Hayes: We need to change to compete (From Bucks Free Press)

Hayes: We need to change to compete

9:10am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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WANDERERS and Wasps say they have to move to a new stadium in order to compete with their rivals and safeguard their futures.

The two clubs signed a collaboration agreement with the council on Wednesday with the intention of finding a site for a new 20,000 capacity stadium and sports village within Wycombe.

Wanderers and Wasps owner Steve Hayes says the proposal will safeguard the future of both clubs who have been haemorrhaging money and enable them to prosper.

The proposal includes the 15,000 to 20,000-seater stadium at the heart of a sporting complex designed for the whole community.

It would include grass and synthetic pitches as well as possibly incorporating the training grounds of Wanderers and Wasps.

Alongside the new stadium, the development would includes bars, restaurants, hospitality suites, function rooms, a nursery and a conference centre designed to rake in revenue seven days a week.

A hotel, which the clubs may run themselves, is also being considered and a neighbouring residential development could help finance the scheme which the business property press have reported as costing £50m.

Hayes said: “We need to change. The status quo of the clubs is not sustainable. If we stand still we are effectively moving backwards.

“There are other clubs that are improving their facilities and moving forwards and we want to be with them.”

The two clubs claim that the 10,000-capacity Adams Park, with its one access road, is outdated and holding them back.

They claim some of its facilities and the experience they are able to give some fans are an embarrassment.

Hayes said: “The matchday experience at Adams Park is not something we can be proud of.

“We want away fans to look at their fixtures and think Wycombe is a place they want to go to.

“Not many of them enjoy coming here at the moment. They have no facilities. They queue up at a kiosk or burger van, then watch the game and go.

“That’s not sport in the future and this project will change that.

“The potential is huge. Over 45 teams and their away fans come here each season, that’s a lot of people we can look after and we don’t at the moment.”

And he is delighted to have the council onside.

He said: “We are moving forward with people who can turn the vision into reality.”

And he says the project is about much more than the two clubs and stresses that the social aspect of the plan and the opportunities to develop Wanderers’ and Wasps’ hugely successful community schemes are just as exciting.

He said: “This is not just about a new stadium, it’s about investing in a project which will help us to achieve far more in the community.

“My vision is to see even more people get involved in sport. Sport is a catalyst for good. Investing in sport is a way of building a stronger, healthier and more successful community.”

Wanderers chairman Ivor Beeks said: “We are all really excited about this. It is a big milestone in both clubs’ histories.”

Wasps chairman Mark Rigby believes the move is vital to both clubs’ chances of success on and off the field.

He said: “Sports clubs need to develop their revenue streams beyond just matchdays and in terms of where we are today at Adams Park we are limited to what we can do in that regard.”