4 When a prominent football club, whose shares were listed, announced that it was to build a new stadium on land
near to its old stadium, opinion was divided. Many of the club’s fans thought it a good idea because it would be more
comfortable for them when watching games. A number of problems arose, however, when it was pointed out that the
construction of the new stadium and its car parking would have a number of local implications. The local government
authority said that building the stadium would involve diverting roads and changing local traffic flow, but that it would
grant permission to build the stadium if those issues could be successfully addressed. A number of nearby residents
complained that the new stadium would be too near their homes and that it would destroy the view from their gardens.
Helen Yusri, who spoke on behalf of the local residents, said that the residents would fight the planning application
through legal means if necessary. A nearby local inner-city wildlife reservation centre said that the stadium’s
construction might impact on local water levels and therefore upset the delicate balance of animals and plants in the
wildlife centre. A local school, whose pupils often visited the wildlife centre, joined in the opposition, saying that whilst
the school supported the building of a new stadium in principle, it had concerns about disruption to the wildlife centre.
The football club’s board was alarmed by the opposition to its planned new stadium as it had assumed that it would
be welcomed because the club had always considered itself a part of the local community. The club chairman said
that he wanted to maintain good relations with all local people if possible, but at the same time he owed it to the fans
and the club’s investors to proceed with the building of the new stadium despite local concerns.
Required:
(a) Define ‘stakeholder’ and explain the importance of identifying all the stakeholders in the stadium project.
(10 marks)
