Saracens Set to Leave Watford. Loftus Rd Possible

[Macmoish]

Which is really an update of something a few months ago

Telegraph

Saracens poised to leave Vicarage Road at the end of the new season

Saracens are poised to leave Vicarage Road at the end of next season, bringing an end to 13 years of top-flight rugby in Watford.

By Gavin Mairs, Rugby News Correspondent
Published: 10:30PM BST 13 Aug 2010

Last season's Premiership finalists are looking at as many as five grounds in London for the start of the 2011-12 season, after Watford Football Club activated a break clause in their lease, which runs to June 2017.

Saracens, who have been based at Vicarage Road since 1998, are thought to be considering playing at two other football grounds, Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road and Fulham's Craven Cottage, as well as considering a proposal from Watford to redevelop Vicarage Road, including the condemned East Stand.

A permanent move to Wembley, where Saracens will play their Heineken Cup pool match against Leinster in October and a Premiership match against Wasps on Boxing Day, is not being considered, even though the club attracted average crowds of more than 40,000 for four games at the home of English football last season.

"We have been looking for some time at our options because there is a break in our lease at Vicarage Road at the end of this season," Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths said.

"We are still in discussion with Watford about development of Vicarage Road and that is still one of those options. But obviously our inquiries have moved on elsewhere and at the moment there are probably five viable options where the club could be successful from 2011-2012.

"Those options will be presented to the board in September and we will be looking to make a decision in October."

Saracens pay Watford some £40,000 per game to use Vicarage Road and do not benefit from match-day sales of food and drink. Any new agreement between the two parties would have to resolve how the significant costs of redeveloping Vicarage Road would be split.

"Watford have put a pretty clear proposal to us," Griffiths said. "The critical thing for both of us is rebuilding the East Stand and what is under consideration is a proposal of how we would do that with Watford."

Meanwhile, Melbourne Rebels have received assurances from Danny Cipriani that the former Wasps fly-half will be joining the new Super 15 franchise, despite being linked with a move to football after impressing in training sessions at Tottenham and QPR.

Melbourne's backs coach, Damien Hill, said that the England fly-half would be joining them as planned in October. Hill said: "Danny has had quite a long lay-off from rugby and I take my hat off to him that he has found a way to keep himself interested and fit. "We have 30 players coming together from all parts of the globe and we need to get that team culture going from the first day and Danny will be an important part of that."

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www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/7944941/Saracens-poised-to-leave-Vicarage-Road-at-the-end-of-the-new-season.html

[bowles]

well that will f"ck up our pitch! still forty grand a pop anit to be sniffed at. that would pay for roberts weekly wage and g.p would still have ten grand over to re-invest straight back into the club!!!!!!!!!!

[Macmoish]

This from a few months ago re Saracens/Watford/Loftus Road
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=13598&page=1

[scarletpimple]

We would have to play hooof ball to get over the great divets, i'll demand me season ticket money back......i will!!

[Lonegunmen]

No, our pitch is already a screw up and has been for over 20 years. Bit like wembley's.

[cpr]

The only way it could work is if the rugby team play on Saturday and us on Sunday. This would allow both teams to have the grass at the length required for each.

Been there, seen it, done it, don't want it again thank you very much!

[bowles]

but 40 grand a pop as i said anit bad dosh, that could really tempt our board!

[cpr]

Our board, you mean the wealthiest tight bastards on the planet? ;D

[Lonegunmen]

yeah, that's the guys. ;(

[The Scooter]

Wasps had to completely alter the way they played due to the narrowness of the LR pitch. Instead of wide expansive rugby, they resulted in playing percentages and tight kicking game with forward pressure. Not ideal

[Macmoish]

Watford Observer

Deadline passes and Saracens future at Vicarage Road is still unknown
Saturday 4th September 2010

By Frank Smith »

Saracens deadline for telling Watford if they are staying at Vicarage Road has passed and there has been no comment from either club as of yet.

The Hornets activated a break clause in the two clubs' agreement at the end of May, which meant the Men in Black would leave the ground next summer unless a new lease was agreed.

Sarries’ chief executive Edward Griffiths initially described Watford’s September 3 deadline as flexible but his opposite number, Watford’s Julian Winter, quickly reiterated that the club wanted to know by yesterday.

A decision should have been made at the rugby club’s board meeting yesterday but it is unclear whether Saracens have informed Watford if they are staying at Vicarage Road beyond this season.

On August 19, Winter said: "We have given them a couple of proposals around a future lease and their response will be back to us by September 3.”

Winter continued: "I think we have to know where we are. That is what we have agreed. We need some certainty with Saracens so we can crack on and plan with or without them."

Both parties could have activated the break clause this summer but had neither done so before June 1 this year, then Saracens could have remained at the stadium until 2017 on the same agreement, which Watford described as "not an option they would like to consider".

Former Hornets chairman Andy Wilson made it clear Saracens would need to increase the 'rent' they pay Watford more than 18 months ago.

The rugby club currently pay £489,000 a year, but that lease was agreed when Watford were desperate for Sarries to stay.

"It is not £500,000 profit," Winter explained when asked if Watford could manage without the money from Saracens.

"In profit terms it is nowhere near £500,000. There would be an impact on the bottom line if they leave but we are already preparing contingency plans around that happening, we are not just continuing without being prepared for it."

Watford have made two separate proposals to Saracens and the development of the South West corner of Vicarage Road and the East Stand are part of the discussions.

www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/8372451.Saracens_future_still_unknown/?ref=rss

[Macmoish]

Guardian?pau; Rees

...

Saracens will this week decide whether to remain at Vicarage Road, their home for the last 13 years, after the end of the season. The club's board of directors will consider five options, one of which is to help Watford redevelop the ground.

Watford last May activated a break clause in their tenancy agreement with Saracens, which means the rugby club could leave next May unless a new lease agreement is reached.

Sarries pay nearly £500,000 a year to play at Vicarage Road. Watford are looking for more, but Saracens do not get anything from food and drink sales on match days and want an agreement that goes beyond landlord and tenants.

They have identified four alternative venues in London. Fulham and Queens Park Rangers are believed to be two, but Saracens will not be moving permanently to Wembley, a ground they have hired in the last couple of seasons, attracting crowds of more than 40,000.

Saracens were originally given a deadline of last Friday by Watford to make a decision, but it was extended to this week. "We expect to be able to make an announcement tomorrow," said the Watford chief executive, David Jordan.

Saracens start their home Premiership campaign against Sale on Sunday. The East Stand remains closed and its redevelopment, not least who will bear the cost, has been at the heart of the discussions between the two clubs...."

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/sep/06/toby-flood-scan-knee-ligaments

[Macmoish]

Update

Telegraph - Oct 14

Saracens to leave Vicarage Road at the end of this season
An announcement on a new home ground in London for the Premiership club is expected to be made before the end of the month.

By Gavin Mairs
Published: 7:02PM BST 14 Oct 2010

Gavin's Twitter


On the move: Saracens' Derick Hougaard will be scoring drop goals at a new home next season Photo: ACTION IMAGES Saracens have been exploring five possible venues in London after Watford Football Club activated a break clause in the club’s lease at Vicarage Road, which runs to June 2017.

The options are thought to include the Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road and Fulham's Craven Cottage but not the Olympic Stadium or Wembley, where the club host Leinster in their Heineken Cup pool two match on Saturday.

Watford set Saracens a deadline of Sept 3 to respond to their proposals to redevelop Vicarage Road. It is understood however that Saracens, who have been based in Watford since 1998, will be at a new stadium by the start of next season.

“We are making progress but I can’t say anymore yet but I am hopeful we will have some kind of clarity within weeks,” said Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths.

Saracens are expected a crowd of over 40,000 for the visit of Leinster tomorrow (SAT) even though the Irish province have taken up fewer than 1,000 tickets for the match.

“I think we have a crowd similar to our previous Wembley games,” added Griffiths. We have changed some of the pricing structures so commercially it will be good for us. We are moving in the right direction.”

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter, who also runs a medical practice in Cape Town, yesterday administered three stitches to Brad Barritt after the centre suffered a split lip after a collision with Noah Cato in training.

The injury however will not prevent Barritt from taking his place in the side to face Leinster, who are expected to be without Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll, who is struggling with a hamstring strain.

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/8065113/Saracens-to-leave-Vicarage-Road-at-the-end-of-this-season.html

[Macmoish]

Or maybe not Loftus Road !


