DoubleD Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 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 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 2 hours ago, Dave T said: I don't like Anfield, but it was one of the marquee venues that gave the tournament more prestige. Does Wigan not have a marquee at the back of one of the goals ? Certainly used to .... "We'll sell you a seat .... but you'll only need the edge of it!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Does this mean I have to leave 15 minutes before the end? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Frisky Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Dallas Mead said: Real shame this. Moving from a world famous city and stadium to er….Wigan. Not good. Take it you haven't been to Liverpool... or outside Anfield...actually the inside is almost as worse, but you would have seen plenty of 40/20s as the pitch is like a 12 year old pitch size as far as RL goes... Edited November 13, 2021 by Mr Frisky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebennettswinger Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Have to agree with some of the comments on here about Anfield. It is iconic but this is down to the atmosphere of those amazing European nights in particular. As a football stadium it’s very good, but I have been to 3 RL matches and as a venue for RL, sorry it’s not all that. Comparisons with Old Trafford are likely to cause the football fans on here to go nuts but having experienced both Anfield and Old Trafford as a RL fan there is only one of these venues that I would have major RL matches at and it’s not Anfield. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 28 minutes ago, Waynebennettswinger said: Comparisons with Old Trafford are likely to cause the football fans on here to go nuts but having experienced both Anfield and Old Trafford as a RL fan there is only one of these venues that I would have major RL matches at and it’s not Anfield. Quite, it's a very underwhelming venue when you experience it first hand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebennettswinger Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 8 minutes ago, M j M said: Quite, it's a very underwhelming venue when you experience it first hand. Which is very different when it is full of Liverpool fans on European nights that is certain. I have only been for RL and to take a French friend who was visiting on a stadium tour. This lad is a Bordeaux fan but loves the famous atmosphere at the likes of Bayern Munich, Anfield and the Camp Nou. You sum it up well as underwhelming as a stadium, as he certainly wasn’t blown away, again that would be hugely different with a full football stadium but having done a similar tour myself at the Camp Nou I thought that was an incredible venue even when empty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 I don't think this is a big deal. As others have said an England quarter final can be moved to a bigger venue and 25k is fine for a quarter final involving the other teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 7 minutes ago, Damien said: I don't think this is a big deal. As others have said an England quarter final can be moved to a bigger venue and 25k is fine for a quarter final involving the other teams. Definitely better to have a full 25k stadium than a half full Anfield imho. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiltshire Warrior Dragon Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) In response to Dunbar and Hawkman, the short piece in The Times quotes Liverpool FC as saying that it is related to the redevelopment of the Anfield Road Stand. Edited November 13, 2021 by Wiltshire Warrior Dragon word omitted in error 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallas Mead Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 2 hours ago, Mr Frisky said: Take it you haven't been to Liverpool... or outside Anfield...actually the inside is almost as worse, but you would have seen plenty of 40/20s as the pitch is like a 12 year old pitch size as far as RL goes... Been to many, many games at anfield mate as a lifelong Liverpool fan. In the new main stand mainly which is absolutely awesome. Yep, the pitch is too small for RL but just playing a RL World Cup game is (would have been) great publicity for the sport as opposed to Wigan. We needed to jazz things up a bit and do something different, not the usual #localgameforlocalpeople approach as per usual. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Prendle Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 1 hour ago, M j M said: Quite, it's a very underwhelming venue when you experience it first hand. I was there when Liverpool beat Barcelona a couple of years ago. Underwhelming it certainly was not. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattrhino Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 I'm just staggered it wasn't moved to Leigh. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleD Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 The difference is that with Wigan we’re effectively fishing in the same pond, where there are already lots of matches. It’s potentially oversaturated now. With Anfield, whilst I dislike the stadium for the reasons already stated, it did add prestige and is targeting a different market, one which we will now miss out on potentially 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Weren't the wheelchair games also meant to be there which means Liverpool would have had a real host city feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 46 minutes ago, Jim Prendle said: I was there when Liverpool beat Barcelona a couple of years ago. Underwhelming it certainly was not. Meh, Odsal was rocking when there were 24,000 in for a big game. Lots of stadia are great on big events. Doesn't mean that when you strip away that veneer they aren't found wanting. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattrhino Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Even if it is the best stadium in the world we really shouldn't be staging WC games on a pitch 10 yards too small 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 I really hope this is the only change. This was an ambitious World Cup schedule, but the majority of games were in standard heartland venues - this moves from prestigious to heartland again. Another forced change or two like this and it won't be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del capo Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Notwithstanding current problems Wigan remains probably THE most iconic brand in World Rugby League. A full house can be virtually guaranteed making the event truly atmospheric. The wider Robin Park arena complex can cater for all the supporting acts- promises a memorable day. Maybe the only issue would be whether the Organisers can make enough money out of it for our Legacy given the corporate offer lacks boxes and therefore opportunity...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del capo Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 6 minutes ago, Dave T said: I really hope this is the only change. This was an ambitious World Cup schedule, but the majority of games were in standard heartland venues - this moves from prestigious to heartland again. Another forced change or two like this and it won't be great. 'Heartland' being the operative word - massive central Gov funding - levelling up - all part of the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 2 minutes ago, del capo said: 'Heartland' being the operative word - massive central Gov funding - levelling up - all part of the process. Yes, I know that, so I understand we had some sparing events in non- traditional RL towns, and this was one of those - and it has gone and not been replaced like-for-like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 48 minutes ago, Dave T said: Yes, I know that, so I understand we had some sparing events in non- traditional RL towns, and this was one of those - and it has gone and not been replaced like-for-like. I do understand your concern but I'm not sure where else we could go. We are already playing games in every other major city in the North so it would have been a case of taking the games to an existing venue. It may well also be the case that other big stadiums aren't available too. For all its faults Wigan is a good size and should get a good crowd. Putting the World Cup back a year was always going to cause issues and was never going to be as simple as the Aussies liked to make out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygilf Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 50 minutes ago, Damien said: I do understand your concern but I'm not sure where else we could go. We are already playing games in every other major city in the North so it would have been a case of taking the games to an existing venue. It may well also be the case that other big stadiums aren't available too. For all its faults Wigan is a good size and should get a good crowd. Putting the World Cup back a year was always going to cause issues and was never going to be as simple as the Aussies liked to make out. London should absolutely be considered as a replacement. Coventry maybe too. England are now playing in Bolton and most likely Wigan in the tournament now, which feels a bit more lowkey than the vibe they will want to show. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padge Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Can I just point out that this will not benefit Wigan Rugby League other than a profile raise. 3 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 More sharing options...
Damien Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 17 minutes ago, Tommygilf said: London should absolutely be considered as a replacement. Coventry maybe too. England are now playing in Bolton and most likely Wigan in the tournament now, which feels a bit more lowkey than the vibe they will want to show. I said the North because that is what the Northern powerhouse funding was dependent on a minimum number of games in the North. This is what the original schedule was created with in mind. Therefore if Anfield is gone then it needs to be replaced by games in the North. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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