What do you want Fosun to do next?

[bod101]

I’m intrigued … what is a ‘boutique’ approach?

Much in the same way a boutique hotel works, it has some sort of quirky theme that sets it apart from the norm that enables it to charge more due to it's unique theme.

So for example (not saying we do this) we take that Brazilian manager who has bucked the European trend of exploiting space, spend some money getting the perfect players for his system, we then are the talk of the football world, pay the football fashionistas to run stories about us make us something interesting that people can latch onto other than winning the league. Sort of like Dortmund and how they are soooo amazing to watch or at least that was the narrative at one point. Use it wisely and grow our foreign fanbase, certainly use our Chinese ownership to its fullest

 

[sc91]

of course we can fill a stadium like that. Look at west ham and even newcastle, neither of whom had crowds that big in the past. Wolverhampton and wolves fans lack ambition. thats why we are perpetual also rans. if we do not attempt to grow we will end up back in the championship. even leicester are going to expand the ground and historically they were tiny. brighton, who got no fans fill their ground. we need to grow. we are relatively shrinking each year. and it will only end one way - back playing baggies and stoke - the bald men scrapping over a comb derbies

What?

West Ham and Newcastle are miles bigger fanbases than are, delusional to think otherwise. Wolves are a provincial club, decent support but a 45k stadium isn't getting filled, not unless we go back to pre-covid pricing.

 

[WickedWolfie]

What?

West Ham and Newcastle are miles bigger fanbases than are, delusional to think otherwise. Wolves are a provincial club, decent support but a 45k stadium isn't getting filled, not unless we go back to pre-covid pricing.

Re your last sentence you obviously mean West Ham level pricing! What they have cleverly done is use their heavily subsidised stadium to offer cheap tickets, particularly to kids, to grow the fanbase and change its demographics. Those hoards of kids with cheap tickets are, in 10-15 years, the new hardcore fans.

I know, from comments you have previously posted about your own kids, that you are well aware of that.

 

[wolvesjoe]

What?

West Ham and Newcastle are miles bigger fanbases than are, delusional to think otherwise. Wolves are a provincial club, decent support but a 45k stadium isn't getting filled, not unless we go back to pre-covid pricing.

Wolves can call on a potential fanbase of 1.5m to 2.0m spread across the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire. An average crowd of 40,000 calls on just 2 to 3% of that. This potential fanbase has excellent road and rail links to Wolverhampton, and, to an extent, a historical legacy of support. The current average is already 31,500 with a long waiting list and high ticket prices.

All of those considerations do point towards a 45,000 ground being about the right size for the club.

Of course, it also requires a reasonable level of succes, a good atmosphere, exciting football at least some of the time, and using ticket pricing in a strategic way. All doable.

 

[wolvesjoe]

FFP in its latest version severely limits what owners can do in terms of financial investment on the playing side.

Basically it is ensuring that the 35m per annum permitted loss is utilised to ensure Wolves can function at the highest level
possible and the most flexibility possible in the transfer market.

In general, I think they already do this, although the next couple of accounts will be revealing in this respect.

Its the failure to expand and improve the stadium that makes Fosun look like a busted flush.

There are no financial restrictions on this type of investment, so long as it is made as a capital investment.

But it would improve the club in many ways and show the kind of intent and ambition necessary to attract players
and encourage fan loyalty.

If they cant pull this off after some 8 years in charge at the end of the current season, then it is hard to see how
they can remain owners in the long run.

 

[loppers86]

Much in the same way a boutique hotel works, it has some sort of quirky theme that sets it apart from the norm that enables it to charge more due to it's unique theme.

So for example (not saying we do this) we take that Brazilian manager who has bucked the European trend of exploiting space, spend some money getting the perfect players for his system, we then are the talk of the football world, pay the football fashionistas to run stories about us make us something interesting that people can latch onto other than winning the league. Sort of like Dortmund and how they are soooo amazing to watch or at least that was the narrative at one point. Use it wisely and grow our foreign fanbase, certainly use our Chinese ownership to its fullest

that’s a little bit like Brentford have done with their Danish connection. i’ve always seen them and QPR as similar (but with QPR actually the bigger club). That’s all turned around massively now though.

 

[sc91]

Re your last sentence you obviously mean West Ham level pricing! What they have cleverly done is use their heavily subsidised stadium to offer cheap tickets, particularly to kids, to grow the fanbase and change its demographics. Those hoards of kids with cheap tickets are, in 10-15 years, the new hardcore fans.

I know, from comments you have previously posted about your own kids, that you are well aware of that.

