A long way to go!

[W12_Ranger]

You're talking about older fans who grew up in the vicinity of the club but have since moved out. I was living in north west London when I became a QPR fan.

How about you? Where were you living when you became an R? Did you live near the ground or did you live in the suburbs and travel in?

London is not the same place it was 20/30/40 years ago

[QPR Richard]

London is not the same place it was 20/30/40 years ago

Nowhere is. Most things change over time.

So where were you living when you became an R?

[W12_Ranger]

Nowhere is. Most things change over time.

So where were you living when you became an R?

It's irrelevant where I was living its 2013 not 1985, it will be 2018 at the earliest before we have a new ground. We will have even less local support by that point.

[acricketer]

A long way to go...42 points from 20 games. We had 41 at this stage when we got promoted and then lost the next game. We'll still be doing better even after 21 games!

[QPR Richard]

It's irrelevant where I was living its 2013 not 1985, it will be 2018 at the earliest before we have a new ground. We will have even less local support by that point.

Well, your signature says W12 born and bred so I'm assuming you lived in the vicinity of the ground when you became an R. That's two of us then. I'm sure there's lots of people on this board who became Rs because they lived in the vicinity and started to support the local club.

No reason why this kind of thing shouldn't continue when we move to the new ground.

[QPRDave]

Fair assumption Richard.....reasonable argument

[acricketer]

If you're only allowed to support all things local best choose where you live.

[bushcelt1]

The population of Southampton is around 237,000. Brighton's is around 274,000.

The population of NW London is around 1.8m.

and yet we still find it hard to fill 18,000-in possibley one of our better seasons on the pitch..

[vblockranger]

and yet we still find it hard to fill 18,000-in possibley one of our better seasons on the pitch..

Dont confuse him with facts Bush..he gets all red and sweaty :-)

[vblockranger]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/10515725/Queens-Park-Rangers-supporter-Thom-Gibbs-open-letter-to-chairman-Tony-Fernandes-over-his-stadium-plans.html

A few good points here for TF too...

[QPRDave]

Right i'm putting this up and then going to bed. I suggest everyone reads it.......

http://footballplc.weebly.com/the-new-stadium-effect.html

[Stanley]

The only thing is dicky boy is football fans in London don't normally live within the vicinity of a ground they normally travel in from the suburbs...so that leaves you with immigrants or the sort of support Fulham have.

I'd have a lot more time for your argument if you stopped talking about un tapped potential in Northwest London and focused on the areas where we do have a support.

You just sound like a bad PR man

What's your objection to attracting immigrants as potential supporters? Our club has a rich history of having a local immigrant support as you should know.

And what's your objection to tapping into potential N/W London catchment areas in order to grow the fanbase?

How else do you think they plan to fill a 40k stadium?

[vblockranger]

They are going to have to manufacture a fanbase...some are ok with this and some are not. Theres something a bit artificial about it, just look at Fulham.

[QPR Richard]

Dont confuse him with facts Bush..he gets all red and sweaty :-)

Oh, I thought you were banned or off to one of your BNP rallies....

[QPR Richard]

Right i'm putting this up and then going to bed. I suggest everyone reads it.......

http://footballplc.weebly.com/the-ne...um-effect.html

Interesting piece, cheers Dave.

Let's apply these figures to QPR.

According to QPR Report, last season's average attendance was 17,779. In year one our average gate would be 25,086. In year two, it increases by 44.9%. I don't know if this is based on the original attendance or the new attendance. The figures are either 25,761 or 36,349. However, the graph shows the real increases come in year four and beyond.

The report quoted says that Southampton and Huddersfield increased attendances by over 80%. For us that would mean average attendance rising to at least 32,002.

The increase of the 21 clubs with new grounds shows an average gate increase of 60%. This would bring ours up to 28,446. However, our average gate can expect to increase by more for the following reasons:

1. The new stadium is part of a new multi-billion pound development in a catchment area of at least 1.8m people. It is not just a new stadium being built in an out of town location.

2. It will be located in the capital and not a provincial town or city. Do not underestimate the power of attraction the capital has.

3. It is being built at a planned major rail interchange which will make travel easier for people living in the suburbs to the west and north west of London. Even if HS2 isn't built, if the new station is built for Crossrail as Transport for London is lobbying for, this will make access to the new stadium much better. It is expected that new transport links will be built because of the new housing development.

4. It will become an iconic stadium because it will be used to host lots of major events which will increase its prestige thus bringing in casual visitors from abroad.

5. The whole development has major financial and political backing, as well as support from the transport organisations such as Network Rail and TfL.

6. The new stadium will be located just 1.5 miles from LR so should not have a negative impact on our current fan base.

7. If last season's average attendance was 17,779, the club would only need to persuade around 1% of the 1.8m NW London catchment area to start attending matches which would take our average attendance past the 35,000 mark. Get the ticket prices right and this is achievable. Add in an increase of the away allocation from the current 3,000 to 5,000 for the likes of Arsenal Chelsea Spurs Liverpool Man City West Ham Newcastle and Man Utd and it's almost a full house.

I think I've made a reasonable case for the new stadium. I'm sure the club has carried out a comprehensive feasibility study which backs the decision to move.

It would be good to see the case made for remaining at LR by Vblock or W12, or anyone else in the 'no' camp.

Over to you guys.