New drama

[Toby Chopra]

1 minute ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

There'll be no material change. The Cas bodge will confirm that......

What Cas bodge? They're doing the work to meet the criteria, that's the idea.

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

1 hour ago, Toby Chopra said:

What Cas bodge? They're doing the work to meet the criteria, that's the idea.

Have you actually looked at their proposals? If they undertake the work it'll worsen the experience of  the average fan and really is just a box tick exercise.

Earlier today a friend and I were discussing the changes we've seen to clubs' stadiums/grounds between our first and last visits spanning the last 50 years+ and agreed that there's been essentially no change to those of Cas, Keighley, Wakefield* and Workington. Almost every other club has improved their ground beyond recognition through development or moving, with Sheffield being a possible exception.

*this will certainly change in the next year

Edited November 10, 2023 by Les Tonks Sidestep

[Indigogo]

14 hours ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Have you actually looked at their proposals? If they undertake the work it'll worsen the experience of  the average fan and really is just a box tick exercise.

Earlier today a friend and I were discussing the changes we've seen to clubs' stadiums/grounds between our first and last visits spanning the last 50 years+ and agreed that there's been essentially no change to those of Cas, Keighley, Wakefield* and Workington. Almost every other club has improved their ground beyond recognition through development or moving, with Sheffield being a possible exception.

*this will certainly change in the next year

Hopefully Keighley's changes in the next 12 to 18 months too. We've submitted new plans to the council for the demolition and rebuild of the main stand

[Griff]

15 hours ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Have you actually looked at their proposals? If they undertake the work it'll worsen the experience of  the average fan and really is just a box tick exercise.

Earlier today a friend and I were discussing the changes we've seen to clubs' stadiums/grounds between our first and last visits spanning the last 50 years+ and agreed that there's been essentially no change to those of Cas, Keighley, Wakefield* and Workington. Almost every other club has improved their ground beyond recognition through development or moving, with Sheffield being a possible exception.

*this will certainly change in the next year

Bradford's improved?

How bad was it?

[Griff]

16 hours ago, Toby Chopra said:

What Cas bodge? They're doing the work to meet the criteria, that's the idea.

That's the problem with "tick box criteria".

[gingerjon]

45 minutes ago, Griff said:

That's the problem with "tick box criteria".

Things are improved so the box can be ticked?

[dboy]

5 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Things are improved so the box can be ticked?

Improved or rolled in glitter?

[Toby Chopra]

49 minutes ago, Griff said:

That's the problem with "tick box criteria".

People keep using the phrase "box ticking" like it somehow means the actions are worthless, whereas they're actually getting points for making the specific improvements that IMG have asked for to improve the commercial value of the sport.

You might wish to see other improvements made, and of course in an Ideal world every club would have a state of the art stadium in all aspects. But that's not what they've been asked to do.

IMG have asked them to improve their provision for broadcasters, media, high value sponsors and potential investors, because that's how they're going to drive up the sport's revenues. So that's what they're doing.

[Griff]

Just now, Toby Chopra said:

People keep using the phrase "box ticking" like it somehow means the actions are worthless, whereas they're actually getting points for making the specific improvements that IMG have asked for to improve the commercial value of the sport.

You might wish to see other improvements made, and of course in an Ideal world every club would have a state of the art stadium in all aspects. But that's not what they've been asked to do.

IMG have asked them to improve their provision for broadcasters, media, high value sponsors and potential investors, because that's how they're going to drive up the sport's revenues. So that's what they're doing.

Box ticking is worthless.  In itself.

Odsal scores well on the IMG scale.  Lots of boxes ticked.  Is the fan experience good?  No.

Now we have Cas proposing pointless work on the ground.   Just to tick boxes.

[Griff]

31 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Things are improved so the box can be ticked?

That's the debate.

Are things improved?

[Toby Chopra]

30 minutes ago, Griff said:

Box ticking is worthless.  In itself.

Odsal scores well on the IMG scale.  Lots of boxes ticked.  Is the fan experience good?  No.

