Challenge Cup Semis Venue Moving?

[Wellsy4HullFC]

From Love Rugby League:

Challenge Cup semi-final move? The RFL are likely to confirm the venue of this season’s semi-finals ahead of the quarter-finals, which start on Thursday. There is doubt over the feasibility of holding the event at Bolton’s University of Bolton Stadium, due to the financial crisis currently gripping the football club. The trade papers reported on Monday that a back-up venue has been sought if it isn’t deemed possible to keep the event at Bolton.

Didn't expect that, although I don't really follow football that much so don't understand what's going on at a Bolton.

Where do people think it could go? Liverpool?

[Cdd]

There are far better locations than Bolton anyway! 

Huddersfield or Sheffield could work well.

Headingley would be good but might be slightly too small, but i’d rather keep the money within the game. 

Knowing our luck we’ll end up with Coventry.

I would like to have seen them be more ambitious and go for the Etihad but it’s probably too short notice. 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

8 minutes ago, Cdd said:

There are far better locations than Bolton anyway! 

Huddersfield or Sheffield could work well.

Headingley would be good but might be slightly too small, but i’d rather keep the money within the game. 

Knowing our luck we’ll end up with Coventry.

I would like to have seen them be more ambitious and go for the Etihad but it’s probably too short notice. 

We sat keep the money in the game, but part of the novelty of the event would surely be around a different venue to the norm? I'd have no issue with Coventry being chosen.

[Leeds Wire]

Why do they need to announce the venues before the quarters?  I understand the semi draw is on Sunday afternoon (2 June) and the semis are scheduled for 27/28 July.

Why not wait for the semi draw and make some logical decisions then?

[fevtom]

My criteria would be:

1) 30- 40k capacity. A decent size without feeling empty.

2) Not too far from the heartlands. I know we need to try new venues/areas sometimes but I’m not sure a cup semi final is the right time.

3) A decent stadium/city that will be attractive to attend.

With that in mind, Bramall Lane, Sheffield is the one that springs to mind for me. 

 

[Dave T]

3 minutes ago, Leeds Wire said:

Why do they need to announce the venues before the quarters?  I understand the semi draw is on Sunday afternoon (2 June) and the semis are scheduled for 27/28 July.

Why not wait for the semi draw and make some logical decisions then?

To be fair, they have been selling tickets for this event for a while, so I suspect they want to get this resolved asap.

The backup is probably Leigh SV.

[Gooleboy]

28 minutes ago, Cdd said:

There are far better locations than Bolton anyway! 

Huddersfield or Sheffield could work well.

Headingley would be good but might be slightly too small, but i’d rather keep the money within the game. 

Knowing our luck we’ll end up with Coventry.

I would like to have seen them be more ambitious and go for the Etihad but it’s probably too short notice. 

The crowd they would get at the Ethiad would be like a pea on a drum. For a double header probably Huddersfield would be about right size wise, although personally I don't like the ground. Headingley would give the best atmosphere, but I am not sure on the capacity now.

[JonM]

2 minutes ago, Gooleboy said:

Headingley would give the best atmosphere, but I am not sure on the capacity now.

It's a double header and I think the days of expecting people to stand for 4+ hours on an uncovered terrace are well behind us.

[Scubby]

Sheffield United would be awesome

[Gooleboy]

9 minutes ago, JonM said:

It's a double header and I think the days of expecting people to stand for 4+ hours on an uncovered terrace are well behind us.

Fair point.

[Leeds Wire]

25 minutes ago, Dave T said:

To be fair, they have been selling tickets for this event for a while, so I suspect they want to get this resolved asap.

The backup is probably Leigh SV.

Apologies, I inferred from the OP that they weren't going to Bolton but would announce alternative venues before the QFs.

[Dave T]

14 minutes ago, Leeds Wire said:

Apologies, I inferred from the OP that they weren't going to Bolton but would announce alternative venues before the QFs.

The article is a bit light on detail isnt it? I suspect they are hoping to get a yay or nay this week on Bolton and if its any, to announce where it will be. 

It at least looks like they are trying to get it resolved soon so fair play.

[paulwalker71]

Why not wait until after the Semis?

If Catalans beat Hull tomorrow, and then Halifax beat the Bulls on Sunday, then we are looking at two teams in the Semi Finals who aren't exactly going to bring hordes. Huddersfield would probably suffice.

If Hull and Bradford win, then we are going to need somewhere that can hold more people. Sorry if some people get offended by that, but its just a fact.

