly gave the impression that he wasn't looking into anything immediately. And I can only take that at face value.

Looking at the Arsenal photos it looks like a great idea on that level.

In terms of organisation, the problem we have here is that any rallying call done here and/or on redvee will only reach the fans who post on the respective websites, which in the grand scheme of things isn't much. That said I will stick a poll up.

The problem with the actual scheme would be whether the club would do it to the standard that the armoury project is. From the fans point of view it would be (as with anything in this vein) the costs involved, especially given the prices the club are currently charging for the KR memorabillia. How much did the bricks at the armoury cost Muggers?

I really don't see how anything like this can ever fail. It is a great idea and would be a success, I am sure of it!

The prices are on the site. IIRC, they are between 50 and 500 (for the really big bricks). I don't work for the company that is implementing the Arsenal site development. I just do a bit as a sub-contractor.

I hope Saints do [isomething[/i because I'm sure the fans would be interested (I certainly would) and it's money for the club. It also looks fantastic. The Armoury Square people have done a great job at Arsenal (the Gunners are coining it in) and there have been similar projects at other clubs. I mean, the club may be pursuing something along the lines of engraved plaques or something. I don't know. Maybe somebody else does.

Quote: Mugwump "The prices are on the site. IIRC, they are between 50 and 500 (for the really big bricks). I don't work for the company that is implementing the Arsenal site development. I just do a bit as a sub-contractor. I hope Saints do [isomething[/i because I'm sure the fans would be interested (I certainly would) and it's money for the club. It also looks fantastic. The Armoury Square people have done a great job at Arsenal (the Gunners are coining it in) and there have been similar projects at other clubs. I mean, the club may be pursuing something along the lines of engraved plaques or something. I don't know. Maybe somebody else does.'" As Cragganmore suggests they are doing this... www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2751 but its not quite the same.

Quote: Mugwump "The prices are on the site. IIRC, they are between 50 and 500 (for the really big bricks). I don't work for the company that is implementing the Arsenal site development. I just do a bit as a sub-contractor. I hope Saints do [isomething[/i because I'm sure the fans would be interested (I certainly would) and it's money for the club. It also looks fantastic. The Armoury Square people have done a great job at Arsenal (the Gunners are coining it in) and there have been similar projects at other clubs. I mean, the club may be pursuing something along the lines of engraved plaques or something. I don't know. Maybe somebody else does.'" As Cragganmore suggests they are doing this... www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2751 but its not quite the same.

I think there's enough room between what Saints are already doing and [isomething[/i like what they are doing at Arsenal and several other clubs. Whether it be a brick, or a plaque or the naming of small elements of the stadium or some kind of photo wall - whatever, I think all fans (with the money to afford such) would be interested in having some PERMANENT record of their support for the club.

Certainly the Premiership and Football League seem to think so given the number of clubs rushing about like madmen to accommodate their fans similarly.

But as I said, I have a vested interest so it's not my place to pursue it.

Like a lot of people I sure, i thought this kind of thing was going to be a given - I had already started drafting messages for my brick! I would have thought there would be a market for this, as long as it was reasonably priced to attract enought people. I'd defo get one, and would look at getting others for presents.

I can kind of understand the club's concern. You can't go with a project such as a scaled down version of Armoury Square unless there are enough bricks to a) create something that looks impressive and b) make money.

I don't think Saints would struggle to get, say, 500 people to chip in. But whether that would be enough to meet the above criteria I'm not sure. What interest there would be above 500 I don't know. I SUSPECT a good deal more people would be happy to buy, but it's difficult to know.

Which is why I think that if a big enough contingent petitioned the club to do SOMETHING they'd at least listen.

I forgot to say that I've seen many different types of bricks about ranging from pretty poor quality - almost - patio-style bricks which are quite soft to granite. IMO, polished granite looks the best. At first I thought it would be quite expensive but I was told last week that it isn't really. Most granite is shipped in from abroad these days and the prices are a lot lower (yay for economic neo-liberalization!)

I have seen a few clubs go down the route of engraved brass plaques, which I admit do look impressive. Although brass can be quite labour-intensive to keep clean.

The other thing about Armoury Square is the SELLING of the bricks is all done by third-party. Which means the club doesn't have to devote manpower to the project.

Poll added

If it looks as good as Armoury Square, I'd be all for it. If it looks as cheap and tacky as the Halliwell Jones wall then no thanks.