collapse collapse

Please donate to help towards the costs of keeping this site going. Thank You.

Recent Topics

FFP by LeeS
[Today at 09:40:23 AM]


Ollie Watkins by N'ZMAV
[Today at 09:37:02 AM]


Chris Heck - President of Business Operations by DB
[Today at 09:24:46 AM]


Summer 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc. by Somniloquism
[Today at 09:20:17 AM]


Tour de France 2025 by Meanwood Villa
[Today at 09:06:58 AM]


Pre season 2025 by Somniloquism
[Today at 08:59:46 AM]


The International Cricket Thread by aj2k77
[Today at 08:30:50 AM]


Server move by adrenachrome
[Today at 01:32:33 AM]

Recent Posts

Re: FFP by LeeS
[Today at 09:40:23 AM]


Re: Ollie Watkins by N'ZMAV
[Today at 09:37:02 AM]


Re: Ollie Watkins by Monty
[Today at 09:30:33 AM]


Re: Ollie Watkins by eamonn
[Today at 09:26:01 AM]


Re: Chris Heck - President of Business Operations by DB
[Today at 09:24:46 AM]


Re: FFP by Gareth
[Today at 09:20:58 AM]


Re: Summer 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc. by Somniloquism
[Today at 09:20:17 AM]


Re: FFP by Olneythelonely
[Today at 09:18:46 AM]

Follow us on...

Author Topic: NSWE Investment  (Read 891871 times)

Online aev

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5344
  • Location: Beckenham
  • GM : 07.01.2026
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5145 on: April 15, 2024, 12:42:42 PM »
BRIGHTLINE WEST
Sarah Watterson, President

Sarah Watterson is responsible for all aspects of business development and delivery for Brightline West, including the transit oriented development and rail infrastructure strategy, design and execution. She was most recently the Head of Development at Florida East Coast Industries, a multi-faceted real estate and transportation company headquartered in South Florida. Sarah has been employed by Fortress Investment Group or its affiliates in various leadership capacities since 2011.

Offline Chris Harte

  • Member
  • Posts: 12322
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5146 on: April 15, 2024, 12:44:30 PM »
BRIGHTLINE WEST
Sarah Watterson, President

Sarah Watterson is responsible for all aspects of business development and delivery for Brightline West, including the transit oriented development and rail infrastructure strategy, design and execution. She was most recently the Head of Development at Florida East Coast Industries, a multi-faceted real estate and transportation company headquartered in South Florida. Sarah has been employed by Fortress Investment Group or its affiliates in various leadership capacities since 2011.
Choo choo! Lol.

Offline The Man With A Stick

  • Member
  • Posts: 13220
  • Location: Lichfield
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5147 on: April 15, 2024, 12:48:31 PM »
Quote
Sarah helped lead the acquisition, ownership syndication and restructuring of the Milwaukee Bucks for Fortress owner, Wes Edens, and co-owner, Marc Lasry. Following the acquisition of the team, Sarah moved to Milwaukee to work on the development of a 725,000 SF arena and 20 acres of surrounding mixed use development.

Hmmm.

https://www.gobrightline.com/about/sarah-watterson

Offline sid1964

  • Member
  • Posts: 3544
  • Location: Dudley, not far from the Castle
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5148 on: April 15, 2024, 12:49:32 PM »
I would be devastated if we were to move from Villa Park - however you can understand the reasons for the owners to be considering this.


 

Online LeeB

  • Member
  • Posts: 35486
  • Location: Standing in the Klix-O-Gum queue.
  • GM : May, 2014
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5149 on: April 15, 2024, 12:53:17 PM »
Quote
Sarah helped lead the acquisition, ownership syndication and restructuring of the Milwaukee Bucks for Fortress owner, Wes Edens, and co-owner, Marc Lasry. Following the acquisition of the team, Sarah moved to Milwaukee to work on the development of a 725,000 SF arena and 20 acres of surrounding mixed use development.

Hmmm.

https://www.gobrightline.com/about/sarah-watterson

"Sarah helped lead the acquisition, ownership syndication and restructuring of the Milwaukee Bucks for Fortress owner, Wes Edens, and co-owner, Marc Lasry. Following the acquisition of the team, Sarah moved to Milwaukee to work on the development of a 725,000 SF arena and 20 acres of surrounding mixed use development"

Online LeeB

  • Member
  • Posts: 35486
  • Location: Standing in the Klix-O-Gum queue.
  • GM : May, 2014
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5150 on: April 15, 2024, 12:53:52 PM »
By the way, can I be first to asy a big "Hi" to Sarah.

Offline tomd2103

  • Member
  • Posts: 15404
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5151 on: April 15, 2024, 12:55:42 PM »
It’s worth noting that the ‘city centre’ doesn’t mean what it used to. The councils ‘Big City Plan’ which has been in operation for a few years now has the specific aim of enlarging the city core.

That’s why we are now seeing 50 storey towers getting approved as far out as Matalan island. The centre is much bigger than it was and much of that land is going to be changing in terms of ownership and usage.

