10 Years today: QPR Unveil Plans for New Stadium at Old Oak

[Macmoish]

Flashback 10 Years today

Various stories posted

[Macmoish]

December 12, 2013





QPR OFFICIAL SITE

Club unveils plans for new 40,000 seater stadium in Old Oak
THE CLUB is delighted to today unveil plans for a new 40,000 seater stadium as part of a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area in West London.

Queens Park Rangers Football Club and our partners, Stadium Capital Developments, have concluded a letter of collaboration with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to ‘bring forward an early and very significant private sector investment into the Old Oak Common regeneration area.’

The news follows Boris Johnson's recent announcement that turning Old Oak into a new world-class city quarter is to be one of his main regeneration priorities, and that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is to be set up to promote it.

The plan is to develop a 40,000 capacity football stadium at the heart of the regeneration area, and for this to be the catalyst that will eventually bring about the creation of a residential and commercial area covering several hundreds of acres – larger than Canary Wharf – ultimately generating 50,000 jobs and 24,000 homes.

The scheme has the provisional title of New Queens Park.

R’s Chairman, Tony Fernandes, told http://www.qpr.co.uk: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.

“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London.

“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR's needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.

“This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area – ultimately bringing new transport, 24,000 homes and at least 50,000 jobs.

“It will create a vibrant new destination in London, boosting local businesses, attracting new visitors and tourism and creating a thriving community.”

QPR CEO, Philip Beard, added: “We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year. We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of.

“Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities.”

Chair of the HS2 Growth Taskforce - which is meeting in London today (December 13) to ensure the capital maximises the benefits from HS2 - Lord Deighton, said: “Regeneration only happens when the public and private sector work together. We welcome QPR and Stadium Capital Development's commitment to the regeneration plan at Old Oak. Delivering modern transport infrastructure such as HS2 and Crossrail can be a catalyst for regeneration in London. The Government looks forward to working with key stakeholders on this.”

Antony Spencer, who – alongside Sir Terry Farrell – is developing the master-plan for Old Oak, commented: “We envisage a new vibrant, mixed-use and high-quality entertainment and leisure development, which will turn this neglected but tremendously well-connected area into a new world-class city quarter.

“We are talking to a number of world-class architects to design iconic tall buildings akin to New York, the Far East and London’s finest, as well as improving and incorporating the waterside environment of the Grand Union Canal. We have assembled a top-class professional team to design tens of thousands of new homes, a 350 bedroom luxury hotel and millions of square feet of entertainment and leisure focused commercial space including: retail, studios and offices, bars and clubs, restaurants, cinemas and other leisure accommodation.”

The announcement comes after many months of discussions with the Greater London Authority and the Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.

Spencer added: “We know we still have a long way to go in dealing with the planning, infrastructure funding challenges and business relocations but we are now in a position to forge ahead as we have secured strategic land holdings in excess of 100 acres. We are confident of securing a planning permission by early 2015 and starting development shortly afterwards.

“We need, however, to work very closely with the public and private sector bodies, such as TfL and Network Rail, to enable the necessary infrastructure requirements. We look forward to working with the GLA, Hammersmith & Fulham and the local boroughs in a partnership approach between the public and private sectors.

“The potential arrival of the MDC, with its planning and compulsory purchase powers, could dramatically speed up the delivery of this site.” QPR



STANDARD

QPR unveils plan for new 40,000 seat stadium at Old Oak in west London

QPR bosses aim to create an “O2 of the west” rather than a traditional football stadium when the club moves to a new 40,000-seater home.

The “Superhoops” today announced plans to relocate a mile north of their 18,000-capacity stadium in Loftus Road to Old Oak Common in time for the start of the 2018 season.

Mayor Boris Johnson said he hoped the move would help spark a £14 billion development of hundreds of acres of industrial wasteland.

But QPR chief executive Philip Beard, recruited in 2011 from the O2’s US owners AEG, said the stadium could only work financially if it could attract uses other than football.

He said: “You can’t build a stadium for 19 home matches and leave it empty for 340 days of the year. We are looking to build a stadium with facilities that can be used all year round with events, conferences, dinners.”

Mr Beard, who helped turn the former Millennium Dome into the world’s most popular music venue, added: “We made sure that every single seat at the O2 had better lines of sight, acoustics and atmosphere than any other indoor arena. That is what we aim to achieve for every single seat at the stadium.”

Mr Beard said he wanted to recreate as far as possible the “cauldron” atmosphere of Loftus Road at the scheme, provisionally titled New Queens Park. He said: “As we progress the development we will enter discussions with fans and fan groups.” The plans include about 8,000 homes as well as restaurants and shops by the Grand Union canal. There are also proposals for a mini-arena next to the stadium, expected to cost about £200 million.

The loss-making club wants to boost its revenues from the last year’s £64 million — a figure certain to fall following relegation from the Premier League — to more than £150 million.

The club, chaired by aviation boss Tony Fernandes, hopes to emulate the commercial success of Arsenal at the Emirates in Ashburton Grove. But it also plans to avoid mistakes made by the north London club over the perceived lack of atmosphere compared with its former Highbury stadium.

QPR is expected to apply for planning permission from Hammersmith & Fulham council in late 2014 or early 2015. Nicholas Botterill, leader of the Tory run local authority said it was “a very exciting development”. Standard



POPULOus The following day


December 13, 2013
Queens Park Rangers Football Club Unveils Plans for a New Stadium Designed by Populous

QPRFC has unveiled plans for a new 40,000-seater stadium, designed by Populous, as part of a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area in West London.

The club has also confirmed it has:

•Concluded a letter of collaboration with the GLA and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to ‘bring forward an early and very significant private sector investment into the Old Oak Common regeneration area’. The news follows Boris Johnson’s recent announcement that turning Old Oak into a new world-class city quarter is to be one of his main regeneration priorities, and that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is to be set up to promote it.

•With their partners, Stadium Capital Developments, entered into exclusivity land arrangements with Network Rail and other landowners who control major parts of Old Oak.

•Plans to develop a 40,000 capacity football stadium at the heart of the regeneration area, and for this to be the catalyst that will bring about the creation of a residential and commercial area covering several hundreds of acres – larger than Canary Wharf – ultimately generating 50,000 jobs and 24,000 new homes.

Chris Lee, Senior Principal and Director at Populous, currently working on QPR’s training facility and community sports hub commented “We have seen how sport has the power to bring communities together, and stadiums are one of the most important buildings a community can own. There is no doubt that the new development will become a new destination in which sport and entertainment will be an essential part.”
Queens Park Rangers Stadium Bowl view

Queens Park Rangers Stadium bowl view

The scheme has the provisional title of ‘New Queens Park’.

QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes, said: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.

“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London.

“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.

“This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area – ultimately bringing new transport, 24,000 homes and at least 50,000 jobs.

“It will create a vibrant new destination in London, boosting local businesses, attracting new visitors and tourism and creating a thriving community.”
Queens Park Rangers new stadium designed by Populous masterplan view

Queens Park Rangers new stadium designed by Populous masterplan view

QPR CEO, Philip Beard, added: “We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year. We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of.

“Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities.”

Chair of the HS2 Growth Taskforce – which is meeting in London today (December 13) to ensure the capital maximises the benefits from HS2 – Lord Deighton, said: “Regeneration only happens when the public and private sector work together. We welcome QPR and Stadium Capital Development’s commitment to the regeneration plan at Old Oak. Delivering modern transport infrastructure such as HS2 and Crossrail can be a catalyst for regeneration in London. The Government looks forward to working with key stakeholders on this.”

Antony Spencer, who – alongside Sir Terry Farrell – is developing the master-plan for Old Oak, commented: “We envisage a new vibrant, mixed-use and high-quality entertainment and leisure development, which will turn this neglected but tremendously well-connected area into a new world-class city quarter.

“We are talking to a number of world-class architects to design iconic tall buildings akin to New York, the Far East and London’s finest, as well as improving and incorporating the waterside environment of the Grand Union Canal. We have assembled a top-class professional team to design tens of thousands of new homes, a 350 bedroom luxury hotel and millions of square feet of entertainment and leisure focused commercial space including: retail, studios and offices, bars and clubs, restaurants, cinemas and other leisure accommodation.”

The announcement comes after many months of discussions with the Greater London Authority and the Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.

Spencer added: “We know we still have a long way to go in dealing with the planning, infrastructure funding challenges and business relocations but we are now in a position to forge ahead as we have secured strategic land holdings in excess of 100 acres. We are confident of securing a planning permission by early 2015 and starting development shortly afterwards.

“We need, however, to work very closely with the public and private sector bodies, such as TfL and Network Rail, to enable the necessary infrastructure requirements. We look forward to working with the GLA, Hammersmith & Fulham and the local boroughs in a partnership approach between the public and private sectors.

“The potential arrival of the MDC, with its planning and compulsory purchase powers, could dramatically speed up the delivery of this site.”

QPR and SDC are acquiring significant land holdings in the area and have entered into exclusivity land arrangements with Network Rail and the Genesis Housing Group.

David Biggs, Property Director at Network Rail, said: “We are pleased to be involved and able to support this exciting regeneration project along with QPR & SCD to unlock the potential of this challenging, railway-dominated site. SCD have prior experience of working constructively with the railway industry, and we believe that working with them holds the best opportunity for the early development of this regeneration area which otherwise may not be brought forward for many years. This project and our approach of partnering and releasing underutilised railway land forms a core part of our strategy to maximise the value from our existing assets to reduce the cost of rail to the taxpayer.”

John Carleton, Executive Director of Markets and Portfolio, at Genesis, said: “We are very pleased to be involved in this exciting regeneration project, which is being led by QPR and Stadium Capital Developments.”

***ENDS***

Populous is the world’s leading sports and entertainment architecture practice that specialises in creating environments that draw people together for unforgettable experiences. Over the past 30 years, the company has designed some of the world’s most famous and recognisable sporting and entertainment venues, including Sochi 2014 Fisht Stadium, London 2012 Olympic Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Soccer City, the O2 Arena and the redevelopment and roof of the Centre Court at Wimbledon. Currently, the company is working on a wide variety of projects globally such as the 2014 World Cup, Rio de Janeiro 2016, the Olympique Lyonnais and French Rugby Federation (FFR) new stadia and several projects in Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.

Contact details – Populous / 14 Blades Court | Deodar Road | London | SW15 2NU / [phone] / [e-mail] /www.populous.com

For more information please contact:

•Patricia Fernandez – [phone] [e-mail]
•Robert Pine/ Chantelle Osborne + 44 (0)20 7247 8334 [e-mail] / [e-mail]

Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/37940/flashabck-yrs-unveil-plans-stadium?page=2#ixzz5ZSTKC5Wl




Dave McIntyre/West London Sport

QPR confirm Old Oak regeneration project

QPR have unveiled their plans for the total transformation of the Old Oak area, which will include a 40,000-capacity stadium the club hope to move to in 2018.

They made the announcement after support from all the major bodies required – the Greater London Authority (GLA), relevant local authorities, Network Rail and the influential Genesis Housing Group – was confirmed.

Titled ‘New Queens Park’, the project involves a Canary Wharf-style regeneration of a huge area of west London – the type of which has always been a key motivation for QPR’s Malaysian owners, fronted by chairman Tony Fernandes.

Rangers’ announcement comes after many months of discussions with the GLA – who are expected to publicly back the proposals on Friday – and the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.

About 24,000 new homes are likely to be built as part of the regeneration and the club say at least 50,000 jobs will be created.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes

The project is crucial to Fernandes’ plans

Loftus Road, Rangers’ home for most of the last century, will be turned into flats as part of a revamp of the area that includes the White City Estate.

Fernandes said: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.

“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of west London.

“Not only will this give us a top-quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.

“This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area – ultimately bringing new transport, 24,000 homes and at least 50,000 jobs.

“It will create a vibrant new destination in London, boosting local businesses, attracting new visitors and tourism and creating a thriving community.”

QPR have partnered with Stadium Capital Developments (SCD) and entered into exclusive land arrangements with Network Rail and other landowners who control major parts of Old Oak.

A letter of collaboration – a formal letter of intent – has been drawn up, with all parties affirming to press ahead with the project as quickly as possible.
Loftus Road

Loftus Road will be turned into flats

The club expect to seek formal planning permission towards the end of next year or early in 2015, with a view to moving to the new complex for the start of the 2018-2019 season.

Club chief executive Philip Beard said: “We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year.

“Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities.”

The Fernandes-led regime’s plan to build a commercial, housing and leisure hub has always largely hinged on the successful implementation of Crossrail and HS2, the planned high-speed railway that is set to go through the area.

The two lines are likely to converge at Old Oak and London Mayor Boris Johnson recently declared that transforming it into a world-class city quarter - a so-called Mini Manhattan – was a priority.

The HS2 Growth Taskforce is meeting on Friday to discuss the issue and its chair, Lord Deighton, said: “We welcome QPR and Stadium Capital Development’s commitment to the regeneration plan at Old Oak.

“Delivering modern transport infrastructure such as HS2 and Crossrail can be a catalyst for regeneration in London. The government looks forward to working with key stakeholders on this.”

And David Biggs, property director at Network Rail, said: “We are pleased to be involved and able to support this exciting regeneration project along with QPR and SCD to unlock the potential of this challenging, railway-dominated site.”

John Carleton, executive director of markets and portfolio at Genesis, said: “We are very pleased to be involved in this exciting regeneration project.” West London Sport




Dave McIntyre/West London Sport

The Old Oak project that would totally transform the face of QPR

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes

13/12/2013
By David McIntyre

The building of a hugely lucrative Canary Wharf-style commercial hub, that would include an entertainment complex in which a 40,000-capacity stadium for QPR is built, has always been a key motivation behind the current board’s acquisition of the club.

It would establish Rangers’ Malaysian owners, fronted by chairman Tony Fernandes, as major players in London and beyond.

Eyebrows have been raised at the losses QPR have incurred during Fernandes’ expensive and, so far, unsuccessful reign. And there has been speculation about the long-term state of the club’s finances, the owners’ motivations and whether they would be tempted to jump ship following relegation from the Premier League.

But although their multi-million-pound outlay seems staggering on the face of it, those losses would be dwarfed by the potential windfall from a regenerated Old Oak.
QPR hope to move in 2018
Committed? In it for the long term? You bet – for reasons outlined in a West London Sport article back in April.

So what happens now? Here are some answers to a few of the questions that are bound to be on the lips of QPR fans at this potentially momentous time in the club’s history.

Why have QPR suddenly made this announcement now?
A cynic might suggest that neighbours Brentford recently being given the green light for a new stadium bigger than Loftus Road put the ball firmly in Rangers’ court. In truth, the club moved suddenly because, after months of discussions with relevant bodies, crucial pieces of the jigsaw appear to have fallen into place in a short period of time.

The last of various key stakeholders in the project came on board and QPR also moved swiftly because it seems the Greater London Authority plan to make a related announcement.

What is a letter of collaboration?
It’s a formal letter of intent and essentially means that various important groups, such as the GLA and the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Brent are on board.

When do QPR expect to move to the new ground?
Planning permission is expected to be formally sought towards the end of next year or early in 2015 with a view to the club moving to Old Oak for the start of the 2018-2019 season.
Loftus Road

Loftus Road will be turned into flats

What will happen to Loftus Road?
Current plans will see it turned into flats as part of a revamp of the area which includes the White City Estate.

Who are Stadium Capital Developments ?
SCD is run by Antony Spencer, an entrepreneur behind Arsenal’s move to the Emirates Stadium. SCD is an associated company of Stadium Capital Holdings (www.stadiumcapitalholdings.co.uk)

Who else is involved?
There are various groups involved in the project. They include:

Farrells, who have offices in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai and have worked on projects such as Earls Court and the Royal Albert Dock. The architects have also been active in Asia, most notably in the completion of a 100-storey, 440-metre tower in Shenzhen – the tallest building ever designed by a British architect – as well as the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, Incheon Airport in Seoul, and Beijing and Guangzhou high-speed rail stations in China.

Populous, a sports and entertainment architecture practice which has been involved in the design of various sporting and entertainment venues, including London’s Olympic Stadium, the Sochi 2014 Fisht Stadium, Wembley, the Emirates Stadium, Soccer City, the O2 Arena and the redevelopment and roof of the Centre Court at Wimbledon.

Savills, who are advising on planning. Savills Planning’s previous projects include the Emirates Stadium, the Olympic Stadium, Stadium MK and expansions of The Oval and Lord’s. They have also been consulted by Tottenham and Everton about proposed new stadiums.

Will QPR fill a 40,000-capacity stadium?
This is likely to be the key question for many – and it arguably misses the whole point of this radical re-branding of QPR.

Fernandes is a hugely influential, indeed inspirational, figure throughout large parts of Asia, where Premier League football is already massively popular. Rangers, if established in the top flight and with high-profile players from around the world, could be of global interest and a stadium offering Premier League football in London could be a haven for fans visiting the UK. There would also be ample room for away fans when some of the biggest, most well-supported clubs visit.

So those who wonder how QPR, with a relatively modest fan-base, could fill a 40,000-capacity stadium perhaps need to look at the bigger picture. English football is changing and QPR will certainly change beyond recognition, in its character and make-up, if the owners have their way. And with the west London landscape also changing, things are falling perfectly into place for Fernandes, who also enjoys the unwavering support and trust of a clear majority of fans.

Will QPR still own its own stadium?
This is another potentially key issue. The club know they could could face some backlash from even an overwhelmingly pro-Fernandes fan-base if their answer on this isn’t seen as satisfactory. The current position is that the stadium will indeed be owned by QPR Holdings, the company which owns the club. QPR Holdings is owned by the club’s shareholders. West London Sport




SKY

Sky Bet Championship: QPR announce plans for new 40,000-capacity stadium

Last Updated: 13/12/13 5:30pm


QPR are hoping to build a new 40,000-capacity stadium as part of an ambitious project at Old Oak in west London.

Rs chairman Tony Fernandes revealed plans to move the club from Loftus Road as there is "no option of expanding" at their present home.

The new stadium would be built as part of a "major regeneration" of the Old Oak area, with plans for the creation of a residential and commercial precinct larger than Canary Wharf.

QPR first used Loftus Road in 1917 and a proposed move is likely to spark a backlash from some fans, but Fernandes believes the project would cement the club's place in west London.

He told Sky Sports News: "It was something that was at the forefront of my mind when I came in. People thought we were taking a step backwards when we got relegated. But this is a long-term project - we are all very committed as shareholders.

"We have been looking around - despite the problems we had on the pitch - to look for a stadium because we think that Loftus Road is unsustainable in the long term. We were extremely lucky that we found this wonderful piece of land not far from Loftus Road.

"We have been looking around - despite the problems we had on the pitch - to look for a stadium because we think that Loftus Road is unsustainable in the long term. We were extremely lucky that we found this wonderful piece of land not far from Loftus Road."

Tony Fernandes

"It's a huge £5billion development. QPR has been a very community-focused club. We now have the ability to build a nice township which would benefit many of our fans, and to build many business and leisure facilities. It's fantastic that we are able to build a stadium as a centrepiece and also help regenerate a part of west London."

Fernandes is confident that the club can fill the stadium when it is built, provided they have success on the pitch.

