Wasps plan new ‘Wasps Nest Stadium’ and return to Premiership by 2025-26

[Puja]

Haven't seen any mention of this yet: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... by-2025-26

It's... ambitious, to say the least. Would require a lot of funding and I'd question exactly what "the M40 corridor" means - that could be anywhere from Birmingham to Uxbridge and, assuming it's around the Henley training ground, is encroaching even further towards Worcester's catchment area.

Interesting that they're planning on playing a Champ season at the training ground. Seems to put paid to ground-share suggestions in Solihull.

Puja

[FKAS]

Can they just merge with Worcester and get on with it, for fucks sake. Whilst the cowboys who own Worcester are best avoided a long term lease on the Sixways Stadium is in the best interest of both parties.

[Margin_Walker]

I know it's their 'vision' and all, rather than anything concrete. But having a facility like that built and in use for 2027-28, is absolute fantasy even if they did manage to find the astronomical sum of money it would require. These things just take longer than 5 years, unless absolutely everything is in place now.

Really hope things work out for them, but I'd concentrate on something more achievable and sustainable at the moment.

[Mr Mwenda]

Anybody got any updates on Stourbridge?

[Puja]

I know it's their 'vision' and all, rather than anything concrete. But having a facility like that built and in use for 2027-28, is absolute fantasy even if they did manage to find the astronomical sum of money it would require. These things just take longer than 5 years, unless absolutely everything is in place now.

Really hope things work out for them, but I'd concentrate on something more achievable and sustainable at the moment.

Indeed. I don't mind an ambitious business plan, but if they had enough access to financing to make this work, then they needn't've gone bust in the first place!

Puja

[Crash Hamster]

I know it's their 'vision' and all, rather than anything concrete. But having a facility like that built and in use for 2027-28, is absolute fantasy even if they did manage to find the astronomical sum of money it would require. These things just take longer than 5 years, unless absolutely everything is in place now.

Really hope things work out for them, but I'd concentrate on something more achievable and sustainable at the moment.

Indeed. I don't mind an ambitious business plan, but if they had enough access to financing to make this work, then they needn't've gone bust in the first place!

Puja

Exactly this; I'd certainly be taking this proposal with an extremely large amount of salt until proven otherwise. About the only positive thing in the Wasps situation is that they're not in such deep manure as Worcester...

[Peej]

I know it's their 'vision' and all, rather than anything concrete. But having a facility like that built and in use for 2027-28, is absolute fantasy even if they did manage to find the astronomical sum of money it would require. These things just take longer than 5 years, unless absolutely everything is in place now.

Really hope things work out for them, but I'd concentrate on something more achievable and sustainable at the moment.

Indeed. I don't mind an ambitious business plan, but if they had enough access to financing to make this work, then they needn't've gone bust in the first place!

Puja

It's basically what the move to the Ricoh was sold as. The plan seems to be repeat, but do it less shit

[Puja]

Anybody got any updates on Stourbridge?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65252432
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65383555

Looks like, if Atlas don't get it done by 2nd May, they lose their exclusivity and Diamond et al are back in the running to purchase it. I have to say, that'd be my favoured option - Diamond is a genuine rugby man, through and through, and I'd trust him to safeguard Worcester for the fans. Very much sounds like this Atlas lot are as much a bunch of clowns as the last owners.

Puja

[Peej]

Wasps have applied to play at Sixways apparently

[FKAS]

Wasps have applied to play at Sixways apparently

It's in the "M40 corridor" and about 35 mins away from their training ground by car. It's pretty much ideally placed. I'm sure they'll say it's short term and Wasps will look to win over the locals so that it can become permanent in the future.

Atlas don't have to bother relaunching Warriors properly, they can flog the ground to Wasps and then develop the other sites for cash. At some point sell off the Wuss training ground for development. Atlas make a killing and Wasps get a reasonably sized ground they might actually be able to afford.

[Puja]

Wuss supporterss groups protesting and trying to get the RFU to block Wasps move to Sixways: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65533658

Can't blame them. If Wasps go there, then it's basically the end for Worcester Warriors as an entity, certainly any hope for them ever returning to the top end of the game. It does feel like the only viable option for Wasps (barring my idea of moving them to the South-East with the aim of reconnecting with their historic supporter base and taking advantage of the unserviced population of East Anglia), but it will be choosing one or the other of them to survive at the expense of the other.