Now we have Cas proposing pointless work on the ground.   Just to tick boxes.

It not pointless work. Its work that will help IMF sell the sport for more than the pittance we currently get. If you only see stadiums in terms of "regular fans" coming through the turnstiles you're missing half of what modern sports stadiums are supposed to do. Which is why the sport is so undervalued.

[Toby Chopra]

Just now, Toby Chopra said:

It not pointless work. Its work that will help IMF sell the sport for more than the pittance we currently get. If you only see stadiums in terms of "regular fans" coming through the turnstiles you're missing half of what modern sports stadiums are supposed to do. Which is why the sport is so undervalued.

Lol, if the IMF were involved we'd really be in trouble! I mean IMG of course.

[JohnM]

14 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

Lol, if the IMF were involved we'd really be in trouble! I mean IMG of course.

You might have hit on a whole-game solution. We could borrow billions if it were the IMF...

[Coastal_Geordie]

Sounds like Salford’s desperate/naive statement has not got the politicians in line as they may have hoped.

https://www.salford.gov.uk/your-council/news/salford-city-mayor-paul-dennett-statement-on-salford-red-devils/

[Damien]

3 minutes ago, Coastal_Geordie said:

Sounds like Salford’s desperate/naive statement has not got the politicians in line as they may have hoped.

https://www.salford.gov.uk/your-council/news/salford-city-mayor-paul-dennett-statement-on-salford-red-devils/

A fair few digs there, especially the bit about Sale being exemplary tenants, but I'm not sure what else Salford expect. They've had wonderful backing from the council for many years and it was inevitable that at some point the council's patience would wear thin.

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

On 11/11/2023 at 10:43, Griff said:

Bradford's improved?

How bad was it?

You didn't have the pleasure of visiting Odsal in the '70s?

[gingerjon]

9 hours ago, Damien said:

A fair few digs there, especially the bit about Sale being exemplary tenants, but I'm not sure what else Salford expect. They've had wonderful backing from the council for many years and it was inevitable that at some point the council's patience would wear thin.

Sale being “cuckoos” by paying their rent on time and generating match day income.

 

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

Isn't there supposed to be some news this week.

[The Future is League]

Red Devils more confident of staying at stadium

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/24795290/salford-red-devils-rugby-stadium-manchester/

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

On 11/11/2023 at 10:43, Griff said:

Bradford's improved?

How bad was it?

It's the old ' there was an earthquake at odsal, did thirty quids worth of improvements'!

[dboy]

8 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

Red Devils more confident of staying at stadium

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/24795290/salford-red-devils-rugby-stadium-manchester/

They are trying to buy themselves time.

[tim2]

On 11/11/2023 at 12:46, JohnM said:

You might have hit on a whole-game solution. We could borrow billions if it were the IMF...

Then renege on the deal like a third world dictatorship? I might pitch that to the RFL.

[Kenilworth Tiger]

On 10/11/2023 at 19:13, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Have you actually looked at their proposals? If they undertake the work it'll worsen the experience of  the average fan and really is just a box tick exercise.

Earlier today a friend and I were discussing the changes we've seen to clubs' stadiums/grounds between our first and last visits spanning the last 50 years+ and agreed that there's been essentially no change to those of Cas, Keighley, Wakefield* and Workington. Almost every other club has improved their ground beyond recognition through development or moving, with Sheffield being a possible exception.

*this will certainly change in the next year

Yes the way, Wigan, Hull, Hudds managed to improve their facilities was wonderful - a real blue print for how to go about things. Why Cas haven't just asked Tesco to build on Wheldon Road is beyond me

[RigbyLuger]

1 hour ago, Kenilworth Tiger said:

Yes the way, Wigan, Hull, Hudds managed to improve their facilities was wonderful - a real blue print for how to go about things. Why Cas haven't just asked Tesco to build on Wheldon Road is beyond me

It's something some forget, conveniently or otherwise.

[del capo]

 ' There is a tide in the affairs of men

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in misery. '

But then again maybe some clubs just got lucky.................and have since largely picked up Grade A's.