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Mareel - Cinema & Music Venue


madcow
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I believe realistically there's not a scoobies chance of that, and in the long term it WILL be a serious financial drain on local resources.

 

Like the leisure centres and swimming pools? They don't, never have and never will make a profit. There's a lot of people slag Mareel off here, yet I never hear calls for the leisure centres to be shut. What is it about sport which makes it worth unlimited, unquestioned subsidy, yet other leisure activities aren't?

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Bash Mareel - well why not? after all were all entitled to our views as citizens.

 

 

Each to their own as regards the project, that's the way it should be, but for what it's worth i think it won't pay for itself.

 

I believe realistically there's not a scoobies chance of that, and in the long term it WILL be a serious financial drain on local resources.

 

.

 

Point one, I think if you want to make your point as a citizen then your opinion, therefore is also subject to our views me thinx. I am sure you have a wealth on experience in the nitty gritty of such matters.

 

Point two, each to their own, then why are you spouting here like you are. Because your statement acknowledges that folk will have their own opinions we therefore alread know of your opinions.

 

Point 3, the council, duly elected has instigated this. So, how much would you pay to see it stopped? There are many more serious drains on local resources than this, as Arabia sez, millions have been thrown into sports, supporting folk who habitually drink themselves into the social care system. The latter however may be because of a lack of what to do. You should feel good that a small population gets so much. I hope you do use and support the new venue, I know that I will as will thousands of others, long gameplan my short sighted friend.

 

Give it a go, why wish ill fate on a community project.

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I believe realistically there's not a scoobies chance of that, and in the long term it WILL be a serious financial drain on local resources.

 

Like the leisure centres and swimming pools? They don't, never have and never will make a profit. There's a lot of people slag Mareel off here, yet I never hear calls for the leisure centres to be shut. What is it about sport which makes it worth unlimited, unquestioned subsidy, yet other leisure activities aren't?

 

They could all vanish forever tomorrow and I'd be delighted. Usually when somebody tries to curtail them, they get shouted down, so after a while nobody tries any longer. Like I've said on here somewhere before, I signed the petition that went around 25+ years ago against Clickimin being built, and a lot of good it did. :evil:

 

For the record I've been in Clickimin once, a long time ago, for something nothing to do with sport (The Classic Motor Show, sometime in the '90's). The only swimming pool I've been to was the old one at the Hillhead, when I was forced to as part of AHS PE lessons, and I loathed every second I was in it dealing with nausea from the chlorine filled air.... The other centres, pools, pitches and tracks, I'm not even sure I know where they're all at, and it would certainly take me quite some time to find some of them.

 

Mareel, I'm yet to be convinced is the right building at the right location, and because of that, and its "everything to everyone" remit, I'm also yet to be convinced it will be able to fully take advantage of the uncatered for market I believe is out there, and thus its profitability is highly questionable. However, that said. This is what has been democratically decided, and whatever its fortunes its can only be an improvement on the status quo of Clickimin or a country hall or nothing for any sizeable show.

 

If there's an act playing or a film showing that I'm sufficently interested enough in to consider it worth paying money for, I'll certainly use it. I very much doubt my attendance will be anywhere near a level to make a meaningful difference to average attendance figures, but it'll be oftener than my support of sports facilities. You don't get much less above zero than once in 25 years. :lol:

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I've never quite seen the argument that a leisure centre was built so we must have a cinema. The government makes certain promises to try and improve the nations health that won't be done by sitting watching Harry Potter, kids need exercise now more than ever and I'd always be happier that my taxes were going towards something that makes a child break a sweat rather than sit in a darkened room eating popcorn and drinking half a gallon of coke. The leisure centres might get used more if the wii and ps3 got locked away at night and the weekends and kids were taken for a swim or out to play. A cinema isn't the answer neither is another leisure centre but trying to utilise those facilities that you have in a better fashion to get the good out of them.

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Johann, it's got nothing to do with Government, or with health. My objection has to do with fairness. When the oil money started rolling in, the sport-billy's got their every wish fulfilled and then some. Uncounted millions were thrown at sports in Shetland.

 

But those of us who aren't interested in sports? What did we get? Nothing. Not a dog damned thing. The Mareel should have been built twenty years ago. It's a travesty that it's taken this long. And if it doesn't make a profit? So what, it should still be kept open. Only when the last leisure centre apart from Clickhimin is closed should they even consider closing Mareel.

 

In terms of leisure, the way the oil money has been spent in Shetland has been grossly unfair, right from the start. This is finally being addressed after 30 years. It just pisses me off that all we seem to hear is people slagging Mareel off because it might end up costing a few thousand a year to run the place.

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Oh is it bash Mareel time again? Already?

 

Not at all ... just stating my surprise that they have chosen the theme of a "sinking ship" as their advert.