Might as well wait until Sunday then decide based on those factors

[Mr Plow]

Bramall Lane seems the obvious choice, close to heartlands and is in city centre. Headingleys probably too small for a double header, Huddersfield or Elland Road would be good shouts imo

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Had my doubts about the size of venue this year, just because last year was a near sell-out and one of the teams was Catalans. This year we could get Saints, Bradford, Warrington and Hull FC, who will all travel well and a ground that holds 28,723 may be quite a squeeze. 

 

[M j M]

Surely the DW Stadium is the logical choice? Assuming the owners haven't completely thrown their teddies out of the pram over the RLWC thing. And if it's not being re-seeded.

[Oliver Clothesoff]

4 minutes ago, M j M said:

Surely the DW Stadium is the logical choice? Assuming the owners haven't completely thrown their teddies out of the pram over the RLWC thing. And if it's not being re-seeded.

Why would a ground that is 3k smaller than Bolton be a logical choice?

[bobbruce]

50 minutes ago, paulwalker71 said:

Why not wait until after the Semis?

If Catalans beat Hull tomorrow, and then Halifax beat the Bulls on Sunday, then we are looking at two teams in the Semi Finals who aren't exactly going to bring hordes. Huddersfield would probably suffice.

If Hull and Bradford win, then we are going to need somewhere that can hold more people. Sorry if some people get offended by that, but its just a fact.

Might as well wait until Sunday then decide based on those factors

It doesn’t matter who’s in the semis Huddersfield will be fine. 

[Leyther_Matt]

2 hours ago, Cdd said:

There are far better locations than Bolton anyway! 

Huddersfield or Sheffield could work well.

Headingley would be good but might be slightly too small, but i’d rather keep the money within the game. 

Knowing our luck we’ll end up with Coventry.

I would like to have seen them be more ambitious and go for the Etihad but it’s probably too short notice. 

Not sure that you can get a better location than a stadium with its own train station and motorway junction?

It will take place at Bolton as planned. By the sheer nature of being in administration, all avenues of income need to be exploited so the current safety certificate issue (not sure why this isn’t quoted in the article as opposed to the nondescript “financial crisis”) will be solved in good time, not least because there’s a Rod Stewart concert in a fortnight. 

[Mr Frisky]

Please not Coventry..... Newcastle or Sheffield please.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Sheff United would be good but I'm gonna predict elland road, both decent mind. 

[dixiedean]

4 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Not sure that you can get a better location than a stadium with its own train station and motorway junction?

It will take place at Bolton as planned. By the sheer nature of being in administration, all avenues of income need to be exploited so the current safety certificate issue (not sure why this isn’t quoted in the article as opposed to the nondescript “financial crisis”) will be solved in good time, not least because there’s a Rod Stewart concert in a fortnight. 

Maybe they are trying to get a better deal out of the desperate for revenue administrator by seeking out alternatives?

Hang on. This is RL.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

What's the capacity of the lower tier at Newcastle? If it is Saints, Wire, Bradford and Hull, could be a good shout as I imagine all could take 7- 10k and a good number of locals also.

Bramall Lane is my preferred option though. Sheffield needs more development. It's a huge city and bang on our doorstep yet we've not gone in on it for years.

[fieldofclothofgold]

12 hours ago, Gooleboy said:

The crowd they would get at the Ethiad would be like a pea on a drum. For a double header probably Huddersfield would be about right size wise, although personally I don't like the ground. Headingley would give the best atmosphere, but I am not sure on the capacity now.

Just short of 20k I think

[covskin]

Doubt it will be the Ricoh, Spice Girls concerts, Bon Jovi concerts and Monster trucks during June so probably no pitch ready to use by the end of July.

Can understand why people might be down on Coventry for MW or double headers based on the freezing 4 nations double header or football visits however my thoughts as a slightly biased local:

Ricoh has a massive indoor hall which is used for the Wasps fan village and for the European semi final they used one of the car parks as an outdoor fan village to accommodate the Munster travelling support.

There are more pubs / breweries / rugby club than you would think within easy walking distance and also on site casino.Yes it is on the edge of city but the railway station at the ground is now open and regular shuttle buses to the main station and into town run for Wasps so could easily do so for MW, this would then open up accommodation / night out in Birmingham as well as Coventry for people to use. Road access for drivers from N and S very good.

 

More likely consideration for the Ricoh is whether they could accommodate something like MW when outdoor concert period follows so soon after, guess that would be down to money!