Puja

[FKAS]

The whole things sounds like it's a right mess as Atlas still haven't stumped up the cash apparently.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/ ... 79690.html

The Wuss fans group makes entirely fair comments but Wasps training ground is very close to Sixways and despite what they say Wasps have already moved into the area. It's the effective merging of the clubs that all parties denied a few months ago but was logical to everyone else. Wasps will have to go some to win the locals over, a blue away strip and adopting Worcester into the name alongside Wasps might help a bit.

[Puja]

The whole things sounds like it's a right mess as Atlas still haven't stumped up the cash apparently.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/ ... 79690.html

The Wuss fans group makes entirely fair comments but Wasps training ground is very close to Sixways and despite what they say Wasps have already moved into the area. It's the effective merging of the clubs that all parties denied a few months ago but was logical to everyone else. Wasps will have to go some to win the locals over, a blue away strip and adopting Worcester into the name alongside Wasps might help a bit.

I would say "Wasps have already moved into the area" isn't 100% accurate. Coventry is a 50 mile drive from Worcester and the training ground in Henley is 30 miles. Gloucester's training ground is actually closer to Sixways than Henley is. Welford Road is not a big distance further away from Henley than Worcester is (and Butts Park or Solihull Moors would be even closer)

In addition, I don't blame Wuss for regarding Wasps as Johnny Newcomer - they were only in the Midlands 8 years and only moved there with the promise that Coventry would be their permanent and successful home and they weren't looking to step on any existing clubs' toes. Remember that Coventry used to be part of Worcester's catchment area, both for players and supporters and that there was a lot of consternation at the time that it would be detrimental to Wuss to have a big name rival parachuted onto their doorstep

Now, after less than 9 years, they are now looking to take over Worcester's ground and fanbase? It may be logical and probably the only functional solution, but I can very much understand why Warriors fans are feeling aggrieved. Less than a decade after being told they were being alarmist and there was room enough for everyone in the Midlands, they are due to be displaced from their own ground.

Puja

[FKAS]

25 miles if you take the country route between the two. It isn't that far and we all knew at the time they moved that they were very much stepping on the toes of Wuss.

Wuss fans are rightly annoyed that Wasps are cuckooing into their stadium and fan base. Coventry Rugby were less than happy nearly a decade ago as well and are going to do their best to put the boot in next season.

Warriors aren't in a league for next season and there's no realistic plan for the club to have a team in the professional leagues anytime soon thanks to the cowboys that have bought the club from the last bunch of cowboys.

Wasps are in a mess and moving them away from another Championship team in Coventry makes sense. Especially as Sixways will otherwise sit empty as there's no point opening it for an amateur or semi pro side.

[Galfon]

... It's the effective merging of the clubs that all parties denied a few months ago but was logical to everyone else. Wasps will have to go some to win the locals over, a blue away strip and adopting Worcester into the name alongside Wasps might help a bit.

You'd think they would do this, or along these lines.
It was always on the cards but will take some swallowing. (' M4 corridor' is pushing it a bit with a 30 mile jaunt to the M5!.)

[FKAS]

... It's the effective merging of the clubs that all parties denied a few months ago but was logical to everyone else. Wasps will have to go some to win the locals over, a blue away strip and adopting Worcester into the name alongside Wasps might help a bit.

You'd think they would do this, or along these lines.
It was always on the cards but will take some swallowing. (' M4 corridor' is pushing it a bit with a 30 mile jaunt to the M5!.)

M40 corridor not M4 otherwise they'd really be taking liberties with the original brief more than they already are.

[Galfon]

... It's the effective merging of the clubs that all parties denied a few months ago but was logical to everyone else. Wasps will have to go some to win the locals over, a blue away strip and adopting Worcester into the name alongside Wasps might help a bit.

You'd think they would do this, or along these lines.
It was always on the cards but will take some swallowing. (' M4 corridor' is pushing it a bit with a 30 mile jaunt to the M5!.)

M40 corridor not M4 otherwise they'd really be taking liberties with the original brief more than they already are.

indeed! finger trouble, but ref.ng to the distance across to warwick
or so..

[FKAS]

Lawrence Dallaligio a director of Wasps is being pursued over £700k of unpaid taxes and may have to file for bankruptcy.