Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread VIII

[RuggerRadge2611]

First topic message reminder :

Ye Olde Banter:

https://www.606v2.com/t48240-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread
https://www.606v2.com/t51313-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-ii
https://www.606v2.com/t53119-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-iii
https://www.606v2.com/t54519-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-iv
https://www.606v2.com/t55409-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-v-the-fun-continues
https://www.606v2.com/t56913p950-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-vi-banter-boogaloo
https://www.606v2.com/t57946-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-vii



A. Edinburgh
   

1. League Results  

Fri 5 Sep: Munster Rugby 13 - 14 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 12 Sep: Edinburgh Rugby 13 - 14 Connacht Rugby

Sun 21 Sep: Ospreys 62 - 13 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 26 Sep: Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 20 Scarlets

Fri 3 Oct: Ulster Rugby 30 - 0 Edinburgh Rugby

Sat 11 Oct: Edinburgh Rugby 24 - 10 Newport Gwent Dragons

Fri 31 Oct: Leinster Rugby 33 - 8 Edinburgh Rugby

Sun 23 Nov: Edinburgh Rugby 28 - 13 Cardiff Blues

Sat 29 Nov: Zebre 18 - 10 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 19 Dec: Edinburgh Rugby 48 - 0 Benetton Treviso

Sat 27 Dec: Glasgow Warriors 16 - 6 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 2 Jan: Edinburgh Rugby - 20 - 8 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 9 Jan: Connacht Rugby 13 - 16 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 13 Feb: Edinburgh Rugby 24 - 16 Ospreys

Fri 20 Feb: Edinburgh Rugby 17 - 20 Ulster Rugby

Sun 1 Mar: Cardiff Blues 21 - 15 Edinburgh Rugby

Sat 7 Mar: Benetton Treviso 8 - 29 Edinburgh

Sat 28 Mar: Scarlets 15 - 26 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 24 Apr: Edinburgh Rugby 3 - 34 Munster Rugby

2. European Results  

17/10/14: Bordeaux-Begles 13 - 15 Edinburgh Rugby

24/10/14: Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 17 Lyon

7/12/14: Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 13 London Welsh

14/12/14: London Welsh 6 - 24 Edinburgh Rugby

17/01/2015: Lyon 21 - 19 Edinburgh Rugby

23/01/2015: Edinburgh Rugby 38 - 20 Bordeaux-Begles

05/04/2015: London Irish 18-23 Edinburgh

17/04/2015: Edinburgh 45-16 Dragons

B. Glasgow


1. League Results  

Sat 6 Sep: Glasgow Warriors 22 - 20 Leinster Rugby

Sun 14 Sep: Cardiff Blues 12 - 33 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 20 Sep: Newport Gwent Dragons 13 - 33 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 26 Sep: Glasgow Warriors 39 - 21 Connacht Rugby

Sun 5 Oct: Benetton Treviso 23 - 40 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 11 Oct: Ulster Rugby 29 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 31 Oct: Glasgow Warriors 17 - 9 Benetton Treviso

Fri 21 Nov: Scarlets 19 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

Sun 30 Nov: Glasgow Warriors 19 - 15 Newport Gwent Dragons

Sat 20 Dec: Glasgow Warriors 21 - 18 Munster Rugby

Sat 27 Dec: Glasgow Warriors 16 - 6 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 2 Jan: Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 8 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 9 Jan: Glasgow Warriors 22 - 7 Scarlets

Sun 15 Feb: Zebre 10 - 54 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 21 Feb: Glasgow Warriors 19 - 16 Ospreys

Sat 28 Feb: Munster Rugby 22 - 10 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 6 Mar: Glasgow Warriors 26 - 5 Zebre

Fri 27 Mar: Leinster Rugby 34 - 34 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 10 Apr: Glasgow Warriors 36 - 17 Cardiff Blues


2. European Results  

18/10/14: Glasgow Warriors 37 - 10 Bath Rugby

25/10/14: Montpellier 13 - 15 Glasgow Warriors

7/12/14: Toulouse 19 - 11 Glasgow Warriors

13/12/14: Glasgow Warriors 9 - 12 Toulouse

18/01/2015: Glasgow Warriors 21 - 10 Montpellier

25/01/2015: Bath Rugby 20 - 15 Glasgow Warriors

Hopefully this thread will keep GC off my back for a wee while...

