Hearts Moving To Murrayfield

[Curious Orange]

Just spotted this on skysports.com. Is this the Goldstone all over again? Is there anyway we can help Hearts?

HEARTS AGREE MURRAYFIELD MOVE
Monday 9th February 2004



Hearts have agreed to move from their Tynecastle base to play their home games at Murrayfield next season.
The SPL side have been looking to sell Tynecastle since announcing an increase in their debts last November.

The Jambos had been exploring several options regarding a new home, including the possibility of a ground-share with Edinburgh rivals Hibernian.

But Hibs opted to stay at Easter Road, with Hearts forced to seek elsewhere for a new ground and they have now settled on the home of Scottish rugby union.

Scotland Rugby have confirmed that, after detailed discussions with Hearts, they have concurred on an agreement for football to be played at the venue for the 2004/05 campaign.

"Scotland Rugby announces that it has reached agreement in principle with Heart of Midlothian Football Club on terms for a ground-share agreement of Murrayfield Stadium by Hearts with effect from the commencement of the 2004/2005 football season," read a Scotland Rugby statement.

"Agreement with Heart of Midlothian remains subject to the conclusion of detailed terms for a binding ground-share agreement between the parties.

"We note that the relocation of Hearts to Murrayfield would be conditional, inter alia, upon the approval of Hearts' shareholders in general meeting.

"A further announcement will be made in due course."

Hearts released a statement to the Stock Exchange confirming their intentions, which also include the commencement of plans to sell Tynecastle.

"The board of Hearts today announces that it has reached agreement in principle with the Scottish Rugby Union on terms for the ground-share agreement of Murrayfield Stadium by Hearts with effect from the commencement of the 2004/2005 football season," read the statement.

"Hearts also announces that it has instructed commercial property agents to conduct a valuation of the Tynecastle Stadium and to begin a process of selecting a preferred bidder for the ground.

"Agreement with the SRU remains subject to the conclusion of detailed terms for a binding contract agreement between the parties.

"The potential sale of Tynecastle would be conditional, inter alia, upon the approval of Hearts’ shareholders in general meeting. A further announcement will be made in due course."

 

[Simster]

Shocking.

No ground assets to call their own, and playing in a 68,000 all seater stadium. Probably alright when playing Hibs or the OF, but what about those mouthwatering midweek games against Partick and Livingstone? It'll look ridiculous!

 

[Brovion]

I'm not sure it IS the Goldstone all over again. I don't think Hearts are doing it because they're in money trouble (any more than any other club) but rather because they see it as the best way to get a state-of-the-art Stadium.

Maybe Jambo Seagull can explain.

 

[Simster]

I'm not sure it IS the Goldstone all over again. I don't think Hearts are doing it because they're in money trouble (any more than any other club) but rather because they see it as the best way to get a state-of-the-art Stadium.

Maybe Jambo Seagull can explain.

You're wrong. They are up to their necks in debt and should have got together with Hibs and built a smart 30,000 all seater. It's a real opportunity missed.

 

[Curious Orange]

Selling Tynecastle to property developers smacks of asset stripping to me. I'd be suprised if it was cheaper to rent Murrayfield, you only need to look at the examples of us, Bristol Rovers, Wimbledon, and even Charlton to see what happens when a club loses it's home. And Charlton is probably a great example of what can happen when it gets its home back again!!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I think I read that the Hearts board have said that their pitch is too small to play European football on under UEFA rules, and that's a major reason for the move.

Like they get more than one European match per season, before being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by a lowly French side....

 

[fatbadger]

Jambo Seagull has started a thread on this:

http://www.northstandchat.biz/showthread.php?threadid=16145&goto=nextnewest

There is also heartfelt discussion on heartskickback.co.uk including a thread on which a few NSCers have posted.

It is a very dodgy situation; their Chairman, Chris Robinson, has said that it is necessary since the club is £10million in debt. This is the same Chris Robinson that has taken almost £1million out of the club in salary etc. He and SMG together hold a controlling number of shares, so the sale will go through against the wishes of 93-98% (depending on which survey you believe) of fans. SMG have a significant shareholding in Murrayfield and so have a material interest in the decision - they will make money from the rent. It is also worth noting that the rent is going to be set at a very high price, so that the maths don't really add up. Still, Robinson and SMG will pocket loads of cash, so they don't care. Furthermore, the site at Tynecastle is clearly big enough for redevelopment (the pitch is only about 1 metre too short - easy enough to sort out).

