davieG Posted 17 October 2012 Posted 17 October 2012 BBC Leicester Riders have unveiled a proposal for a new arena located next to Grace Road cricket ground. The basketball club, which currently plays at De Montfort University, moved out of its old home at the city's Granby Halls 12 years ago. Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) said talks with the Riders, Leicester City Council and Leicester College were "in the early stages". The arena would also be used for a variety of community sports activities. New home Riders general manager Russell Levenston said: "As well as providing a long-term home for the Riders, we intend the venue to be a mass participation sports venue, focussed on the community." The team plays its games at John Sandford Sports Centre at De Montfort University, but hopes to move the Bennett End of Grace Road in Leicester, alongside the indoor cricket school. Mike Siddall, of LCCC, said: "We are in the very early stages of discussions and there is a lot of work to be done. "There is considerable synergy between the two clubs and it is potentially a very exciting opportunity for Leicester and the local community and a demonstrable Olympic legacy for the city." The Riders, who played in Loughborough from 2000-2004, have won their first three games in the 2012-13 British Basketball League season. The Riders hope to open the new arena by the start of next season in September 2013.
Mark 'expert' Lawrenson Posted 17 October 2012 Posted 17 October 2012 The local residents are bound to complain!
purpleronnie Posted 17 October 2012 Posted 17 October 2012 The local residents are bound to complain! Yep, no doubt theres already a protest group formed.
BlueSi13 Posted 17 October 2012 Posted 17 October 2012 Why would they move? Being located pretty much in the centre of town with a youthful population in the same area is surely ideal right? Unless DMU have told them to pack up and move on?
davieG Posted 17 October 2012 Author Posted 17 October 2012 I think the DMU have plans to pull that building down now they have the new leisure centre, it would be a shame because apparently the all wood curved roof is unique but then buildings/structures of architectural significance mean little to them in their drive for greater riches at the expense of Leicester's heritage and they seem to have a willing partner that is Leicester City Council. They'll no doubt do it when no one's looking.
BlueSi13 Posted 17 October 2012 Posted 17 October 2012 I think the DMU have plans to pull that building down now they have the new leisure centre, it would be a shame because apparently the all wood curved roof is unique but then buildings/structures of architectural significance mean little to them in their drive for greater riches at the expense of Leicester's heritage and they seem to have a willing partner that is Leicester City Council. They'll no doubt do it when no one's looking. Fine sentiments for sure, but dude, the JSC is a shithole!
MPH Posted 19 October 2012 Posted 19 October 2012 I think the DMU have plans to pull that building down now they have the new leisure centre, it would be a shame because apparently the all wood curved roof is unique but then buildings/structures of architectural significance mean little to them in their drive for greater riches at the expense of Leicester's heritage and they seem to have a willing partner that is Leicester City Council. They'll no doubt do it when no one's looking. Fine sentiments for sure, but dude, the JSC is a shithole! Dude? . Im getting old. But you are right... its impossible to throw a long pass or long shot at the JSC... its not built for a proper basketball game....
davieG Posted 21 December 2013 Author Posted 21 December 2013 Leicester Riders' new arena could be built on former gas works site By Leicester Mercury | Posted: December 21, 2013 By Dan Martin and James Sharpe Sir Peter Soulsby at the old gas works site Comments (6)A former gas works site has emerged as the leading contender to be developed as a new 2,000-seat arena for Leicester Riders. The city’s basketball team is seeking to move from De Montfort University’s John Sandford Sports Centre, off Braunstone Gate. It has ambitious plans to move into a £2.5 million community sports arena. Designs had already been drawn up for it to be at the Grace Road home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club. However, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who will have the final say on the location, has confirmed that a council-owned plot in Charter Street, just over the Grand Union Canal from Abbey Park, is in the running. The site is currently used as a storage area by the city council, having been leased out to a car dealer. It was formerly the city gas works. The mayor also confirmed the former John Ellis Community College site, near the space centre, is an option. The Granby Halls car park, next to Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road ground, makes up the shortlist of four sites. The Riders previously played there until 2000. Sir Peter said: “There are many advantages to Charter Street. It is in council control, it is close to Abbey Park and the city centre and also Leicester College, so the students could use it during the day. There is plenty of space for parking and it could be connected to Abbey Park by a footbridge. “At the moment this is the favoured site. Riders did play at Granby Halls but, if you were to put an arena there, it would leave little room for anything else. “The site is triangular and you are trying to put up a rectangular building, so it creates a geometric problem.†Sport England has indicated it could provide £1 million towards the scheme and an official bid for funding could be submitted within six months. Leicester Riders director Kevin Routledge said: “We have been fully supportive of the mayor’s site review and have provided our inputs, as requested. “We also support the selection of the four favoured sites and the basis of the council’s assessment to get to that decision. “We understand the selection of the site is a strategic decision for the city. “The Riders are very keen now that the preferred site is selected and confirmed, so that we can get on with the project as soon as possible. “We will commit all our resources to making that project a reality as soon as possible in the new year.†Leicestershire County Cricket Club had outlined its arena plans along with 14 flats by its ground. It had hoped to submit planning applications for both together, but has now lodged plans for the flats alone. Club chief executive Mike Siddall said: “We are still very keen to have the arena, but we have not had a definitive answer from the council. The arena project has not moved quite as quickly in the past couple of months as we had hoped and we realised we had to get moving with our apartments plan. “We wanted to pull it together with the arena and put them in at the same time, but we haven’t got a definite answer and to wait for one would delay us further. “I do still think Grace Road is the best site for the arena but we are one of four shortlisted sites and the decision rests with the mayor.†Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-Riders-8217-new-arena-built-gas-works/story-20353146-detail/story.html#ixzz2o7zVcAor
Finnaldo Posted 22 December 2013 Posted 22 December 2013 Good news. I've always thought that the current ground is a bit small, one of the smallest in the league isn't it? With how well they're doing as well a new stadium seems justified.
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