"I come from a business which is about putting bums on seats," he said. "I started with two planes and now we have 150. If we get the right product, we are in a wonderful part of London and the transport infrastructure that the government has got planned will only enhance connectivity to QPR.

"If Harry (Redknapp) produces a good team, which it looks like there is every chance he will, I believe we can fill that stadium."

London Mayor Boris Johnson recently announced that turning Old Oak into a new world-class city quarter was one of his main regeneration priorities.

QPR's chief executive Phillip Beard said: "We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year.

"We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of.

"Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities." SKY






Populous


December 13, 2013
Queens Park Rangers Football Club Unveils Plans for a New Stadium Designed by Populous

QPRFC has unveiled plans for a new 40,000-seater stadium, designed by Populous, as part of a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area in West London.

The club has also confirmed it has:

•Concluded a letter of collaboration with the GLA and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to ‘bring forward an early and very significant private sector investment into the Old Oak Common regeneration area’. The news follows Boris Johnson’s recent announcement that turning Old Oak into a new world-class city quarter is to be one of his main regeneration priorities, and that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is to be set up to promote it.

•With their partners, Stadium Capital Developments, entered into exclusivity land arrangements with Network Rail and other landowners who control major parts of Old Oak.

•Plans to develop a 40,000 capacity football stadium at the heart of the regeneration area, and for this to be the catalyst that will bring about the creation of a residential and commercial area covering several hundreds of acres – larger than Canary Wharf – ultimately generating 50,000 jobs and 24,000 new homes.

Chris Lee, Senior Principal and Director at Populous, currently working on QPR’s training facility and community sports hub commented “We have seen how sport has the power to bring communities together, and stadiums are one of the most important buildings a community can own. There is no doubt that the new development will become a new destination in which sport and entertainment will be an essential part.”
Queens Park Rangers Stadium Bowl view

Queens Park Rangers Stadium bowl view

The scheme has the provisional title of ‘New Queens Park’.

QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes, said: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.

“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London.

“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.

“This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area – ultimately bringing new transport, 24,000 homes and at least 50,000 jobs.

“It will create a vibrant new destination in London, boosting local businesses, attracting new visitors and tourism and creating a thriving community.”
Queens Park Rangers new stadium designed by Populous masterplan view

Queens Park Rangers new stadium designed by Populous masterplan view

QPR CEO, Philip Beard, added: “We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year. We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of.

“Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities.”

Chair of the HS2 Growth Taskforce – which is meeting in London today (December 13) to ensure the capital maximises the benefits from HS2 – Lord Deighton, said: “Regeneration only happens when the public and private sector work together. We welcome QPR and Stadium Capital Development’s commitment to the regeneration plan at Old Oak. Delivering modern transport infrastructure such as HS2 and Crossrail can be a catalyst for regeneration in London. The Government looks forward to working with key stakeholders on this.”

Antony Spencer, who – alongside Sir Terry Farrell – is developing the master-plan for Old Oak, commented: “We envisage a new vibrant, mixed-use and high-quality entertainment and leisure development, which will turn this neglected but tremendously well-connected area into a new world-class city quarter.

“We are talking to a number of world-class architects to design iconic tall buildings akin to New York, the Far East and London’s finest, as well as improving and incorporating the waterside environment of the Grand Union Canal. We have assembled a top-class professional team to design tens of thousands of new homes, a 350 bedroom luxury hotel and millions of square feet of entertainment and leisure focused commercial space including: retail, studios and offices, bars and clubs, restaurants, cinemas and other leisure accommodation.”

The announcement comes after many months of discussions with the Greater London Authority and the Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.

Spencer added: “We know we still have a long way to go in dealing with the planning, infrastructure funding challenges and business relocations but we are now in a position to forge ahead as we have secured strategic land holdings in excess of 100 acres. We are confident of securing a planning permission by early 2015 and starting development shortly afterwards.

“We need, however, to work very closely with the public and private sector bodies, such as TfL and Network Rail, to enable the necessary infrastructure requirements. We look forward to working with the GLA, Hammersmith & Fulham and the local boroughs in a partnership approach between the public and private sectors.

“The potential arrival of the MDC, with its planning and compulsory purchase powers, could dramatically speed up the delivery of this site.”

QPR and SDC are acquiring significant land holdings in the area and have entered into exclusivity land arrangements with Network Rail and the Genesis Housing Group.

David Biggs, Property Director at Network Rail, said: “We are pleased to be involved and able to support this exciting regeneration project along with QPR & SCD to unlock the potential of this challenging, railway-dominated site. SCD have prior experience of working constructively with the railway industry, and we believe that working with them holds the best opportunity for the early development of this regeneration area which otherwise may not be brought forward for many years. This project and our approach of partnering and releasing underutilised railway land forms a core part of our strategy to maximise the value from our existing assets to reduce the cost of rail to the taxpayer.”

John Carleton, Executive Director of Markets and Portfolio, at Genesis, said: “We are very pleased to be involved in this exciting regeneration project, which is being led by QPR and Stadium Capital Developments.”

***ENDS***

Populous is the world’s leading sports and entertainment architecture practice that specialises in creating environments that draw people together for unforgettable experiences. Over the past 30 years, the company has designed some of the world’s most famous and recognisable sporting and entertainment venues, including Sochi 2014 Fisht Stadium, London 2012 Olympic Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Soccer City, the O2 Arena and the redevelopment and roof of the Centre Court at Wimbledon. Currently, the company is working on a wide variety of projects globally such as the 2014 World Cup, Rio de Janeiro 2016, the Olympique Lyonnais and French Rugby Federation (FFR) new stadia and several projects in Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.

Contact details – Populous / 14 Blades Court | Deodar Road | London | SW15 2NU / [phone] / [e-mail] /www.populous.com

For more information please contact:

•Patricia Fernandez – [phone] [e-mail]
•Robert Pine/ Chantelle Osborne + 44 (0)20 7247 8334 [e-mail] / [e-mail]

populous.com/news/2013/12/13/queens-park-rangers-football-club-unveils-plans-for-a-new-stadium-designed-by-populous/




QPR1st Statement

Statement regarding the New Stadium

Posted on December 16, 2013 by QPR1ST

Generations of fans have grown up knowing Loftus Road as the home of QPR, and as much as its dated facilities and lack of leg room can cause us to moan the day we move out will be an emotional one as many fond memories will be recalled not just of great moments on the pitch but of time spent with friends and family.

Yet many fans will welcome the prospect of us moving to a new purpose built stadium with better amenities and indeed there is much about the Old Oak proposal which is innovative and exciting, Certainly it is consistent with the ambition of the Club to restore us to a stable position within the top flight of English football.

The viability of the new stadium is based on predicted attendance figures which are ambitious to say the least and we urge the club to plan and budget carefully so that the stadium does not become a white elephant, potentially dragging us into a spiral of increasing debt but an example of astute financial management and accountability. One key question to be answered whether QPR will be sole owners of the property.

A priority of the architectural design of the new stadium must be to ensure that it produces a great crowd atmosphere. Too often stadiums have been built which have attractive designs but where any atmosphere is effectively stifled. We urge the architectural team to carry out thorough research and to use every trick in the trade to make sure that when our fans make noise the sound echoes and resonates around the whole stadium. Essential to this is ensuring that fans are as close to the pitch as possible rather than find themselves watching the players as tiny figures in the distance.

We also hope that central to the stadium plans should be recognition that a football stadium should be more than just a sports venue but a community asset- and an inclusive one at that which embraces the cultural and economic diversity of its fans and the people who live in its vicinity. It is hoped that those involved in the plans can see beyond the needs of the prawn sandwich brigade and the tourist industry. For example consideration needs to be given to affordable accessible parking spaces for QPR fans rather than expecting us to pay ‘Saturday Shopping’ prices on top of our season ticket. In keeping with the response we gave to the consultation organised by the Mayor and local councils on the new stadium plans, the developers must ensure excellent, safe pedestrian links from Willesden Junction tube and overground services to the stadium, and to future Crossrail/HS2 stations.

Above all we believe that if the Club is going to get this once in a lifetime opportunity right then it needs to ensure that structured focussed consultation takes place with the fans at every stage of this development. This should not be limited to merely telling the fans what has been agreed after the event. Consultation also needs to be broad so that it takes into account the varying needs of different groups- families with small children; those who would prefer to stand; physically disabled as well as those with other forms of disability including autism and learning difficulties.

In previous meetings, QPR1st has received reassurance from the Club that consultation will indeed take place. We now look forward to the Club honouring that pledge.

www.qpr1st.com/news/community/statement-regarding-stadium

Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/37940/flashabck-yrs-unveil-plans-stadium?page=1#ixzz67sY0DBvH

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INSIDE HOUSING



A new football stadium will be the ‘catalyst’ for the development of 24,000 new homes, Boris Johnson has said.

Queens Park Rangers today announced plans for a 40,000-home stadium which will be built as part of the Old Oak Common regeneration project

The 195 acre, semi-industrial site between Harlesden and Acton, currently one of the most deprived parts of the capital, is planned to become a thriving new district with a mix of affordable and market-priced housing and up to 50,000 new jobs.

Additionally, developers envisage that Old Oak will become the King’s Cross of west London, with plans to build a ‘super hub’ High Speed 2 and Crossrail station in the area by 2026.

The proposed station will be the same size as Waterloo and serve up to 250,000 passengers a day. It will link with Europe via the Eurostar, with Paris just over two hours away.

Five of Britain’s airports will be connected to the rail network for the first time through the Old Oak interchange. Central London and Heathrow will be 10 minutes away, Birmingham will be 40 minutes direct from Old Oak and Luton, Gatwick and City Airport will all be within 45 minutes.

The Mayor of London and Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing Councils have collaborated on the project.

Nicholas Botterill, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, says: ‘This creates unrivalled opportunities for both the public and private sectors to create new jobs, homes and opportunities around what could become the Kings Cross of west London.’

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, is looking to set up a Mayoral Development Corporation for Old Oak to maximise the benefits of the scheme. This will mirror the work of London Legacy Development Corporation which leads the post-Olympic regeneration of Stratford.

Mr Johnson said: ‘As well as making Old Oak Common, Britain’s best connected railway station, the scheme would create tens of thousands of new homes and jobs, schools, open spaces, shops and leisure facilities in an area crying out for improvement.’ INSIDE HOUSING


Some more info on the architects:

A new Populous-designed 40,000-seat stadium for QPR football club is at the heart of plans to regenerate London’s Old Oak area

The stadium will be the centrepiece of the ‘New Queens Park’ regeneration scheme; a 195-acre, semi-industrial site between Harlesden and Acton in west London that has been masterplanned by Farrells.

The stadium and and its surrounding development is being driven by a partnership between QPR and Stadium Capital Developments (SCD), the same outfit that led the development of Arsenal’s Emirates stadium and the transformation of the surrounding area.

Also part of the design team is CZWG Architects which has been signed up to ‘advise on architecture’ and also to convert QPR’s existing ground at Loftus Road in west London. A spokesman for the scheme also promised: ‘…there will be more architects working on this scheme.’

Farrells had previously worked up a masterplan that included 13,000-home and new transport hub for the area but the newly revealed plans featuring the stadium boasts 24,000 homes.’

SCD founder Antony Spencer said: ‘We know we still have a long way to go in dealing with the planning, infrastructure funding challenges and business relocations but we are now in a position to forge ahead as we have secured strategic land holdings in excess of 100 acres.

‘We are confident of securing a planning permission by early 2015 and starting development shortly afterwards,’ he added.

Chris Lee, senior principal and director at Populous, said: ‘We have seen how sport has the power to bring communities together, and stadiums are one of the most important buildings a community can own.

There is no doubt that the new development will become a new destination in which sport and entertainment will be an essential part.’ Architects Journal


EC Harris

EC Harris named as part of team to support new QPR stadium
13 December 2013

Queens Park Rangers Football Club has announced that EC Harris will provide project management and cost consultancy on their plans for a new 40,000 seater stadium in Old Oak.

The stadium plans are part of a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area in West London, which has the provisional title of ‘New Queens Park’. The project will be a catalyst in bringing the creation of a residential and commercial area that will ultimately generate 50,000 jobs and 24,000 new homes.

The master-plan is being developed by Antony Spencer (Stadium Capital Developments) and Sir Terry Farrell, who will need to work closely with the public and private sector bodies, such as TfL and Network Rail to enable the necessary infrastructure requirements. EC Harris will be working alongside Farrells, Populous, Anthony Green & Spencer, Savills and CZWG Architects in order to support Queens Park Rangers.

Paul Mitchell, Head of Sports Stadia Development at EC Harris commented:

“This scheme represents another landmark in our association with major sports venue projects in London. Following on from our involvement in Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, the London 2012 Olympic Stadium and our current work with Tottenham Hotspur FC, this appointment underlines our market leading position in this sector. We are delighted to be able to support QPR in fulfilling their ambitions for a 40,000 seater stadium that will underpin their future ambitions.”

Mark Farmer, Head of Residential at EC Harris also commented:

“EC Harris is proud to be involved with QPR FC in this scheme and we believe this is a reflection of our varied built asset skillsets spanning not only residential led regeneration and complex infrastructure delivery but world leading sports stadia expertise. This powerful combination puts us in a strong position to help shape a viable and sustainable master plan which will not only deliver a fitting new venue for Queens Park Rangers FC but will be set in the context of delivering much needed infrastructure improvements and new homes that London so demands on one of the last major regeneration opportunity sites in London.”

EC Harris has major sports venue experience including Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (Arsenal FC), Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and the 2012 Olympic Stadium, as well as Cheltenham, Aintree and Epsom racecourses.

-ends-

For further press information please contact:
Jack Turnpenny
Corporate Communications Assistant EC Harris



Telegraph: An Open Letter

Queens Park Rangers supporter Thom Gibbs' open letter to chairman Tony Fernandes over his stadium plans

Having attended games at Loftus Road for 23 years Telegraph Sport's Thom Gibbs writes to QPR chairman Tony Fernandes over his stadium plans warning against a mooted move
Queens Park Rangers supporter Thom Gibbs' open letter to chairman Tony Fernandes over his stadium plans

By Thom Gibbs


Dear Tony,

How are you? I am fine. I do hope your airline is well. Sorry about the Formula One season. Maybe next year, eh?

I write after your plans for a new 40,000-seater Queens Park Rangers stadium were unveiled on Thursday night. Congratulations, those are some lovely drawings.

As a QPR supporter of 23 years I applaud your ambition and am grateful for the gigantic amount of money you've already spent on our club. But I urge you to proceed with caution in this endeavour.

After a decade of decline, English football came roaring back on a tide of cash and European participation in the 1990s. With the game ascending and hooliganism in remission, a spate of new stadiums were built. They are almost all dreadful.


Middlesbrough, Derby, Southampton, Cardiff, Leicester, Reading and Coventry built grounds which are flawed, interchangeable, and only identifiable as their own by the colour of the seats. Coventry's was such a failure that they're now playing at the equally grim Sixfields (built 1994), 33 miles away in Northampton.

The anonymous bowls that defined this new era suffer from a uniformly pallid atmosphere, a direct consequence of the distance between the front row of spectators and the pitch. Loftus Road is an unsustainable long-term home for QPR, but it is wonderfully enclosed, intimate and one of the few remaining stadiums in the country where a raucous atmosphere can be generated with as few as 13,000 spectators.

Building a different kind of new stadium that's geared towards QPR fans being able to help the club win football matches should be a challenge for your architects, not an obstacle to be swerved with another conservative design.

QPR must avoid the divide between corporate guests and the loyal majority whose budget only stretches to cheaper seats. The uninterrupted tier of expensive seats in the middle of Arsenal's new ground saps noise from a once-loud set of supporters.

The proposed capacity of the new stadium is 40,000, nearly 4,000 more seats than Tottenham's White Hart Lane. In the past 50 years the highest average attendance posted by QPR was 23,850 in 1975/76, the season we finished second in the top flight. Last season, again in the top flight although not quite as successful, it was just 17,779, not quite hitting the meagre capacity of 18,360 every week.

You have made encouraging noises about prioritising affordable tickets, and harnessing the support of the new community around the Old Oak development. But to assume the people living next door will all want to watch football, or even want to watch QPR, is to wilfully ignore the disturbing number of children wearing Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United shirts around Shepherd's Bush on a match day.

To regularly fill a stadium as large as is planned, QPR would need to be performing spectacularly above their historic level for a sustained period. This isn't out of the question in shorter spells, but no club in English football has ever transcended its status so violently that it is able to attract more than double its established number of fans in the long-term.

What will a cavernous 40,000-capacity ground be like in the wholly possible event that we are playing at our current level in the Championship? Cold, quiet, and not a pleasant place to be.

I gently recommend that you approach your plans for capacity like you're adding salt to a recipe. You can always add some more later if it's required, but if you put too much in now you're going to end up with something that tastes horrible. I would also gently recommend that you don't attempt to taste this, or any other stadium.

Remember that what matters to match-attending football supporters is their relationship with their club, the rituals around going to see them play, and a sense of community. You've got the chance to build something which serves QPR supporters as well in these ways as Loftus Road. Good luck!

Yours sincerely,

Thom Gibbs - TELEGRAPH

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/10515725/Queens-Park-Rangers-supporter-Thom-Gibbs-open-letter-to-chairman-Tony-Fernandes-over-his-stadium-plans.html



THE TIMES


Tony Fernandes has revealed Queens Park Rangers’ plans for a new 40,000-capacity stadium at the heart of the most ambitious development attempted by an English football club.
The new ground would be part of a vast £10 billion regeneration over hundreds of acres of West London, with Fernandes predicting that the project can turn the Sky Bet Championship club into an established force in the Barclays Premier League.
“This isn’t just building a stadium but virtually a whole new community,” Fernandes told The Times. “The football club gives us the anchor, the huge number of eyeballs which come with the attention of being in the Premier League. It is a huge project and the stadium gives it focus and impetus.”
QPR have already started investing in land on the Old Oak Common site, which is just over a mile north of Loftus Road, the club’s home for almost a century.
They have made a reported bid of £21 million for a site close by, have an agreement in place with Network Rail for large tracts of land and are ready to put £15 million into securing outline planning permission. The £200  million for stadium construction is a fraction of the overall cost, but Fernandes insists that the club will benefit long term from doubling the capacity and some fans could even enjoy cheaper tickets.
Fernandes has made his estimated fortune of almost £400 million through transforming AirAsia. “I feel we can sell 40,000 seats because we are building new homes next door,” he said. “I’m a big believer in flexible pricing and it’s one of my dreams with a better stadium, and London’s corporate hospitality, to reduce the cost of some seats.”
Fernandes and his partners, including Lakshmi Mittal, the billionaire Indian steel magnate who owns a third of QPR, are seeking to draw in global investors for the site, which could also include 24,000 new homes, offices and an indoor arena .
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, gave his backing to the project in the hope of also pushing through proposals for a new rail hub, Old Oak Common station, which would link Crossrail with the troubled HS2. The Mayor said that the new hub had the potential to spark regeneration “on a scale not seen since the Olympics transformed Stratford”.
QPR have partnerships with local councils and the Greater London Authority, the biggest hurdle being securing hundreds of millions of pounds in government funding to improve infrastructure — with that

INDEPENDENT

Glenn Moore: Tony Fernandes will need new fans for bold move


Saturday 14 December 2013


It has happened. On 9 January 1932 41,097 watched Queen’s Park Rangers play Leeds United in an FA Cup third-round tie. That must be the latent support Tony Fernandes hopes to tap into with the new 40,000-seat stadium proposed for Old Oak Common.


