Hello and welcome to the first in a series of regular updates surrounding the exciting redevelopment of Turf Moor & Gawthorpe.
As Development Director, I feel it is my role to keep everyone informed.
I want everyone to feel part of it and we have now held the consultation day to give the residents and fans their say.
I think it is vitally important that we use the official website to keep everyone up to speed because fans stretch around the world.

So, where to begin?

Well first let me point you in the direction of the StadiArena website, at http://www.stadiarena.com/

I developed the idea for StadiArena on a fag packet with a couple of mates in late 2004. I was later advised to patent it and then it began to gather momentum. I now own a worldwide patent for it and there is an investor in Coventry who has bought 50 per cent of the business.
He is now marketing it all over the world. In fact, we have currently got three people in China, where we are hoping to put 17 stadiums up all with StadiArenas.

But most importantly, the first one will be in Burnley. Isn't that fantastic?

There are two principles surrounding a football stadium. One, the seats are empty for 49 years out of 50 and two, they have to be part of a community. If you can put a community facility in, then StadiArena turns it into an entertainment centre; a convention centre; a sports venue; product launch facility; a place to watch away games and it even flips into an exhibition hall by taking out some of the seating. What does this mean? Simply that BFC make money on non-match days.

That is the grand plan and as you will see from the plans on the official website, we are well on the way towards making that dream a reality.

First things first though. The first application, for the relocation of the players' dressing rooms and office space to the corner of the James Hargreaves and Jimmy McIlroy stands has now been submitted. This is a vital first step because it will, in turn, allow us to move on to 'phase two' and the redevelopment of the stand. In truth, we do not envisage any major problems with the first application because it is fairly straight forward and causes nobody any real problems.
Given the planning permission, we would hope to start work on that quadrant towards the end of the season.

The new dressing room block

Then we have 'phase two' involving the new stand and hotel, which is gaining speed every day.
Aside from giving Burnley fans state-of-the-art facilities, I think one of the other really interesting elements of this whole development is the residential accommodation, which may appeal to fans.
To be able to live at Turf Moor is something completely different and we are planning around 20 'homes' in total.
I can see these also as a good investment to local businesses, who may have regular clients visiting.
To put such visitors up in local hotels can be expensive, so whether folk will live there 24/7, or whether they will be investment properties for businesses, I think the market will decide.
The important thing is they are entirely self-sufficient and not dependent on the success of the football club.

We also shouldn't underestimate the uniqueness of having a football and cricket club next to each other.
This will be very attractive to the development because half of it will overlook the cricket field. Instead of looking over chimney pots, there will be a splash of green in people's lives and once the wall on Harry Potts Way comes down, the view as you arrive at Turf Moor will be a green and pleasant land, which is a big improvement.
We are working with the cricket club and eager to get their feedback now we have hosted the public consultation. We intend to be a great neighbour.
But this exciting new development is so close to the town centre and when Yorkshire Street is redeveloped, I think it will be great for Burnley Football and Cricket Clubs and wonderful for Burnley as a town.

The view of the hotel entrance, from Harry Potts Way

The stadium as a whole has to be a hub for the community and bringing exhibitions to the town is something radically different.
People will drive two to three hours to exhibit and my experience tells me that it doesn't matter where you have a great venue, people will come.
The latest number I heard was that the G-Mex in Manchester turns away seven out of every 10 exhibitions they are offered because they cannot accommodate them.
All those have to go somewhere and we can have a nice venue and look after people, they will come back time and time again.

Finally, to have a nice banqueting suite is something special for the town and the club, I feel. The 'corridor' of the James Hargreaves Stand is just not suitable for big dinners, as I am sure anyone who has attended a major event will agree.

So there we are. Taken in its entirety, we will have a very interesting building which should, in turn, make some profit for the football club.

My aim now, as well as driving the plans through, is to keep you all informed.

There will be monthly updates on the website, so keep an eye open for developments.

This is a new dawn. Embrace it.

Paul Fletcher MBE
Development Director