May 24 – The Greek owner of Nottingham Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, has teased the idea of moving away from the City Ground and building a new stadium on the outskirts of the city as the Council looks to push up current rent by 400%.
The news breaks as the club continues to be at loggerheads with the council over the rent and lease situation at the City Ground, where Forest have played since 1898.
When the club put forward plans to redevelop the City Ground, the city council, as the owner of that land, reportedly wanted to increase rent from £250,000 a year to more than £1 million.
In an effort to dissuade Marinakis from moving away from the City Ground, the council have offered Forest the chance to buy the freehold of the City Ground for £10 million.
Either way, expansion seems to be top of Maranikis’ checklist as he debates between growing the City Ground from 30,000 to 40,000 seats (after buying freehold of the stadium), or building a new 50,000-seater with an accompanying training complex in Toton, on the outskirts of the city.
Knocking down and rebuilding the Peter Taylor Stand was the preferred method of expansion for the Greek owner and formed a central part of Forest plans when they first announced a multimillion project to overhaul their stadium almost five years ago – though work is still yet to start.
Marinakis said in an interview with the Daily Mail: “The stadium and training ground are not befitting the status and ambitions of the club. [A move] will change the history in years to come of the region and the team for our supporters.
“It’ll be hard to leave City Ground, but in an age when revenue streams dictate success on the pitch, there’s no doubt moving to a bigger facility will set the club on the right path.
“Over the past 10 years, the city of Nottingham has lacked the confidence and ambition of the other big regional cities of Manchester and Birmingham.”
A bold move away from Trentside would likely cause a rift with fans. The City Ground remains in good shape without any major cries for repair that could inspire a move away, such is the subject for a new home for Manchester United.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734998040labto1734998040ofdlr1734998040owedi1734998040sni@g1734998040niwe.1734998040yrrah1734998040