Having transformed Air Asia from a failing company with $11m debt and two ageing Boeings into a successful 132-plane operation, Fernandes has earned the right to have his dreams respected. But turning QPR into a club capable of filling a 40,000 stadium is going to take a generation of success.

When citing record club attendances it is customary to suggest that fans were “packed in”, but there was plenty of room on the White City terraces to watch QPR win 3-1 81 years ago. At the time the Olympic venue was pulling in 90,000 crowds to watch boxing.

QPR, meanwhile, were averaging 13,000 in the Third Division South. That figure is QPR’s historical average, roughly on a par with Huddersfield and Bristol City.

Rangers soon gave up on White City and, aside from another poorly-attended season three decades on, have stayed at Loftus Road, their main home since 1917. Their best season was 1976-77 when Dave Sexton’s superb team of Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis et al attracted average gates of 24,000.

Fernandes is right to argue that Loftus Road, now constricted to 18,439 often cramped seats, is too small to sustain a Premier League club, especially with Financial Fair Play restricting owner subsidies. But it has taken Fulham (historically a marginally larger club) 12 years in the top flight, and a European final to edge their gates up to 25,000. Only now are they planning to expand to 30,000.

In a sane world Fulham and QPR, instead of planning separate developments, would investigate ground-sharing. It happens overseas, but given the antipathy shown in Bristol and on Merseyside it appears to be a non-starter in England.

So Fernandes plunges into a £200m gamble on a continuing boom in English football, and a surge in popularity for QPR. Realistically, as with West Ham’s move to the Olympic Stadium, the only way he can fill the ground is with cheap tickets and the hope of ancillary income from merchandising and catering. If that allows those excluded by modern prices a chance to see live football, good luck to him. He will need it. Independent
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Neil Warnock Optimistic re QPR Plans (and on Managing)
Independent

Neil Warnock: Why return to management? Because I’m hooked on the buzz – it’s why we keep coming back when the only certainty is the sack

Friday 13 December 2013


Looking at the managerial merry-go-round the last few weeks, with eight managers fired in 24 days, you must wonder what keeps us coming back for more. I suppose the answer is the satisfaction you get out of it – not just winning a game, but achieving something like promotion or staying up. The buzz you get from that you can’t really put into words. The adrenalin it delivers can be addictive. That feeling you have when the whistle blows and you’ve done what you set out to do… you miss it when you’re not in the game. That is why I was tempted last week when Milan Mandaric asked me to consider taking over Sheffield Wednesday.

I’ve been fortunate most of the seven promotions I’ve won have been with sides I built from zero, so it is doubly rewarding. There is nothing to match being in the dressing room celebrating promotion after a long season with a group of lads you have put together. When QPR clinched promotion at Watford I was so overcome with emotion I couldn’t even finish congratulating them. To get the Clint Hills and Adel Taarabts, such different players, working together and appreciating each other’s talents was smashing.

It’s not all like that, of course. You do understand when you get into management that you will get the sack at some stage, but that never puts people off trying again. This week David Flitcroft, who did a great job last season keeping Barnsley up, then was sacked a fortnight ago, has taken over at Bury, and Richie Barker, sacked by Crawley late last month, has gone back into it at Portsmouth.

It is important for first-time mangers such as David to get back into work as soon as they can, because around 40 per cent of managers sacked from their first job don’t get a second chance. That’s terrifying.

For a lot of young managers, especially those who have not played at the top end of the game, there is also a financial need to work. Some of them could find employment in another field, but you can’t beat making a living out of something you really enjoy doing. I know there is the option of coaching, but I’ve always wanted to manage and I’m sure that applies to David and Richie. Then you can do it your way. You need good staff with their own opinions – Mick Jones has been a great No 2 as he’s not a yes-man – but at the end of the day the buck stops with you and the good managers are the ones who make more good decisions than bad.

Obviously, when one manager takes a job it means another must have left. So while I’m pleased for David – a good lad, whose brother, Garry, played for me at Sheffield United – I’m disappointed for Ronnie Jepson, who worked with me at Leeds and other clubs. Jeppo took over from Kevin Blackwell in October, lost once in the last seven league games, and by all accounts was playing some good football, but I suppose for the owner the opportunity to bring in David, a local lad and former player, was too good to turn down. And what an owner says, goes – including, in many cases, the manager.

So there is insecurity to add to the despair of losing matches, the drudgery of travelling, the frustration with transfers, and the 101 things a manager has to do. But when someone asked me last week how I could contemplate going back into management when I was enjoying the media work and spending time with the family, it wasn’t those things I thought of. It was the buzz, and the day-to-day patter with the players. Football humour is so different to what I have experienced anywhere else, you can’t replicate it, and you do miss it.

You do need humour around the training ground and in the dressing room. It helps put players at ease in what can be a stressful sport. There have been times when I’ve had a choice of players and gone with the one who was funny. The best example would be Rob Kozluk at Sheffield United. He was a decent full-back, but what a tremendous person and comedian. He didn’t pick on anyone in particular, they all came under his spell, but they all took it well and it wasn’t nasty stuff. There was also Dean Thomas at Notts County, and Gary Clayton at Burton. Those sort of players keep things going when results are not as they should be.

There are fewer players like that at the top level because there are so many foreign players. As well as the language barrier, they often have a different sense of humour.

I felt that was why Fabio Capello struggled at the 2010 World Cup. At the end of a long season, players need a bit of humour, not strictness.

QPR have great new grounds for optimism

The announcement of a new QPR stadium is great news for all Hoops fans. I spoke to chairman Tony Fernandes on my TalkSPORT show on Friday and he’s very excited.

We were talking about the need for a new stadium and training ground when Tony came to the club and he has really taken it on board.

I know we’ll miss the atmosphere of Loftus Road but it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that they can double the crowd in the right environment. There are so many more women and children likely to come to a ground with great facilities.

It promises to be exciting times for QPR. What is needed now is for Harry Redknapp to keep them on course for a return to the Premier League, which I am sure he will, and the club can go forward.
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/neil-w...



QPR lodges John Lewis shed bid
By Chris Berkin | Industrial | 29-11-2013 | 07:00 | Print
Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club has lodged a bid to buy the John Lewis distribution centre in Park Royal, west London, for a major new stadium.

The Championship club has offered around £21m to buy the 285,500 sq ft shed to satisfy its long-running requirement to replace its 18,500-seat Loftus Road stadium in Shepherd’s Bush, W12. Alternative uses for the site, including a training ground, are also being considered.

QPR is going head-to-head with shed developer Prologis to buy the 12.1-acre site at 41-44 Kendal Avenue, which was put up for sale in July through Aspect Property Consultants and Jones Lang LaSalle.

But a question mark hangs over the sale owing to uncertainties surrounding the route for the £43bn HS2 rail link.

HS2 Ltd has put safeguarding orders on several sites in Park Royal to be used for a ­construction storage depot during the development of the London end of the proposed high-speed line.

One such order has been placed on the Waitrose fulfilment centre on Victoria Road, prompting parent company the John Lewis Partnership to pause the sale of Kendal Avenue.

A source said: “It is a really good price on offer but John Lewis cannot rush into selling something without knowing what is going on down the road. HS2 has given them a lot to think about.”

QPR launched a search for a new stadium with a capacity of around 40,000 seats in 2011. In April, the club said a £15m loan secured from Barclays would go towards a new stadium.

In August, the club said it was considering a number of options, including a site at Old Oak Common.

QPR has played its home games at two different Park Royal grounds in its history – the 40,000-seat Royal Agriculture Society ground between 1904 and 1907 and the 60,000-capacity Park Royal Stadium between 1907 and 1915.

John Lewis put its Park Royal shed up for sale after striking a deal with Gazeley for a 675,000 sq ft mega shed at Magna Park in Milton Keynes to connect to its existing 650,000 sq ft warehouse at the park. It is due to open in February 2014.

Aviva Investors, on behalf of the Lime Property fund, bought the Magna Park shed in August for £74.2m – a yield of 4.9%.

All parties declined to comment.

www.egi.co.uk/news/article.aspx?id=776057



Location
John Lewis Distribution Centre, Kendal Avenue, Park Royal , W3 0TP, Greater London, London

Investment

Description
• Strategically located on the southern edge of Park Royal, Europe’s largest industrial area

• The property is excellently situated off the A40 Western Avenue and the A406 (North Circular Road)
providing quick links to Central London and the national motorway network

• The property provides approximately 26,526.1 sq m (285,525 sq ft) of gross internal accommodation

• Site area 4.9 hectares (12.1 acres)

• Let to John Lewis until 31st March 2016 on a lease excluded from security of tenure provisions of 1954 Landlord & Tenant Act.

• The passing rent will be £1,500,000 per annum, £5.25 per sq ft

• Signifi cant redevelopment opportunity in a prime London location

• Alternative use potential subject to the necessary consents

• Offers are invited for our client’s freehold interest, subject to contract, exclusive of VAT and on the proposed leaseback provisions


property.joneslanglasalle.co.uk/property-search/property-details.aspx?t=c&id=JLLATC37251

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INDEPENDENT

Sam Wallace: QPR's new stadium plans throw the spotlight on to Chelsea's dilemma at Stamford Bridge, where there is no obvious solution

The Blues earn £26m less than Arsenal and £41m less than Manchester United in matchday revenue
SAM WALLACE Sunday 15 December 2013


There are many remarkable aspects about the plan to build a new mini-city at Old Oak Common in west London, not least that the 40,000-seat stadium at the centre of the project, to be built by Queen's Park Rangers, would give the Championship club a home just less than 2,000 shy of the capacity of Stamford Bridge.


It is one of those opportunities for QPR that might never come again, a new ground in west London, the most expensive part of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Not that Old Oak Common, with its waste recycling plants, used car dealerships and derelict buildings is what most people imagine when they think of west London.

The site is the modern London planner's dream, encompassing HS2 and the Crossrail transport hub, as well as new homes. In a city where the demand for space is insatiable, it is hard to drive through the area and imagine it remaining in its current state for another generation.

Meanwhile, at Chelsea, the biggest club in west London, the official line is there is nothing in the pipeline to increase a 41,837-capacity that is dangerously low in the era of Uefa Financial Fair Play. The club find themselves in a situation similar to the archetypal squeezed-middle London family. Home too small for all the new additions but, with the stratospheric state of the housing market, simply no prospect of moving up the ladder.

Why was Old Oak Common, with a bigger capacity, never an option for Chelsea? Simple, really. In football terms, London is parcelled up like no other British city. West Ham could not move out of the east any more than Arsenal could leave the north (notwithstanding the 1913 flit from Woolwich). None belong to London per se; rather all belong to a part of it.

QPR are the only club with a pure west London postcode, W12. Chelsea are SW6. A move to Old Oak Common would take Chelsea from four miles south of Loftus Road to more than a mile north and across two postcodes to NW10. In a city as fiercely localised as London, the club know that would be an impossible sell to fans.

QPR fans appear broadly to have accepted the Old Oak Common move – with caveats. In purely geographical terms it takes them closer to their origins in Kilburn. They have the record for the most home grounds, 17, of any British football club, although they have been at Loftus Road since 1933, apart from two brief spells at the old White City stadium.

At Chelsea, the association with Stamford Bridge is that much longer. The club have never played anywhere else. In fact, they were created in 1905 in order to play at the stadium, built by the club's founder, Gus Mears, whose family only gave up control of Chelsea in 1982 with the sale to Ken Bates. If Chelsea were to leave Stamford Bridge, the alternative would have to be very good and very local indeed.

The club were beaten to the acquisition of Battersea Power Station last year by the Malaysian developers SP Setia, a macro-reflection of life for many Londoners who find themselves outbid for homes by foreign property investors. The club's attempt two years ago to buy back the freehold for Stamford Bridge, largely owned by share-owning fans, as a prelude to a potential move, was a failure.

Bruised by that episode, Chelsea now have the position that there are no plans to move. The only obvious local alternative, the Lillie Bridge site north of the Earls Court exhibition centre, has planning permission for housing and is a non-starter.

Upon the announcement of the Old Oak Common plans, the QPR chairman, Tony Fernandes, described the current 18,000-capacity of Loftus Road as "untenable" under FFP if his club are to fulfil their ambitions to become established in the Premier League. Relatively speaking, the implications are the same for Chelsea, although their sights are set a lot higher.

By Chelsea's own admission, Stamford Bridge is too far down the table of stadium capacities among their European peers – 30th at the latest count but likely to fall further as new grounds are built. Their own accounts reveal they earn, per season, £26m less than Arsenal and £41m less than Manchester United in matchday revenue. With Tottenham in the process of building a new stadium, the pressure goes up a notch.

Since the failed attempt to buy back the freehold from the shareholders comprising Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club have been open about the possibility of rebuilding or extending Stamford Bridge. To say it is difficult is an understatement.

Constructing a 60,000-capacity stadium on Chelsea's current site has so many pitfalls that it resembles the development equivalent of that scene in The Naked Gun when O J Simpson's character is shot, hits his head, burns his hand, leans on a freshly painted wall, traps his fingers in a window, falls face first in a cake and steps into a metal trap before falling off a boat.

Where to start? All properties on the Fulham Road would have to be acquired and demolished, including the Sir Oswald Stoll home for retired servicemen (not a popular move). Two new exit routes would need to be built. The water table is too high to dig down. It would cost more than £600m. The local planning authority, Hammersmith & Fulham, is opposed.

The other option, extending two of the stands to increase the capacity to 55,000, would be so expensive the club estimate they would pay £20,000 for every seat gained and would make a long-term loss.

The benefits of being a London-based club in English football's modern era are evident. It is the nation's biggest, wealthiest city – not always to the benefit of the rest – and it would be difficult to see a club of QPR's size from outside the capital attempt the same transformation. Yet, when Brentford are planning a new 20,000-capacity stadium, you can see why Fernandes envisages the potential for his club although even he acknowledged that filling a 40,000-capacity stadium may be ambitious.

There is a case for saying that Chelsea's location played a major role in their very acquisition by Roman Abramovich, and consequently their success since 2003. Today they are up against a problem even his wealth cannot solve overnight and, as FFP plays a bigger role, and the club seeks to stand independent of its benefactor owner, an increased capacity has never been more important.

In spite of all this, however, tradition matters and, in spite of the jibes, Chelsea's history began not 10 but 108 years ago. Finding a compromise that is sensitive to the past while acknowledging the challenges of the future is crucial. QPR might just have their solution but from where will Chelsea's come?

....

Nice reading! @independent "#QPR's new stadium plans throw the spotlight on to #Chelsea's dilemma at Stamford Bridge..http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sam-wallace-qprs-new-stadium-plans-throw-the-spotlight-on-to-chelseas-dilemma-at-stamford-bridge-where-there-is-no-obvious-solution-9006467.html …

[Bushman]

How can they announce a 40,000 capacity stadium and then he twats this.

[Macmoish]

I put in a different thread, but to include also here

QPR1st Statement

Statement regarding the New Stadium

Posted on December 16, 2013 by QPR1ST

Generations of fans have grown up knowing Loftus Road as the home of QPR, and as much as its dated facilities and lack of leg room can cause us to moan the day we move out will be an emotional one as many fond memories will be recalled not just of great moments on the pitch but of time spent with friends and family.

Yet many fans will welcome the prospect of us moving to a new purpose built stadium with better amenities and indeed there is much about the Old Oak proposal which is innovative and exciting, Certainly it is consistent with the ambition of the Club to restore us to a stable position within the top flight of English football.

The viability of the new stadium is based on predicted attendance figures which are ambitious to say the least and we urge the club to plan and budget carefully so that the stadium does not become a white elephant, potentially dragging us into a spiral of increasing debt but an example of astute financial management and accountability. One key question to be answered whether QPR will be sole owners of the property.

A priority of the architectural design of the new stadium must be to ensure that it produces a great crowd atmosphere. Too often stadiums have been built which have attractive designs but where any atmosphere is effectively stifled. We urge the architectural team to carry out thorough research and to use every trick in the trade to make sure that when our fans make noise the sound echoes and resonates around the whole stadium. Essential to this is ensuring that fans are as close to the pitch as possible rather than find themselves watching the players as tiny figures in the distance.

We also hope that central to the stadium plans should be recognition that a football stadium should be more than just a sports venue but a community asset- and an inclusive one at that which embraces the cultural and economic diversity of its fans and the people who live in its vicinity. It is hoped that those involved in the plans can see beyond the needs of the prawn sandwich brigade and the tourist industry. For example consideration needs to be given to affordable accessible parking spaces for QPR fans rather than expecting us to pay ‘Saturday Shopping’ prices on top of our season ticket. In keeping with the response we gave to the consultation organised by the Mayor and local councils on the new stadium plans, the developers must ensure excellent, safe pedestrian links from Willesden Junction tube and overground services to the stadium, and to future Crossrail/HS2 stations.

Above all we believe that if the Club is going to get this once in a lifetime opportunity right then it needs to ensure that structured focussed consultation takes place with the fans at every stage of this development. This should not be limited to merely telling the fans what has been agreed after the event. Consultation also needs to be broad so that it takes into account the varying needs of different groups- families with small children; those who would prefer to stand; physically disabled as well as those with other forms of disability including autism and learning difficulties.

In previous meetings, QPR1st has received reassurance from the Club that consultation will indeed take place. We now look forward to the Club honouring that pledge.

www.qpr1st.com/news/community/statement-regarding-stadium

[Macmoish]

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2013 8:31:38 GMT Macmoish said:

Checking, I see it was deleted by one of our moderators (presumably in error). Doesn't matter which one.

We don't have the power to restore it.

I posted some articles on the QPR Report Blog yesterday.

I'll repost them here.

That's all I can do.

Again apologies


ADDENDUM: It's a lot to ask, but there were some very interesting comments on this thread - not least by BP about the new stadium and the impossibility of redeveloping Loftus Road (and missed chances by Chris Wright)


If any want to repost them, it would be great. Thanks

very strange and sinister this accidental deleting....  

for those that didnt read the thread....i won every arguement.

[Macmoish]

Dec 16, 2013 16:27:37 GMT @mountpleasantrangers said:

Dec 16, 2013 8:31:38 GMT Macmoish said:

...

very strange and sinister this accidental deleting....  

for those that didnt read the thread....i won every arguement.

Although I seem to recall beloved our former Chairman (BP - Not Gianni/FLavio) warmly welcoming the mood - and noting not possible to upgrade Loftus Road, etc!

[sharky]

From designbuild-network.com

www.designbuild-network.com/news/newsqueens-park-rangers-football-club-in-uk-unveils-new-stadium-plans-4145973

Queens Park Rangers Football Club in UK unveils new stadium plans
16 December 2013

The UK's Queens Park Rangers Football Club has unveiled plans for a new stadium, as part of a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area of west London.

The proposed 40,000-seat facility will replace the club's current Loftus Road ground in Shepherds Bush.

Plans also include 24,000 new homes and a commercial space, which will feature a 350-room hotel, retail space, studios and offices, bars and clubs, restaurants, cinemas and other leisure accommodation.