[funnyExiledScot]

I can see Bru, GC, Jimbo and Schiz forming a fine tribute band in years to come.

Totally. I just need a black leather stool, a 'flock of seagulls' haircut, a lobotomy and a complete loss of self respect.

Your wife lets you have self-respect??

I need to have a word with Mrs fES!

[Eejit]

HAUD THE BUS!!

Manly, tough, butch, Glasgow. Forever slagging Edinburgh for being pampered effeminate ladyparts. Glasgow people eat steak for breakfast with Megadeath blaring out whereas Edinburgh have All-Bran light with a cup of prune juice, while a bit of Bach plays in the background.

Well well well.

A certain development has come to pass tonight, something that makes up for the years of slagging and abuse.

Glasgow Warriors have adopted a song of their own, one with inspiring lyrics to drive the players forward and unite the crowd in a sense of unity.  

A taste of some of the lyrics:

Every battle, every scar
We are warriors
Hear us shouting from our hearts
This is who we are

We will travel near and far
For the thousand wars
Hear us screaming from our hearts
This is who we are

So who sings such a song, I hear you ask? Surely a trendy, music mad city like Glasgow would want a cool, trendy band to represent them? They play some Biffy Clyro, so surely they would want something similar to inspire the massses?

Who indeed.

Ladies, gentlemen and Ianbru (are the plums gone yet?), the answer may surprise you.

The band chosen to represent everything Glasgow Warriors stand for....






BOYZONE!!

Oi, we won't have a bad word said about Ronan.

And I don't mean that **** O'Gara.

[George Carlin]

I can see Bru, GC, Jimbo and Schiz forming a fine tribute band in years to come.

Totally. I just need a black leather stool, a 'flock of seagulls' haircut, a lobotomy and a complete loss of self respect.

Your wife lets you have self-respect??  

I need to have a word with Mrs fES!

Only Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-2pm. On alternative leap years.

[tigertattie]

HAUD THE BUS!!

Manly, tough, butch, Glasgow. Forever slagging Edinburgh for being pampered effeminate ladyparts. Glasgow people eat steak for breakfast with Megadeath blaring out whereas Edinburgh have All-Bran light with a cup of prune juice, while a bit of Bach plays in the background.

Well well well.

A certain development has come to pass tonight, something that makes up for the years of slagging and abuse.

Glasgow Warriors have adopted a song of their own, one with inspiring lyrics to drive the players forward and unite the crowd in a sense of unity.  

A taste of some of the lyrics:

Every battle, every scar
We are warriors
Hear us shouting from our hearts
This is who we are

We will travel near and far
For the thousand wars
Hear us screaming from our hearts
This is who we are

So who sings such a song, I hear you ask? Surely a trendy, music mad city like Glasgow would want a cool, trendy band to represent them? They play some Biffy Clyro, so surely they would want something similar to inspire the massses?

Who indeed.

Ladies, gentlemen and Ianbru (are the plums gone yet?), the answer may surprise you.

The band chosen to represent everything Glasgow Warriors stand for....






BOYZONE!!

Oi, we won't have a bad word said about Ronan.

And I don't mean that **** O'Gara.

the dude on the right looks like he's off to fell a tree!

[funnyExiledScot]

The only thing missing from the line-up is Kellock at the side with some maracas in the role of Bez. He'd be perfect.

[Weegie Wizard]

Just renewed my Warriors season ticket at a 40% price increase.

I know the price was frozen last year so we all expected an increase but is that not a bit dramatic. I read on twitter that Edinburgh tickets are frozen. Is that right?

Does that mean we are no longer splitting the revenue 50/50? We had better not be supporting you east coast scroungers!

[RDW]

40% for a like for like ST? As in you've not got reserved seat or anything suddenly?

I wonder if that means they're raising ticket prices too

Prize money is split 50/50, but ticket sales surely stay in the club...

[Weegie Wizard]

Yup. Same deal as last year for seat on halfway in the north stand but price is 40% more.

The single game tickets are going up by £5 but only for 'tier 1' games (1872 & ERCC at the moment) and staying the same for the rest. I would imagine the 3 big Irish games & the Ospreys will be tier 1 as well.

They also say the West stand will stay up all season meaning the minimum capacity will be 7k. The East stand will be put up near the end of the season and they will still put the bigger stands up despite the 7s not happening any more.