 

Yet I saw a nod to what most people still think is the "Biggest" film of all time. Isn't it great we're not all the same :)

 

(yes I know Avatar blew it away last year but its surprising how few people seem to know)

 

Lets not forget the inevitable boost Mareel will bring to businesses in the town, not to mention rural halls etc. Many o shetlanders give hundreds of pounds annually to Northlink/Flybe, then hotels, resteraunts and pubs south to go and see gigs and/or films.

 

I don't think it would be excessive to say at least 50% of that money will instead be retained in the local economy. I know 95% of mine will!

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Spinner 72 wrote

Lets not forget the inevitable boost Mareel will bring to businesses in the town, not to mention rural halls etc. Many o shetlanders give hundreds of pounds annually to Northlink/Flybe, then hotels, resteraunts and pubs south to go and see gigs and/or films.

 

I don't think it would be excessive to say at least 50% of that money will instead be retained in the local economy. I know 95% of mine will!

Sorry to say but I think your logic is seriously flawed. Yes a fair number of Shetlanders do go away south to gigs and festivals but will Mareel be hosting the same sort of acts in Lerwick?. Inclined to think not. And as for films I would accept that many Shetlanders try to watch a film while away but I seriously doubt that many go away just to go to the cinema.

 

Frankly if this is the sort of logic that the people behind Mareel have used when calculating the expected turnover and profit then they might as well call a halt to the building works right now as a half built ruin will be less of a drain on Shetland's finances than the finished project will be.

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Spinner 72 wrote
Lets not forget the inevitable boost Mareel will bring to businesses in the town, not to mention rural halls etc. Many o shetlanders give hundreds of pounds annually to Northlink/Flybe, then hotels, resteraunts and pubs south to go and see gigs and/or films.

 

I don't think it would be excessive to say at least 50% of that money will instead be retained in the local economy. I know 95% of mine will!

Sorry to say but I think your logic is seriously flawed. Yes a fair number of Shetlanders do go away south to gigs and festivals but will Mareel be hosting the same sort of acts in Lerwick?. Inclined to think not. And as for films I would accept that many Shetlanders try to watch a film while away but I seriously doubt that many go away just to go to the cinema.

 

Frankly if this is the sort of logic that the people behind Mareel have used when calculating the expected turnover and profit then they might as well call a halt to the building works right now as a half built ruin will be less of a drain on Shetland's finances than the finished project will be.

 

This is purely my point of view. The business plan for Mareel is linked to back a few pages, just take a look, and has nothing to do with what I mentioned.

 

Whether Mareel is profitable in and of itself is irrelevant to the fact it will invitably bring/keep more of the money currently spent on entertainment within Shetland than is currently the case.

 

For that matter, it needn't be spent on entertainment. If I could go to Lerwick to see Seasick Steve this summer instead of Perth or Edinburgh, I might spent the £300ish I would save on a new floor or a coo for the deep freeze..

 

The fact Mareel wont replace the big arena events or bigger venue event which will still be held at clickamin has already been covered several times. Of course people will still travel to these shows. It is the kind of acts and atmospere mid size venues (I think Edinburghs Liquid Room is a fair comparison?) provide that we've never had here. The fact is you need to be a massive fan (or loaded, with very understandable work commitments) to go see a band south. If someone you only "like", or maybe have just heard of, or if its just a country band and you like country, if they are on the doorstep, you can take a chance and go see them without it costing the earth or having to take a long weekend.

 

P.S. - I've gone sooth to see a new film many, many times. It tends to be a case of fitting other things in around that for me, and I know I'm not alone :)

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The folks at SA who put the business plan together, just what business training or experience did any of them have, have any one of them successfully run any kind of business?

Maybe peerie brian could answer this one.

Bear in mind that the business plan wasn’t just put together by Shetland Arts – there was, as still is, wide consultation and regular reviews. The business models of many other comparable facilities are taken into account, specialist industry consultants are utilised wherever appropriate and the business plan has been closely scrutinised by a range of organisations, particularly the funders, who don't commit to projects without being confident in the figures

 

Local knowledge has been key throughout the planning and development of Mareel and there is ongoing consultation with a range of local stakeholders, and scheduled meetings take place on a regular basis. These meetings are open to the public and you’re more than welcome to come along. Meetings are advertised in the Shetland Times and on the Shetland Arts website

 

As far as Shetland Arts’ staff go, we run the Garrison and Bonhoga and organise numerous events and festivals throughout the year. Many of the staff also have experience of running festivals, events and venues outwith Shetland, as well as running their own businesses. There’s more detailed info on the website

 

Staff - http://www.shetlandarts.org/about/staff/

Events - http://www.shetlandarts.org/events/

Venues - http://www.shetlandarts.org/venues/

 

As well as the staff, the Board of Trustees come from a wide range of backgrounds in both the public and private sectors

 

If you want to discuss Mareel’s business plan, feel free to get in touch - http://www.shetlandarts.org/contact

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Having read the staff link you provided Brian the answer to this question
have any one of them successfully run any kind of business?

seems to be a resounding no, unless you count subsidised ventures a success.

 

As I said, many Shetland Arts staff have run their own businesses, or have been self employed/freelance

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