Antony Spencer is developing the masterplan for the project along with Sir Terry Farrell.

The club and its partners, Stadium Capital Developments, are working with Greater London Assembly and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on the scheme, titled New Queens Park.

Queens Park Rangers Football Club chairman, Tony Fernandes, said Loftus Road is a special place for the club and its supporters, but they need a capacity of more than 18,000.

"With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the mayor's and Hammersmith and Fulham Council's commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of west London," Fernandes said.

Fernandes noted that the project will create about 50,000 new jobs and a new destination in London, boosting local businesses, tourism and attracting new visitors.

Antony Spencer said they expect planning permission to be secured by early 2015, which will allow the development to start.

"We need, however, to work very closely with the public and private sector bodies, such as TfL and Network Rail, to enable the necessary infrastructure requirements," Spencer said.

Image: The proposed 40,000-seat facility will replace the club's current Loftus Road ground in Shepherds Bush. Photo: courtesy of Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

[londonranger]

How far were QPR's Two Park Royal grounds from the location of the New one?


This is obviously far more for Bushman....

But just to start

From WIkipedia

Queens Park Rangers played on two grounds within Park Royal.

The first was the Horse Ring, the site of the now-demolished Guinness Brewery, on the Royal Agricultural Society's show grounds from 1904 to 1907 which had a capacity of 40,000.

When the Society sold the grounds in 1907, QPR moved to the Park Royal Ground, 400 yards south, an almost exact replica of Ayresome Park, with a capacity of 60,000.

The club were forced to move out in February 1915 as the ground was taken over by the Army.[4]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Queens_Park_Rangers_F.C.#Early_history
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:15pm
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:15pm
Well, we used to walk to the Park Royal Dog track. Do not think either ground was there then. But we walked down a back lane right close to Willesden
J, and over the bridge from the Jubilee clock Harlesden. Will look up history if Ian hasnt sorted it by then.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:18pm
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by Macmoish on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:18pm
Bushman Archives Park Royal Stadium 1907
(although photo not showing for me)
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/29786?page=1
Last Edit: Dec 14, 2013 at 5:20pm by Macmoish
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:20pm
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:20pm
And

And from the QPR Official Site History of QPR

1900-1920...

Because of poor finances, QPR had to move to St. Quintin's Avenue in 1901. Players had to change in a public house and walk to the pitch. The inhabitants of the area complained that QPR were lowering the tone of the neighbourhood and in 1902 QPR moved back to Kensal Rise!

In 1904/05 they moved to The Royal Agricultural Society Ground at Park Royal which could hold 40,000 spectators. In 1905/06 QPR won the Western League Cup, but in 1906/07 they finished in a disappointing 18th place in the 20 team Southern League.

In 1907/08 QPR moved to another new ground at Park Royal, capable of holding 60,000 spectators.
They won the Southern League for the first time. At the end of the season they met Manchester United for the first Charity Shield match. They drew 1-1 - only to succumb to a heavy 4-0 defeat in the replay.

QPR expected to be elected to Division Two as they had won the Southern League and resigned from it. However, Tottenham, who finished eighth, were elected, and QPR had to seek re-admission. They had to play all their matches in mid-week as the fixture list had been completed by the time they were re-admitted.

In 1911/12, QPR won the Southern League for the second time. In 1912, because of a coal strike, QPR played two of their matches at White City, and also went on their first tour of Europe - scoring 40 goals in eight matches!

In 1914, Mr Cowan, who had been manager since the club turned professional, left and Mr Hewie took over. In 1914/15, because the First World War had started, the army took over QPR's ground at Park Royal, and QPR played the rest of their fixtures at Harvist Road.

QPR then took over the ground of the amateur club Shepherd's Bush - who played at Loftus Road. In 1920/21 QPR were elected to the newly-formed Third Division. They also had a new manager, Mr Ned Liddell. They finished third in the table behind Crystal Palace and Southampton.


www.qpr.co.uk/page/History/0,,10373,00.html

Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/29786?page=2#ixzz2nUi5DgQO
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:23pm
WMIPSFS Edit
Post by Macmoish on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:23pm
Also Bushman's Archives


Southern League Champions 1907-08





James Cowan (Manager)



Rangers started the season playing at the Royal Agricultural Society Ground at Park Royal which had a ground capacity of 40,000. They moved to the Park Royal Stadium, built by The Great Western Railway Company. Opened in November 1907, held 60,000 including 9,000 under cover 4,000 seated and had it's own train station.

This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.


This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.





Drawing of the stadium



[center
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[/center]


Train station to the right



This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.


Rangers supporters getting off the train at Park Royal




Formal opening of the grandstand 2nd November 1907.
Lord Kinnard and members of the F. A. arrived by special train. The Rangers directors posed with the members of the F. A. before the game against Millwall




Great Western Railway handbill advertising excursions.

QPR v Norwich City match at Park Royal, 14 Dec 1907. Result: 3-1. Goal scorers: Pentland 2, Downing



Rangers finished the season as champions with 21 wins, 9 draws, & 8 defeats with 82 goals for & 57 against with a total of 51 pts, two points ahead of Plymouth Argyle. Top joint scorers were Albert Walker 16 goals from 30 games & Alf Gittens 16 goals from 39 games.

This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.


qprreport.proboards.com/thread/21334/southern-league-champions-1907-season
Last Edit: Dec 14, 2013 at 5:23pm by Macmoish
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
NO1QPRNZ
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:50pm
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Post by NO1QPRNZ on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:50pm
Rs back to Grass roots all good IMO

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whats the score. cant get anything beyond half time?

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 6:17pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 6:17pm
Well looked up Postal code and its NW10 for both Old Oak and Park Royal. Also one stadium was used for a Rugby team, which doesnt exist anymore. The Dog
Track was added on at the end of Stadium, close to Harlesden. It was shut down in 1967. The land was once a Pig Farm, adjacent of course and still is
Wormwood Scrubs Land.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 6:21pm
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by eusebio13 on Dec 14, 2013 at 6:21pm
That's incredible that we once played in a 40K capacity stadium in Park Royal

From wiki about Park Royal

Queens Park Rangers F.C. played on two grounds in Park Royal. The first was the Horse Ring, later the site of the Guinness brewery, which had a capacity of 40,000. When the Royal Agricultural Society sold the grounds in 1907, QPR moved to the Park Royal Ground, 400 yards (370 m) south, an almost exact replica of Ayresome Park, with a capacity of 60,000. The club was forced to move out in February 1915 as the ground was taken over by the Army.[7]

The Guiness Brewery was at the other end of PRoyal from Harlesden but not far in milage www.doctorwholocations.net/locations/diageoparkroyal
peterg
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 6:47pm via the ProBoards App
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Post by peterg on Dec 14, 2013 at 6:47pm
Will have a look on google tomorrow bu I would say the original park royal ground was about as far from the proposed new stadium as lofted road is. Possibly a bit closer as the crow flies

Always used to give me a tingle going past the Guinness factory knowing that QPR had played there in the past the 2nd found must have been very close to where they built the western avenue in 37
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 8:45pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 8:45pm
Another Park Royal Checks in.


Park Royal Stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Park Royal Stadium was a greyhound stadium that existed between 1931 and 1969.[1]
The Stadium was built on the Park Royal site in London on the Abbey Road in 1931 and was owned by Park Royal Stadium Limited. The stadium was enlarged for use by Acton and Willesden rugby league club in 1935.[2]
The Greyhound Racing Association added the track to their portfolio and in 1967 Park Royal was one of the pioneer tracks used on the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) along with Kings Heath, Stamford Bridge and Oxford. This was the process of allowing the racing to be used in bookmakers shops.
Just two years later on 22nd January 1969 the stadium was literally closed overnight after being sold for redevelopment and their main race the One Thousand Guineas moved to Hendon Stadium.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:03pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:03pm
yet another wrinkle. two qpr park royal names.
Ground History
Article by Mark O' Haire
Updated Wednesday, 23rd June 2004
Queens Park Rangers RSS Feed

Rangers have played in nearly 20 different locations since there formation in 1886- we give you the details of all of them.
Welford's Fields
1886-1888
London Scottish Ground
1888-1889
Brondesbury
1888-1889
Home Farm
1888-1889
Kensal Rise Green
1888-1889
Gun Club
1888-1889
Wormwood Scrubs
1888-1889
Killburn Cricket Ground
1888-1889
Kensal Rise Athletic Ground
1899-1901
Latimer Road
1901-1904
Notting Hill
1901-1904
Agricultural Society
1904-1907
Park Royal
1904-1907
Park Royal Ground
1907-1917
Loftus Road
1917-1931
White City
1931-1933
Loftus Road
1933-1962
White City
1962-1963
Loftus Road
1963- present
by TaboolaSponsored Content
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:04pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:04pm
So we did time at The Scrubs too.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:43pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:43pm
The two stadia from Potted History. Imagine the "New One' must bwe in close vicinity to where other two were?

In 1904/05 they moved to The Royal Agricultural Society Ground at Park Royal, which could hold 40,000 spectators.

In 1905/06 the R’s won the Western League Cup, but in 1906/07 they finished in a disappointing 18th place in a 20-team Southern League.

In 1907/08 QPR moved to another new ground at Park Royal, capable of holding 60,000 spectators. They won the Southern League for the first time. At the end of the season they met Manchester United for the first-ever Charity Shield match. Rangers drew 1-1, only to succumb to a heavy 4-0 defeat in the replay.

The Hoops expected to be elected to Division Two as they had won the Southern League and resigned from it.

However Tottenham, who finished eighth, were elected, and QPR had to be readmitted. They had to play all their matches in midweek as the fixture list had already been completed by the time they were readmitted.

In 1911/12 Rangers won the Southern League for the second time. In 1912, because of a coal strike, they played two of their matches at White City, and also went on their first tour of Europe, scoring 40 goals in eight matches!

In 1914 Mr Cowan, who had been Manager since the Club turned professional, left and Mr Hewie took over. In 1914/15, because the First World War had started, the army took over QPR's ground at Park Royal, and they played the rest of their fixtures at Harvist Road.

The R’s then took over the ground of amateur Club Shepherd's Bush, who played at Loftus Road. In 1920/21 Rangers were elected to the newly-formed Third Division. They also had a new Manager, Ned Liddell. They finished third in the table behind Crystal Palace and Southampton.

1921-1940 ...
In 1923/24 QPR received a then-record fee for a player when they sold Arthur Chandler to Leicester City for £3,000. However, they finished the season at the bottom of the table with 31 points from 42 matches, and had to apply for re-election.

In 1925/26 they finished bottom again, with only 21 points, the lowest ever for the Third Division. They had a new Manager called Bob Hewison.

In 1926/27, after successfully applying for re-election for a second time, they also changed the colours of their shirts to blue and white hoops.

In 1927/28 George Goddard set up a new Club record by scoring 37 league goals. QPR also beat Merthyr Town 8-0 - a record score for the Club.

John Bowman started the 1931/32 season as Manager but had to resign due to ill health, with Archie Mitchell taking over. Rangers moved to the White City that season and a record crowd of 41,097 saw them beat Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup.

In 1933/34 the R’s moved back to Loftus Road having made a loss of £7,000 while they were at the White City. Mick O'Brien became their new Manager and they finished fourth in the league.

In 1935/36 Billy Birrell became the new Manager and he signed Tommy Cheetham, who posted a new Club record by scoring in nine consecutive matches at Loftus Road.

In 1938/39 Ted Vizard became the new Manager. During the Second World War, Dave Mangnall became Manager.

1941-1960 ...
In 1945/46 QPR finished top of Division Three South (North Region). They also got through to the fifth round of the FA Cup - the only time it was played on a two-legged basis.

In 1947/48 they reached the sixth round of the FA Cup before losing to Derby County after a replay, and on April 26th 1948 won promotion for the first time to the Second Division.

The R’s spent four years in the Second Division before they were relegated back to Division Three in 1952. Mangnall left the Club and his place was taken by Jack Taylor. In 1953 the first floodlights were installed at Loftus Road at a cost of £5,000 – the first floodlit match being against Arsenal on October 5th.

In 1959 Alec Stock joined the Club as a Manager and signed Brian Bedford from Bournemouth, who went on to score 180 goals for QPR by the end of the 1964/65 season.

Rangers played at White City again for half a season in 1962 but again poor attendances forced the Club back to Loftus Road.

1961-1980 ...
In 1961/62 the R’s scored 129 goals in 52 matches, including a record 111 in the Third Division. In 1963 Tony Ingham retired after playing 548 matches for QPR’s First Team.

In March 1965 Jim Gregory became Chairman of the Club. In 1965/66 Rangers finished third in Division Three. Rodney Marsh signed from Fulham in 1966 for £15,000 and went on to score 134 goals in 242 appearances.

In 1966/67 QPR won Division Three with 67 points. In the same year they also became the first Third Division side to win the League Cup, beating West Bromwich Albion 3-2 at Wembley after being 2-0 down at half-time.

In 1967/68 Rangers were promoted to the First Division for the first time by finishing second in the table.

In 1968/69 the South Africa Road Stand was completed. The R’s were relegated after only one season in Division One with just 18 points. Stock left the Club, Tommy Docherty came but went in 28 days, and Les Allen took over.

On February 7th 1969 Roger Morgan became the first QPR player to be sold for a six-figure fee.

Gordon Jago became Manager in January 1971 and on March 8th 1972 Rodney Marsh was sold to Manchester City for £200,000.

On September 8th 1972 Stan Bowles became the first six-figure signing for the R’s.

In 1972 the new Ellerslie Road Stand was built. In 1972/73 QPR finished second in Division Two and were promoted to the First Division once again.

In 1973/74 Rangers reached the sixth round of the FA Cup again, before losing to Leicester City before a record crowd for a cup match at Loftus Road of 34,989.

On April 27th 35,353 people saw the league match against Leeds, which was a new attendance record for Loftus Road. Dave Sexton became Manager on October 17th 1974.

In 1975/76 QPR were Division One runners-up, finishing one point behind Liverpool. The following season, the R’s reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals at their first attempt.

In July 1977 Frank Sibley became Manager, resigning a year later when Rangers avoided relegation by a point. Alec Stock became Manager until Steve Burtenshaw took over in August. Phil Parkes was sold to West Ham United for £565,000 - a world record for a goalkeeper at the time - having played 406 games for the Club. QPR ended the season in 20th place and were relegated to the Second Division.

Burtenshaw left the Club after only one season and was replaced by Tommy Docherty from Derby in May 1979. Tony Currie was bought from Leeds for a Club record fee of £390,000. 19 year-old Clive Allen was sold to Arsenal for a fee of £1million - the first-ever teenager to merit the million pound price.

1981-2000 ...
In the 1980/81 season the new School End double-decker stand was built and Terry Venables was appointed Manager on October 14th 1980.

In 1981/82 QPR became the first league Club to replace grass with an artificial playing surface and Rangers reached the FA Cup Final against Tottenham.

The game went to a replay after a 1-1 draw, with Terry Fenwick's headed equaliser cancelling out Glenn Hoddle's opener. It was Hoddle again who scored the only goal, from the penalty spot, in the replay.

In 1982/83 Venables took the R’s back in to the First Division again, and Rangers lost only two of their home league matches. In 1983/84 QPR completed building their fourth and last stand and thus had seating on all four sides of the ground.

QPR finished fifth in their first season back in Division One and in 1984/85 Venables left to join Barcelona. Alan Mullery had a brief spell in charge with Frank Sibley later becoming Caretaker Manager for the rest of the season.

Rangers again qualified for the UEFA Cup and went through to the second round where they lost on aggregate to Partizan Belgrade. All seemed well after a 6-2 first leg victory. Yet the Hoops conspired to lose the second leg 4-0 and went out on the away goals rule.

In July 1985 Jim Smith became the R’s new Manager and the following season QPR were defeated finalists in the Milk (League) Cup competition at Wembley, losing 3-0 to Oxford United.

In May 1987, Gregory ended his record 22-year chairmanship of Rangers and became Life President. David Bulstrode became Chairman of the Club.

In 1987/88 QPR finished fifth in the First Division, despite having been top of the table for some months. In April the artificial playing surface was removed after seven seasons and was replaced by natural grass.

In September 1988 Bulstrode tragically died and later that month Richard Thompson was appointed Chairman of the Club, becoming the youngest in the Football League. Following in his predecessor's footsteps, over £2.5million was spent on new players.

In December 1988 Smith left to join Newcastle United and Peter Shreeves was appointed Caretaker Manager with Trevor Francis subsequently being appointed Player/Manager on December 14th.

In November 1989 Francis left to be replaced by Don Howe as Head Coach. The Club reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, losing to Liverpool. It was a hectic season in the transfer market, with many players leaving Loftus Road. The major signings were Kenny Sansom, David Bardsley and Roy Wegerle (the Club's first £1million player).

In October 1990 Jan Stejskal, the Czechoslovakian international goalkeeper, was signed from Sparta Prague for £625,000 to replace David Seaman, who had been sold to Arsenal for £1.3million during the close season. Club Captain Paul Parker returned from the World Cup finals as an England regular.

Bobby Gould joined the Club for a brief period between December 1990 and February 1991 before leaving to become Manager of West Brom. Howe left the Club in May 1991 to be replaced by former player Gerry Francis.

Prior to the 1991/92 season kicking off, QPR received £1.75million from Manchester United for England defender Parker. Later that season a further £1million saw Ray Wegerle depart for Blackburn Rovers.

The most outstanding performance of the season came on New Year's Day 1992 when, in front of 38,554 spectators at Old Trafford – and a live television audience – Rangers thrashed Manchester United 4-1, with Dennis Bailey hitting a hat-trick.

The R’s finished 11th in the league, thus ensuring their place in the new FA Premier League for the next season.

In 1992/93 Rangers finished fifth in their first season in the new Premier League. Les Ferdinand hit 20 league goals and was called up to the England squad along with David Bardsley.

England international Andy Sinton left for Sheffield Wednesday on the eve of the 1993/94 season for £2.75million. QPR quickly spent £750,000 on winger Trevor Sinclair and £650,000 on defender Steve Yates. After four-and-a-half years with the Club, Ray Wilkins joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer. However, he returned to Loftus Road in November 1994 when Francis left, who later became Manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

Wilkins proved to be a very popular choice as Player/Manager and a series of good all-round displays revived the R’s season, including two memorable 3-1 victories over Arsenal. They finished in the top ten for the fourth consecutive season.

During the close season striker Ferdinand was sold to Newcastle for a Club record £6million, with £570,000 of the fee going to his former Club, Hayes. The loss of the England striker proved crucial in 1995/96 as Rangers always struggled at the wrong end of the Premiership table. Despite paying over £1million each for Simon Osborn, Australian International Ned Zelic and Mark Hateley, QPR lost their fight to stay in the Premier League.

In May 1996 the Thompson family announced their intention to sell the Club and three months later media tycoon Chris Wright, a Rangers fan for some 20 years, bought the Club and also announced his plans for Wasps Rugby Union Club to share Loftus Road.

Chris Wright later floated the newly-formed Loftus Road PLC, incorporating both QPR and Wasps, on the Alternative Investment Market. In September 1996 Wilkins left the Club by mutual consent and was replaced shortly afterwards by ex-Arsenal Caretaker Manager Stewart Houston. Former Gunners Manager Bruce Rioch was installed as Assistant Manager.

