Jump to content

Halton Stadium in super league 2011


Recommended Posts

From my point of view I don't have a problem with Saints camping in Widnes for a season, I'm just baffled as to what happened, Saints were saying they would have to start the season at Widnes and work had started on the stadium. The next thing is that they have to spend a year at Widnes and the stadium contractor has only been signed up this week.

What the hell happened?

The build date has been put back so Saints can't say that the stadium will be finished for mid-end if next season so the club has said we will play all our games at Widnes and start 2012 at the new ground.

Really can't get over the way fans are moaning about us moving for 1 season, for hears we have had Freud about having a poor stadium and now we are getting one we still get moaned about

Have to love Rugby League fans ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Replies 78
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

The build date has been put back so Saints can't say that the stadium will be finished for mid-end if next season so the club has said we will play all our games at Widnes and start 2012 at the new ground.

Really can't get over the way fans are moaning about us moving for 1 season, for hears we have had Freud about having a poor stadium and now we are getting one we still get moaned about

Have to love Rugby League fans ;)

I can appreciate that they now have to do a season at Widnes, what I don't get and nobody has explained is what has a ctually gone on. Saints went off the radar because everything was signed and sealed and work started, arrangements made to cover the stadium would only be ready part way through the season. No problem with any of that.

What I don't get is how work supposedly had started and then this week they appoint a contractor so work can start.

Did I miss something?

Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com

Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007

Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king"

 

This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"the super league is about licence and having to meet criterias.'

Saints do not seem to have met this ..if the new stadium is not finished before the next licence applications....time to go....

Ok Cas or Wakey or even Bradford may have the same problem..hang on we are going to play at Hillsboro.Elland Road,Oakwell while our new" road and roundabout " are being built......Stadium ...Oh that will come later...ALL CLUBS knew they had to meet certain criteria in a certain period of time or lose their licence....it seems to me Saints can not (as yet) do this.

Edited by yanto
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"the super league is about licence and having to meet criterias.'

Saints do not seem to have met this ..if the new stadium is not finished before the next licence applications....time to go....

Ok Cas or Wakey or even Bradford may have the same problem..hang on we are going to play at Hillsboro.Elland Road,Oakwell while our new" road and roundabout " are being built......Stadium ...Oh that will come later...ALL CLUBS knew they had to meet certain criteria in a certain period of time or lose their licence....it seems to me Saints can not (as yet) do this.

If the stadium is actually in the process of being built it puts them ahead of those that only have plans.

Now refer to my previous posts on the topic.

Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com

Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007

Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king"

 

This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the way that some fans, beleive that they are completely responsible for their club, obviously it was 1976PMJwires who personally put his hand in his pocket and funds the Wires new stadium.

Or maybe it was actually the work of 1 man who bank rolled the whole project and had very little to do with the Wire fans, but obviously the Saints fans should have sorted their house first, how dare they take a whole 5 years more than Wire to get a new stadium built.

I agree with the principle of the rest of your post, although not really sure what you are talking about here.

It wasn't 1 man who bank rolled the Wire project.

It is also longer than 5 years. Our first game was played there almost six and a half years ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can appreciate that they now have to do a season at Widnes, what I don't get and nobody has explained is what has a ctually gone on. Saints went off the radar because everything was signed and sealed and work started, arrangements made to cover the stadium would only be ready part way through the season. No problem with any of that.

What I don't get is how work supposedly had started and then this week they appoint a contractor so work can start.

Did I miss something?

Don't ever remember Saints saying work had started, the developer had started to clear the site and the access roads are being built as I type this ;)

You cab go to our current stadium (stadium my ######) and have a look at an exhibition of the new stadium.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"the super league is about licence and having to meet criterias.'

Saints do not seem to have met this ..if the new stadium is not finished before the next licence applications....time to go....

Ok Cas or Wakey or even Bradford may have the same problem..hang on we are going to play at Hillsboro.Elland Road,Oakwell while our new" road and roundabout " are being built......Stadium ...Oh that will come later...ALL CLUBS knew they had to meet certain criteria in a certain period of time or lose their licence....it seems to me Saints can not (as yet) do this.

Why should any club be kicked out due to one piece of criteria? They will rightly lose that point, however they are still in a better position than many other clubs, based on support, turnover, capacity, on-field, youth etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why should any club be kicked out due to one piece of criteria? They will rightly lose that point, however they are still in a better position than many other clubs, based on support, turnover, capacity, on-field, youth etc.

Why should they even lose the point? Provided they have a legally binding contract with Halton Council they are in the same situation as a number of other clubs, Wigan rent, Widnes rent, Leigh rent, etc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't ever remember Saints saying work had started, the developer had started to clear the site and the access roads are being built as I type this ;)

You cab go to our current stadium (stadium my ######) and have a look at an exhibition of the new stadium.

Ahhh thanks I think the penny has dropped. There is a site developer and a stadium construction company. The developer started work on the site providing access etc. for Tesco, Stadium and whatever else is on the development site.

The stadium construction company has now been appointed (that seems to have taken a long time) and work on the actual stadium can now commence, even though it is now a further 8 months behind schedule.

I hope Stobart Stadium are as accommodating to Saints if Widnes get the nod for SL or come 2012 when due to further unforeseen delays Saints are still homeless.

Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com

Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007

Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king"

 

This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hope Stobart Stadium are as accommodating to Saints if Widnes get the nod for SL or come 2012 when due to further unforeseen delays Saints are still homeless.

With our close relationship with Saints, i'm sure Mr O'Connor & the Council would help Saints out all they can.

