This is the way to do it
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 10 February 2011
SEAN Jarvis has urged the town’s power-brokers to show the sort of “vision” that can make a new stadium such a success.
Now the commercial manager at neighbours Huddersfield Town, Jarvis spent six years with Oldham Athletic as marketing director before making his move across the Pennines in 2006.
While Athletic’s near-neighbours have blossomed since moving into the state-of-the-art Galpharm Stadium facility, Athletic’s latest new-ground project at Failsworth hit the buffers.
It is the latest in a stream of stalled projects, dating right back to the ill-fated Sports Park 2000, designed to either upgrade or scrap the current shoddy home of Boundary Park.
But Jarvis hopes that the board of directors will keep on searching for a solution.
“I feel for all the staff and supporters at Oldham, who are suffering possibly from a lack of vision on the part of those who could make it happen,” said Jarvis, whose new club take on Athletic in a clash of npower League One promotion contenders at the Galpharm on Saturday.
“The greater good of the community is something that should be thought about when it comes to processes like this.
“Boundary Park celebrated its centenary when I was at the club back in 2006 and it felt like it was creaking at the time.
“I still have a soft spot for Oldham and the only thing I would say to those in charge at the club is not to give up and to keep on going.”
Huddersfield’s new venue replaced a dilapidated old Leeds Road ground in 1994.
With a clean slate, it allowed the club scope to bring in extra revenue from a variety of sources, many of which do not rely on traditional matchday income.
Jarvis cites his club’s current commercial success as evidence of what can be achieved by a club of similar standing to Athletic.
“We have 42 corporate boxes at Huddersfield and 95-per-cent of them have been sold out this season,” he added.
“With that comes along the extra revenue with those people in the boxes buying food and the other things that go along with corporate entertainment.
“A new ground also gives scope for a bigger shop accommodating more people at its busiest time on match days.
“And when the bigger games come around, like our FA Cup tie at Arsenal, the ticketing facilities we have at our disposal help the process no end.
“A new stadium encourages businesses to come on board as well as supporters.
“The Galpharm Stadium is 15 years old now but is still regarded as one of the best stadiums in the country.”
Galpharm factfile
Current capacity: 24,500
Number of executive boxes: 42
Used by: Huddersfield Town Football Club and Huddersfield Giants Rugby League Football Club
Major sporting events: Tri-Nations Rugby League, 1995 Rugby League World Cup and 1999 Rugby Union World Cup (qualifying) matches.
Pop concerts: REM, Bon Jovi, The Eagles, Bryan Adams, Elton John, Beautiful South.