Houston's first purchase for Rangers smashed the Club's previous transfer record. Scottish international striker John Spencer joined the Club from Chelsea for £2.35million in November 1996. He was joined in December by ex-Blues team-mate and former R’s player Gavin Peacock.

Northern Ireland international Steve Morrow also joined from Arsenal. QPR’s poor home form during the 1996/97 season cost them dear and they finished ninth, five points outside the Play-Off places.

1997/98 was even more of a disappointment despite the arrival of £2.1million striker Mike Sheron, with the Club only avoiding relegation on the final day of the season. Houston and Rioch were sacked mid-campaign to be replaced by Ray Harford, but he was unable to halt a slide that so nearly ended in relegation to Division Two.

1998/99 also ended with Rangers needing a result on the last day and once again they stayed up, this time courtesy of a final day victory over Crystal Palace, albeit by the overwhelming margin of six goals to nil.

Six months previously Harford had resigned to be replaced by Rangers legend Gerry Francis as Director of Football and once Francis had ensured Rangers' survival in Division One, he marched them back up the table in 1999/2000, with Stuart Wardley top scoring in an impressive campaign.

The new millennium ...
Rangers finished ninth and looked set for a promotion challenge in 2000/01. Sadly though, it wasn't to be. A dreadful season ended in relegation, despite the introduction of Ian Holloway as First Team Manager, and coincided with the Club entering administration as harsh financial realities began to bite.

The following season began with no fewer than 16 players released, and a scratch squad built from practically nothing by Holloway. It is to his enormous credit therefore that the R’s enjoyed a top-half finish when many predicted another relegation.

QPR came out of administration and Chris Wright left the Club to be replaced as Chairman by Nick Blackburn. The Club embarked on the 2002/03 season with optimism. Once again Holloway wheeled and dealed and led the Hoops to the Play-Offs thanks to an impressive team ethic and the goals of Kevin Gallen and Paul Furlong.

It was Furlong who scored the winning goal on a dramatic night at Loftus Road to take the R’s to Cardiff for the Play-Off Final, courtesy of a two-legged victory over Oldham Athletic in the semi-final.

But the fairy-tale ended at the Millennium Stadium when Andy Campbell's goal late in extra time took Cardiff City up to Division One and condemned Rangers to another in year in the third tier of English football.

Nevertheless, 12 months later the agonies would be forgotten when QPR secured automatic promotion.

Martin Rowlands, Gareth Ainsworth, Jamie Cureton, Tony Thorpe, Richard Edghill, Arthur Gnohere and Richard Johnson all joined the Club and each contributed to the team's success.

The Hoops lost only seven games all season, the lowest in the Football League - but too many draws took Rangers' fate to the final day.

They needed to win at Hillsborough – home of Sheffield Wednesday – and did so – triumphing 3-1 to secure second place in Division Two behind champions Plymouth Argyle.

With that achievement fresh in their minds, consolidation was the key in the R’s first season back in the Championship.

Four free contract signings coupled with the same number of departures ensured the squad remained fresh, but Rangers found the going tough early on, failing to win any of their opening four matches until they eventually broke their duck courtesy of Marcus Bean's winner at Gillingham.

Thereafter, seven wins on the bounce, including a morale boosting 1-0 victory against West Ham, saw Holloway's rejuvenated side gate-crash the top half and that's where they remained for the rest of the season, eventually finishing in a creditable 11th place.

Furlong again impressed, scoring 18 goals in all competitions as well as bagging the Players’ Player and Supporters' Player of the Year awards, plus the coveted Goal of the Season crown.

Hope sprang eternal at the start of 2005/06 and with the addition of a number of new players, including Rangers old-boy Richard Langley and the highly rated Stefan Moore from Aston Villa, the R's looked well equipped to mount a charge for the Play-Offs.

But after a positive start - which saw the Hoops top the table after three games - the season soon turned sour and Holloway was placed on gardening leave at the end of January.

Gary Waddock took the reigns as Caretaker Manager and immediately stamped his own unique style on proceedings.

But a spate of injuries and poor fortune, coupled with a few questionable refereeing decisions, saw all Waddock's best laid plans backfire and the Hoops finished the season just one place and eight points above the drop-zone.

As a result, Waddock was forced to make some tough decisions at the start of May and duly released half a dozen players, while also placing nine others - including established First Team regulars Marcus Bignot, Steve Lomas and Marc Bircham - on the transfer list.

Unfortunately, the changes in personnel, coupled with the arrival of six new signings, failed to have the desired effect, as Rangers registered just six points from a possible 24 at the start of the 2006/07 Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

An embarrassing Carling Cup exit at the hands of League One outfit Port Vale proved to be the final straw for the Rangers Board, as Waddock was demoted to Assistant Manager, and R's cult hero John Gregory replaced him in the Loftus Road hot-seat.

Gregory wasted little time in stamping his authority on proceedings, making further changes to the First Team personnel and introducing coach Richard Hill and Sports Performance Coach Joe Dunbar to the Club.

Gregory's impact was immediate, as the R's eased to a 2-0 home victory against Hull City in his first match in charge, before grinding out a memorable 2-1 victory versus Southampton seven days later.

Waddock made way as his Assistant Manager soon after, as the R's - buoyed by the double loan capture of Chelsea starlets Jimmy Smith and Michael Mancienne - moved five points clear of the relegation zone with victory against London rivals Crystal Palace at the start of November.

Further additions followed in January 2007, when Gregory swooped to add experienced duo Adam Bolder and Danny Cullip to his squad.

Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp came back on loan too and his arrival, coupled with the fine goalscoring form of top scorer Dexter Blackstock, saw Rangers secure their Championship status with a 1-0 home victory against Cardiff two weeks before the final day of the season.

Gregory wielded the axe soon after though, letting eight players go, including fans’ favourites Bircham, Gallen and Furlong.

A new era ...
On Saturday 1st September 2007, the Club announced that Formula 1 magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone had made a recommended offer for the Club.

Gianni Paladini – now Chairman of QPR – remained in his position and Briatore, Bruno Michel Alejandro Agag were invited to join the Board.

Briatore said: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the Board of QPR for our bid for the Club and we look forward to working alongside Gianni Paladini and his team.

"We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fan-base that it has; we are therefore totally committed to bringing future success back to the Club.

"Gianni, Bernie and I are all determined to see the Club return to the Premiership as soon as possible."

Shortly after this, the Club announced further great news as Lakshmi Mittal became involved, placing son-in-law Amit Bhatia on the Board as the family's representative. Bhatia was named Vice-Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd.

Despite the positive off-the-field news, Rangers made a poor start to the new season and following a 5-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, which left QPR rooted firmly to the foot of the Championship table, the Club terminated the contract of Manager John Gregory.

Mick Harford was placed in caretaker charge and with the addition of loanees Rowan Vine, Martin Cranie and Jason Jarrett to the ranks, the 48 year-old guided the R's to their maiden win of the campaign against Norwich City on Monday 8th October, in front of the live Sky Sports cameras.

On Monday 29th October, QPR appointed Luigi De Canio as their First Team Coach.

The Italian, with an extensive coaching pedigree having taken charge of Udinese, Napoli, Reggina, Genoa and Siena in Serie A, penned a deal until the end of the 2009/10 season.

With the new investment sending shockwaves around the footballing fraternity, De Canio was given the licence to add to his squad in the January transfer window, with no fewer than ten new faces arriving in W12.

Former Premier League trio Vine, Gavin Mahon and Fitz Hall arrived from Birmingham City, Watford and Wigan Athletic respectively, while the R's also added some up-and-coming youngsters to their squad in the shape of Hogan Ephraim and Matt Connolly.

The new additions had the desired effect, as the new-look R's successfully climbed away from the foot of the division with stunning victories against high-flying Watford, Stoke City and Bristol City to name but a few.

On Thursday 8th May 2008, QPR announced that they had parted company with De Canio by mutual consent with immediate effect.

Six days later, Rangers appointed Iain Dowie as First Team Coach.

After guiding the R's to ninth place in the Coca-Cola Championship table after 12 league fixtures, the Board announced the departure of Dowie with immediate effect on October 24th 2008.

Gareth Ainsworth took over as Caretaker Manager, before Briatore appointed former Portugal international ace Paulo Sousa as the R's new First Team Coach on November 19th 2008.

Sousa enjoyed mixed fortunes at the helm, however, and after the departure of his assistant Bruno Oliveira, the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder had his contract terminated on April 9th 2009. Ainsworth was handed the managerial reigns until the end of the season.

On Wednesday 3rd June 2009, QPR unveiled former Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton as the Club's new Manager, with the former Northern Ireland international penning a two-year deal in W12.

Magilton enjoyed initial success with the R's, guiding the Club to fourth spot in the table in October following a string of impressive victories.

However, he left QPR by mutual consent in December and was replaced by Paul Hart who remained in charge of First Team affairs until January, when he decided to leave.

Following his departure, Mick Harford - Hart's Assistant - was named Caretaker Manager until the end of the season.

On Friday 19th February, the Club announced Briatore had stepped down as Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd, and he was replaced by Ishan Saksena.

Meanwhile, the Mittal family also took the opportunity to increase its shareholding in the Club.

Bhatia said at the time of the announcement: "I have known Ishan for 12 years now and I know his feelings for our Club run very deeply. Our immediate priority must be to reintroduce stability into the Club and safeguard our future in the Championship.

"The season has been disappointing so far, but there are still many games to go. We must make every effort to end it positively, not least for our fans, the people who have continued to support and believe in the Club through all the highs and lows. Together we can succeed."

On his new appointment, Saksena added: "Since becoming CEO, I have developed a great love and very strong passion for the Club. It is therefore a great honour for me to assume this position. It is a position of trust and I will hold it with great pride.

"I would like to thank Flavio for all his hard work during his time here and for the many positive additions he has made.

"I must also express my gratitude to all our fans, who are the real owners of the Club. I feel a real responsibility to repay their loyalty and intend to do all I can to bring the great days back to Loftus Road."

Warnock arrives ...
Neil Warnock's appointment followed shortly after, with the former Crystal Palace boss agreeing a three-and-a-half year deal with the R's in March 2010.

After steadying the ship towards the end of the 2009/10 campaign, the 2010/11 season promised to be an exciting affair.

Under the ownership of Mittal, Bhatia, Briatore and Ecclestone, Warnock embarked on the new season by making wholesale changes on and off the pitch.

The most remarkable of those arrived in the shape of Moroccan magician, Adel Taarabt, who penned a three-year deal from Tottenham in the summer transfer window.

Champions …
Warnock targeted promotion for the 2010/11 season and he didn’t disappoint, as the R’s clinched the npower Championship title that very year.

Aided by some astute captures in the transfer market – the influential trio of Paddy Kenny, Clint Hill and Shaun Derry to name but a few – the Yorkshireman described it as ‘the best job I’ve ever done’ in helping QPR secure a return to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.

That was, incidentally, Warnock’s seventh promotion is his managerial career – and few would argue that the 62 year-old deserved another crack at the big time.

A fresh start …
Malaysian business tycoon Tony Fernandes CBE completed his takeover of QPR on Thursday 18th August 2011.

Fernandes’ company Tune Group bought a majority stake in the Club, buying out previous majority shareholders Briatore and Ecclestone.

The 47 year-old founder of AirAsia – also the team principal of Formula 1’s Caterham F1 – and his business partners bought a controlling stake of 66 per-cent to work alongside the Mittal family, who retained their 33 per-cent stake.

Fernandes – who took the role of Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd – was joined on the board by joint Tune Group owner Mr Kamarudin Bin Meranun, one of Malaysia’s most successful business tycoons.

Bhatia resumed in his position as Vice-Chairman of the Club, after stepping down at the end of the 2010/11 season.

Hughes arrives …
The 2011/12 season saw Rangers compete in the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.

Despite a desperately disappointing 4-0 home defeat against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the campaign, QPR’s return to the top table of English football promised to be one to remember.

Wins at Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke followed before Christmas, while the Hoops also recorded a 1-0 victory over arch rivals Chelsea at Loftus Road.

However, after an alarming slide in form over the festive period and then into the New Year, the Rangers board opted to replace Warnock as Manager with Mark Hughes.

Stellar signings such as Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora followed the Welsh boss through door. However, although Hughes won his first home league fixture in charge, QPR still struggled for form.

The Hoops wouldn’t win away from Loftus Road for the remainder of the campaign – but they survived thanks to a run of outstanding results at home towards the end of the season.

Wins over Liverpool, Swansea City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Stoke in Rangers’ final five league fixtures in W12 saw the R’s retain their top-flight status, with optimism high heading into the 2012/13 season.

Change at the top ...
QPR worked hard in the summer transfer window to bolster the squad for their second season back in the top-flight, with 12 new signings coming through the door. Rob Green, Julio Cesar, Esteban Granero, Jose Bosingwa, Samba Diakite, Junior Hoilett and Andy Johnson were amongst the new faces at Harlington.

A poor start to the season left the R's languishing at the foot of the table, however, and following a 3-1 home defeat to fellow-strugglers Southampton, Hughes was relieved of his duties as QPR boss.

On Saturday 24th November 2012, Harry Redknapp was named as QPR's new manager and he has been charged with the task of keeping the club in the Premier League.

However, Rangers relegation back into the Football League was confirmed at the end of April following a 0-0 draw with Reading.
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Read more at www.qpr.co.uk/club/history/potted-history/#QRyFj81Pqs46WREs.99
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londonranger
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whats the score. cant get anything beyond half time?

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:45pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:45pm
More history than we needed but interesting to go over it again imo. way beyond Park Royal. Wonder why the Park was 'Royal"?
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 2:20am
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Post by Bushman on yesterday at 2:20am

Dec 14, 2013 at 9:45pm londonranger said:
More history than we needed but interesting to go over it again imo. way beyond Park Royal. Wonder why the Park was 'Royal"?

The Royal comes from the 1903 show grounds by the Royal Agricultural SocIety.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 2:34am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 2:34am

"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 5:40am via the ProBoards App
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Post by peterg on yesterday at 5:40am
Having looked on google maps this morning it looks like the old original park royal site would have been fractionally closer to the proposed new stadium than loftus road and the new stadium would also be closer to droop st Kendal rise etc. I guess then if you drew a map spotting all our grounds through history then the new site would be pretty close to being slap bang in the middle?
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 6:19am
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Post by Jon Doeman on yesterday at 6:19am

yesterday at 5:40am peterg said:
Having looked on google maps this morning it looks like the old original park royal site would have been fractionally closer to the proposed new stadium than loftus road and the new stadium would also be closer to droop st Kendal rise etc. I guess then if you drew a map spotting all our grounds through history then the new site would be pretty close to being slap bang in the middle?

maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104557737426271030088.00047b79185f85e3394d5

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 7:24am via the ProBoards App
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Post by peterg on yesterday at 7:24am
Lovely
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 7:33am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 7:33am
Just given QPR their new central talking point: "We're Not moving...We're Returning Home"

or simply "Coming Home"

Last Edit: yesterday at 8:33am by Macmoish
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 8:53am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 8:53am



"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
Jon Doeman
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 9:03am
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Post by Jon Doeman on yesterday at 9:03am
You got a reply! Maude will be well impressed

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 10:14am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 10:14am
I can just imagine the QPR-funded video campaign...The theme music, the old Southern League stadium...the old photos and then morphing into new Stadium...!
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 20 hours ago
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Post by Bushman on 20 hours ago
Going home my arse!!!
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eusebio13
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 18 hours ago
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Post by eusebio13 on 18 hours ago
link

There are many remarkable aspects about the plan to build a new mini-city at Old Oak Common in west London, not least that the 40,000-seat stadium at the centre of the project, to be built by Queen's Park Rangers, would give the Championship club a home just less than 2,000 shy of the capacity of Stamford Bridge.


It is one of those opportunities for QPR that might never come again, a new ground in west London, the most expensive part of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Not that Old Oak Common, with its waste recycling plants, used car dealerships and derelict buildings is what most people imagine when they think of west London.

The site is the modern London planner's dream, encompassing HS2 and the Crossrail transport hub, as well as new homes. In a city where the demand for space is insatiable, it is hard to drive through the area and imagine it remaining in its current state for another generation.

Meanwhile, at Chelsea, the biggest club in west London, the official line is there is nothing in the pipeline to increase a 41,837-capacity that is dangerously low in the era of Uefa Financial Fair Play. The club find themselves in a situation similar to the archetypal squeezed-middle London family. Home too small for all the new additions but, with the stratospheric state of the housing market, simply no prospect of moving up the ladder.

Why was Old Oak Common, with a bigger capacity, never an option for Chelsea? Simple, really. In football terms, London is parcelled up like no other British city. West Ham could not move out of the east any more than Arsenal could leave the north (notwithstanding the 1913 flit from Woolwich). None belong to London per se; rather all belong to a part of it.

QPR are the only club with a pure west London postcode, W12. Chelsea are SW6. A move to Old Oak Common would take Chelsea from four miles south of Loftus Road to more than a mile north and across two postcodes to NW10. In a city as fiercely localised as London, the club know that would be an impossible sell to fans.

QPR fans appear broadly to have accepted the Old Oak Common move – with caveats. In purely geographical terms it takes them closer to their origins in Kilburn. They have the record for the most home grounds, 17, of any British football club, although they have been at Loftus Road since 1933, apart from two brief spells at the old White City stadium.

At Chelsea, the association with Stamford Bridge is that much longer. The club have never played anywhere else. In fact, they were created in 1905 in order to play at the stadium, built by the club's founder, Gus Mears, whose family only gave up control of Chelsea in 1982 with the sale to Ken Bates. If Chelsea were to leave Stamford Bridge, the alternative would have to be very good and very local indeed.

The club were beaten to the acquisition of Battersea Power Station last year by the Malaysian developers SP Setia, a macro-reflection of life for many Londoners who find themselves outbid for homes by foreign property investors. The club's attempt two years ago to buy back the freehold for Stamford Bridge, largely owned by share-owning fans, as a prelude to a potential move, was a failure.

Bruised by that episode, Chelsea now have the position that there are no plans to move. The only obvious local alternative, the Lillie Bridge site north of the Earls Court exhibition centre, has planning permission for housing and is a non-starter.

Upon the announcement of the Old Oak Common plans, the QPR chairman, Tony Fernandes, described the current 18,000-capacity of Loftus Road as "untenable" under FFP if his club are to fulfil their ambitions to become established in the Premier League. Relatively speaking, the implications are the same for Chelsea, although their sights are set a lot higher.

By Chelsea's own admission, Stamford Bridge is too far down the table of stadium capacities among their European peers – 30th at the latest count but likely to fall further as new grounds are built. Their own accounts reveal they earn, per season, £26m less than Arsenal and £41m less than Manchester United in matchday revenue. With Tottenham in the process of building a new stadium, the pressure goes up a notch.

Since the failed attempt to buy back the freehold from the shareholders comprising Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club have been open about the possibility of rebuilding or extending Stamford Bridge. To say it is difficult is an understatement.

Constructing a 60,000-capacity stadium on Chelsea's current site has so many pitfalls that it resembles the development equivalent of that scene in The Naked Gun when O J Simpson's character is shot, hits his head, burns his hand, leans on a freshly painted wall, traps his fingers in a window, falls face first in a cake and steps into a metal trap before falling off a boat.