It’s also worth mentioning in this discussion of space to build, it is way, way easier to build on land which is currently industrial as you’re dealing with a handful of industrial clients - who almost always don’t own the land - rather than hundreds of residential owners with emotional attachments.

Anecdotally, I was on a train pulling into Moor St recently. There were two guys sat in front and one said to the other, “Jesus, look how many cranes there are”, and there are, tens of them all over the city centre and pretty much all building something where there was already something there.

I appreciate stadiums have a much bigger footprint than skyscrapers but the point here is that development can happen in areas where there is already something there and if it’s not residential, it’s easier to buy the land. The point being, if we are looking, we won’t be limiting ourselves to big open spaces.

Have the plans for the Smithfield site been confirmed yet?  If big enough, that would be the ideal site for me if we were going to move.


That’s my thoughts too, great location for trains and city centre, size of plot would give many options for other commercial opportunities and a hotel.

It would be the prime location really.  Short walk from New St, Moor St (bit further to Snow Hill but still not far) the HS2 terminus, metro stop and numerous bus stops.  Went and had a look at the set up there when the Commonwealth Games was on and thought the same then.  It would be a new centrepiece for the city which would bring a whole new dimension to it.  I think planning permission on the revised plans for the site was due to be discussed early this year, but not sure if it has been decided yet.

It would be a massive wrench to leave Villa Park, but if we could build a slightly bigger version of the ground we are visiting on Thursday night in that location then I think that would be very hard to turn down.
« Last Edit: April 15, 2024, 01:03:34 PM by tomd2103 »

Online LeeB

  • Member
  • Posts: 35486
  • Location: Standing in the Klix-O-Gum queue.
  • GM : May, 2014
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5152 on: April 15, 2024, 12:57:54 PM »
We're not going to build a new stadium in town with a plethora of options for people to spend their money outside of it.

Online Nev

  • Member
  • Posts: 15893
  • Location: Vibrania
  • GM : 03.02.2022
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5153 on: April 15, 2024, 01:12:51 PM »
All very well and good but it "Sarah" going to get a round in at the Social or in the Troc?

Offline Drummond

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 32841
  • Location: Everywhere, and nowhere.
  • GM : 11.10.2025
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5154 on: April 15, 2024, 01:19:26 PM »
By the way, can I be first to asy a big "Hi" to Sarah.

She says 'Hi' back. (sorry mate, you weren't first)

Offline tomd2103

  • Member
  • Posts: 15404
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5155 on: April 15, 2024, 01:19:34 PM »
We're not going to build a new stadium in town with a plethora of options for people to spend their money outside of it.

I'll readily admit that I don't know too much about optimal stadium location, but the outlets in the city centre ones I've been to -Principality Stadium in Cardiff in particular - seem to be busy, though fans can drink throughout the game at rugby matches.

I guess the only thing with one out of town is the transport issues.  We've currently got two train stations on the doorstep, one a bit further and loads of nearby street parking and it isn't enough.  The nagging feeling I've got is the area around the NEC could tick a lot of boxes, but moving there would be an.entirely different proposition.

Offline Risso

  • Member
  • Posts: 89939
  • Location: Leics
  • GM : 04.03.2025
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5156 on: April 15, 2024, 01:20:55 PM »
They might if Atairos own all the stuff around it in a mixed use development. Also, and I've said this before, but the two grounds I most like in terms of situation and being able to wander around with a load of choice beforehand are Arsenal and Newcastle. When you get to both those grounds, there never seems to be a shortage of punters enjoying themselves*, and they never seem to be refusing to buy food and drink because they've already had some elsewhere. What we should be aiming for are world class facilities, where people can turn up 3 hours before kick off, to enjoy themselves in a welcoming environment with a good range of options and great facilities, with decent service on top.

At the moment, we're offering old fashioned dingy concourses, with nowhere to sit, disgraceful toilets, a crap range of food and drink, and little chance of getting served before kick off and at half time. I'd love to be able to get a train to New Street, maybe have a couple of pints in Brum, then wander to the ground and get something to eat and more drinks there. Then stay around for an hour after and walk back and get the train home.

I've said also said before that the only way for Atairos to make a return on their investment will be to have a massive mixed use development, and these board level appointments would seem to confirm that that's very much the thinking.

Offline Ads

  • Member
  • Posts: 42806
  • Location: The Breeze
  • GM : 17.04.2024
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5157 on: April 15, 2024, 01:21:59 PM »
I think you're more likely to drink if you've had a drink. Seemless transition like going pub to pub. Plus I don't think catering for general food/drink etc is too big an impact. The real money would be in the expensive seats and the food/drink etc they provide.

Offline Drummond

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 32841
  • Location: Everywhere, and nowhere.
  • GM : 11.10.2025
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5158 on: April 15, 2024, 01:22:18 PM »
Sorry point already made.

Offline ozzjim

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 30989
  • Location: Here.
  • GM : 30.08.2022
Re: NSWE Investment
« Reply #5159 on: April 15, 2024, 01:23:58 PM »
From the moment the new stand etc was shelved, to this new investor, now the board appointments etc, it's all headed to a new stadium. Orascom has just completed a 90,000 one in Egypt haven't they?

 


SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal