The Latest From Belle Vue Message from Supporters Director Today I had the pleasure of being one of the signatories, on behalf of Doncaster Rovers, documents that secure our future as a football club. These included the stadium construction contract, our lease, and the agreement for the £2 million grant from the Football Foundation. As has been widely leaked, Mowlem will be the main stadium contractor, and will commence site work on 12 October, with a contractual obligation to deliver the stadium on 11 December 2006. At a subsequent press conference and photo shoot at the Mansion House, Mayor Martin Winter spoke of the importance of the project as part of the master plan for improving the town, and stressed that he had delivered on his election promise. John Ryan said that it was the most important victory ever for Rovers, and would remove the artificial ceiling to progress that Belle Vue represented. Without the stadium, Rovers would have had no future, but we could now look forward to a fabulous new home suited to Championship football, and enhanced income streams that would help deliver that dream. For the doubters among Rovers' fans, and there were quite a few out there, rest assured that this contract is now binding and irrevocable. This means that the construction contract is secure, the funds are totally committed, and we are guaranteed our place in the new ground. Although there have been some cost savings to bring the original scheme back within budget (mainly a simplification and lowering of the roof, and flattening of the sides from a full oval shape) the stadium will still be a fully enclosed bowl and incorporate 15,700 seats with top class views and maximum specification seating accommodation guaranteeing excellent leg room. We will also benefit from an 800 square metre supporters' bar, a 250 cover restaurant, and concourse facilities including bars, betting kiosks, and food outlets, as well as a gymnasium and martial arts centre. The £32 million sports complex will also include two external full-size floodlit grass pitches, eight floodlit all-weather 5-a-side pitches, and two floodlit all-weather 7-a-side pitches. The second mini-stadium will include a stand with seating for 500, and have full athletics facilities including a six lane running track with eight-lane straights. There will also be parking for 1,040 cars (including 40 disabled places), a landscaped public open space leading down to the lake, and a grass tiered amphitheatre. A visual display of the new design, including a site plan, 3-D image, elevations, and floor plans, will be viewable in the Viking Supporters' Bar before and after Wednesday's match against Manchester City, and all fans are welcome to come and feast their eyes on our new home. For a permanent memento, why not also purchase a programme for the match, which will include an article about the new stadium and some of the same images. The clock is now well and truly ticking, and December 2006 is going to bring us all the best Christmas present we've ever had!!
"a contractual obligation to deliver the stadium on 11 December 2006" - why do they always do things like this rather than contracted to have it completed for the start of a season? The martial arts facility will be useful for the Donny players to get extra practice in though!
Chant of the game last neet according to Man City fan at work...</p> "Shall we build a stand for you?"</p> </p>