Where to start? All properties on the Fulham Road would have to be acquired and demolished, including the Sir Oswald Stoll home for retired servicemen (not a popular move). Two new exit routes would need to be built. The water table is too high to dig down. It would cost more than £600m. The local planning authority, Hammersmith & Fulham, is opposed.

The other option, extending two of the stands to increase the capacity to 55,000, would be so expensive the club estimate they would pay £20,000 for every seat gained and would make a long-term loss.

The benefits of being a London-based club in English football's modern era are evident. It is the nation's biggest, wealthiest city – not always to the benefit of the rest – and it would be difficult to see a club of QPR's size from outside the capital attempt the same transformation. Yet, when Brentford are planning a new 20,000-capacity stadium, you can see why Fernandes envisages the potential for his club although even he acknowledged that filling a 40,000-capacity stadium may be ambitious.

There is a case for saying that Chelsea's location played a major role in their very acquisition by Roman Abramovich, and consequently their success since 2003. Today they are up against a problem even his wealth cannot solve overnight and, as FFP plays a bigger role, and the club seeks to stand independent of its benefactor owner, an increased capacity has never been more important.

In spite of all this, however, tradition matters and, in spite of the jibes, Chelsea's history began not 10 but 108 years ago. Finding a compromise that is sensitive to the past while acknowledging the challenges of the future is crucial. QPR might just have their solution but from where will Chelsea's come?
Last Edit: 18 hours ago by eusebio13
Jon Doeman
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 11 hours ago
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Post by Jon Doeman on 11 hours ago
Good article that...



eusebio13
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 10 hours ago
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Post by eusebio13 on 10 hours ago

11 hours ago Jon Doeman said:
Good article that...


Though Sam Wallace is a good writer he's very Chelsea-centric otherwise how would you turn an article about our future stadium into one about Chelsea
Last Edit: 10 hours ago by eusebio13
jjqpr
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 10 hours ago
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Post by jjqpr on 10 hours ago
Fascinating stuff. to those who think QPR is dead because of the stadium move take note


Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/37928/qprs-roots-park-royal-stadium?page=1&scrollTo=341450#ixzz2nfV5wCvTHow far were QPR's Two Park Royal grounds from the location of the New one?


This is obviously far more for Bushman....

But just to start

From WIkipedia

Queens Park Rangers played on two grounds within Park Royal.

The first was the Horse Ring, the site of the now-demolished Guinness Brewery, on the Royal Agricultural Society's show grounds from 1904 to 1907 which had a capacity of 40,000.

When the Society sold the grounds in 1907, QPR moved to the Park Royal Ground, 400 yards south, an almost exact replica of Ayresome Park, with a capacity of 60,000.

The club were forced to move out in February 1915 as the ground was taken over by the Army.[4]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Queens_Park_Rangers_F.C.#Early_history
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:15pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:15pm
Well, we used to walk to the Park Royal Dog track. Do not think either ground was there then. But we walked down a back lane right close to Willesden
J, and over the bridge from the Jubilee clock Harlesden. Will look up history if Ian hasnt sorted it by then.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:18pm
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:18pm
Bushman Archives Park Royal Stadium 1907
(although photo not showing for me)
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/29786?page=1
Last Edit: Dec 14, 2013 at 5:20pm by Macmoish
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:20pm
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:20pm
And

And from the QPR Official Site History of QPR

1900-1920...

Because of poor finances, QPR had to move to St. Quintin's Avenue in 1901. Players had to change in a public house and walk to the pitch. The inhabitants of the area complained that QPR were lowering the tone of the neighbourhood and in 1902 QPR moved back to Kensal Rise!

In 1904/05 they moved to The Royal Agricultural Society Ground at Park Royal which could hold 40,000 spectators. In 1905/06 QPR won the Western League Cup, but in 1906/07 they finished in a disappointing 18th place in the 20 team Southern League.

In 1907/08 QPR moved to another new ground at Park Royal, capable of holding 60,000 spectators.
They won the Southern League for the first time. At the end of the season they met Manchester United for the first Charity Shield match. They drew 1-1 - only to succumb to a heavy 4-0 defeat in the replay.

QPR expected to be elected to Division Two as they had won the Southern League and resigned from it. However, Tottenham, who finished eighth, were elected, and QPR had to seek re-admission. They had to play all their matches in mid-week as the fixture list had been completed by the time they were re-admitted.

In 1911/12, QPR won the Southern League for the second time. In 1912, because of a coal strike, QPR played two of their matches at White City, and also went on their first tour of Europe - scoring 40 goals in eight matches!

In 1914, Mr Cowan, who had been manager since the club turned professional, left and Mr Hewie took over. In 1914/15, because the First World War had started, the army took over QPR's ground at Park Royal, and QPR played the rest of their fixtures at Harvist Road.

QPR then took over the ground of the amateur club Shepherd's Bush - who played at Loftus Road. In 1920/21 QPR were elected to the newly-formed Third Division. They also had a new manager, Mr Ned Liddell. They finished third in the table behind Crystal Palace and Southampton.


www.qpr.co.uk/page/History/0,,10373,00.html

Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/29786?page=2#ixzz2nUi5DgQO
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:23pm
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:23pm
Also Bushman's Archives


Southern League Champions 1907-08





James Cowan (Manager)



Rangers started the season playing at the Royal Agricultural Society Ground at Park Royal which had a ground capacity of 40,000. They moved to the Park Royal Stadium, built by The Great Western Railway Company. Opened in November 1907, held 60,000 including 9,000 under cover 4,000 seated and had it's own train station.

This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.


This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.





Drawing of the stadium



[center
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[/center]


Train station to the right



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Rangers supporters getting off the train at Park Royal




Formal opening of the grandstand 2nd November 1907.
Lord Kinnard and members of the F. A. arrived by special train. The Rangers directors posed with the members of the F. A. before the game against Millwall




Great Western Railway handbill advertising excursions.

QPR v Norwich City match at Park Royal, 14 Dec 1907. Result: 3-1. Goal scorers: Pentland 2, Downing



Rangers finished the season as champions with 21 wins, 9 draws, & 8 defeats with 82 goals for & 57 against with a total of 51 pts, two points ahead of Plymouth Argyle. Top joint scorers were Albert Walker 16 goals from 30 games & Alf Gittens 16 goals from 39 games.

This image has been reduced by 14.3%. Click to view full size.


qprreport.proboards.com/thread/21334/southern-league-champions-1907-season
Last Edit: Dec 14, 2013 at 5:23pm by Macmoish
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 5:50pm
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Post by NO1QPRNZ on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:50pm
Rs back to Grass roots all good IMO

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 6:17pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 6:17pm
Well looked up Postal code and its NW10 for both Old Oak and Park Royal. Also one stadium was used for a Rugby team, which doesnt exist anymore. The Dog
Track was added on at the end of Stadium, close to Harlesden. It was shut down in 1967. The land was once a Pig Farm, adjacent of course and still is
Wormwood Scrubs Land.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 6:21pm
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Post by eusebio13 on Dec 14, 2013 at 6:21pm
That's incredible that we once played in a 40K capacity stadium in Park Royal

From wiki about Park Royal

Queens Park Rangers F.C. played on two grounds in Park Royal. The first was the Horse Ring, later the site of the Guinness brewery, which had a capacity of 40,000. When the Royal Agricultural Society sold the grounds in 1907, QPR moved to the Park Royal Ground, 400 yards (370 m) south, an almost exact replica of Ayresome Park, with a capacity of 60,000. The club was forced to move out in February 1915 as the ground was taken over by the Army.[7]

The Guiness Brewery was at the other end of PRoyal from Harlesden but not far in milage www.doctorwholocations.net/locations/diageoparkroyal
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 6:47pm via the ProBoards App
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Post by peterg on Dec 14, 2013 at 6:47pm
Will have a look on google tomorrow bu I would say the original park royal ground was about as far from the proposed new stadium as lofted road is. Possibly a bit closer as the crow flies

Always used to give me a tingle going past the Guinness factory knowing that QPR had played there in the past the 2nd found must have been very close to where they built the western avenue in 37
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 8:45pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 8:45pm
Another Park Royal Checks in.


Park Royal Stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Park Royal Stadium was a greyhound stadium that existed between 1931 and 1969.[1]
The Stadium was built on the Park Royal site in London on the Abbey Road in 1931 and was owned by Park Royal Stadium Limited. The stadium was enlarged for use by Acton and Willesden rugby league club in 1935.[2]
The Greyhound Racing Association added the track to their portfolio and in 1967 Park Royal was one of the pioneer tracks used on the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) along with Kings Heath, Stamford Bridge and Oxford. This was the process of allowing the racing to be used in bookmakers shops.
Just two years later on 22nd January 1969 the stadium was literally closed overnight after being sold for redevelopment and their main race the One Thousand Guineas moved to Hendon Stadium.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:03pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:03pm
yet another wrinkle. two qpr park royal names.
Ground History
Article by Mark O' Haire
Updated Wednesday, 23rd June 2004
Queens Park Rangers RSS Feed

Rangers have played in nearly 20 different locations since there formation in 1886- we give you the details of all of them.
Welford's Fields
1886-1888
London Scottish Ground
1888-1889
Brondesbury
1888-1889
Home Farm
1888-1889
Kensal Rise Green
1888-1889
Gun Club
1888-1889
Wormwood Scrubs
1888-1889
Killburn Cricket Ground
1888-1889
Kensal Rise Athletic Ground
1899-1901
Latimer Road
1901-1904
Notting Hill
1901-1904
Agricultural Society
1904-1907
Park Royal
1904-1907
Park Royal Ground
1907-1917
Loftus Road
1917-1931
White City
1931-1933
Loftus Road
1933-1962
White City
1962-1963
Loftus Road
1963- present
by TaboolaSponsored Content
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:04pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:04pm
So we did time at The Scrubs too.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:43pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:43pm
The two stadia from Potted History. Imagine the "New One' must bwe in close vicinity to where other two were?

In 1904/05 they moved to The Royal Agricultural Society Ground at Park Royal, which could hold 40,000 spectators.

In 1905/06 the R’s won the Western League Cup, but in 1906/07 they finished in a disappointing 18th place in a 20-team Southern League.

In 1907/08 QPR moved to another new ground at Park Royal, capable of holding 60,000 spectators. They won the Southern League for the first time. At the end of the season they met Manchester United for the first-ever Charity Shield match. Rangers drew 1-1, only to succumb to a heavy 4-0 defeat in the replay.

The Hoops expected to be elected to Division Two as they had won the Southern League and resigned from it.

However Tottenham, who finished eighth, were elected, and QPR had to be readmitted. They had to play all their matches in midweek as the fixture list had already been completed by the time they were readmitted.

In 1911/12 Rangers won the Southern League for the second time. In 1912, because of a coal strike, they played two of their matches at White City, and also went on their first tour of Europe, scoring 40 goals in eight matches!

In 1914 Mr Cowan, who had been Manager since the Club turned professional, left and Mr Hewie took over. In 1914/15, because the First World War had started, the army took over QPR's ground at Park Royal, and they played the rest of their fixtures at Harvist Road.

The R’s then took over the ground of amateur Club Shepherd's Bush, who played at Loftus Road. In 1920/21 Rangers were elected to the newly-formed Third Division. They also had a new Manager, Ned Liddell. They finished third in the table behind Crystal Palace and Southampton.

1921-1940 ...
In 1923/24 QPR received a then-record fee for a player when they sold Arthur Chandler to Leicester City for £3,000. However, they finished the season at the bottom of the table with 31 points from 42 matches, and had to apply for re-election.

In 1925/26 they finished bottom again, with only 21 points, the lowest ever for the Third Division. They had a new Manager called Bob Hewison.

In 1926/27, after successfully applying for re-election for a second time, they also changed the colours of their shirts to blue and white hoops.

In 1927/28 George Goddard set up a new Club record by scoring 37 league goals. QPR also beat Merthyr Town 8-0 - a record score for the Club.

John Bowman started the 1931/32 season as Manager but had to resign due to ill health, with Archie Mitchell taking over. Rangers moved to the White City that season and a record crowd of 41,097 saw them beat Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup.

In 1933/34 the R’s moved back to Loftus Road having made a loss of £7,000 while they were at the White City. Mick O'Brien became their new Manager and they finished fourth in the league.

In 1935/36 Billy Birrell became the new Manager and he signed Tommy Cheetham, who posted a new Club record by scoring in nine consecutive matches at Loftus Road.

In 1938/39 Ted Vizard became the new Manager. During the Second World War, Dave Mangnall became Manager.

1941-1960 ...
In 1945/46 QPR finished top of Division Three South (North Region). They also got through to the fifth round of the FA Cup - the only time it was played on a two-legged basis.

In 1947/48 they reached the sixth round of the FA Cup before losing to Derby County after a replay, and on April 26th 1948 won promotion for the first time to the Second Division.

The R’s spent four years in the Second Division before they were relegated back to Division Three in 1952. Mangnall left the Club and his place was taken by Jack Taylor. In 1953 the first floodlights were installed at Loftus Road at a cost of £5,000 – the first floodlit match being against Arsenal on October 5th.

In 1959 Alec Stock joined the Club as a Manager and signed Brian Bedford from Bournemouth, who went on to score 180 goals for QPR by the end of the 1964/65 season.

Rangers played at White City again for half a season in 1962 but again poor attendances forced the Club back to Loftus Road.

1961-1980 ...
In 1961/62 the R’s scored 129 goals in 52 matches, including a record 111 in the Third Division. In 1963 Tony Ingham retired after playing 548 matches for QPR’s First Team.

In March 1965 Jim Gregory became Chairman of the Club. In 1965/66 Rangers finished third in Division Three. Rodney Marsh signed from Fulham in 1966 for £15,000 and went on to score 134 goals in 242 appearances.

In 1966/67 QPR won Division Three with 67 points. In the same year they also became the first Third Division side to win the League Cup, beating West Bromwich Albion 3-2 at Wembley after being 2-0 down at half-time.

In 1967/68 Rangers were promoted to the First Division for the first time by finishing second in the table.

In 1968/69 the South Africa Road Stand was completed. The R’s were relegated after only one season in Division One with just 18 points. Stock left the Club, Tommy Docherty came but went in 28 days, and Les Allen took over.

On February 7th 1969 Roger Morgan became the first QPR player to be sold for a six-figure fee.

Gordon Jago became Manager in January 1971 and on March 8th 1972 Rodney Marsh was sold to Manchester City for £200,000.

On September 8th 1972 Stan Bowles became the first six-figure signing for the R’s.

In 1972 the new Ellerslie Road Stand was built. In 1972/73 QPR finished second in Division Two and were promoted to the First Division once again.

In 1973/74 Rangers reached the sixth round of the FA Cup again, before losing to Leicester City before a record crowd for a cup match at Loftus Road of 34,989.

On April 27th 35,353 people saw the league match against Leeds, which was a new attendance record for Loftus Road. Dave Sexton became Manager on October 17th 1974.

In 1975/76 QPR were Division One runners-up, finishing one point behind Liverpool. The following season, the R’s reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals at their first attempt.

In July 1977 Frank Sibley became Manager, resigning a year later when Rangers avoided relegation by a point. Alec Stock became Manager until Steve Burtenshaw took over in August. Phil Parkes was sold to West Ham United for £565,000 - a world record for a goalkeeper at the time - having played 406 games for the Club. QPR ended the season in 20th place and were relegated to the Second Division.

Burtenshaw left the Club after only one season and was replaced by Tommy Docherty from Derby in May 1979. Tony Currie was bought from Leeds for a Club record fee of £390,000. 19 year-old Clive Allen was sold to Arsenal for a fee of £1million - the first-ever teenager to merit the million pound price.

1981-2000 ...
In the 1980/81 season the new School End double-decker stand was built and Terry Venables was appointed Manager on October 14th 1980.

In 1981/82 QPR became the first league Club to replace grass with an artificial playing surface and Rangers reached the FA Cup Final against Tottenham.

The game went to a replay after a 1-1 draw, with Terry Fenwick's headed equaliser cancelling out Glenn Hoddle's opener. It was Hoddle again who scored the only goal, from the penalty spot, in the replay.

In 1982/83 Venables took the R’s back in to the First Division again, and Rangers lost only two of their home league matches. In 1983/84 QPR completed building their fourth and last stand and thus had seating on all four sides of the ground.

QPR finished fifth in their first season back in Division One and in 1984/85 Venables left to join Barcelona. Alan Mullery had a brief spell in charge with Frank Sibley later becoming Caretaker Manager for the rest of the season.

Rangers again qualified for the UEFA Cup and went through to the second round where they lost on aggregate to Partizan Belgrade. All seemed well after a 6-2 first leg victory. Yet the Hoops conspired to lose the second leg 4-0 and went out on the away goals rule.

In July 1985 Jim Smith became the R’s new Manager and the following season QPR were defeated finalists in the Milk (League) Cup competition at Wembley, losing 3-0 to Oxford United.

In May 1987, Gregory ended his record 22-year chairmanship of Rangers and became Life President. David Bulstrode became Chairman of the Club.

In 1987/88 QPR finished fifth in the First Division, despite having been top of the table for some months. In April the artificial playing surface was removed after seven seasons and was replaced by natural grass.

In September 1988 Bulstrode tragically died and later that month Richard Thompson was appointed Chairman of the Club, becoming the youngest in the Football League. Following in his predecessor's footsteps, over £2.5million was spent on new players.

In December 1988 Smith left to join Newcastle United and Peter Shreeves was appointed Caretaker Manager with Trevor Francis subsequently being appointed Player/Manager on December 14th.

In November 1989 Francis left to be replaced by Don Howe as Head Coach. The Club reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, losing to Liverpool. It was a hectic season in the transfer market, with many players leaving Loftus Road. The major signings were Kenny Sansom, David Bardsley and Roy Wegerle (the Club's first £1million player).

In October 1990 Jan Stejskal, the Czechoslovakian international goalkeeper, was signed from Sparta Prague for £625,000 to replace David Seaman, who had been sold to Arsenal for £1.3million during the close season. Club Captain Paul Parker returned from the World Cup finals as an England regular.

Bobby Gould joined the Club for a brief period between December 1990 and February 1991 before leaving to become Manager of West Brom. Howe left the Club in May 1991 to be replaced by former player Gerry Francis.

Prior to the 1991/92 season kicking off, QPR received £1.75million from Manchester United for England defender Parker. Later that season a further £1million saw Ray Wegerle depart for Blackburn Rovers.

The most outstanding performance of the season came on New Year's Day 1992 when, in front of 38,554 spectators at Old Trafford – and a live television audience – Rangers thrashed Manchester United 4-1, with Dennis Bailey hitting a hat-trick.

The R’s finished 11th in the league, thus ensuring their place in the new FA Premier League for the next season.

In 1992/93 Rangers finished fifth in their first season in the new Premier League. Les Ferdinand hit 20 league goals and was called up to the England squad along with David Bardsley.