[funnyExiledScot]

If the Edinburgh tickets go up by 1p they can count me out.

Can't believe they plan to charge Weegies to watch another 1872 defeat.....

[RDW]

Good to hear that the permanent capacity will be increased - 5k is too small for Glasgow now.

[madmaccas]

Gotta be worth a caption or two.

[BigGee]

Tom English (a much more objective journalist than Iain Morrison) has put a series of articles up on the BBC rugby website following an interview with Dobson.

He goes into some depth about the sevens situation, explaining that the euro crash cost the SRU a million quid! I have to say I did not realise that and it probably makes more sense now. Sevens is now going to be seen as a development tool for 15's rather than a squad in its own right. I am probably comfortable with that as well.

It looks as if the Easter Rd project for Edinburgh is serious as well and a couple of test games may be planned for next season. Not going to be everyone's cup of tea clearly, but he recognised then need to get out of Murrayfield and his may be the best available option.

[123456789]

http://m.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/edinburgh-rugby-could-play-at-hibs-1-3769857

Looks like Edinbugh are on the move, although there seems little benefit in moving to Easter Road, as the article suggests, at only one game a year do Edinburgh tend to get more than 4,000 and even then they could play at Murrayfield regardless of where they are normally based.
Moving a 4,000 strong fanbase to a 20,000 capacity stadium and paying for it seems silly to me. Moving the problem won't solve it. The issue is that Edinburgh, who play in arguably the closest thing Scotland has to a "rugby city", have been underperforming for years due to mismanagement with foreign imports playing in an empty stadium. When they announced the academies they should have chosen a small ground in Edinburgh and invested money into it to host the academy with a small stadium (with the capacity to grow) and training facilities for Edinburgh. In many ways Edinburgh have been in a state of flux for too long now, Murrayfield was never a permanent solution and I can't see how moving to the home of another sports team will be a solution.

On the note of stadiums it does seem the wrong time to raise ticket prices at Glasgow games, with the coverage from the win it would be sensible to freeze prices surely so it appeals to casual observers.

[BigGee]

Glasgow clearly feel confident that they can sell out the stadium at its 7000 capacity (which it is going to be at for most of the season), I don't think that an increase is going to force fans away, the demand is there so they need to attempt to maximise their income. It is still very good value compared to other comparable sporting events.

Edinburgh just need to get their numbers up, the fan base in Edinburgh is there, it is just not being attracted to the experience at the moment. That will involve a combination of better rugby and a better match day experience. It can be done, Glasgow were playing to 2 to 3 thousand only a few years ago!

Unfortunately there will ever be a good match day experience in Murrayfield unless it is a euro knock out game or a derby match and they could potentially be even better in a packed 20,000 seater stadium.

[Notch]

So Edinburgh are trying to shake their MFL image with a move to Leith?

[RDW]

Hibs has been discussed before, and I really don't think it's a good option. Other than the small (poor) pitch, paying a football team to use it and the fact its in Leith, I can see attendances suffering.

I'd certainly go from 9-10 games a season to maybe 3-4 due to work/travel logistics, and I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be the only one in that situation.

[TJ]

Easter road would be good for me - Murrayfeild is the wrong side of town. Not a great solution tho. The pitch is too small

[BigGee]

Is that not the problem though. If there had been a great solution it would have been found already. Whatever solution comes up is always going to be a massive compromise.

[RDW]

Is that not the problem though. If there had been a great solution it would have been found already. Whatever solution comes up is always going to be a massive compromise.

Exactly.

Advantages

Smaller stadium


Disadvantages

Stadium is still too large
Other side of Edinburgh
Separate coaching and playing base - no longer have one 'home'
World class facilities lying empty
Share with a football team
Pay a football team to use it
Have to compromise with the football season
Small pitch
Crap pitch
How can you build a club identity when everything in the stadium and bars has Hibs logos on it?
Undesirable local area (unless prostitutes or drugs are what you desire)

I could go on, but I'm sure you get my point...

[TJ]

Oi - leith is a great place. We even have soap

[R!skysports]

Oi - leith is a great place.  We even have soap

Yes, but all you use it for it to 'drop it in the shower'

[funnyExiledScot]

Oi - leith is a great place.  We even have soap

Yes, but all you use it for it to 'drop it in the shower'

Now now Risky, you know how I detest snobbery on these boards.......