Oh my daughters team is West Ham now as far as she's concerned, she went on a trip and met a few players, they gave her a water bottle that's now her favorite, so yeah, might take some work to turn that around!

But even that, West Ham have a larger fanbase because they've a larger area to draw from, East London/Essex and a few other home counties directly feed into them, Wolves don't have it.

 

[sc91]

Wolves can call on a potential fanbase of 1.5m to 2.0m spread across the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire. An average crowd of 40,000 calls on just 2 to 3% of that. This potential fanbase has excellent road and rail links to Wolverhampton, and, to an extent, a historical legacy of support. The current average is already 31,500 with a long waiting list and high ticket prices.

All of those considerations do point towards a 45,000 ground being about the right size for the club.

Of course, it also requires a reasonable level of succes, a good atmosphere, exciting football at least some of the time, and using ticket pricing in a strategic way. All doable.

I don't think realistically that work though does it? Not unless the pricing is significantly improved.

 

[Wisdomwolf]

FFP in its latest version severely limits what owners can do in terms of financial investment on the playing side.

Basically it is ensuring that the 35m per annum permitted loss is utilised to ensure Wolves can function at the highest level
possible and the most flexibility possible in the transfer market.

In general, I think they already do this, although the next couple of accounts will be revealing in this respect.

Its the failure to expand and improve the stadium that makes Fosun look like a busted flush.

There are no financial restrictions on this type of investment, so long as it is made as a capital investment.

But it would improve the club in many ways and show the kind of intent and ambition necessary to attract players
and encourage fan loyalty.

If they cant pull this off after some 8 years in charge at the end of the current season, then it is hard to see how
they can remain owners in the long run.

Real estate has caused the collapse of the Chinese economy with devastating consequences. Chinese companies have got very nervous about real estate investment and domestic lenders are unwilling to lend. It’s mostly about the above, but also some concern about how long it would take to recover the initial investment. Our best hope lies with third party investment willing to fund the infrastructure. As for Fosun, not any day soon but we may see some activity in the Steve Bull sooner.

 

[bod101]

In addition to the boutique thing we also have the distinct advantage of an outstanding brand

 

[loppers86]

In addition to the boutique thing we also have the distinct advantage of an outstanding brand

i hate to say but these are things that LD was developing - carving out a niche and finding a space where we weren’t ’just another club’ like 80 or so in league football.

I’d say we had got quite along way down that road, only to make an abrupt u-turn and wander about aimlessly from then until now.

 

[WolfInSheep'sClothing]

We had an identity and then threw it away after losing to Sevilla. 3 at the back. Pace in attack.
We chased after a different identity when we lost in the quarter finals in the europa league.
We started Lages last season with a squad full of physically lacking technically neat players that could keep the ball forever but were barely going to trouble the goal.
I'd argue we had a clear identity then. It was just ****. Our identity looked pretty at times but dear god they were toothless.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

In addition to the boutique thing we also have the distinct advantage of an outstanding brand

The fantasy boutique 5 star hotel people want Fosun to build would not make money.

You would need to turn it into something niche or something from Las Vegas to attract people a huge casino / designer outlet complex with lots of lights. Again can’t see it attracting people with the cost of living crisis.

 

[bod101]

The fantasy boutique 5 star hotel people want Fosun to build would not make money.

You would need to turn it into something niche or something from Las Vegas to attract people a huge casino / designer outlet complex with lots of lights. Again can’t see it attracting people with the cost of living crisis.

I was just using the hotel thing as an expert of what I meant by boutique.

But I wouldn't be averse to the niche thing you suggest!

 

[Flea]

I´m happy a la fFarell Style where we are now.
Before season we are in..I´d snap your hands off for 19 after 16..swedish alligator style!
I´ve been a distant fan of the club before the Franny outbreak..back in the days when County won championships ya knew?
Guess how old ya all are and how drunk ya all are?
Me...iI am Wolves and drunk a la Shane McGown Style.
Bring me a stool and warp me to it!

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

I was just using the hotel thing as an expert of what I meant by boutique.

But I wouldn't be averse to the niche thing you suggest!

It’s a fantasy but could they incorporate something like that into a new stadium? Why not

 

[Monk]

BRING BACK NUNO

 

[Wolf316]

BRING BACK NUNO

Won’t work for Pinocchio.

 

[WickedWolfie]

Won’t work for Pinocchio.

Nor will anyone with cojones....

 

[BCWolf]

Sell. Only way this club progresses is with new owners and new ideas.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Sell. Only way this club progresses is with new owners and new ideas.

We are going backwards at an alarming rate. Sell up or they will end up taking us back to where we started in the championship.

Nobody wants to buy us. Am I surprised??