England international Andy Sinton left for Sheffield Wednesday on the eve of the 1993/94 season for £2.75million. QPR quickly spent £750,000 on winger Trevor Sinclair and £650,000 on defender Steve Yates. After four-and-a-half years with the Club, Ray Wilkins joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer. However, he returned to Loftus Road in November 1994 when Francis left, who later became Manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

Wilkins proved to be a very popular choice as Player/Manager and a series of good all-round displays revived the R’s season, including two memorable 3-1 victories over Arsenal. They finished in the top ten for the fourth consecutive season.

During the close season striker Ferdinand was sold to Newcastle for a Club record £6million, with £570,000 of the fee going to his former Club, Hayes. The loss of the England striker proved crucial in 1995/96 as Rangers always struggled at the wrong end of the Premiership table. Despite paying over £1million each for Simon Osborn, Australian International Ned Zelic and Mark Hateley, QPR lost their fight to stay in the Premier League.

In May 1996 the Thompson family announced their intention to sell the Club and three months later media tycoon Chris Wright, a Rangers fan for some 20 years, bought the Club and also announced his plans for Wasps Rugby Union Club to share Loftus Road.

Chris Wright later floated the newly-formed Loftus Road PLC, incorporating both QPR and Wasps, on the Alternative Investment Market. In September 1996 Wilkins left the Club by mutual consent and was replaced shortly afterwards by ex-Arsenal Caretaker Manager Stewart Houston. Former Gunners Manager Bruce Rioch was installed as Assistant Manager.

Houston's first purchase for Rangers smashed the Club's previous transfer record. Scottish international striker John Spencer joined the Club from Chelsea for £2.35million in November 1996. He was joined in December by ex-Blues team-mate and former R’s player Gavin Peacock.

Northern Ireland international Steve Morrow also joined from Arsenal. QPR’s poor home form during the 1996/97 season cost them dear and they finished ninth, five points outside the Play-Off places.

1997/98 was even more of a disappointment despite the arrival of £2.1million striker Mike Sheron, with the Club only avoiding relegation on the final day of the season. Houston and Rioch were sacked mid-campaign to be replaced by Ray Harford, but he was unable to halt a slide that so nearly ended in relegation to Division Two.

1998/99 also ended with Rangers needing a result on the last day and once again they stayed up, this time courtesy of a final day victory over Crystal Palace, albeit by the overwhelming margin of six goals to nil.

Six months previously Harford had resigned to be replaced by Rangers legend Gerry Francis as Director of Football and once Francis had ensured Rangers' survival in Division One, he marched them back up the table in 1999/2000, with Stuart Wardley top scoring in an impressive campaign.

The new millennium ...
Rangers finished ninth and looked set for a promotion challenge in 2000/01. Sadly though, it wasn't to be. A dreadful season ended in relegation, despite the introduction of Ian Holloway as First Team Manager, and coincided with the Club entering administration as harsh financial realities began to bite.

The following season began with no fewer than 16 players released, and a scratch squad built from practically nothing by Holloway. It is to his enormous credit therefore that the R’s enjoyed a top-half finish when many predicted another relegation.

QPR came out of administration and Chris Wright left the Club to be replaced as Chairman by Nick Blackburn. The Club embarked on the 2002/03 season with optimism. Once again Holloway wheeled and dealed and led the Hoops to the Play-Offs thanks to an impressive team ethic and the goals of Kevin Gallen and Paul Furlong.

It was Furlong who scored the winning goal on a dramatic night at Loftus Road to take the R’s to Cardiff for the Play-Off Final, courtesy of a two-legged victory over Oldham Athletic in the semi-final.

But the fairy-tale ended at the Millennium Stadium when Andy Campbell's goal late in extra time took Cardiff City up to Division One and condemned Rangers to another in year in the third tier of English football.

Nevertheless, 12 months later the agonies would be forgotten when QPR secured automatic promotion.

Martin Rowlands, Gareth Ainsworth, Jamie Cureton, Tony Thorpe, Richard Edghill, Arthur Gnohere and Richard Johnson all joined the Club and each contributed to the team's success.

The Hoops lost only seven games all season, the lowest in the Football League - but too many draws took Rangers' fate to the final day.

They needed to win at Hillsborough – home of Sheffield Wednesday – and did so – triumphing 3-1 to secure second place in Division Two behind champions Plymouth Argyle.

With that achievement fresh in their minds, consolidation was the key in the R’s first season back in the Championship.

Four free contract signings coupled with the same number of departures ensured the squad remained fresh, but Rangers found the going tough early on, failing to win any of their opening four matches until they eventually broke their duck courtesy of Marcus Bean's winner at Gillingham.

Thereafter, seven wins on the bounce, including a morale boosting 1-0 victory against West Ham, saw Holloway's rejuvenated side gate-crash the top half and that's where they remained for the rest of the season, eventually finishing in a creditable 11th place.

Furlong again impressed, scoring 18 goals in all competitions as well as bagging the Players’ Player and Supporters' Player of the Year awards, plus the coveted Goal of the Season crown.

Hope sprang eternal at the start of 2005/06 and with the addition of a number of new players, including Rangers old-boy Richard Langley and the highly rated Stefan Moore from Aston Villa, the R's looked well equipped to mount a charge for the Play-Offs.

But after a positive start - which saw the Hoops top the table after three games - the season soon turned sour and Holloway was placed on gardening leave at the end of January.

Gary Waddock took the reigns as Caretaker Manager and immediately stamped his own unique style on proceedings.

But a spate of injuries and poor fortune, coupled with a few questionable refereeing decisions, saw all Waddock's best laid plans backfire and the Hoops finished the season just one place and eight points above the drop-zone.

As a result, Waddock was forced to make some tough decisions at the start of May and duly released half a dozen players, while also placing nine others - including established First Team regulars Marcus Bignot, Steve Lomas and Marc Bircham - on the transfer list.

Unfortunately, the changes in personnel, coupled with the arrival of six new signings, failed to have the desired effect, as Rangers registered just six points from a possible 24 at the start of the 2006/07 Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

An embarrassing Carling Cup exit at the hands of League One outfit Port Vale proved to be the final straw for the Rangers Board, as Waddock was demoted to Assistant Manager, and R's cult hero John Gregory replaced him in the Loftus Road hot-seat.

Gregory wasted little time in stamping his authority on proceedings, making further changes to the First Team personnel and introducing coach Richard Hill and Sports Performance Coach Joe Dunbar to the Club.

Gregory's impact was immediate, as the R's eased to a 2-0 home victory against Hull City in his first match in charge, before grinding out a memorable 2-1 victory versus Southampton seven days later.

Waddock made way as his Assistant Manager soon after, as the R's - buoyed by the double loan capture of Chelsea starlets Jimmy Smith and Michael Mancienne - moved five points clear of the relegation zone with victory against London rivals Crystal Palace at the start of November.

Further additions followed in January 2007, when Gregory swooped to add experienced duo Adam Bolder and Danny Cullip to his squad.

Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp came back on loan too and his arrival, coupled with the fine goalscoring form of top scorer Dexter Blackstock, saw Rangers secure their Championship status with a 1-0 home victory against Cardiff two weeks before the final day of the season.

Gregory wielded the axe soon after though, letting eight players go, including fans’ favourites Bircham, Gallen and Furlong.

A new era ...
On Saturday 1st September 2007, the Club announced that Formula 1 magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone had made a recommended offer for the Club.

Gianni Paladini – now Chairman of QPR – remained in his position and Briatore, Bruno Michel Alejandro Agag were invited to join the Board.

Briatore said: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the Board of QPR for our bid for the Club and we look forward to working alongside Gianni Paladini and his team.

"We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fan-base that it has; we are therefore totally committed to bringing future success back to the Club.

"Gianni, Bernie and I are all determined to see the Club return to the Premiership as soon as possible."

Shortly after this, the Club announced further great news as Lakshmi Mittal became involved, placing son-in-law Amit Bhatia on the Board as the family's representative. Bhatia was named Vice-Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd.

Despite the positive off-the-field news, Rangers made a poor start to the new season and following a 5-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, which left QPR rooted firmly to the foot of the Championship table, the Club terminated the contract of Manager John Gregory.

Mick Harford was placed in caretaker charge and with the addition of loanees Rowan Vine, Martin Cranie and Jason Jarrett to the ranks, the 48 year-old guided the R's to their maiden win of the campaign against Norwich City on Monday 8th October, in front of the live Sky Sports cameras.

On Monday 29th October, QPR appointed Luigi De Canio as their First Team Coach.

The Italian, with an extensive coaching pedigree having taken charge of Udinese, Napoli, Reggina, Genoa and Siena in Serie A, penned a deal until the end of the 2009/10 season.

With the new investment sending shockwaves around the footballing fraternity, De Canio was given the licence to add to his squad in the January transfer window, with no fewer than ten new faces arriving in W12.

Former Premier League trio Vine, Gavin Mahon and Fitz Hall arrived from Birmingham City, Watford and Wigan Athletic respectively, while the R's also added some up-and-coming youngsters to their squad in the shape of Hogan Ephraim and Matt Connolly.

The new additions had the desired effect, as the new-look R's successfully climbed away from the foot of the division with stunning victories against high-flying Watford, Stoke City and Bristol City to name but a few.

On Thursday 8th May 2008, QPR announced that they had parted company with De Canio by mutual consent with immediate effect.

Six days later, Rangers appointed Iain Dowie as First Team Coach.

After guiding the R's to ninth place in the Coca-Cola Championship table after 12 league fixtures, the Board announced the departure of Dowie with immediate effect on October 24th 2008.

Gareth Ainsworth took over as Caretaker Manager, before Briatore appointed former Portugal international ace Paulo Sousa as the R's new First Team Coach on November 19th 2008.

Sousa enjoyed mixed fortunes at the helm, however, and after the departure of his assistant Bruno Oliveira, the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder had his contract terminated on April 9th 2009. Ainsworth was handed the managerial reigns until the end of the season.

On Wednesday 3rd June 2009, QPR unveiled former Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton as the Club's new Manager, with the former Northern Ireland international penning a two-year deal in W12.

Magilton enjoyed initial success with the R's, guiding the Club to fourth spot in the table in October following a string of impressive victories.

However, he left QPR by mutual consent in December and was replaced by Paul Hart who remained in charge of First Team affairs until January, when he decided to leave.

Following his departure, Mick Harford - Hart's Assistant - was named Caretaker Manager until the end of the season.

On Friday 19th February, the Club announced Briatore had stepped down as Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd, and he was replaced by Ishan Saksena.

Meanwhile, the Mittal family also took the opportunity to increase its shareholding in the Club.

Bhatia said at the time of the announcement: "I have known Ishan for 12 years now and I know his feelings for our Club run very deeply. Our immediate priority must be to reintroduce stability into the Club and safeguard our future in the Championship.

"The season has been disappointing so far, but there are still many games to go. We must make every effort to end it positively, not least for our fans, the people who have continued to support and believe in the Club through all the highs and lows. Together we can succeed."

On his new appointment, Saksena added: "Since becoming CEO, I have developed a great love and very strong passion for the Club. It is therefore a great honour for me to assume this position. It is a position of trust and I will hold it with great pride.

"I would like to thank Flavio for all his hard work during his time here and for the many positive additions he has made.

"I must also express my gratitude to all our fans, who are the real owners of the Club. I feel a real responsibility to repay their loyalty and intend to do all I can to bring the great days back to Loftus Road."

Warnock arrives ...
Neil Warnock's appointment followed shortly after, with the former Crystal Palace boss agreeing a three-and-a-half year deal with the R's in March 2010.

After steadying the ship towards the end of the 2009/10 campaign, the 2010/11 season promised to be an exciting affair.

Under the ownership of Mittal, Bhatia, Briatore and Ecclestone, Warnock embarked on the new season by making wholesale changes on and off the pitch.

The most remarkable of those arrived in the shape of Moroccan magician, Adel Taarabt, who penned a three-year deal from Tottenham in the summer transfer window.

Champions …
Warnock targeted promotion for the 2010/11 season and he didn’t disappoint, as the R’s clinched the npower Championship title that very year.

Aided by some astute captures in the transfer market – the influential trio of Paddy Kenny, Clint Hill and Shaun Derry to name but a few – the Yorkshireman described it as ‘the best job I’ve ever done’ in helping QPR secure a return to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.

That was, incidentally, Warnock’s seventh promotion is his managerial career – and few would argue that the 62 year-old deserved another crack at the big time.

A fresh start …
Malaysian business tycoon Tony Fernandes CBE completed his takeover of QPR on Thursday 18th August 2011.

Fernandes’ company Tune Group bought a majority stake in the Club, buying out previous majority shareholders Briatore and Ecclestone.

The 47 year-old founder of AirAsia – also the team principal of Formula 1’s Caterham F1 – and his business partners bought a controlling stake of 66 per-cent to work alongside the Mittal family, who retained their 33 per-cent stake.

Fernandes – who took the role of Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd – was joined on the board by joint Tune Group owner Mr Kamarudin Bin Meranun, one of Malaysia’s most successful business tycoons.

Bhatia resumed in his position as Vice-Chairman of the Club, after stepping down at the end of the 2010/11 season.

Hughes arrives …
The 2011/12 season saw Rangers compete in the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.

Despite a desperately disappointing 4-0 home defeat against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the campaign, QPR’s return to the top table of English football promised to be one to remember.

Wins at Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke followed before Christmas, while the Hoops also recorded a 1-0 victory over arch rivals Chelsea at Loftus Road.

However, after an alarming slide in form over the festive period and then into the New Year, the Rangers board opted to replace Warnock as Manager with Mark Hughes.

Stellar signings such as Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora followed the Welsh boss through door. However, although Hughes won his first home league fixture in charge, QPR still struggled for form.

The Hoops wouldn’t win away from Loftus Road for the remainder of the campaign – but they survived thanks to a run of outstanding results at home towards the end of the season.

Wins over Liverpool, Swansea City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Stoke in Rangers’ final five league fixtures in W12 saw the R’s retain their top-flight status, with optimism high heading into the 2012/13 season.

Change at the top ...
QPR worked hard in the summer transfer window to bolster the squad for their second season back in the top-flight, with 12 new signings coming through the door. Rob Green, Julio Cesar, Esteban Granero, Jose Bosingwa, Samba Diakite, Junior Hoilett and Andy Johnson were amongst the new faces at Harlington.

A poor start to the season left the R's languishing at the foot of the table, however, and following a 3-1 home defeat to fellow-strugglers Southampton, Hughes was relieved of his duties as QPR boss.

On Saturday 24th November 2012, Harry Redknapp was named as QPR's new manager and he has been charged with the task of keeping the club in the Premier League.

However, Rangers relegation back into the Football League was confirmed at the end of April following a 0-0 draw with Reading.
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Read more at www.qpr.co.uk/club/history/potted-history/#QRyFj81Pqs46WREs.99
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londonranger
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whats the score. cant get anything beyond half time?

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) Dec 14, 2013 at 9:45pm
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Post by londonranger on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:45pm
More history than we needed but interesting to go over it again imo. way beyond Park Royal. Wonder why the Park was 'Royal"?
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 2:20am
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Post by Bushman on yesterday at 2:20am

Dec 14, 2013 at 9:45pm londonranger said:
More history than we needed but interesting to go over it again imo. way beyond Park Royal. Wonder why the Park was 'Royal"?

The Royal comes from the 1903 show grounds by the Royal Agricultural SocIety.
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 2:34am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 2:34am

"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
peterg
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 5:40am via the ProBoards App
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Post by peterg on yesterday at 5:40am
Having looked on google maps this morning it looks like the old original park royal site would have been fractionally closer to the proposed new stadium than loftus road and the new stadium would also be closer to droop st Kendal rise etc. I guess then if you drew a map spotting all our grounds through history then the new site would be pretty close to being slap bang in the middle?
Jon Doeman
Jim Gregory




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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 6:19am
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Post by Jon Doeman on yesterday at 6:19am

yesterday at 5:40am peterg said:
Having looked on google maps this morning it looks like the old original park royal site would have been fractionally closer to the proposed new stadium than loftus road and the new stadium would also be closer to droop st Kendal rise etc. I guess then if you drew a map spotting all our grounds through history then the new site would be pretty close to being slap bang in the middle?

maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104557737426271030088.00047b79185f85e3394d5

peterg
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 7:24am via the ProBoards App
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Post by peterg on yesterday at 7:24am
Lovely
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 7:33am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 7:33am
Just given QPR their new central talking point: "We're Not moving...We're Returning Home"

or simply "Coming Home"

Last Edit: yesterday at 8:33am by Macmoish
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 8:53am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 8:53am



"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
Jon Doeman
Jim Gregory




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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 9:03am
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Post by Jon Doeman on yesterday at 9:03am
You got a reply! Maude will be well impressed

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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) yesterday at 10:14am
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Post by Macmoish on yesterday at 10:14am
I can just imagine the QPR-funded video campaign...The theme music, the old Southern League stadium...the old photos and then morphing into new Stadium...!
"F1 and the English league are phenomenally successful sports watched around the world. That’s a huge captive market. Having AirAsia and Tune Hotels beamed straight into people’s homes is more powerful than putting out a print ad.”
“Sport helps to put the Tune out there. Branding impacts the bottom line, even if you can’t measure it. The aura of our brand has attracted a lot of partnerships and sports is a large part of that aura.” - QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes on owning QPR and Caterham
Bushman
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 20 hours ago
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Post by Bushman on 20 hours ago
Going home my arse!!!
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eusebio13
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 18 hours ago
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by eusebio13 on 18 hours ago
link

There are many remarkable aspects about the plan to build a new mini-city at Old Oak Common in west London, not least that the 40,000-seat stadium at the centre of the project, to be built by Queen's Park Rangers, would give the Championship club a home just less than 2,000 shy of the capacity of Stamford Bridge.


It is one of those opportunities for QPR that might never come again, a new ground in west London, the most expensive part of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Not that Old Oak Common, with its waste recycling plants, used car dealerships and derelict buildings is what most people imagine when they think of west London.

The site is the modern London planner's dream, encompassing HS2 and the Crossrail transport hub, as well as new homes. In a city where the demand for space is insatiable, it is hard to drive through the area and imagine it remaining in its current state for another generation.

Meanwhile, at Chelsea, the biggest club in west London, the official line is there is nothing in the pipeline to increase a 41,837-capacity that is dangerously low in the era of Uefa Financial Fair Play. The club find themselves in a situation similar to the archetypal squeezed-middle London family. Home too small for all the new additions but, with the stratospheric state of the housing market, simply no prospect of moving up the ladder.

Why was Old Oak Common, with a bigger capacity, never an option for Chelsea? Simple, really. In football terms, London is parcelled up like no other British city. West Ham could not move out of the east any more than Arsenal could leave the north (notwithstanding the 1913 flit from Woolwich). None belong to London per se; rather all belong to a part of it.

QPR are the only club with a pure west London postcode, W12. Chelsea are SW6. A move to Old Oak Common would take Chelsea from four miles south of Loftus Road to more than a mile north and across two postcodes to NW10. In a city as fiercely localised as London, the club know that would be an impossible sell to fans.

QPR fans appear broadly to have accepted the Old Oak Common move – with caveats. In purely geographical terms it takes them closer to their origins in Kilburn. They have the record for the most home grounds, 17, of any British football club, although they have been at Loftus Road since 1933, apart from two brief spells at the old White City stadium.

