Quote: meliferra "I'm glad what info I have is useful and that you don't feel I'm imposing.
1. There is more to break even than bums on seats.
2. He may invest, but only to create something that breaks even. He likes his money too much to throw it away but he has spent millions on Barnet FC over the years. Including buying the freehold of Underhill, multiple planning applications (including the failed south underhill and Copthall bids), south stand at underhill and the Hive complex.
3. The Hive isnt really a 5200 capacity stadum.
It's currently a 5500 capacity stadium capped at 5200 by the council. It is also incomplete with further changes already scheduled for next year including -
Covered spectator area behind west stand, Lift and Raised disabled seating. North terrace replaced by extended South stand from Underhill. So in twelve months time we could be looking at a stadium with 5000 seats and 1000 terrace and if necessary asking the council for an increase in capacity. This is currently subject to a planning appeal to be heard in June
That's not all. Whilst the Hive was being built TK personally took fans on a tour around it. It already has planning permission for a second tier on the East stand and he has plans that one day he will replace the South terrace with a stand and fill in the corners to create an 8-10,000 capacity bowl. Whether any of this actually happens is anyone's guess but even if it doesn't, Barnet FC are still looking to build a 10,000 stadium in Barnet at some point in the next 10 years so that maybe a possibility.
On the question of whether there is a walkway in front of the west stand. There is a walkway all the way around the pitch that I would guess is at least 3 metres wide.'"
Wow meliferra. Are you me in another guise?
Agree with everything you've put on this thread. TK certainly rubs some people up the wrong way (mostly councillors and let's be honest they have their own agenda and shouldn't be sympathised with) but for those of us who remember the Flashman years we always know he has the good of the club at heart. Few Football chairman have had to deal with the amount of crap that's come his way over the years - most of which you quoted above. Plenty of other chairman would have walked away.
But the bottom line is we have the kind of facility that many Premier League clubs didn't have when TK first came on board as Bees chairman. God knows, I miss Underhill but I'd feel the same about South Underhill and certainly Copthall (spit!!). And in true Barnet FC style the minute we get ourselves settled into a new ground we find ourselves in the middle of another council tug of war over the height of the stand and the floodlights. Totally ridiculous and no doubt it'll all be resolved once the Council elections are out of the way but just typical of the soap opera we have to go through as Barnet Football Club - the Broncos should fee right at home! And as for those poor saps like me who support both - well you can't help some people. We embrace the chaos.
4000 for the Luton game? That's gonna be quite an atmosphere. Roll on Boxing Day.
