New Stadium Rejected by Board despite clear need

[jamespw95 (Inactive)]

Hi FMers,

I'm currently 6/7 seasons into a save in the Netherlands. I'm managing Excelsior. Started with them in the Dutch second tier and got them promoted to the Eredivisie in the first season. Since then, we've gone on to finish 8th, 2nd, 1st,  2nd, 1st and are top again in the current season. 

This is obviously quite a big jump for the club and we've competed in the Champions League and Europa League several times now and have sold players for good fees and brought in lots of cheap, talented newgens. I'm loving it. 

Only problem is, for years now, at every opportunity, I have tried to get the board to build a new stadium because we've maxed out the expansion and it's still a long way short of the number of people we could get in. I think we could fill it twice over most weeks. We sell out every week and we also have big ties in the Champions League that deserve bigger crowds. 

The board always flat out reject my request and I have tried every line of argument to convince at least twice through now. We even recently had a takeover but the new board also said no.

I fully appreciate that it's a big undertaking to build a new stadium. It's expensive and it doesn't happen often. But the club is incredibly rich, has had a meteoric rise and is competing on a much higher level than at the start of the save - and the reputation of the club reflects that. I can understand getting rejected planning permission, that happens - but I don't believe in real life the board would be flat out rejecting the proposal at this point. 

I'll be honest, it feels unrealistic and it's killing my love for a save that I've really enjoyed.

Can anyone help please?

The only thing I can think of is that the club 'rebuilt' the stadium in 2016 (I'm now in Dec 2027) and they see it as too soon? But everything about the club has changed so much since then and we have the money to do it. There's a clear need for expansion and seeing as that's not an option, we have to build a new one. 

Thanks for your help!

Edited April 9, 2022 by jamespw95

[Prepper_Jack (Inactive)]

If they rebuilt the stadium 11 years prior, then you'll probably have some waiting to do. They generally won't consider it unless it's been 25 years since the last one has been built or rebuilt.

[jamespw95 (Inactive)]

Oh really? Is that built into the game then? 

I get that for the sake of realism it's not something that should happen often but that's a bit arbitrary and doesn't account for the context of what's actually happening in the save. Feels like a misjudgment to me and might well kill off my enjoyment of an otherwise brilliant save. 

If, hypothetically, I have a fanbase of 25-35k in 5-6 years time (which is fairly likely if my current success continues or I kick on another level) and my stadium is maxed out at 8k - they still wouldn't do anything about it? That feels like madness to me. 

Surely at that point the board would at least try and seek planning permission? 

Thanks for your answer!

[XaW (Inactive)]

43 minutes ago, jamespw95 said:

Oh really? Is that built into the game then? 

I get that for the sake of realism it's not something that should happen often but that's a bit arbitrary and doesn't account for the context of what's actually happening in the save. Feels like a misjudgment to me and might well kill off my enjoyment of an otherwise brilliant save. 

If, hypothetically, I have a fanbase of 25-35k in 5-6 years time (which is fairly likely if my current success continues or I kick on another level) and my stadium is maxed out at 8k - they still wouldn't do anything about it? That feels like madness to me. 

Surely at that point the board would at least try and seek planning permission? 

Thanks for your answer!

There are no hard limits for it in the game. I've had two new stadiums built within a 7 year period before. But it's less likely to build a new stadium if the older one is new.

In addition the board have their own set of hidden attributes, both in terms of ambition and financial management, and these impact how likely the board is to risk things. For what you have described, you could have a very cautious board. Look it from a very cautious view; You are making money, playing in Europe, and things are going well. Would the gain outweigh the huge financial risk? Some boards would jump at the chance, while others would not. If you have a board that are unambitious and very cautious financially, then perhaps not. The same often goes for improved facilities or financial investments into the youth setup.

[jamespw95 (Inactive)]

Yeah, it's a fair point. I think perhaps I ruled that out because I've had no real issues getting all the other pieces signed off by them; training and youth facilities, junior coaching, youth recruitment etc. All of them are pretty much maxed out now. 

It's good to know it's not definitely a 'no' for another 14 years though. Thank you!

[phantombandit (Inactive)]

I will say, rejection on new stadium is better than your board deciding to build a bee stadium… that is 30% bigger, wiping out your surplus you have built up over the part 8 years when the new stadium isn’t large enough for champion league let alone premier when you get there in a year or two.