[tigertattie]

Easter Road is just plain stupid!

A move to Meadowbank would be a far better option!

The best option is still to build Edinburgh their own little stadium to call their own but doing that would likely mean having the ground on the outskirts of the city!

[RuggerRadge2611]

it's all rather depressing to be honest. Easter road isn't the answer. It's harder to get to than Murrayfield and I often cannot be bothered even going there to watch Edinburgh play.

[funnyExiledScot]

Easter Road is just plain stupid!

A move to Meadowbank would be a far better option!

The best option is still to build Edinburgh their own little stadium to call their own but doing that would likely mean having the ground on the outskirts of the city!

We should just bulldoze Lothian Road from the Usher Hall onwards, which is horrible, and build a new stadium there. The Nats will destroy the FS industry anyway as the Yes voters despise intelligent people who generate tax revenues, so there will be little lost other than Ali's Cave, Poundstretcher and some lap dancing venues.

Problem solved, and nice and handy for me......

[RuggerRadge2611]

Easter Road is just plain stupid!

A move to Meadowbank would be a far better option!

The best option is still to build Edinburgh their own little stadium to call their own but doing that would likely mean having the ground on the outskirts of the city!

We should just bulldoze Lothian Road from the Usher Hall onwards, which is horrible, and build a new stadium there. The Nats will destroy the FS industry anyway as the Yes voters despise intelligent people who generate tax revenues, so there will be little lost other than Ali's Cave, Poundstretcher and some lap dancing venues.

Problem solved, and nice and handy for me......

that is a significant loss.

[R!skysports]

Easter Road is just plain stupid!

A move to Meadowbank would be a far better option!

The best option is still to build Edinburgh their own little stadium to call their own but doing that would likely mean having the ground on the outskirts of the city!

We should just bulldoze Lothian Road from the Usher Hall onwards, which is horrible, and build a new stadium there. The Nats will destroy the FS industry anyway as the Yes voters despise intelligent people who generate tax revenues, so there will be little lost other than Ali's Cave, Poundstretcher and some lap dancing venues.

Problem solved, and nice and handy for me......

Where you would get your cleaners from if that happened?

[cp10]

@neilquinney @RugbyEdinburgh we will be playing at BT Murrayfield this season - during RBS 6N, as last season, may have to relocate only

Someone in the press put 2 and 3 together and got drunk on gin.

[highland_scot]

Easter Road is just plain stupid!

A move to Meadowbank would be a far better option!

The best option is still to build Edinburgh their own little stadium to call their own but doing that would likely mean having the ground on the outskirts of the city!

We should just bulldoze Lothian Road from the Usher Hall onwards, which is horrible, and build a new stadium there. The Nats will destroy the FS industry anyway as the Yes voters despise intelligent people who generate tax revenues, so there will be little lost other than Ali's Cave, Poundstretcher and some lap dancing venues.

Problem solved, and nice and handy for me......

Hear hear (no applause - the nat rabble could learn a thing or two)!

But can we keep the Hanging Bat? It's one of may favourite bars... It could even be one of the official pre-match venues.

Also Innis & Gunn are opening a bar next to Velveteen, that could stay too to provide a bit more quality beer. Tennents to be banned.

Just allow catering from these local establishments at the stadium - would beat the p!sswater that they tend to serve you. Plus what could be more MFL than watching the team slump to defeat whilst supping a schooner of a small batch artisan Belgian farmhouse Trippel?

[MacKnocked-on]

I listened to Dodson's interview on BBC Scotland yesterday, he seemed to infer that the TV companies won't just go to any old ground that Edinburgh chose to play at, it had to suit the broadcaster's infrastructure and equipment (eg 25 cameras etc). Considering the BBC make a decent job of the Melrose 7s I would say that his statement sounds a wee bit of an exaggeration. I still think that until crowd numbers go up then there is a lot to be said for playing at some of the club grounds around the city.
Slightly off topic but Dodson has that slightly patronising habit of saying 'yeah?' or 'right?' after every statement.

[RDW]

Dodson has done a lot of good things (BT deal for one) but he is starting to grate a bit and isn't coming across very well (plus his involvement in the Edinburgh MDO departure was a black mark on his record).

