Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 10:08 am The point being Newport County don't have a choice. If the rugby decide we must go we are f@cked. If the rugby decide to charge a rent which is too high, we have no option but to pay it.

I only studied economics until the end of the first year of my first degree. However unless you can grasp that simple rule of economics then you're heading for an unclassified in GCSE.

Most of you will know the story of the inn keeper who hired out horses. He was the only person for miles around who did so. He charged premium rates for battered old nags. You either paid him what he wanted or you walked. The innkeeper's name was Hobson.

Hence Hobson' s choice.

Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 10:08 am The point being Newport County don't have a choice. If the rugby decide we must go we are f@cked. If the rugby decide to charge a rent which is too high, we have no option but to pay it.

I only studied economics until the end of the first year of my first degree. However unless you can grasp that simple rule of economics then you're heading for an unclassified in GCSE.

Most of you will know the story of the inn keeper who hired out horses. He was the only person for miles around who did so. He charged premium rates for battered old nags. You either paid him what he wanted or you walked. The innkeeper's name was Hobson.

Hence Hobson' s choice.

George Street-Bridge wrote: November 10th, 2021, 9:41 am Discounting your typically cracked second para, pretty obviously the domestic landlord also has a choice of tenants which a stadium owner doesn't. Newport RFC having failed - without which we wouldn't have had a sniff of a share - County are the only conceivable sharer.

Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 10:39 am

George Street-Bridge wrote: November 10th, 2021, 9:41 am Discounting your typically cracked second para, pretty obviously the domestic landlord also has a choice of tenants which a stadium owner doesn't. Newport RFC having failed - without which we wouldn't have had a sniff of a share - County are the only conceivable sharer.

Okay George I'll try one last time.

The two major sporting teams in Newport are County and Dragons.

Let's reverse their positions.

In 1989 the rugby went bust. A reformed rugby club has dragged it's way up to the fourth tier of British Rugby.

Meanwhile Newport County have been just about surviving in the Premier League. They built a huge Stand at the revamped Somerton Park, which has caused a financial hit and in truth County have been glad of the extra money the rent from the rugby has brought in.

However the directors of Newport County in league with the Football Association actually know what their doing. (Bit of a stretch from reality but you get my point.) and see that the rugby a) have no choice but to play at Somerton Park and b) made a bit of money from a good Cup run. As the rugby are in direct competition County do you think County would hesitate to up the rent?

Secondly. County's fortunes improve. It looks as though we'll qualify for European Championship, if we can win our last two games. Unfortunately our game v a bunch of well known cloggers, Cardiff City I shouldn't wonder, is to be played the day after Dragons intend to tear up our pitch v Leinster. Normally we'd stuff Cardiff with our free flowing football but on a cow meadow the Cardiff cloggers will probably get the point they need to avoid relegation. Worse our last game will need to be moved as Dragons have primacy of fixture. Which displeases the FA who may take away our European place regardless.

I think in those circumstances we would say goodbye to the rugby. Why do you think, in those circumstances the rugby won't do the same to us?

Taunton Iron Cider wrote: November 10th, 2021, 9:51 am

George Street-Bridge wrote: November 10th, 2021, 9:41 am Discounting your typically cracked second para, pretty obviously the domestic landlord also has a choice of tenants which a stadium owner doesn't. Newport RFC having failed - without which we wouldn't have had a sniff of a share - County are the only conceivable sharer.

In this particular case the landlord does have a choice, and probably their preferred one of developing the site for housing.

Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 10:39 am

George Street-Bridge wrote: November 10th, 2021, 9:41 am Discounting your typically cracked second para, pretty obviously the domestic landlord also has a choice of tenants which a stadium owner doesn't. Newport RFC having failed - without which we wouldn't have had a sniff of a share - County are the only conceivable sharer.

Okay George I'll try one last time. The two major sporting teams in Newport are County and Dragons. Let's reverse their positions. In 1989 the rugby went bust etc etc etc etc. I think in those circumstances we would say goodbye to the rugby. Why do you think, in those circumstances the rugby won't do the same to us?

Blackandamber wrote: November 10th, 2021, 11:14 am Hello is there anybody there? Is there anybody there? Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?

Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 11:22 am

Blackandamber wrote: November 10th, 2021, 11:14 am Hello is there anybody there? Is there anybody there? Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?

Please join in.

Seriously I am genuinely interested in what you and anyone else who has an opinion wishes to say. My views are only that, my views. I could be wrong. If I am wrong I would like to have my mind changed. I'm afraid the insults of the three amigos won't do but some structured argument might.

As importantly even those who share my views might want to develop them in ways I have not thought of. Please don't be put off by those who can only hurl vitriol. They simply don't really matter.

faerun exile wrote: November 10th, 2021, 11:50 am The only real concern for me is that we can potentially be milked by the RUGBY as we have little in the way of options in terms of locations to play home games in Newport. I'm not party to the finances involved but if we left RP then the RUGBY could re-coup those losses by laying a plastic pitch and renting it out to the community just like Cardiff Arms Park / Sutton Utd etc have done in the past. Sutton anticipate a loss of revenue approx £200k this year. I would anticipate that ground staff costs would be slashed too.

faerun exile wrote: November 10th, 2021, 11:50 am The only real concern for me is that we can potentially be milked by the RUGBY as we have little in the way of options in terms of locations to play home games in Newport. I'm not party to the finances involved but if we left RP then the RUGBY could re-coup those losses by laying a plastic pitch and renting it out to the community just like Cardiff Arms Park / Sutton Utd etc have done in the past. Sutton anticipate a loss of revenue approx £200k this year. I would anticipate that ground staff costs would be slashed too.

Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 12:14 pm

faerun exile wrote: November 10th, 2021, 11:50 am The only real concern for me is that we can potentially be milked by the RUGBY as we have little in the way of options in terms of locations to play home games in Newport. I'm not party to the finances involved but if we left RP then the RUGBY could re-coup those losses by laying a plastic pitch and renting it out to the community just like Cardiff Arms Park / Sutton Utd etc have done in the past. Sutton anticipate a loss of revenue approx £200k this year. I would anticipate that ground staff costs would be slashed too.

Another point about owning your own stadium which I fear is missed. And sadly a boat which sailed for Newport County 35 years ago.

When Somerton Park was demolished for housing I'm sure Newport County council as it was then made a lot of money out of Somerton Park. Let us say developers decided to pay a fortune in order to develop, hotels, shops, restaurants, cinemas etc on the Newport waterfront. Suppose these developers say we will build you a 10,000 stadium on a site on the outskirts of Newport and give you say £X,000,000 into the bargain. The rugby might say well Rodney Parade is an historic site, then again so was Highbury, Maine Road, Ninian Park, Stradey Park. And you can by lots and lots of smarties with all that dosh.

What about the County?

What about the County indeed Sir.

Stan A. Einstein wrote: November 10th, 2021, 10:08 am The point being Newport County don't have a choice. If the rugby decide we must go we are f@cked. If the rugby decide to charge a rent which is too high, we have no option but to pay it.

I only studied economics until the end of the first year of my first degree. However unless you can grasp that simple rule of economics then you're heading for an unclassified in GCSE.

Most of you will know the story of the inn keeper who hired out horses. He was the only person for miles around who did so. He charged premium rates for battered old nags. You either paid him what he wanted or you walked. The innkeeper's name was Hobson.

Hence Hobson' s choice.