Anfield World Cup games to move to Wigan

[Man of Kent]

That’s the bad news. 

The good news is the Aussies and NZ are to formally commit to playing by signing a participation agreement. Schedule to be announced next week.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anfields-world-cup-games-to-move-to-wigan-zzcl5nmhd

[Mr Frisky]

Not catastrophic, the Anfield playing area isn't big enough for RL anyway.

If we assumed they may have got say 32,000 to 35,000 at Anfield then a possible full house at Wigan won't affect the tournament too much.

[Harry Stottle]

Anfield is OK if you have got a 20" leg length, the seat spacing is ridiculously narrow, the most uncomfortable seats I have ever sat in, I vowed I would never go again after the NZ test, but I will definitely go to Wigan.

[M j M]

Not a disaster. Whilst it was amusing it didn't really make sense for Wigan not to get any games.

Agree with all the comments on the severe inadequacies of Anfield.

[Tommygilf]

No offence to Wigan, but this was an opportunity to take a Marquee game to a top tier venue and it feels like a step backwards 

[RigbyLuger]

I was looking forward to taking family to Anfield. Wigan ain't quite the same.

[DI Keith Fowler]

Bit frustrating as I had a group of mates who agreed to go on the basis it was at Anfield. Wigan will be a more difficult sell for a night out after.

[Whippet13]

If this is the only fallout from having to shift the whole of the mens, womens and wheelchair WCs at just 12 months notice then it's not a bad overall outcome. Never particularly liked visiting Anfield anyway, absolutely awful seats and nothing to do round the stadium.

[Gav Wilson]

33 minutes ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

Bit frustrating as I had a group of mates who agreed to go on the basis it was at Anfield. Wigan will be a more difficult sell for a night out after.

Wigan was actually one of the best nights out that I had during the 2013 tournament - What I remember of it anyway...

[Dunbar]

I'm not subscribed to the Times so I can't read the full article. Can someone post the reason why we have to move the games from Anfield.  Thanks.

[Dave T]

I don't like Anfield, but it was one of the marquee venues that gave the tournament more prestige. 

Disappointing, but hopefully 24k in Wigan will make up for it somewhat and it will look and sound great. 

[Chris22]

I'm not keen on a quarter final of a World Cup likely involving the host nation being played at a stadium with a capacity of 25,000. Seems to lack ambition (obviously appreciate the difficulties associated with the postponement) though. Especially since another quarter final (possibly Tonga v Samoa) will be at Bolton. Seems to be fishing from the same pond too much.

Good, I suppose, that Aus / NZ have signed participation agreements last time. Although the latter did so for 2021 and then breached it without any form of sanction, so not getting too ahead of myself.

[Scubby]

7 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

I'm not keen on a quarter final of a World Cup likely involving the host nation being played at a stadium with a capacity of 25,000. Seems to lack ambition (obviously appreciate the difficulties associated with the postponement) though. Especially since another quarter final (possibly Tonga v Samoa) will be at Bolton. Seems to be fishing from the same pond too much.

Good, I suppose, that Aus / NZ have signed participation agreements last time. Although the latter did so for 2021 and then breached it without any form of sanction, so not getting too ahead of myself.

Maybe the England QF will no longer be that game and move to a bigger venue.

[Davo5]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

No offence to Wigan, but this was an opportunity to take a Marquee game to a top tier venue and it feels like a step backwards 

Anfield a top tier venue

[glossop saint]

39 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I don't like Anfield, but it was one of the marquee venues that gave the tournament more prestige. 

Disappointing, but hopefully 24k in Wigan will make up for it somewhat and it will look and sound great. 

It might be a bit unfair but I think the pressure is on Wigan now to make this a sell out and a really good event. After the disappointment of missing out originally then this is a good opportunity to prove people wrong and give the WC a boost in the process. 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

While Anfield was one of our marquee venues for the tournaments, I certainly aren't a fan of rugby league being played there. Tiny pitch and some of the most horrible leg room I've ever experienced. The game moving to Wigan doesn't mean it will be England's quarter-final, all the games still have to be rescheduled and reallocated venues so England's hypothetical quarter might be moved to a bigger venue. 

