Well Bullsgeye you must agree that you don't always get what you expect.

In any case we are certain that the head lease for Odsal, in particular if rugby league were not to be played there, given it's excellent strategic and regional transport links, would be an attractive proposition for many investors if the sale of the head lease (or the freehold) for Odsal were put out to an open and competitive tender.

To say that the head lease for Odsal (as per recent RFL statements) is only worth a reputed sum of say £650K - £850K is laughable and scandalous. We would suggest that if that devalued figure is accurate, then Bradford Council should buy back the lease from the RFL for that bargain basement sum and sell it for the many millions that it is worth to the highest bidder who will guarantee that Odsal has a multi-purpose use, inc rugby league, moving forward.

I don't suppose you'd like to tell us who "We" is in this instance?

The 'headLEASE' probably is only worth that amount, remember the LEASE is the bit which allows the rugby to be played and the ground needs a severe and costly upgrading to fit it out for the 21st century.

If, as freehold owners, the council were to have other plans for the site I guess the political fallout would be massive if those plans didn't include rugby, either on-site or elsewhere. I'd also suspect that other sites, maybe not built into a hillside and without the toxic waste (and god knows what else) buried inside it might work out being better value to a possible purchaser. A fresh start elsewhere might also be a more viable option for the rugby club too.

If it was such a fantastic investment opportunity with no complicating factors it would've already had something built on it by now. People have had plans for it for the past 80 years and nothing has come of them.

We'll still be there in 20 years.

...and the RFL are off to Manchester. Why wouldn't they want to off-load it now. There is no need for the plan b

The Head Lease, which the RFL now own, stipulates that until 31 May 2019 the place has to be used for playing first team rugby football.
After that the tenant (RFL) can use it for anything they want subject only to planning consent.
That lease runs out in October 2152.

The "old" Bulls underlease from the RFL was for 30 years from 2011 so ends (i.e. would have ended) at the end of 2041.
So far as I know, nobody knows the details of the present club's lease apart from insiders, so it may be as per the old underlease, or it might not, I can't say.
Bearing that in mind, under the old underlease, RFL could give Bulls notice at any time, if RFL wanted to redevelop the ground
But would have to provide us with an alternative stadium with due bells and whistles, a min 18K capacity, within 4 miles.

Random unconnected factoid: As the crow flies, VP is around 3 miles from Odsal.

I think that if the RFL were to even consider kicking the rugby club out of Odsal in order to sell the land to mammon the whole game would be up in arms. Considering the raison d'être behind them taking the lease in the first place was (as stated) to ensure that such a thing couldn't possibly happen. Much as I have said I don't rate the RFL all that highly, I don't believe they are quite down to the same level of mendacity as Boris and the brexiters.

Mind, I've always held to the view that "blessed is he who doth not expect" too, so maybe I should think again.

whole game would be up in arms.
No they wouldnt

Well...maybe not!

But I'd guess that even they would realise they had no credibility left if they [iwere[/i to do such a thing.

They have credibility?

The main 'problem' is that, from what we were led to believer, the whole purchase of Odsal was driven by Nigel Wood (for whatever reason). Apparently Rimmer didn't (doesn't?) feel the same way. And with Wood now consigned to history...

Odsal is an absolutely brilliant venue, the best in the North and unique, but sadly times have moved on a few decades and its many and amazing qualities don't compensate for the state it is in, nor is there any chance whatsoever of anyone spending the millions needed to upgrade it. We all know what facilities it needs to bring it anywhere near modern standards, and we all know it won't get them.