Pleasing to see ER Twitter feed stepping in. Given the largely negative comments on social media about the move to Leith they obviously feel the need to clarify before Season Ticket sales slump even more!

[Majestic83]

Easter road definitely isn't the answer. Stadium is still too big, pitch is too small and not the best. A few games a season on it would absolutely ruin that pitch.
The facilities in and around the stadium aren't great either I don't think.
Went to a few games at Easter Road in the late 90s when Edinburgh were using it for their European games. Was not the best experience as the stadium was still pretty sole less. Pitch was a major problem, can remember one of the Edinburgh players coming off 2nd best against an advertising board after getting tackled into touch and there was no where for him to go as the touch line was pretty much right into the first row of the stands.

Meadowbank was a not bad venue when they played there for the few seasons. Pitch was decent, the facilities needed done up but the atmosphere was good.
Doubt it is viable now though unless they were going to spend money doing up the facilities.

For me I think they should use one of the club grounds and put in some temporary stands. Meggatland seemed to work well when they used it last season. Have been to Edinburgh games at Myerside and Heriots before and they both created good atmospheres as well.
Using a club ground will mean it is a lot cheaper than using Easter Road and the money is staying in rugby instead of going to football.

[MacKnocked-on]

The club grounds are the answer for atmosphere. As an stop-gap alternative, would it be possible to erect temporary stands round one of the back pitches at Murrayfield? Similar set up to Cardiff with the smaller club ground alongside the national stadium.

[RDW]

This certainly isn't something they should just jump into, and Easter Road really just isn't a good option. Luckily it looks like his is just press hyperbole and rumour.

The question is, where is best? I agree with Maj that a club ground would be the best, but they also have problems. Looking further ahead, Hearts are meant to be redeveloping their ground. It would be great if Edinburgh could jump on that bandwagon, but I can't see it happening.

Meggetland

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Meggetland+Sports+Complex/@55.927436,-3.234061,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x8d34631e8ad1bb5e

Not really big enough, with a maximum capacity of around 3700 (at a squeeze). Poor transport links and no decent bars near by, not to mention the very little amount of space around the ground. We've been there recently of course, and I don't think it was an overwhelming success - people ended up having to wait over an hour for buses home apparently.

Myreside

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Myreside+Rd,+Edinburgh,+City+of+Edinburgh+EH10+5BZ/@55.9280039,-3.2238968,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4887c704b65860a7:0xb16b37acd49b5864

A lovely wee ground, but definitely showing its age and not really benefiting a professional sports team. It also has a small capacity of around 3000 (at a push), which very little scope to increase this. It is also difficult to get to.


Raeburn Place

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Edinburgh+Academical+Sports+Centre/@55.9603336,-3.2191823,16z/data=!4m5!1m2!2m1!1sraeburn+place+edinburgh+rugby!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x5a6ad1d3a2ae9d4d

Surrounded by protesting Stockbridge locals so probably a non-starter, despite the fact that a purpose built rugby stadium is already being built there. Problem is, it is quite small.


Goldenacre

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Goldenacre+Playing+Fields/@55.9702828,-3.2041283,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xb8f6502e0f77a2d6

Edinburgh don't tend to play here very often for some reason, but this one has good scope to expand. There isn't much room at each end, but you could build a fairly substantial 'temporary' stand across from the main stand, with capacity being 4k+ easily I reckon once you include standing as well. Quite a residential area so might get a lot of objections, but I think this might be a good shout. Some decent pubs nearby, and not too far away from Stockbridge!


Inverleith

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Stewart's+Melville+FP+Rugby+Club/@55.9696268,-3.2193785,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4887c7c51ba722fb:0x50757b475c618daa

Right on FES' doorstep, and plenty room to erect additional stands, again you could get 4k+ in this ground I reckon. Not as residential and the bars of Stockbridge are only a 10 minute walk away.


So other than Tyncastle redevelopment, I reckon Goldenacre and Inverlieth are the best options. Surely the cost of temporary stands would be no more than paying a football venue to use their stadium??

Someone mentioned TV broadcasters but surely that could be worked around.

[MacKnocked-on]

Dodson also said the 7s squad would be reduced and focus on producing players for the 15 a side game from now on. Not sure how many, if any, of the current squad will fit in to the new setup. I would guess the likes of Hugh Blake might be in as he has looked good during his 7s involvement and Cotter obviously sees a lot of potential. Most of the others such as Fleming and Gregor I guess will be out, although I would have liked Fleming to have got a chance with Edinburgh.
May be that Te Rure might also be attached to the 7s?