At Chelsea, the association with Stamford Bridge is that much longer. The club have never played anywhere else. In fact, they were created in 1905 in order to play at the stadium, built by the club's founder, Gus Mears, whose family only gave up control of Chelsea in 1982 with the sale to Ken Bates. If Chelsea were to leave Stamford Bridge, the alternative would have to be very good and very local indeed.

The club were beaten to the acquisition of Battersea Power Station last year by the Malaysian developers SP Setia, a macro-reflection of life for many Londoners who find themselves outbid for homes by foreign property investors. The club's attempt two years ago to buy back the freehold for Stamford Bridge, largely owned by share-owning fans, as a prelude to a potential move, was a failure.

Bruised by that episode, Chelsea now have the position that there are no plans to move. The only obvious local alternative, the Lillie Bridge site north of the Earls Court exhibition centre, has planning permission for housing and is a non-starter.

Upon the announcement of the Old Oak Common plans, the QPR chairman, Tony Fernandes, described the current 18,000-capacity of Loftus Road as "untenable" under FFP if his club are to fulfil their ambitions to become established in the Premier League. Relatively speaking, the implications are the same for Chelsea, although their sights are set a lot higher.

By Chelsea's own admission, Stamford Bridge is too far down the table of stadium capacities among their European peers – 30th at the latest count but likely to fall further as new grounds are built. Their own accounts reveal they earn, per season, £26m less than Arsenal and £41m less than Manchester United in matchday revenue. With Tottenham in the process of building a new stadium, the pressure goes up a notch.

Since the failed attempt to buy back the freehold from the shareholders comprising Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club have been open about the possibility of rebuilding or extending Stamford Bridge. To say it is difficult is an understatement.

Constructing a 60,000-capacity stadium on Chelsea's current site has so many pitfalls that it resembles the development equivalent of that scene in The Naked Gun when O J Simpson's character is shot, hits his head, burns his hand, leans on a freshly painted wall, traps his fingers in a window, falls face first in a cake and steps into a metal trap before falling off a boat.

Where to start? All properties on the Fulham Road would have to be acquired and demolished, including the Sir Oswald Stoll home for retired servicemen (not a popular move). Two new exit routes would need to be built. The water table is too high to dig down. It would cost more than £600m. The local planning authority, Hammersmith & Fulham, is opposed.

The other option, extending two of the stands to increase the capacity to 55,000, would be so expensive the club estimate they would pay £20,000 for every seat gained and would make a long-term loss.

The benefits of being a London-based club in English football's modern era are evident. It is the nation's biggest, wealthiest city – not always to the benefit of the rest – and it would be difficult to see a club of QPR's size from outside the capital attempt the same transformation. Yet, when Brentford are planning a new 20,000-capacity stadium, you can see why Fernandes envisages the potential for his club although even he acknowledged that filling a 40,000-capacity stadium may be ambitious.

There is a case for saying that Chelsea's location played a major role in their very acquisition by Roman Abramovich, and consequently their success since 2003. Today they are up against a problem even his wealth cannot solve overnight and, as FFP plays a bigger role, and the club seeks to stand independent of its benefactor owner, an increased capacity has never been more important.

In spite of all this, however, tradition matters and, in spite of the jibes, Chelsea's history began not 10 but 108 years ago. Finding a compromise that is sensitive to the past while acknowledging the challenges of the future is crucial. QPR might just have their solution but from where will Chelsea's come?
Last Edit: 18 hours ago by eusebio13
Jon Doeman
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 11 hours ago
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by Jon Doeman on 11 hours ago
Good article that...



eusebio13
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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 10 hours ago
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by eusebio13 on 10 hours ago

11 hours ago Jon Doeman said:
Good article that...


Though Sam Wallace is a good writer he's very Chelsea-centric otherwise how would you turn an article about our future stadium into one about Chelsea
Last Edit: 10 hours ago by eusebio13
jjqpr
Dave Sexton




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QPR's Roots in Park Royal (How Far from the New Stadium?) 10 hours ago
WMIPSFSQuote Edit
Post by jjqpr on 10 hours ago
Fascinating stuff. to those who think QPR is dead because of the stadium move take note


Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/37928/qprs-roots-park-royal-stadium?page=1&scrollTo=341450#ixzz2nfV5wCvT

[londonranger]

I found much of this on my own thread which I cpd here. Obviously without the line drawings of the Stadia and the train station.

I have to confess, and am sincerely sorry to all and apologetic to all. Heres what happenned. It was late and I tried to get LFWs take on all this over to the thread.

I tried to open it three times with no luck? Why? It was an interesting read though. No matter, since I couldnt open it I decided to delete the post.

Well, unfortunately, it was...delete thread. So the whole three columns vanished,, to my chagrin embarrassment, and shame, This, maybe the most important of

issues that have ever been on our blog. It was a complete and absolute disastrous accident.

BP did have two nice posts, one was short about two dog tracks which I answered. As Mike said perhaps he will re submit.

Will gradually accept any punishment deemed fit. I suppose, appropriately, being sent up to the Scrubs for Old Oak sabotage attempt, would be appropriate?

[Deleted]

I love you london.

[londonranger]

At least someone does me old china.

[Jon Doeman]

Shouldn't this be called the 'New New Stadium' thread?

Don't worry LondonR ...sh1t happens!

[Macmoish]

Thanks London.

"Moving On..."


A blog to perhaps follow:

parkroyaltown.blogspot.com/

[Macmoish]

Can listen to Tony Fernandes speaking on the QPR Podcast
playbackmedia.co.uk/podcasts/qprpodcast/

[cpr]

Woohoo!


It wasn't me.

[bp]

Dec 16, 2013 20:02:02 GMT londonranger said:

I found much of this on my own thread which I cpd here. Obviously without the line drawings of the Stadia and the train station.

I have to confess, and am sincerely sorry to all and apologetic to all. Heres what happenned. It was late and I tried to get LFWs take on all this over to the thread.

I tried to open it three times with no luck? Why? It was an interesting read though. No matter, since I couldnt open it I decided to delete the post.

Well, unfortunately, it was...delete thread. So the whole three columns vanished,, to my chagrin embarrassment, and shame, This, maybe the most important of

issues that have ever been on our blog. It was a complete and absolute disastrous accident.

BP did have two nice posts, one was short about two dog tracks which I answered. As Mike said perhaps he will re submit.

Will gradually accept any punishment deemed fit. I suppose, appropriately, being sent up to the Scrubs for Old Oak sabotage attempt, would be appropriate?

LR !!!

I think the deleted post was my reply to Maude regarding his question if the club had considered all alternatives to expanding our ground.

I then went on to offer reasons why we are so lucky to have the chance of moving to Old Oak which it seems suddenly struck a lot of sports writers given several stories I've read today in the main papers.

I thought you had deleted it on purpose and managed to sell the story

If it's of any interest I will post again as best as I can remember

And as I post I see Report has asked so...........

We did look at, to the point of exhausting alternatives, ways to expand the ground.

Some of the ideas put forward were Cantilevering the SA Stand out over the road and the Loft out over gardens. Unfortunately for the club these weren't possible due to 'right of light' issues. Another option was to try and lower the pitch level but the cost v additional seats was unbelievable.

Another option which was looked at in great depth was building the ground on the BBC site and the park next door which all contacted were very sympathetic to but as soon as it became clear the BBC site might be available for any sort of reconstruction at all the price sky rocketed way out of our league.

The final option was to build on existing facilities on the Scrubs but that went by the way with other things suddenly erupting within the club.

My final point regarding moving to Old Oak was to point out that, that bunch of No-Hopers down the road had attempted to move into our area by investigating the Unigate site which for us was never an option due to its cost with its proximity to Westfield which even moneybags thankfully baulked at. Also comparing Wet Spam and Spuds squabbling over moving miles away from their historical bases into Leyton Orients en-catchment.

We, maybe, have been given a fantastic opportunity to move to a state of the art ground which everyone concerned seemingly and quite rightly is putting the 'atmosphere' as the first ingredient to the design.

That lot are fooked unless moneybags dumps another billion in the bottomless pit and Spuds will have to spend an absolute fortune just to try and keep up with us.

We really are on the doorstep of what in my rose tinted view can be as big a transformation of our club as the change made by Jim Gregory and I couldn't give anymore backing to the move than to suggest that.

ps: If anyone remembers anything else I rambled on about that I have missed please feel free to remind me

[Lonegunmen]

Bill, upgrading LR would also have involved buying the housing behind the stand- most of which would have met with some rersistance and a lot of expence. Shame really as it would have been nice to stay where we are.

Ironic that when last there in '85, there were two new stands built and the club was looking quite smart - even if the leg room was/is restricting.

Modular might well be the way to go. Keep it a square shaped stadium, do NOT go for an oval one. You end up sitting 100 yards from the friggen pitch and the atmosphere sucks (Example - Westpac Stadia for the Wellington Phoenix. Designed for the Black Craps and their losing one day side. Thugby & Football have paid a heavy price in sad atmospheres as a result).

[bp]

Dec 18, 2013 14:17:52 GMT Lonegunmen said:

Bill, upgrading LR would also have involved buying the housing behind the stand- most of which would have met with some rersistance and a lot of expence. Shame really as it would have been nice to stay where we are.

Ironic that when last there in '85, there were two new stands built and the club was looking quite smart - even if the leg room was/is restricting.

Modular might well be the way to go. Keep it a square shaped stadium, do NOT go for an oval one. You end up sitting 100 yards from the friggen pitch and the atmosphere sucks (Example - Westpac Stadia for the Wellington Phoenix. Designed for the Black Craps and their losing one day side. Thugby & Football have paid a heavy price in sad atmospheres as a result).

Buying all the surrounding houses at their market value if you were to try to persuade people was akin to people agreeing with open arms to HS2 now. Virtually no hope to absolutely no chance.

The sad thing is we were offered the old Ellerslie school site at a very very reasonable price and we turned our noses up at it. That could have easily given us the chance to build the ground up to a 30000 min. A tragedy of the highest order.

C'est la vie.

[Bushman]

The houses in Ellerslie Rd and Loftus Rd should never have been sold off in the first place.
The then chairman Hittinger was well past his sell by date, with a board of directors who had also seen better days, between them they managed to almost give the houses away.

[Macmoish]

Dec 16, 2013 8:36:14 GMT Macmoish said:

My tagline! "...“If we go ahead with this we will be as close to Loftus Road as you’d have hoped to be and are almost going back to the home of Queens Park Rangers originally...."



Dave McIntyre - QPR chief sets out vision for Old Oak

QPR chief executive Philip Beard

20/12/2013
By David McIntyre

Chief executive Philip Beard says attracting new fans and generating income on non-matchdays must be among QPR’s top priorities if the club moves to Old Oak.

Rangers’ owners, fronted by chairman Tony Fernandes, are keen for the team to play at a 40,000-capacity arena which will be part of a huge development near Willesden Junction rail station.

With plans for the area to become a commercial hub with a flagship events-venue, as well as thousands of new homes, the project could generate a fortune if it comes to fruition.

And the club are hopeful that the establishment of New Queens Park – seen as effectively a new town – will enable QPR to appeal to locals as well as football fans in general.

Beard said: “Everywhere I go I meet people who are QPR fans who don’t come regularly to Loftus Road.
QPR hope to move in 2018.

QPR hope to move to the new arena in 2018.

“I think with a new stadium we would look to attract a broader, wider fan-base. If there’s going to new homes in the area we’re talking about, then you’d like to think you’d be able to get new fans from the local area.

“If we go ahead with this we will be as close to Loftus Road as you’d have hoped to be and are almost going back to the home of Queens Park Rangers originally.

“But we need to grow our fan-base. We need to make the facility attractive not only for the current fans to come to but also new fans to come to, while also protecting the identity of the club.

“We’re going to do everything we possibly can to make sure that every single QPR fan who comes to Loftus Road is engaged and is passionate about what we’re trying to achieve at a new stadium.

“But if we’re going to have double the capacity, we’re going to need to make sure that it’s a facility that new fans and latent QPR fans want to come to.”

Beard says the club “have some very good people looking at logos, branding, identity and everything else” but that the immediate focus has to be on winning promotion back to the Premier League and becoming stable in the top flight.

In the longer term, if the move to the new complex goes ahead it would enable QPR to benefit from a number of different revenue streams.

Current plans include the building of a Wembley Arena-style venue next to the main facility, which would host concerts and the like.

Beard explained: “If a football club plays less than 30 home games a season at their home ground, that means you’ve got 300-plus days a year when it’s not being used. That doesn’t make commercial sense.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes

The project is crucial to Fernandes’ plans

“It doesn’t make sense from a football or business point of view and also for the community – if we’re going to put this right at the heart of this new area, it’s important that we ‘sweat the assets’.

“So, what we’ll be looking to achieve is a stadium that can adapt its areas and facilities for other events, conventions, concerts and conferences.

“The plan is to have a hotel on-site and we’ll be looking to win business [away] from core Central London venues and bring them out to New Queens Park so that we can use the stadium for other events.

“The initial plans have us building an arena on the site of the stadium for concerts, conferences and things like that.

“Our aim will be to use the facility for a lot more than just football, albeit that it will be the home of Queens Park Rangers.

“It’s really important that we understand that it is a home for Queens Park Rangers but it’s also going to be hosting a lot of other activities as well.”


www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/qpr-chief-wants-fans-to-flock-to-old-oak-football86755

[Macmoish]

bump

[Macmoish]

Get West London
Paul Warburton
Comments

QPR reveal cost and first game at the new stadium
20 Dec 2013 08:00

Chief executive Phil Beard outlines plans for Old Oak and new 40,000 seater ground

QPR’S new £200 million ground due for season 2018-19 will have the best of Arsenal – and whisper it softly, Chelsea as well.

The model for the 40,000 seater at Old Oak just north of Wormwood Scrubs will sit on a ‘podium’ as does the home of the Gunners that eases access for fans.

The complex will also house a hotel and other conference facilities – similar to the home of the fierce rivals at Stamford Bridge.

But there are plenty of boxes to tick before the first backside plants itself on a seat and gazes out at Rangers 16th ground since their inception in 1882.

In his first major interview since Hoops announced plans to leave Loftus Road, chief executive Phil Beard insisted the whole project depends on government improved transport facilities, especially at Willesden Junction – the nearest rail station.

He said: “If you’re going to serious about a new stadium that provides more than just football you’re going to have to be serious about transport links as well.

“We can’t develop the land without the infrastructure in place. It would be a major barrier without it.”

Rs are looking at February 2015 to submit plans for council approval, and insist the project goes ahead – even if the club finds itself for whatever reason in the lower reaches of the Football League five years from now.

The table toppers are due to face Leicester in a lunchtime kick-off, tomorrow (Saturday), and on course for an instant return to the Premier League.

Should football fortunes blow ill for Hoops in the future – the club have it covered.

Beard explained: “There's no point in building a new stadium and not understanding what you have to do on the pitch as well.

“But we have to build a stadium on a business model and generating income from outside football will be important.

“I can’t get the Premier League to guarantee us a place just because we’ve built a new stadium.”

The crumb of consolation is that should Championship or League One football greet the new home – the seats would be at rock-bottom prices.

“Our intention will be to fill every seat, and dynamic ticket pricing is becoming more and more relevant every year,” added Beard.

www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/qpr-reveal-cost-first-game-6432894

[Macmoish]

Get West London
Paul Warburton
Comments

QPR reveal cost and first game at the new stadium
20 Dec 2013 08:00

Chief executive Phil Beard outlines plans for Old Oak and new 40,000 seater ground

QPR’S new £200 million ground due for season 2018-19 will have the best of Arsenal – and whisper it softly, Chelsea as well.

The model for the 40,000 seater at Old Oak just north of Wormwood Scrubs will sit on a ‘podium’ as does the home of the Gunners that eases access for fans.

The complex will also house a hotel and other conference facilities – similar to the home of the fierce rivals at Stamford Bridge.

But there are plenty of boxes to tick before the first backside plants itself on a seat and gazes out at Rangers 16th ground since their inception in 1882.

In his first major interview since Hoops announced plans to leave Loftus Road, chief executive Phil Beard insisted the whole project depends on government improved transport facilities, especially at Willesden Junction – the nearest rail station.

He said: “If you’re going to serious about a new stadium that provides more than just football you’re going to have to be serious about transport links as well.

“We can’t develop the land without the infrastructure in place. It would be a major barrier without it.”

Rs are looking at February 2015 to submit plans for council approval, and insist the project goes ahead – even if the club finds itself for whatever reason in the lower reaches of the Football League five years from now.

The table toppers are due to face Leicester in a lunchtime kick-off, tomorrow (Saturday), and on course for an instant return to the Premier League.

Should football fortunes blow ill for Hoops in the future – the club have it covered.

Beard explained: “There's no point in building a new stadium and not understanding what you have to do on the pitch as well.

“But we have to build a stadium on a business model and generating income from outside football will be important.

“I can’t get the Premier League to guarantee us a place just because we’ve built a new stadium.”

The crumb of consolation is that should Championship or League One football greet the new home – the seats would be at rock-bottom prices.

“Our intention will be to fill every seat, and dynamic ticket pricing is becoming more and more relevant every year,” added Beard.

www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/qpr-reveal-cost-first-game-6432894

[Macmoish]

And what QPR will be leaving



www.britainfromabove.org.uk/sites/all/lib/aerofilms-images/zoomify/england/EPW022719/TileGroup0/2-1-0.jpg


www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/EPW022719

[Jo-Onenil]

I was watching the tele today, and I saw a ground which is quite close to the idea of what I would want as our new stadium...

It's the "Allianz-Riviera Stadium" in Nice, France. It's brand new, and can hold approximately 36'000 fans, which is quite close to what we'd want to build. There is three tiers, two of 14'000 seats each, and a third upper tier of 8'000 seats that you can close if the demand is low. So basically, against smaller opponents, we'd have a 28'000 stadium that would look quite full, and against the bigger clubs we'd be able to host 35'000 + people. That would solve the problem that the ground would look half empty.

Moreover, the ground took just over two years to be built, and costed 205'000'000 GBP which is what we'll be looking to spend.




I quite like the design, and it would look good with blue seats. Two things I would change is that I would put the stands slightly closer to the pitch and maybe make the upper tier slightly bigger for a more balanced look.

What do you guys think?

For more photos or information:
stadiumdb.com/stadiums/fra/allianz_riviera

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2013 17:54:13 GMT Jo-Onenil said:

I was watching the tele today, and I saw a ground which is quite close to the idea of what I would want as our new stadium...

It's the "Allianz-Riviera Stadium" in Nice, France. It's brand new, and can hold approximately 36'000 fans, which is quite close to what we'd want to build. There is three tiers, two of 14'000 seats each, and a third upper tier of 8'000 seats that you can close if the demand is low. So basically, against smaller opponents, we'd have a 28'000 stadium that would look quite full, and against the bigger clubs we'd be able to host 35'000 + people. That would solve the problem that the ground would look half empty.

Moreover, the ground took just over two years to be built, and costed 205'000'000 GBP which is what we'll be looking to spend.


View Attachment

I quite like the design, and it would look good with blue seats. Two things I would change is that I would put the stands slightly closer to the pitch and maybe make the upper tier slightly bigger for a more balanced look.

What do you guys think?

For more photos or information:
stadiumdb.com/stadiums/fra/allianz_riviera

Stick it up the arsenal