Leisure Attractions In Greater Manchester

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by flange

There is an attraction within the National Football Museum you have to pay for though according to the article.
Also there will be the cafe which will bring in money along with the shop too, that should help to subsidize the cost.

Shop & Cafe will bring in peanuts compared to the running costs. Another vanity project which will lose as much as Urbis...

[kids]

I guess this is funded by the FA? Can't imagine they'll find it hard to keep this going..

[Futurelink]

I'll be in there to have a go on the lift again. Missed that thing.

[macc]

Not sure if the 2 million a year has shrunk since the abolition of the NWDA, but regardless, should something this commercially viable be given out for free? Particularly as I would've thought many of the visitors after the 1st year are going to be away supporters.

That said, it was free in Preston and I'm sure the prospect of £2 million a year went a long way in persuading them to move to Manchester.

I'd like to think that any reduction in this in the future could go back into a small scale Urbis pot. This is going to be somewhat difficult if entrance is free though and a switching from no fee to any fee is not going to go down well further down the line.

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_do...ballMuseum.pdf

Summary
This report informs Members of a recent approach by the National Football Museum
to relocate to Urbis and outlines the initial feasibility work undertaken to assess
viability. Approval is sought to the use of the current revenue grant to Urbis of £2m
to accommodate the Football Museum alongside current activity in Urbis and to a
capital contribution to convert the building, subject to additional funding from the
Northwest Development Agency.

...
Financial Consequences – Revenue
It is proposed that the existing revenue grant of £2m per annum currently paid to
Urbis would be maintained for the National Football Museum at Urbis to cover all the
costs of the overall operation. It is anticipated that over time this contribution will
reduce as commercially earned income increases.

[ashley b]

The Football museum is a "National" museum (hence the name, the National Football Museum), and as such, all National Museums have free entry (though some exhibits can charge).

There are 14 full National Museums (established by Acts of Parliament) and 8 sponsored National Museums. The Football Museum is a sponsored museum.

All "National" museums are funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (though I'm unsure if this means that not all costs are covered by the DCMS).

EDIT: actually, scrap that, just found out that when it was agreed to move to Manchester, this sponsorship ended.

[macc]

Thanks anyway. I'm not that miffed about the free entry (I like free stuff as much as the next person) and I'm looking forward to visiting. I just wish we could've kept the Urbis exhibitions going somewhere too.

[WatcherZero]

Its a tax change Labour did to encourage free entry at museums what 5-10 years ago now? Essentially if they dont charge an access fee but instead ask for voluntary donations they become tax free, often being exempted from tax generates more for the museum than the entry fees, especielly if its sponsored or relies on donations. Most medium-large museums are free nowadays, only charging for touring exhibts or if its a small museum thats only income is from entry fees.

[flange]

Originally Posted by flange

The planning application has finally gone in for the Aquarium at Barton Square at The Trafford Centre.

http://planning.trafford.gov.uk/Nort...DAURI=PLANNING

The documents now online, they confirm it will be in the former Habitat unit and that it will be a Sealife Centre.

[flange]

Another Drive In Cinema is now being planned it seems, with a new planning application having gone online for one in Trafford Park.

Bond 11, Mosley Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1HQ

Change of use of vacant site to a drive-in cinema for a period of 12 months. Siting of projector cabin and cashiers cabin at northern end of site.

http://planning.trafford.gov.uk/Nort...DAURI=PLANNING

The site seems to be this one http://property.joneslanglasalle.co....x?t=c&id=25220

[flange]

It’s champion! National Football Museum Museum at Urbis is an early winner with fans

Richard Wheatstone

July 09, 2012

The National Football Museum has scored rave reviews from visitors who flocked through the turnstiles of its new Manchester home.

Thousands turned out for an early glimpse of the displays, whem it opened at Urbis in the city centre after relocating from Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium.

The £8.5m museum features more than 140,000 objects and fills the entire Urbis building, with bosses expecting more than 350,000 visitors every year.

People travelled from far and wide to see the attraction’s big kick-off and said they were not left disappointed by the experience.

Sergio Liashenka, 35, was visiting Manchester from Poland and said he felt the museum would provide a big tourism boost for the city.

He said: “I didn’t know this was here until after I arrived but it has been a real highlight for me, it was fascinating.

“There was lots of things for people of different ages as well so I think you will get a wide range of different people visiting.”

Stuart and Alison Proud, both 46, of Whalley Road, Buxton, travelled with 11-year-old son Adam. Stuart said: “It’s a great use of the building and it doesn’t seem like there’s any wasted space in there. It’s all full of terrific exhibits and interactive features. I particularly liked the football photography exhibition and I also think it will appeal to non-football fans as well.”

Michael Hughes, 48, and his son Jacob, seven, of Peel Hall Avenue, Tyldesley, Wigan, spent five hours browsing the memorabilia and said they would be coming back for more.

Michael said: “It is an absolutely fantastic attraction and we could have spent all day in there, there’s just so much variety and different things to do. What I particularly like is that it’s free to get in and then you can pay to do the interactive bits if you want. I think that will definitely attract people in through the door.”

Jacob said: “My favourite bit was the penalty shoot-out where I scored two out of three. I already want to come back again because there was so much to do. It was one of the best places I’ve been to.”

The museum, based in the former Urbis building in Cathedral Gardens, was due to open last autumn but the opening was hit by a series of delays.