Widnes - Cheshire's Original Glamour Club.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the reason Saints have signed with the Halton Stadium for a whole year is to take into account unforseen delays. The word unforseen being key. Anyone would think Saints are purposely dragging their feet on this issue. I'm pretty sure the board are not dragging their feet, every second at knowsely road is yet more money the board have to shell out to keep the club afloat.

The current business model is a loss making enterprise and the board want out as quick as possible. Saints have no corporate to speak of and Warrington have very little revenue stream from anything outside of RL. It's only word of mouth but my understanding is Warrington do not even need a Rugby Team to play at the ground to make a profit. The corporate and offices that are used mid-week pay more than pay their way.

McManus was on Radio, Manchester 4 weeks back saying on average these things had a build time of 50- 52 weeks, so all things being equal it could be ready start of July, however it would be daft to bank on that and only hire the halton stadium up to that point. So halton is hired for the whole year, I'm sure as soon as Saints can move they will, so if it's a quick build then June. If a long build then Feburary 2012. With it being a project it's subject to lags and delays and being ahead of schedule. Until you put a spade in the ground sometimes these things don't reveal themselves.

Saints where also asking the RL to back load their fixture list with home games which maybe could not be done so another reason for the full year at Halton, also Halton may have drove a good bargin, who would want just some fixtures when you can get em all.

As for the licence that does not come into play until 2012 so any questions about next season are irrelevant.

It's all about da bass

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why should they even lose the point? Provided they have a legally binding contract with Halton Council they are in the same situation as a number of other clubs, Wigan rent, Widnes rent, Leigh rent, etc
Yes, apologies I was referring to their KR stadium and even if they stayed there it shouldn't over-ride everything else that is good about the club.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why should they even lose the point? Provided they have a legally binding contract with Halton Council they are in the same situation as a number of other clubs, Wigan rent, Widnes rent, Leigh rent, etc

There is one difference the Wigan, Widnes and Leigh stadia are in the towns where thos clubs play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to the sporting life website Saint's new stadium should be ready towards the end of next season.

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/ne..._St_Helens.html

The stadium will be ready at the end of 2011 not at the end of the 2011 season, there is a good few months difference.

Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com

Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007

Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king"

 

This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Salford can manage it why can't Saints???????

i will never ever feel sorry for Saints, they have had years of success and they should have had this all sorted out.

the willows is a bigger hole than KR

i) The Salford playing surface is best in the RL on the West of the Pennines - FACT

ii) The Variety Centre is still an excellent venue for even Warrington lads and lasses to have a great night out

............................................ so its not all bad news is it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i) The Salford playing surface is best in the RL on the West of the Pennines - FACT

ii) The Variety Centre is still an excellent venue for even Warrington lads and lasses to have a great night out

............................................ so its not all bad news is it?

i.) plenty of horse manure over the years does help. :rolleyes:

ii.) Manchester the draw, not the little city of Salford :P

I have been nice to Salford RLFC on this thread. :dry:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i.) plenty of horse manure over the years does help. :rolleyes:

ii.) Manchester the draw, not the little city of Salford :P

I have been nice to Salford RLFC on this thread. :dry:

that's enough grounds to get you sectioned!!

"Why is Napoleon crying ?" said one sailor to the other, "poor ###### thinks he's being exiled to st helens" came the reply.

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1455957_262746450543197_276002364_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may have to take a shower after this post, but...I think Saints are being pretty clever about this stadium move. It certainly makes sense from a financial perspective to sell Knowsley Road to fund the build and rent a modern stadium in the current economic climate. It is also beneficial to Widnes to show SL in a good light at the Stobart. But where Saints have really been sensible is that they have also thought about retaining their current fans who might otherwise be reluctant to travel out of St. Helens, by giving priority seating and fixing season ticket prices for 3 years if you buy one for Widnes next year. Couple that with a new logo that is more about creating a 'Saints RL' brand that is not St. Helens focused (see below) and once they move into the new stadium they may have a far bigger catchment for supporters because of a temporary geographic move.

Saints New Logo

Widnes should be the ones who are worried - assuming they have a proportion of floating support, their crowds are likely to drop next season, as the majority of people will inevitably choose SL rugby on their doorstep over an inferior alternative and may never go back. Its almost a friendly takeover by Saints RL much like a Trojan horse.

Warriors_Logo_Band_396.jpg

oderint dum metuant

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may have to take a shower after this post, but...I think Saints are being pretty clever about this stadium move. It certainly makes sense from a financial perspective to sell Knowsley Road to fund the build and rent a modern stadium in the current economic climate. It is also beneficial to Widnes to show SL in a good light at the Stobart. But where Saints have really been sensible is that they have also thought about retaining their current fans who might otherwise be reluctant to travel out of St. Helens, by giving priority seating and fixing season ticket prices for 3 years if you buy one for Widnes next year. Couple that with a new logo that is more about creating a 'Saints RL' brand that is not St. Helens focused (see below) and once they move into the new stadium they may have a far bigger catchment for supporters because of a temporary geographic move.

Saints New Logo

Widnes should be the ones who are worried - assuming they have a proportion of floating support, their crowds are likely to drop next season, as the majority of people will inevitably choose SL rugby on their doorstep over an inferior alternative and may never go back. Its almost a friendly takeover by Saints RL much like a Trojan horse.

It could of course be a great benefit to Widnes by creating a buzz about the town when the 'Big RL Clubs' are in town. This buzz could rub off on the locals who then spark up more interest in the local lads.

Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com

Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007

Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king"

 

This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.