News that the new stadium won’t be ready for the start of next football season has been greeted with barely-disguised fury by York City.
We reported on Tuesday (20 February) that the York Stadium Leisure Complex won’t now be completed for the opening matches of City’s 2019-20 campaign.
No reason was given by City of York Council because, it said, of ‘commercial confidentiality’.
York City’s board of directors is exasperated by the news – saying the delay “will inevitably have financial implications for York City Football Club with the loss of four high-profile pre-season fixtures and the cancellation of several commercial events which were designed to mark the club’s departure from Bootham Crescent”.
Do not be alarmed
That means City will start the 2019-20 season at their old home. The club is in discussions with the council over the full implications of the delay.
The news prompted some interesting comments on fan forum The Red And Blue Net…
Going to be a huge impact on City’s finances. Can’t sell season tickets in the summer as it stands. X amount of final games at BC, unknown amount in the new place. Knights were already selling season tickets. What a mess.
Other issues apparently include a failure relating to the new road, delay with drainage works and numerous service strikes. “So far behind it’s unbelievable, no chance it’ll be ready for August”.
If we can afford to stay at BC next year then I’d say that would be the best thing all round. We could use the new stadium for reserve games or behind closed doors games to ‘break it in’