Thai owners

[Nameless]

Would certainly be good to have a regular flow of good bands / shows/ events locally.
Shame it would take a good 2-3 years before it's up and running, but if the Thais are prepared to work on stuff like that it shows a serious intent. You wonder if they have their eyes on all the other land waiting to be developed on the way into town from the stadium....

[3points]

As I've said before, this sounds increasingly like the model being used by Wasps to run the Ricoh Arena. Its conference facility can take a large number of people, much greater than the current hotel at the Mad Stad. It is also used for concerts, sports events like darts, snooker, etc and makes a great (and bigger) alternative to the Hexagon. You'll probably get another hotel on site, cookie cutter type restaurants, and possibly a casino as well

[Royal Rother]

What about the parking though? Where is everyone going to park?

Fcuk it. Hadn't thought of that.

[royalp-we]

As posted above, it could be similar to the Ricoh Jaguar hall and conference facilities, used for exhibitions and the like. There are several in the midlands a la NEC, Stoneleigh Park etc. it's a possibility.

I can only think of Farnborough 5 as the closest exhibition halls but could be wrong. Isn't Earls Court planned to be demolished?

[Pat Butchers Ring]

Earls Court is being turned into flats, leaving only Olympia in west London or Excel in Docklands. A large conference facility/music venue right on the M4 and served by Reading station sound a viable prospect. If they can turn it in to mini O2 there all sorts of other events that can be put on.

[Geekins]

I think you could. Not an O2 sized arena, but a smaller one with a 6-8k (bit bigger than the Hammersmith Apollo/Brixton Academy, bit smaller than Wembley Arena) capacity with a set of function suites to enable large conferences. There's already "sell-out" events that play the Hexagon because of a lack of better venue. Reading already has a marketable music reputation thanks to the festival. If it's a decent venue managed properly, build and they will come.

[Sutekh]

Welcome to the Carabao Clunkerdome

[Norfolk Royal]

If they do build a venue do you think there might be a chance that Neil Diamond would include it in the itinerary for his next UK tour?

[paultheroyal]

Picture Telford International Centre and then you wont go far wrong with the proposal.

[No Fixed Abode]

In the new car park they will build next to the arena - as was alluded to in the interview.

So, they use up some of the car parking space to build an arena and then build a new car park? Where is all this extra land coming from then? the car parking area will be significantly smaller than it is at the moment - maybe they are getting rid of the Park & Ride though.

Have you ever heard of a multi story car park RL?

[Green]

Picture Telford International Centre and then you wont go far wrong with the proposal.

Not sure I've been to that particular International Centre - what's it like?

I'm imagining a bigger version of The Hexagon

[Lenny The Tramp]

Floating market on the Kennet flood meadows next to A33 relief road?

[UpThePrem]

Not sure whats happening to the land on Imperial Way where the Car Park currently is. I heard that Sainsburys have sold it to a developer but not sure who it is. Could that land be linked to the stadium and be the solution for car parking?

[Platypuss]

fvckin' 'ell Dave, ease off the Caracbao when you're posting mate

I'm in Thailand mate On Internet in a cafe nice beer.

Not deleting this one, only to provide context for:

IP for this post: host86-151-157-89.range86-151.btcentralplus.com (86.151.157.89)

[From Despair To Where?]

In the new car park they will build next to the arena - as was alluded to in the interview.

So, they use up some of the car parking space to build an arena and then build a new car park? Where is all this extra land coming from then? the car parking area will be significantly smaller than it is at the moment - maybe they are getting rid of the Park & Ride though.

Have you ever heard of a multi story car park RL?

I know you like to be first with the news Kes but you're a day late with that one,

[marcusopp]

What about the parking though? Where is everyone going to park?

Fcuk it. Hadn't thought of that.

Two wheels are better than four. I drove to the mad stad once, never again. Either cycle from my mates house or motorbike it now, loads better.
Another alternative is the pub buses...

[Nameless]

Not sure whats happening to the land on Imperial Way where the Car Park currently is. I heard that Sainsburys have sold it to a developer but not sure who it is. Could that land be linked to the stadium and be the solution for car parking?

I believe it's going to be developed shortly with a mix of retail, office And residential. Won't be available for parking next season or (officially) in the future.
Not sure Sainsburys were ever involved.

[Chuckle Brother]

RBC have been looking at alternatives to the hexagon for years, so that works really well, and the town needs something modern like that. Also recognising we'll need to find alternative parking for the lost spaces is good to hear. They're not just looking to gobble up land and forget the fans.

They're looking to gobble fans and forget the land.

[Ian Royal]

In the new car park they will build next to the arena - as was alluded to in the interview.

So, they use up some of the car parking space to build an arena and then build a new car park? Where is all this extra land coming from then? the car parking area will be significantly smaller than it is at the moment - maybe they are getting rid of the Park & Ride though.

Have you ever heard of a multi story car park RL?

Kes, first with the news as always.

[paultheroyal]

Picture Telford International Centre and then you wont go far wrong with the proposal.

Not sure I've been to that particular International Centre - what's it like?

I'm imagining a bigger version of The Hexagon