Watford Observer

Saracens say they have spoken to 30 or 40 parties over possible move from Watford

22nd October 2010 By Frank Smith

Saracens’ chief executive says the rugby club may remain at Vicarage Road beyond this season despite admitting they have spoken to up to 40 different organisations about a possible move away from Watford.

The Men in Black will leave Watford next summer unless a new lease is agreed after the Hornets activated a break clause in the two clubs’ agreement in May.

Saracens have made no secret about the fact they are exploring the possibility of moving away from Watford but chief executive Edward Griffiths claims the Aviva Premiership side could still stay at Vicarage Road.

Griffiths said: “Staying at Watford is certainly still an option and key to that would be how we can develop the East Stand in a viable manner with the football club.

“We have excellent contact and communications with Watford and that is something we are looking at on an ongoing basis.”

Saracens have been linked with moves to the likes of Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road, Fulham’s Craven Cottage and the new Olympic Stadium in recent months.

The latest potential venue to be linked with Sarries is Copthall Stadium, a dilapidated athletics ground in Barnet which is currently used by Kentish Town FC, who are planning to develop a nearby stadium with Hampstead FC.

When asked about a possible move to Copthall, Griffiths said: “We have had discussions over the past two years with lots of people about lots of stadiums. We have always said that as soon as these discussions come anywhere near a formal level then we will move forward.

“At the moment, to provide a commentary on all of our contact with stadium owners would be difficult – it is a long list.”

When pressed further, Griffiths added: “There are a whole range of options that we are looking at. There are probably 30 or 40 various bodies we have spoken to in the past two years.

“As soon as we reach anything approaching a formal level then we will be clear about that.”

Barnet FC had plans to develop a 10,000-seater stadium at Copthall thrown out by a government planning inspector in 2001 after fierce opposition from local residents.

But in a statement released this week, leader of Barnet Council, Lynne Hillan, said: “Copthall Stadium has long needed investment and it would be foolish of us not to discuss any proposal that would develop a much-loved facility and support and enhance community use."

Hendon MP Matthew Offord added: “I would certainly welcome investment into Copthall, it’s not been invested in for many years. I would be interested to see what comes out of it.

“I am concerned there’s not any overdevelopment on the site, but I look forward to the proposals that emerge with Saracens.”

In the summer, Griffiths confirmed there were five possible venues being considered by Saracens.

“It is a pretty fluid situation,” the chief executive said when asked how many different venues the rugby club were now considering.

“There are some that are at a more advanced stage than others but I have seen horse races won by a horse at the back of the field that comes through with a late sprint.”

However, Griffiths has ruled out a permanent move to Wembley or the new Olympic Stadium.

“Wembley is a football stadium first and foremost, so the idea or playing 16 matches there would be unrealistic,” he said.

“With the Olympic Stadium, we just feel that with the athletics track, you would be so far from the action that it would be difficult to generate atmosphere.

“It is simply that the lay-out of the Olympic Stadium, we believe, would make it difficult for a team sport. Now I know West Ham United are looking at the Olympic Stadium but they would have a larger stadium than we require so they may be able to solve the atmosphere issue by having a large stadium.”

In the last week Griffiths also stated the club were “looking for a stadium that’s smaller to be our home, where we can develop some kind of scarcity” and play some of the bigger matches at Wembley.

Saracens currently pay Watford £489,000 a year to play at Vicarage Road, which the football club believe is insufficient.

Had the Hornets not activated the break clause then Saracens could have remained at Watford’s ground until 2017 paying the same amount.

Watford set Saracens a deadline of September 3 to inform them if they would be leaving Vicarage Road but there is still no confirmation more than a month-and-a-half later.

Griffiths rejected suggestions Saracens were stalling, saying: “I would like to make an announcement tomorrow but you can’t force these things and this is going to be a decision which will be absolutely critical to the future of the club.

“We are not wasting time. Every day we are having various meetings and discussions about various options and as soon as we get to a point where we can announce something then we will.

“I would think we will have a decision by the end of the year,” Griffiths continued. “We are aware of the time lines but I do not think we have a problem here.

“We have a number of excellent options and it is just a question of choosing the most excellent one for Saracens.”

www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/8468315.Saracens___We_ve_spoken_to_30_or_40_parties_over_move_/