Uncertainty remains over the Red Devils stadium future

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

How much did they sell the Willows for?

Am I remembering it right that they hadn't actually completed the sale on the Willows when they moved?

[Damien]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

Am I remembering it right that they hadn't actually completed the sale on the Willows when they moved?

It had been sold a couple of years before they moved out.

[gingerjon]

Just now, Damien said:

It had been sold a couple of years before they moved out.

Thanks. My error.

[Damien]

It really interesting when you do a bit of googling about this and it really shows how it all went disastrously wrong for Salford. Its such a pity but with hindsight seemed very unrealistic. You really have to feel for the fans, they were fed a load of promises and false dawns but ultimately it seemed like the club were dependent on others to deliver without being able to put much into it themselves. Similar to Wakefield in some ways but at least they now have their ground back. Now Salford FC and Sale RU will reap the rewards. This from 2006:

Salford's 10-year effort to secure their future in a new modern stadium is a tale for all smaller clubs to heed. Their first discovery was that the local council, however supportive, had no money to help. They talked to commercial developers, but the scheme could not offer the 15-20% profit developers customarily require. So having identified a site next to the nearby Barton aerodrome the club formed its own company, Red City Developments, with a director, Adam Thomas, joining to drive the project on.

No cash prizes for guessing the plan Salford arrived at - a casino, the proposed twinning of stadium and gaming which is spreading across British sport like a rash. Building a supercasino was one of the few commercial models which could produce the £80m required to build a 20,000-seat landmark stadium and the infrastructure for it. Thomas overcame his own resistance to the casino idea when he visited the US. Salford enlisted an American partner, Isle of Capri.

...

Red City Developments have spent £8m on buying the land and professional fees, including £500,000 on the public inquiry. Thomas believes they have demonstrated a local demand for this kind of retail and that it will not damage any town centre nearby. The planning inspector, Geoff Salter, will now report to Ruth Kelly, the minister for communities and local government, who will make the final decision.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/jul/19/rugbyleague.comment

Then this thread from 2008 make really interesting reading with a letter from John Wilkinson to fans, Then within a couple of pages it all starts to go wrong:

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/salford-city-reds-stadium-salford-12-000-capacity.582849/page-4

[idrewthehaggis]

Interesting, nah depressing in how rich men when seeking to build memorials to themselves, do the opposite, but usually someone else pays for it.

As it has pointed out, back in the day, the big mistakes were made. 20,000 capacity, 8,000 to break even, property development gone bust,  based on a wasteland with minimal public transport, a really bad deal where virtually no match day revenue went to the club, but expected to pay a massive rent bill.

There were public meetings by the clowns with the supporters who were very clear in pointing out it was in the wrong place, favouring either a renovated Willows or off the Crescent. Some just refused to go, further angered by the Council rescuing this and then Koukash. 

An exercise in how not to build a stadium, which I hope people have taken note.

A tale that seemingly led to millions being spent. Which could probably paid for a new Willows and has ended up with rugby union owning it. 

All the jesters have moved on. From the Council to the Club. Thankfully. Lets get on and save the day, today.

I hope the RL family can support Salford and ensure first class RL remains in the north's biggest conurbation.