EAGLES FLY HOME Crystal Palace Football Club Press Conference 20th January 2011 Press Release Crystal Palace FC plan return to historic home We are delighted to announce that Crystal Palace Football Club together with their advisors CB Richard Ellis and stadium designers AFL have been pursuing avenues and that would allow them to move back Eagles Fly Home to their original home ground within Crystal Palace park. Crystal Palace is a unique place, one off the highest points in London, a point where five South London boroughs collide and the home of the club. It also holds a special place in English football, hosting the first cup finals and early England Internationals. The plan is to provide: • 40,000 seat stadium • new indoor aquatic centre • reconfigured indoor sports complex within the existing structure • new community athletics facility Combined this will breathe new life into the National Sports Centre and the park by removing the requirement for the pool inside the current listed structure, greatly reduce the running costs and allow for the current space to be re-utilised for an even wider range of community and elite athletic sports. Planning will be sought for the full 40,000 seat capacity stadium, it may begin life with a reduced 25,000 capacity stadium, dependant on where we are, other uses etc. Steve Parish, Co–Chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club, said: “We are delighted to put forward our plans to return the club home to where it all began. We believe a stadium at Crystal Palace park can help create a bright new future for the club as well as helping to breathe new life into both the sports centre and the park.” What have we done so far Consultation began in July 2010 Click to edit Master title style London Borough of Croydon The club currently sits within the borough of Croydon, as such their support is pivotal to help develop Eagles Fly Home the existing site which will go a long way to financing the new stadium. Jon Rouse, CEO of Croydon Council said: “Croydon Council wants to see Crystal Palace Football Club thrive on and off the pitch. While we would be sad to see the club leave the borough we will actively support a move to the National Sports Centre site if that is what is judged by owners and fans to be in the best interests of the club.” London Borough of Bromley Equally pivotal as they are both the freeholders of the site (leasing the NSC to the LDA), and responsible for the running costs of the park. They are also the planning authority for the park. Leader of Bromley Council, Councillor Stephen Carr said: “Crystal Palace Football Club have spoken to us and we are very interested in their proposal to relocate the Club to Crystal Palace park. These are potentially exciting times for Crystal Palace park and of course, we would need to look very carefully at the merits of any proposal. These fresh visionary ideas are welcome and ultimately, we want to improve the park and the wider area and any viable plan to improve the park could have a positive impact on the locality and secure a brighter future. Of course, we will consider all proposals on their merits and would be subject to the planning permission in the usual way.” What have we done so far London development Agency - LDA ClickThe LDA to are edit the current Master leasehol titleders styleand fund both the sports centre and the upkeep of the athletics stadium. They both currently run at a significant deficit, our intention is to work with them to reduce this deficit, as such they are interested in hearing our proposal. By building a new aquatic centre we Eagles Fly Home believe that there would be a significant reduction in running costs and significant new revenue opportunities. We have spoken directly to them and the Mayor’s office. Kate Hoey, Mayor of London Commissioner for Sport and Labour Member of Parliament said: “It is encouraging to see people coming forward with positive, innovative solutions for the future of Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace FC has been at the heart of that community for well over 100 years and I know they have been working hard to secure the support of all the key local stakeholders. I welcome their interest in the site and look forward to seeing more detail on what they have to offer to the local community and to London as a whole.” Greenwich Leisure They currently manage the National Sports centre, we have had discussions around membership numbers, growth rates, running cost issues What have we done so far Jim Dowd MP for Lewisham West and Penge, who’s constituency contains the park has also Clickbeen consulted to edit and Master he said: title style “Crystal Palace FC is a vital part of the community here in our corner of South East London just as professional football clubs are throughout the country. The possibility to return to their original “home” Eagles Fly Home and thus achieve long term security together with providing a sustainable future for the Stadium site is an opportunity that is unlikely ever to occur again and thus it must be given every chance to succeed. Although there are many legitimate questions to be raised and answered before any progress can be made I am grateful for the openness the Club have shown and for the opportunity I have had to meet with them to discuss the proposal. I hope very much that it is possible to achieve a solution which will benefit the whole area.” UK Athletics We have consulted UK Athletics extensively resulting in the addition to our plans of a community athletics facility. ED Warner Chairman of UK Athletics said: “On the proviso that the Olympic Stadium retains its athletics track and any redevelopment of Crystal Palace maintains a community athletics facility on or nearby the park we would be supportive of the plans of Crystal Palace Football Club.” Why now • Returning to the home of the club has been an ambition of many of the previous owners Click to edit Master title style • Clearly the development of the Olympic stadium removed the requirement for Crystal Palace to host major athletics events making a football only stadium a viable option Eagles Fly Home • We want to make a new home for Crystal Palace a reality within a sensible time frame as such we are inviting consultation • As such we are inviting further consultations with all interested parties so that feasibility and viability can be explored including planning and transport issues • We also feel it important to go public now given important decisions are about to be taken regarding the current stadium at Crystal Palace, and people may incorrectly believe that there are no alternatives for Crystal Palace stadium. The current site The current site is run down, and a hugely under-utilised stadium. Eagles Fly Home The current site Eagles Fly Home The original Crystal Palace ground Eagles Fly Home Taken during the 1905 cup final 101,117 Aston Villa v Newcastle Feature Cup Final, 1905 Images from the Encyclopaedia of British Football, 1983 edition The Future Site of the original Crystal Palace Bus interchange, Existing Four rail stations, Penge East, 13 bus services Hostel Penge West, Anerley, and this station, Crystal Palace New Aquatic Centre Eagles Fly Home Existing National Sports Centre New 40,000 seat stadium Significant regeneration of the area surrounding the stadium New Community Athletics Track and Field Centre New development as part of the Crystal Palace park Master Plan Eagles Fly Home 11 Scale plan Eagles Fly Home 12 Scale plan Eagles Fly Home 13 Stadium • Unique facility residing in one of London’s largest parks • May start life as a reduced capacity 25,000 seat stadium • In its 40,000 capacity version it could feature Eagles Fly Home • 50 x 10 person executive boxes • One VIP suite for up to 80 persons-these can be balanced with available pitch frontage for other hospitality spaces • Two banqueting/lounges at 500-800 capacity with pitch views (greater views with less boxes) • Potential community/hotel space • Bar/lounge for 200 persons, no pitch view • up to 1,000sq.m. office space • 1,000sq.m. club shop • 300sq.m. media • 200sq.m. players' facilities Build costs and funding • Build costs are expected to be in the region of £50 million for phase one • Naming rights • Principle funding will arise from the sale and redevelopment of Selhurst Park Eagles Fly Home • Pre-sold debenture seats • Pre-sold corporate hospitality • Will be supplemented by shareholder funds as necessary or by third party investment perhaps small borrowing. Revenue • The main income will be generated from the use of the football club • Second sports team to be investigated, rugby union etc. • Unique parkland setting, ideal for summer concerts • Non match-day hospitality • Advertising • Hotel • Elite sports academy • Other opportunities are being explored. Next steps Over the coming months we will be widening our consultations to include; • The wider local community • Residents groups Eagles Fly Home • Fans • Interested parties that come forward • We will also be looking in-depth at how we can work with the LDA to reduce running costs, and Bromley council to help make the park masterplan a reality With a view to making a full planning application Q1 2012 Background of the club The present CPFC was formed during the summer of 1905 as a separate company by the owners of Crystal Palace Football Club and initially played its home games at the cup final ground at The Crystal Palace.