Conversing with Tom Cartledge, the Nottingham Forest chairman, quickly reveals that the discord jeopardizing the City Ground’s future has expedited contemplation of relocating the stadium.
“The club remains frustrated,” Cartledge tells The Athletic regarding Forest’s deadlock with Nottingham City Council, the landowner where the team currently plays. “The council’s leaders, CEO, and government-appointed commissioners have not engaged with the club.
“No efforts have been made to restart the relationship and find a resolution. Meanwhile, other councils and landowners are presenting alternative options that we must explore.”
Three months ago, Cartledge shared his vision with The Athletic about enhancing the City Ground to a 40,000-seat stadium with two new stands sponsored by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Despite unveiling designs and expressing aspirations to build something enduring and unique in the club’s riverside setting of 125 years, Cartledge cautioned that the entire project might need reassessment if terms couldn’t be agreed on a new lease with the council — which is precisely the current situation. The negotiation has stalled, and progress is non-existent.
This impasse has compelled Marinakis to reconsider plans for executive suites (“corner boxes”) due to unresolved terms with the council concerning costs for development. Forest is seeking more clarity before committing substantial funds to capital projects.
Forest’s dispute with the council has prompted the club to evaluate potentially relocating to a new site, such as Toton, six miles southwest of the city center. Discussions about various locations for a 50,000-seat stadium are ongoing.
Cartledge is conscious of the sentimental attachment to the City Ground but acknowledges the need to explore other possibilities for revenue generation, especially on non-matchdays to accommodate more fans. The club is reevaluating all options, inspired by clubs like Manchester City, contemplating integrated stadium and training ground complexes.
While Forest pursues its strategic objectives, the council’s demands for a significantly higher rent and lack of dialogue for compromise have intensified the standoff. Forest is committed to sustainable practices regardless of the stadium’s location and is exploring partnerships for environmentally friendly initiatives.