Blofeld wants swift action

Bath chief executive keen to move quickly over ground plans

Last updated: 8th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Blofeld wants swift action

The Rec: uncertain future

We must now progress the process as quickly as practically possible to secure the future of Bath Rugby in the heart of Bath for the benefit of the club and its loyal supporters.

Nick Blofeld
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Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld has called for swift action over the club's future stadium plans.

The club are desperate for better facilities in order to compete with their Guinness Premiership rivals - however whether that means staying at an expanded version of their iconic ground or moving elsewhere remains at the heart of the debate.

A redevelopment of The Rec is just one of the options being looked at by the club, the local authority and the Recreation Ground Trust, with plans for a larger arena at Western Riverside also on the table.

Currently The Rec holds less than half the 24,000 maximum crowd of their long-standing Premiership rivals Leicester - with officials believing a stadium with capacity far closer to 20,000 is necessary.

Blofeld, though, wants a decision made "as quickly as practically possible" so that the club can start moving forward off the field.

"We must now progress the process as quickly as practically possible to secure the future of Bath Rugby in the heart of Bath for the benefit of the club and its loyal supporters," said Blofeld.

Challenge

"The challenge has always been to secure an alternative site in the heart of the city.

"The club are actively looking for alternative locations within the city and, as part of this, are exploring as one possibility part of the greater Western Riverside site.

"Should a new arena on Bath Western Riverside be possible, then the Rec would be used to promote other sports, as well as becoming home to the (Bath) minis, and hosting the ladies and the most important youth team matches.

"The partnership with the Recreation Ground Trust, Somerset Cricket and Bath Rugby has significant potential for future and appropriate development on the Recreation Ground.

"We are grateful for the way in which the (Bath and North East Somerset) Council and the Recreation Ground Trust have conducted discussions with a view to finding an acceptable way forward on the Rec, and that they will be working closely with us as we move forward."

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