County Cricket on the move from Bristol?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

"near" a station, should in my view mean within half a mile, measured from the mid point of the train to the main entrance of the stadium. Not half a mile from the station entrance , but from the train.

Aside (and I may split the thread) - what is the longest distance from a station entrance to your train?  I wonder about South Ken, with the tunnel to the museums, or Dovey Junction with the long walk out to the road.

[TaplowGreen]

"near" a station, should in my view mean within half a mile, measured from the mid point of the train to the main entrance of the stadium. Not half a mile from the station entrance , but from the train.

Given that Twickenham stadium is 0.6 miles from Twickenham Station, I'm sure the RFU are relieved that you weren't in charge of planning policy when their application was submitted! 

[Mark A]

... in... 1906 and largely before people drove everywhere.

Again, while I don't have the gene for sport, rail travel to Twickenham for the rugby has been a thing since whenever and presumably still is - people travelling to it do think of the stadium as about a half mile from the station - which it is, especially in wishful thinking terms.

The half mile separation is possibly useful to the railway as it must spread people out. It's been some time since I lived nearby - when the 1950s station's additional platform(s?) that served the stadium were very much part of things. Twickenham station's been much redeveloped though, curiously the current map at the National Rail site has those platforms (with track too...).

https://images.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/31Q3CCYZjptJAnZfnHUfEX/c7f4a8a02538d2eaa357506ff8f917ec/Twickenham_station_map.jpg

Travellers for the rugby also visit Twickenham town centre which is in the opposite direction, and I recall a work colleague from a workplace 100 miles away remarking that he always associated a match at Twickenham with the smell of sawn softwood as he walked past Alsfords the timber merchants in Heath Road. Puzzling as Alsfords *definitely* isn't in the direction of the stadium or station...

Mark

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=51.45061&lon=-0.33047&layers=170&b=20

[TaplowGreen]

... in... 1906 and largely before people drove everywhere.

Again, while I don't have the gene for sport, rail travel to Twickenham for the rugby has been a thing since whenever and presumably still is - people travelling to it do think of the stadium as about a half mile from the station - which it is, especially in wishful thinking terms.



https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=51.45061&lon=-0.33047&layers=170&b=20

I must confess to not being entirely serious. Thought the smiley might have given that away!

To be honest at times when I've left Twickenham stadium it's felt like 10 miles (although that's normally Whitton Station, via the White Hart!)

[WelshBluebird]

It is worth adding context that the normal capacity of the current ground is less than 10k and even for international games where they add temporary seating it is still less than 20k. Nowhere near the grounds places like Twickenham etc get.

The existing ground is also pretty well served by buses, and has an existing train station within a mile (and the previously mentioned new station opening in 2024 about 500m away). It obviously is also incredibly accessible for those people who live in the general North Bristol area (and is within walking distance for tens of thousands of people).

You basically lose all that by moving away to a motorway based ground where driving will likely be the main transport option with potentially some buses if we are lucky (but not as many routes as the existing ground is served by). Essentially baking in car dependency for travel to the ground for at least a large percentage of visitors. Not something we should be planning for in 2023 IMO^▸ ('in my opinion').

[welshman]

I take WelshBluebird's points about access for locals.  However, for international matches many spectators are from away.

The ground is not up to the standard of any of the others which host international cricket.  Temporary stands have to be erected for fixtures and even then the capacity is limited.

I've been to several international matches there.  There is no shade unless you happen to be in the pavilion and the temporary toilet facilities (largely those blue building site portabogs) are both inadequate in number and minging.

The last time I was there, the ticket/security check involved a 20 minute queue snaking down Nevil Road. Poorly compared with everywhere else except Lord's.

There is no car parking to speak of within any reasonable distance and, pending the opening of Ashley Down Station, no convenient rail connection.  There are bus services via Gloucester Road, Muller Road and Ashley Down Road so not very far away.  But you still probably have to park somewhere and catch a bus if you're not local.

I also agree, however, that a green field stadium somewhere off the ring road or the M4 is not the answer.  The majority of cricket played at Bristol is attractive only to a local audience and moving out of town would not improve attendance at Glos CCC matches.

A conundrum. 

The ground is fine for Glos CCC cricket but it is not up to scratch for anything beyond that.  As has been said above, there is competition for 100 franchises and as it stands Taunton would get the vote over Bristol as it's a much better appointed ground, as is Sophia Gardens of course.

[JayMac]

I also agree, however, that a green field stadium somewhere off the ring road or the M4 is not the answer.  The majority of cricket played at Bristol is attractive only to a local audience and moving out of town would not improve attendance at Glos CCC matches.

One of the major reasons for the proposed move is to have a year round facilty. More attractive for international cricket in summer and multi-purpose to attract more non-cricket events.