Rangers fans all want a winning team, but they also want a bigger, better Ibrox to enjoy watching them.
The old lady has enjoyed the recent investment which now sees her looking back to her best in addition to projects underway that will take the famous ground to the next level.
Speaking at the Edmiston House fan engagement event, James Bisgrove told Rangers fans that they might be getting the best of both worlds as he revealed expansion plans for Ibrox have been studied.
A lengthy season ticket waiting list isn’t the only driver.
The elephant in the room is Parkhead’s capacity of 60,000 compared to Ibrox at 51,000.
Some quick maths – taking an average season ticket price of around £650 – suggests that Rangers are nearly £6m a year down on revenue before a ball has even been kicked.
That’s a new striker, a new midfielder’s transfer fee or the wages of a few free transfer signings.
Rangers need success on and off the pitch for Ibrox plans
This is where John Bennett and James Bisgrove have to earn their money.
Bisgrove, as the new CEO, spoke excitedly about Michael Beale being backed this summer, but in the background, plans to upgrade Ibrox are still continuing.
We can have both.
But, the leadership pair have to be at their persuasive best to encourage those on the board with deep pockets to put their hands in.
Until we are on a level playing field financially, we will always be up against it.
Looking at the numbers, filling in the corners will see Ibrox go up to around or just under 60,000 and matching Celtic – £6m a year better off and taking four years, give or take, to pay back the initial costs.
Realistically, it doesn’t need to be any bigger than that.
Lowering the pitch creates another 4000 seats but we should be taking it one step at a time.
One corner at a time.
However….
We need to be successful on the pitch to make this happen too, we can’t just rely on directors and commercial success.
Champions League qualification enables projects like these to be accelerated, as does a smaller, more streamlined squad.
Rangers are wasting too much money on players who aren’t contributing when we have a fully funcitoning academy that can support the first team.
As football fans, we always want everything, it’s good to see that the board, and those leading the club, have the same idea.