[Majestic83]

Good breakdown of venues RDW.

With regards to TV broadcasters I think pretty much any venue would be fine for them. They manage to do the Melrose 7s fine by using temporary platforms etc so would be able to be done at a club ground too.

Out of all the Edinburgh clubs listed I think the most practical ones would be Heriots or Stew Mels. Lots of space to put up temporary stands etc. Not far from the city centre. Both have fairly decent facilities as well. Only issue might be for fans travelling by car for parking but the streets around the botanics are normally pretty empty at that time of night so should be lots of parking round there.

The other option to build a temporary stadium either short of long term is either at Edinburgh uni's playing fields at peffermill or possibly even Heriot watts sports fields. Not ideal but plenty of space for temp stands, parking, both on good bus links. Get a big beer tent up to solve the lack of bars in the area.

[tigertattie]

Easter Road is just plain stupid!

A move to Meadowbank would be a far better option!

The best option is still to build Edinburgh their own little stadium to call their own but doing that would likely mean having the ground on the outskirts of the city!

We should just bulldoze Lothian Road from the Usher Hall onwards, which is horrible, and build a new stadium there. The Nats will destroy the FS industry anyway as the Yes voters despise intelligent people who generate tax revenues, so there will be little lost other than Ali's Cave, Poundstretcher and some lap dancing venues.

Problem solved, and nice and handy for me......

Where you would get your cleaners from if that happened?

If this statement is true, can I come round to watch when you have the cleaners in?

[RDW]

Good breakdown of venues RDW.

With regards to TV broadcasters I think pretty much any venue would be fine for them. They manage to do the Melrose 7s fine by using temporary platforms etc so would be able to be done at a club ground too.

Out of all the Edinburgh clubs listed I think the most practical ones would be Heriots or Stew Mels. Lots of space to put up temporary stands etc. Not far from the city centre. Both have fairly decent facilities as well. Only issue might be for fans travelling by car for parking but the streets around the botanics are normally pretty empty at that time of night so should be lots of parking round there.

The other option to build a temporary stadium either short of long term is either at Edinburgh uni's playing fields at peffermill or possibly even Heriot watts sports fields. Not ideal but plenty of space for temp stands, parking, both on good bus links. Get a big beer tent up to solve the lack of bars in the area.

The main issue here is that they are all private schools who use their grounds regularly, and even convert the rugby pitches into cricket or athletic grounds in spring.

It would take a big buy in from them. Rye increased income would hopefully help that though.

It would all lead to more money being spent though, no doubt to the detriment of bringing in players.

I'd rather stay at murryafield and use that money for signings.

[jimbopip]

Good breakdown of venues RDW.

With regards to TV broadcasters I think pretty much any venue would be fine for them. They manage to do the Melrose 7s fine by using temporary platforms etc so would be able to be done at a club ground too.

Out of all the Edinburgh clubs listed I think the most practical ones would be Heriots or Stew Mels. Lots of space to put up temporary stands etc. Not far from the city centre. Both have fairly decent facilities as well. Only issue might be for fans travelling by car for parking but the streets around the botanics are normally pretty empty at that time of night so should be lots of parking round there.

The other option to build a temporary stadium either short of long term is either at Edinburgh uni's playing fields at peffermill or possibly even Heriot watts sports fields. Not ideal but plenty of space for temp stands, parking, both on good bus links. Get a big beer tent up to solve the lack of bars in the area.

The main issue here is that they are all private schools who use their grounds regularly, and even convert the rugby pitches into cricket or athletic grounds in spring.

What exactly would being identified with those establishments do in terms of helping widen the MFL fan base? I wonder how your average working class Edinburgh citizen must feel when reading your objections to playing in the less salubrious parts of town? I know a lot of what is posted here is said with tongue firmly in cheek ( and in Schiz's case usually someone else's well fried tongue) but a few of the Luvvie objections are totally missing the point. The MFL wont grow or develop in the way Glasgow have while they are seen as being an exclusive, middle class posh boys' club.
Take the game to the people. make everyone feel welcome and included. We are lucky. We play, watch and love the best game in the world. We, by which I mean everyone involved, should have a missionary zeal for sharing it with anyone who seems interested. Every time the Glasgow players walk onto the training pitch they pass through the arch which says, "Privileged to play". And there is a sense among the Glasgow fans that this privilege also brings a responsibility to grow the game in Glasgow. Watch Bru's video clip of Shrek in the Scout Hut after the Ulster semi. He's in there sharing the moment with the fans. No, he is one of us. There is absolutely no sense of exclusivity in anything Glasgow do and they are genuinely, organically growing into a part of the city's sporting culture. Can you say the same about the Luvvies?

Edinburgh Rugby have a fantastic opportunity to really connect with the people of the city and emulate Glasgow's success. Find your own Toonie, Big Al and develop an inclusive, winning culture.

Rant over. Couthy little anecdotes will resume soon.

[RDW]

Coming from the man who drives a fancy car in a rich tax haven....

I don't think it is the fact it is Leith that is the biggest problem.

Edinburgh are looking for a smaller place that they can call their own and build a club like identity. How can hiring a 20k seater stadium off a football team achieve that?

How can you build your own identity if the place you play in is surrounded by hibs branding and pictures and murals of hibs' past glories?

Also, do you really expect to draw a crowd from a football team when you are literally playing at the home ground of said football team? Glasgow moved to a neutral athletics stadium a good distance away from the 2 big football grounds.

Also, should Edinburgh really be aiming to 'do a Glasgow' - would that work for Edinburgh? Genuine question.

Yes we've got to  play for the local community, but moving to Leith won't suddenly tick that box, especially given the significant issues that we would face.

[RDW]

I also wouldn't have any issues if Edinburgh played at a private school ground - and I went to a state school. I wasn't quite brought up in Pilton like, but I don't see it being a problem.

[jimbopip]

RDW,
However, I think you are confusing me with someone younger, richer and better looking. Don't worry it happens alot. How else did I persuade MrsPip to marry me? But Essex is not a tax haven.

I don't think you should hire Tynecastle or Easter Road.
Meadowbank might do a Scotstoun for you, however I would advocate starting from scratch and building your own stadium.

Or, you could copy Barcelona FC. In the shadow of the Camp Nou they have a 10,000 all seater stadium for their reserve team. Could the buffties at HQ see the wisdom in building a similar stadium on the back pitches and using it for club finals, A games etc ? Also when the MFL need to play in big matches they simply use Murrayfield.

p.s. I don't mind you confusing me with GC: just wish our pay packets got mixed up occassionally.

[RDW]

Whoops - not sure how I thought GC wrote that!

Most Edinburgh fans would agree that a Musgrave Park equivalent on the back pitches is the best idea, but the SRU just don't have the capital to pay for it.

[IanBru]

Whoops - not sure how I thought GC wrote that!

Was it the use of superlatives other than 'pure dead brilliant'?

Jim's point is well made though (the claw-back starts here). I grew up playing rugby in perhaps the most privileged environment in England short of Eton, on the private school playing fields, always with a group of parents in salmon-pink troos and barber jackets on the touchline shouting "Well tackled, that boy!" (though rarely, if ever at me...), and cucumber sandwiches at the end. (OK, the last part is made up. We had cream tea instead). It was always about fair play, competitiveness and (as they say in Aces High) 'playing the game, for the game's sake'. It was wonderful in many ways, but the problem is that it is so painfully exclusive that it will never grow.

I'm not going to start painting Edinburgh rugby as some last bastion of the empire builders, the muscular Christians and the plantation owners, but there is perhaps more work to be done in Edinburgh to destroy the automatic association between rugby and privilege.

One of the reasons I love Glasgow rugby so much is that it is finding a way to retain the core values of the sport, but turn it into something marketable for the entire city. Some journo (might have been Tom English of the Beeb) wrote a good article last week in which he foresaw an entire generation of players spawning from this season's success. That's why players like Gordie and Finn are so important - I want some eight-year-old kid to watch them and think, "If they can play for Scotland, so can I. So I will." I don't believe that a lack of privilege is a barrier to sporting success in any practical way - hard work will see you through, if you want it enough - but I still worry that people are ruling themselves out of the attempt at athletic excellence because they see themselves as lacking the necessary ingredients.

All that being said, I still hear people in Glasgow, Edinburgh and elsewhere say "Ach that rugby sh**e, it's just a posh boys sport!". As long as people are saying then the battle still goes on for us.

[George Carlin]

RDW,
However, I think you are confusing me with someone younger, richer and better looking. Don't worry it happens alot. How else did I persuade MrsPip to marry me? But Essex is not a tax haven.

I don't think you should hire Tynecastle or Easter Road.
Meadowbank might do a Scotstoun for you, however I would advocate starting from scratch and building your own stadium.

Or, you could copy Barcelona FC. In the shadow of the Camp Nou they have a 10,000 all seater stadium for their reserve team. Could the buffties at HQ see the wisdom in building a similar stadium on the back pitches and using it for club finals, A games etc ? Also when the MFL need to play in big matches they simply use Murrayfield.

p.s. I don't mind you confusing me with GC: just wish our pay packets got mixed up occassionally.

I drive a Volkswagon. Mrs GC, on the other hand...

[funnyExiledScot]

I love how a Volkswagen Golf is a poor man's car in UAE!!

Just watching the U20 Scotland vs Ireland game now. Fagerson is going to be a player and make no mistake.

[RDW]

GC - are you responsible for the thread having [solved] at the start of the title?

[funnyExiledScot]

Whoops - not sure how I thought GC wrote that!

Was it the use of superlatives other than 'pure dead brilliant'?

Jim's point is well made though (the claw-back starts here). I grew up playing rugby in perhaps the most privileged environment in England short of Eton, on the private school playing fields, always with a group of parents in salmon-pink troos and barber jackets on the touchline shouting "Well tackled, that boy!" (though rarely, if ever at me...), and cucumber sandwiches at the end. (OK, the last part is made up. We had cream tea instead). It was always about fair play, competitiveness and (as they say in Aces High) 'playing the game, for the game's sake'. It was wonderful in many ways, but the problem is that it is so painfully exclusive that it will never grow.

I'm not going to start painting Edinburgh rugby as some last bastion of the empire builders, the muscular Christians and the plantation owners, but there is perhaps more work to be done in Edinburgh to destroy the automatic association between rugby and privilege.

One of the reasons I love Glasgow rugby so much is that it is finding a way to retain the core values of the sport, but turn it into something marketable for the entire city. Some journo (might have been Tom English of the Beeb) wrote a good article last week in which he foresaw an entire generation of players spawning from this season's success. That's why players like Gordie and Finn are so important - I want some eight-year-old kid to watch them and think, "If they can play for Scotland, so can I. So I will." I don't believe that a lack of privilege is a barrier to sporting success in any practical way - hard work will see you through, if you want it enough - but I still worry that people are ruling themselves out of the attempt at athletic excellence because they see themselves as lacking the necessary ingredients.

All that being said, I still hear people in Glasgow, Edinburgh and elsewhere say "Ach that rugby sh**e, it's just a posh boys sport!". As long as people are saying then the battle still goes on for us.

I agree with all of that, but bear in mind re: the last paragraph that there will always be people that say that no matter what you do. That's just Scotland!

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Bru has captured the essence of it very well as he is a damn clever fella. fES has it too - we moan and moan and love nothing better than to bring down or snipe at success. The game will wither and die here if we do not broaden our spectator base. Edinburgh need a Nathan Bomphrys type 'manager' - a hard nosed business man who has fashioned the club but as Jimbo has said they also need a charismatic pitch leader and a few characters like Niko to get kids interested. The Glasgow model really does work. Playing at Murrayfield is very problematic. Must admit I used to be jealous of the facilities for fans and players alike in the East. Not now for all the reasons outlined above.

Anyway my road trip is over - Belfast, Uig, Lochboisdale and Tarbert. Then St Kilda, where I planted a Glasgow Warriors flag in honour of the boys. Unfortunately it lasted about 3 seconds and probably landed in Greenland or Nova Scotia about 5 minutes later !

[IanBru]

Anyway my road trip is over - Belfast, Uig, Lochboisdale and Tarbert.  Then St Kilda, where I planted a Glasgow Warriors flag in honour of the boys.  Unfortunately it lasted about 3 seconds and probably landed in Greenland or Nova Scotia about 5 minutes later !  

I remember a Big Yin joke about that - "No wonder there are no trees in Shetland; Shetland's trees are in Norway! You see mothers heading out to the shops with their children tied down with bits of string!"

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