[HawkMan]

51 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I'm not subscribed to the Times so I can't read the full article. Can someone post the reason why we have to move the games from Anfield.  Thanks.

I can't read the full article either but I'm guessing it's to do with the Qatar World Cup. The PL is pausing for about 7 weeks , but only extending by a week, so that's 6 weeks of games to be squeezed in both before and after Qatar, oh Champions League games as well to fit in too. That could be the reason. 

[DC77]

3 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Anfield is OK if you have got a 20" leg length, the seat spacing is ridiculously narrow, the most uncomfortable seats I have ever sat in, I vowed I would never go again after the NZ test, but I will definitely go to Wigan.

Never had a problem in the Kop, nor the redeveloped main stand, and I expect the redeveloped Anfield road end will also be fine.

The main issue with Anfield for rugby league is its never looked right having it played in it. 

It’s the most iconic club stadium in the country, and the one foreigners want to experience more than any other, but it’s because it’s so iconic as a football stadium, “This is Anfield”, anything else played there looks like trespassing. What makes it famous is its atmosphere, flags, banners, songs etc. You don’t get any of this when rugby league is there. The ground is almost always packed so seeing swathes of empty seats (a more than half empty Kop) for a rugby league game, that’s not Anfield. A less iconic football ground is more receptible to another sport being played in it.

Robert Elstone spoke from a football background when talking about Anfield: “On behalf of the Super League clubs, we’re delighted to be taking the Dacia Magic Weekend to one of the most famous stadiums in the world.”

What he experienced in football (and his Everton team invariably got a hiding there) cannot be replicated in rugby league. Rugby league has its own identity. 

 

 

[M j M]

55 minutes ago, DC77 said:

The main issue with Anfield for rugby league is its never looked right having it played in it. 

It’s the most iconic club stadium in the country,

Err... nope.

[Eddie]

3 minutes ago, M j M said:

Err... nope.

What is then? I’d say Anfield and Old Trafford are equally the most iconic, befitting of by far the two biggest clubs in the country. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

The new Main Stand and its facilities at Anfield are obviously top tier.

It certainly stands comparison to the now dated Old Trafford.

Last time I looked the scoreboard clock for a big game was even stuck on 5 past De Gea! 

 

[Dunbar]

1 hour ago, DC77 said:

Never had a problem in the Kop, nor the redeveloped main stand, and I expect the redeveloped Anfield road end will also be fine.

The main issue with Anfield for rugby league is its never looked right having it played in it. 

It’s the most iconic club stadium in the country, and the one foreigners want to experience more than any other, but it’s because it’s so iconic as a football stadium, “This is Anfield”, anything else played there looks like trespassing. What makes it famous is its atmosphere, flags, banners, songs etc. You don’t get any of this when rugby league is there. The ground is almost always packed so seeing swathes of empty seats (a more than half empty Kop) for a rugby league game, that’s not Anfield. A less iconic football ground is more receptible to another sport being played in it.

Robert Elstone spoke from a football background when talking about Anfield: “On behalf of the Super League clubs, we’re delighted to be taking the Dacia Magic Weekend to one of the most famous stadiums in the world.”

What he experienced in football (and his Everton team invariably got a hiding there) cannot be replicated in rugby league. Rugby league has its own identity. 

 

 

These boards would be boring if we all thought the same way.

Luckily you always provide a unique perspective. 

[Dallas Mead]

Real shame this.  Moving from a world famous city and stadium to er….Wigan.  Not good.

[Dunbar]

6 minutes ago, Dallas Mead said:

Real shame this.  Moving from a world famous city and stadium to er….Wigan.  Not good.

I'm not massively negative.  Wigan may not be as famous a city (town) or stadium but this is the Rugby League World Cup and in Rugby League the name Wigan is iconic.

[DoubleD]

1 hour ago, glossop saint said:

It might be a bit unfair but I think the pressure is on Wigan now to make this a sell out and a really good event. After the disappointment of missing out originally then this is a good opportunity to prove people wrong and give the WC a boost in the process. 

They didn’t miss out though, Leigh got a number of games