It features famous memorabilia including a shirt from the world’s first international match in 1872, the 1966 World Cup Final ball and the Jules Rimet trophy – the original World Cup –which Brazil were given after winning it three times. Electronic features, including an interactive penalty shoot-out game and other skill-based competitions, have been added to the exhibition since its move from Preston.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...nner-with-fans

[Cobbydaler]

Despite the promises, where are the exhibitions of the calibre of those staged at Urbis now found?

e.g.

Home Grown: The story of UK Hip Hop

Manchester, television & the city: Ghosts of Winter Hill

Hacienda 25 The Exhibition: fac 491

The NFM should have been located at Old Trafford or Eastlands & funded by central government, not MCC.

[Futurelink]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

The NFM should have been located at Old Trafford or Eastlands & funded by central government, not MCC.

I agree. The location and design of Urbis makes it a great location for exhibitions suited to everyone, not just football fans. Sadly I can't really say I'll be visiting very often -if at all- now the NFM is there.

[js1000]

Originally Posted by Futurelink

I agree. The location and design of Urbis makes it a great location for exhibitions suited to everyone, not just football fans. Sadly I can't really say I'll be visiting very often -if at all- now the NFM is there.

So exhibitions such as "The Story of Hip Hop", or "Hacienda 25" are suited to everyone? I wouldn't visit Urbis to see them as I have interest in neither of them. It is subjective really. If attracts 350,000 visitors as the council predict then I will be happy - which will over a 100,000 more than Urbis ever attracted. Urbis needed continuity - there was only so many times it could reincarnate itself with exhibitions.

At the end of the day, Manchester is a footballing city - particularly with how well both teams are doing at the moment. Daytrippers will visit the museum, as will visiting away fans. Gone are the days when "football" was considered a dirty word (i.e. before Hillsborough).

Anyway, I believe it is now another positive addition for the city. Manchester Museum, Imperial War Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Whitworth Gallery, Museum of Science and Industry, People's History Museum and now the Football Museum - and that's just the free places to visit!

[tomegranate]

Originally Posted by js1000

So exhibitions such as "The Story of Hip Hop", or "Hacienda 25" are suited to everyone? I wouldn't visit Urbis to see them as I have interest in neither of them.

I have no interest in the Hacienda legacy, but I am interested in hip-hop, so I visited Urbis for that exhibition.

I have no interest in football, so I'll never visit the NFM. That's the difference, and that's why Urbis was better for a broader audience - variety.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

Despite the promises, where are the exhibitions of the calibre of those staged at Urbis now found?

e.g.

Home Grown: The story of UK Hip Hop

Manchester, television & the city: Ghosts of Winter Hill

Hacienda 25 The Exhibition: fac 491

The NFM should have been located at Old Trafford or Eastlands & funded by central government, not MCC.

I agree, to an extent. I am broadly in favour of the NFM which will be a great asset to the city, but do think the city lacks a museum that tells the history of Manchester, as well as offering room for travelling exhibits like the ones you mention.

[js1000]

At the end of the day, Urbis needs continuity - the Football Museum provides that. There is no way the old Urbis could keep reinventing itself with new exhibitions every few months, especially in a time where cuts to arts and culture are really starting to bite. As long as the Football Museum attracts more visitors than the old Urbis, I don't think anyone can really complain.

[Lookin Up]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

I agree, to an extent. I am broadly in favour of the NFM which will be a great asset to the city, but do think the city lacks a museum that tells the history of Manchester, as well as offering room for travelling exhibits like the ones you mention.

Good points. I'm not that interested in paintings and it's unlikely I'd make a special trip to an 'art' gallery. However I know plenty others do like art so there's a market for art galleries. It's good for our city to have one that aspires to be one of the best.

Same point applies whether you like football or not, it's undeniable that millions around the world love it. The Football League (the birth of the English game) was formed in Manchester. It's fitting that the NFM is based only a few hundred metres from where that happened. Think of all the extra tourists, hotel rooms, restaurant meals etc. It can be nothing but good for the city.

[Lookin Up]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

....but do think the city lacks a museum that tells the history of Manchester,

This is a big hole in the Manchester tourist offering.
Have been reading some scholarly stuff about our city recently.
I thought I knew about Manchester but what happened here in the late 18th C and 19th C is truly a story worth recounting.
I think Urbis tried but failed to do this. It seemed to beat around the bush and reference too many other cities. I was bored by Urbis but captivated by the stuff I've been reading.
So much of what we take for granted in social/politic/economic/scientific spheres happened or were influenced by events in Manchester.

If you're visiting Manchester - let us tell you our story.
Where to put such a place though? On part of the BBC site for example?

[tomegranate]

Originally Posted by Lookin Up

This is a big hole in the Manchester tourist offering.
Have been reading some scholarly stuff about our city recently.
I thought I knew about Manchester but what happened here in the late 18th C and 19th C is truly a story worth recounting.
I think Urbis tried but failed to do this. It seemed to beat around the bush and reference too many other cities. I was bored by Urbis but captivated by the stuff I've been reading.
So much of what we take for granted in social/politic/economic/scientific spheres happened or were influenced by events in Manchester.

If you're visiting Manchester - let us tell you our story.
Where to put such a place though? On part of the BBC site for example?

Somewhere in Ancoats maybe, as the historical engine of Manchester's growth? Would be good for the area to have a leisure draw the pull visitors in.

[jrb]

Here's another way to look at it.

If not Manchester, regardless of location, then another city.

Let's be thankful this musuem of national importance and significance is now in Manchester.