General New Stadium Plans - Stratfield Brake

[WuTang]

You're right, Stratfield Brake has been spoken about for a long time, including the time when Charlie was talking up Water Eaton. At the time I posted, we had at least one other site that we were looking at, and I felt that would be the one we went with, hence my post.

You'll also be aware that world events changed hugely in early 2020 and that changed the picture significantly. I won't apologise for getting things wrong as I've only ever presented anything as I've seen it at the time.

But if you want to score points then jump right in.

You didn't need to reply, but if the shoe fits Cinderella

 

[bazzer9461]

Rad Ox interbiew with Niall at 4:10pm

Is that the exact time he’s on it is that when the programme starts

 

[werthersoriginal]

You didn't need to reply, but if the shoe fits Cinderella

Oh miaow. Churlish

 

[captainox]

Oxford United Stadium Statement

Oxford United Football Club are pleased to provide an update on the search for a new home to secure the club’s long-term future.

www.oufc.co.uk

 

[NorthWestOx]

Is that the exact time he’s on it is that when the programme starts

I think the interview is on at 4:10.

 

[Colin B]

So I like Wallop feel vindicated. The ITK folk shot us down. It has been Stratfield Brake all along as per the info I was given in Dec 2019.
View attachment 7751View attachment 7752View attachment 7753

At that time it wasn't the first choice. Absolutely 100% it wasn't, as we were looking at a smaller piece of land next door to Parkway. But as time went on Stratfield Brake became more attainable, and is larger, so it became first choice.

 

[bazzer9461]

Oxford United Football Club are pleased to provide an update on the search for a new home to secure the club’s long-term future.

As many of the community will be aware, the Kassam Stadium is in third party ownership and the club’s license agreement ends in 2026. The club has therefore been actively searching for a new site to secure a sustainable long-term future at the heart of the Oxfordshire community.

The club is therefore delighted to announce that a site for a potential new stadium has been identified, close to Oxford Parkway and just off the A34 at the existing Stratfield Brake Sports Ground at Frieze Way, Kidlington. The site is owned by Oxfordshire County Council who have been considering the urgent need to secure the future of Oxfordshire’s only professional football club following a formal proposal by Oxford United.

Matters are at a very early stage and Oxfordshire County Council will be considering the club’s proposal at their Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 18 January 2022.

Subject to Cabinet approval, Oxford United would be able to progress plans to seek planning permission for a new stadium on part of the site which would provide the facilities and capacity to meet the club’s future on-pitch ambitions and provide an unrivalled matchday experience. The move would also seek to solidify and build on the club’s community outreach programme, ensuring our off-pitch offer expands in line with our long-term vision.


The move to a new stadium will not be a short-term process and will be subject to the normal planning permissions and requirements, including wide reaching and inclusive consultation with local residents, stakeholders and the community.

Oxford United would also seek to evolve exciting plans for complementary uses on the remainder of the site. This would include fan facilities and other uses providing sustainable additional revenue streams, whilst also providing new facilities and jobs for local people. Discussions will also be held with Gosford All Blacks and Kidlington Cricket Club and all other Stratfield Brake stakeholders to ensure they can all continue to play locally with the aim of new and improved facilities.

Oxford United are committed to putting the supporters of the club, Kidlington and the wider community at the heart of discussions to bring forward plans for a new permanent home of which everyone associated with the club can be proud.

Whilst the proposals are at a very early stage, and subject to both OCC Cabinet approval and the planning process, Oxford United are excited at the prospect of securing a new stadium that protects the club’s 129-year history, delivers significant community benefits, and upholds a valued community asset.

The proposed stadium site is in a highly sustainable and accessible location, close to Oxford Parkway station, Oxford Parkway Park & Ride and the A34, enabling fans to travel to games using alternative and sustainable forms of transport and moving away from the reliance on cars necessitated by the current location of the Kassam Stadium.

Niall McWilliams, Managing Director, confirmed

“We are very pleased to be in a position to announce an update on our long-awaited stadium search. It has always been our desire to be in control of our own destiny and build a sustainable future for the club on our own terms and we are hopeful that this proposed stadium move would enable us to do exactly that. As we have always said, this project is about more than football - we are determined to be part of a project that brings international class sporting and community facilities to Oxfordshire.

"We have an ownership group who are determined to take this club to the next level both on and off the field. More importantly they see it as their obligation to do this in a structured and sustainable way which protects the long-term future of the football club.

"We thank Oxfordshire County Council for their considered approach in assessing our proposal, and should the decision be to proceed, we look forward to working with them, our fans and local stakeholders in bringing forward our plans for our long-awaited new community stadium.”

The club are committed to ensuring fans, residents and stakeholders alike are kept informed of the latest developments and will provide a further statement following the anticipated decision.

 

[OX14]

So has the takeover completed or not?