This IS just like the Goldstone being sold from underneath us - the club's historic home is going to property development (a retail park) against the wishes of the fans, against the long-term interests of the club, and in order to line the pockets of the two largest shareholders. Brighton fans who refuse to empathise with Hearts fans are a disgrace.

There is talk of a Fans United day - I am sure Jambo will let us know if that is going to happen, and when. For the record, Tynecastle is a great ground - you'll be most welcome up here should a date be set, and the BHAlbas can promise you a good time in Edinburgh!

 

[fatbadger]

I also want to add that a number of Hearts fans have shown support for us in our plight - including letters to Prescott - so we might want to offer ours in return.

 

[Seagull73]

I must admit I saw this piece last night on Sky Sports news and thought, what is their problem? They are going to get a great 68,000 seat stadium to play in and blah blah blah.....

I was really hoping that somebody would explain this one, and yeah it is an absolute disgrace. They said on the piece on SSN last night that it was actually 18M on debt, in which case, where the hell do they go from here?

Very worrying.......

 

[scotjem]

Could we try and get a letter in the Scotsman at least - warning Edinburgh what they have to look forward to, once they lose Tynecastle.

 

[Brovion]

Fair enough - I stand corrected.

 

[SeagullSimon]

You're wrong. They are up to their necks in debt and should have got together with Hibs and built a smart 30,000 all seater. It's a real opportunity missed.

would you like to share a ground with palace?

 

[Simster]

would you like to share a ground with palace?

If Palace were based in Brighton then I wouldn't give a tuppenny toss. It's much better that a spanking new stadium is a source of civic pride rather than just a source of pride to a single football club anyway. That's the whole premise behind Falmer, is it not?

 

[Highfields Seagull]

If Palace were based in Brighton then I wouldn't give a tuppenny toss. It's much better that a spanking new stadium is a source of civic pride rather than just a source of pride to a single football club anyway. That's the whole premise behind Falmer, is it not?

I agree.

It's like in Liverpool. I can't quite believe that they both want to build brand spanking new stadia, yet they won't share one.

It works in Italy, but people (boards, fans etc) are unwilling to make it work here.

 

[Dandyman]

Jambo Seagull has started a thread on this:

http://www.northstandchat.biz/showthread.php?threadid=16145&goto=nextnewest

There is also heartfelt discussion on heartskickback.co.uk including a thread on which a few NSCers have posted.

It is a very dodgy situation; their Chairman, Chris Robinson, has said that it is necessary since the club is £10million in debt. This is the same Chris Robinson that has taken almost £1million out of the club in salary etc. He and SMG together hold a controlling number of shares, so the sale will go through against the wishes of 93-98% (depending on which survey you believe) of fans. SMG have a significant shareholding in Murrayfield and so have a material interest in the decision - they will make money from the rent. It is also worth noting that the rent is going to be set at a very high price, so that the maths don't really add up. Still, Robinson and SMG will pocket loads of cash, so they don't care. Furthermore, the site at Tynecastle is clearly big enough for redevelopment (the pitch is only about 1 metre too short - easy enough to sort out).

This IS just like the Goldstone being sold from underneath us - the club's historic home is going to property development (a retail park) against the wishes of the fans, against the long-term interests of the club, and in order to line the pockets of the two largest shareholders. Brighton fans who refuse to empathise with Hearts fans are a disgrace.

There is talk of a Fans United day - I am sure Jambo will let us know if that is going to happen, and when. For the record, Tynecastle is a great ground - you'll be most welcome up here should a date be set, and the BHAlbas can promise you a good time in Edinburgh!

I hope a Fans United day receives support from all true fans.

 

[ditchy]

i have been standing on my soapbox preaching this before...Whats wrong if clubs share .. if both get to use a great stadium ..whats wrong with one half for one club and the other half for the other.. .. you could even go as far as having changingrooms in seperate stands.. as well as seperate club offices..This day and age clubs are based away from there stadiums for training etc and only use the stadium for 1st team games... A great example of putting this to good use would be the two Dundee clubs who are vitrually back to back or Both notts clubs ..