 

[bazzer9461]

So has the takeover completed or not?

Hopefully we will hear this week, can’t see why there would be any issues now with planning permission to be considered for Stratfield Brake

 

[WuTang]

Oh miaow. Churlish

Meh, providing many of us with light entertainment is no bad thing

 

[Sarge]

a stakeholder pictured earlier .....

 

[Fanatica]

Kidlington residents worry about traffic. Genuine question, outside of Kidlington and surrounding villages, will there actually be any through traffic given the A34, Train Links and so on? Banbury & Bicester is via A34, from the south is A34.

 

[windmill]

What is Kassam going to do with those 12000 seats?

 

[OUSP]

OUSP Response:
The OUSP welcomes the news that Oxfordshire County Council will be considering proposals for relocating Oxford United to Stratfield Brake. We are excited at the prospect of a sustainable stadium, clearly identifiable as the home of Oxford United, with much improved access and transport options and excellent facilities, leading to a vastly improved matchday experience. We are already engaging with the club on this and will ensure that fans’ views are considered as the project moves forward, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding in place between the club and OUSP.

We encourage fans to contact their County Councillors ahead of the meeting on 18th January to make known their support for this project. You can find contact details for the County Councillors here.

 

[The mighty Aldo]

Does it really matter. You’ve asked tirelessly for as much info as possible, and now you finally know what the boards plans are, you still don’t seem satisfied.

Stratfield Brake has always been the powers that be’s choice. There was three other locations identified, but that doesn’t matter at this moment in time.

No I won’t be satisfied until I’m actually watching a game in our new stadium wherever that may be ,I’ve seen too many false dawns to take anything for granted
All I’m saying is that SB was ruled out at one stage just be nice to know the other areas we were looking at
You seem to know 3 of them so just tell us

 

[Yellowarmy]

At that time it wasn't the first choice. Absolutely 100% it wasn't, as we were looking at a smaller piece of land next door to Parkway. But as time went on Stratfield Brake became more attainable, and is larger, so it became first choice.

A football club doesn't just choose a site. It doesn't have the planning knowledge to do that. It is a process involving consultation and taking advice from stakeholders

 

[Kiewhite]

Well said. I know we're all excited but we have to temper this with a dose of realism.

Oxford has a population of 152,000 people and Oxfordshire has 687,000 - it makes it the 35th most populated of the 48 ceremonial counties which does reveal a finite level of support since we're unlikely to make much of an impact outside of the county. That's where our community will come from. We're not going to Liverpool or Manchester United but we can share in our parochial interests and aim to be a Brighton, Brentford, Hull or Bournemouth - middling clubs who through new stadia or good investment, have managed to jump into the next level. Let's not forget that 30 years ago some of those clubs were attracting minor crowds and we're battling for their lives to stay in the league.

There is a chance to right a lot of the wrongs with the Kassam Stadium. Aside from good views, it's a miserable place to watch football. Three stands, open corners, smell of s**t, nowhere decent to drink or eat, 40 minute bus ride/too far to walk from the station and nothing of note to do pre or post-match. If the new investors can promise to make the surrounds of the ground decent, that should attract more people to it. Making it easier to access and get away from after a game, even better. Have a top class, well designed ground that locks in atmosphere, that adds a few on to the total.

I can see our attendances generally going up, as they did initially with the Kassam until realism hit home again. We lost so much momentum when the Kassam opened. The team was still in a form of shock from nearly going out of business that paralysed progress for a good number of seasons. New stadiums often suggest rebirth or a new era - ours saw us finish 21st of 24 in the fourth tier and it got even worse four seasons later.

I hope that the Oxford United team that is due to play in the projected new stadium is in a good place if and when it happens. I do believe that the personnel behind it are as well meaning and savvy as they sound. There's a long old road ahead.

Got 4-5 years to get out the kassam. Actually ain’t that long and that makes me more excited knowing when or if planning is accepted it’s pretty much going to have to start the building work straight away. Still I would like to no the plan on what happens if and when the new owners leave the club and if the club (no future owner) will own the stadium

 

[DannyW]

What is Kassam going to do with those 12000 seats?

Well he won't clean them

 

[Essexyellows]

You're right, Stratfield Brake has been spoken about for a long time, including the time when Charlie was talking up Water Eaton. At the time I posted, we had at least one other site that we were looking at, and I felt that would be the one we went with, hence my post.

You'll also be aware that world events changed hugely in early 2020 and that changed the picture significantly. I won't apologise for getting things wrong as I've only ever presented anything as I've seen it at the time.

But if you want to score points then jump right in.

Kind of my sentiments with a potential redevelopment.............

PS: I accept that bird may no longer be at the bird table but maybe watching from a nearby tree.

 

[makv]

yep- by road 10 miles give or take

6 miles from Headington