Time to move the Grand Final (Merged Threads)

[PREPOSTEROUS]

Everton's new stadium is probably too small, Eithiad is the next best alternative especially as it will only break 12k short of OT in terms of capacity after the expansion. 

 

Millennium Stadium as a curve ball may be an option. 

[langpark]

I agree, stay at OT for as long as it's available (and just pray it does not rain on GF day).

If that becomes unavailable I would say St James' Park is the next best option.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

8 minutes ago, langpark said:

I agree, stay at OT for as long as it's available (and just pray it does not rain on GF day).

If that becomes unavailable I would say St James' Park is the next best option.

Saint James Park rules me out and a lot of southerners....adding another two hours just makes it impossible for lots of folk 

Newcastle has a hideous problem of hotels massively hiking prices for event weekends.....was quoted £180 for a night at the Premier inn last time I considered Magic .....with inflation that now be £200 plus...joke 

[JohnM]

Manchester hotels hike their prices, too. Using Millennium Stadium/Twatters means almost all club fans have to travel/ overnight. 

Having been to Anfield once in my life, never again. 

United may well get a promise of a Labour government funded Wembley of the North as a bribe .

Earlier on Sunday, co-owner Ratcliffe met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss the redevelopment of Old Trafford. It's understood Starmer attended the match as Burnham's guest. He is a member of a task force looking at how to revitalise United's home ground.

[langpark]

So if OT is redeveloped into a state-of-the-art facility, isn't there are chance, that they might never let us go near it again?  Or quadruple the rent if they do?

[Harry Stottle]

11 hours ago, daz39 said:

Anfield.....rather have it at Odsal, what's new Everton capacity?

Anfield is for the vertically challenged if you have an inside leg measurement exceeding 24" your knees are pressing against the seat infront, it is the most uncomfortable seating arrangements I have ever been in, only been the once needless to say I will never return.

[daz39]

11 hours ago, redsi42 said:

As a neutral most years. No way I’d bother again it’s an uncomfortable dump, a right s/hole. Not sure I’d bother if my team ever made it again. Awful experience last time in expensive seats. 

I won 2 tickets last year and my mate came with me and he's never been to OT before, he commented that he thought it would be nicer than it was as it looks great on TV.

This was after a backstage tour too!

[daz39]

3 hours ago, bobbruce said:

I really enjoyed the challenge cup being on tour whilst Wembley was being rebuilt. Apart from the year it went to Twickenham very depressing soulless place. 

It was our 1st cup final appearance for 33 years and it was a building site with no atmosphere, a massive, massive let down after such a long wait, and we got hammered.

[philipw]

2 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

You've missed a bit 

'Similar size' is up for debate 

Etihad is not as big but a much much better experience 

It's not really - even with the upcoming expansion, the Etihad will only be 62k - still a full 11k below Old Trafford (15% of OTs capacity as a difference). 

[Damien]

30 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Anfield is for the vertically challenged if you have an inside leg measurement exceeding 24" your knees are pressing against the seat infront, it is the most uncomfortable seating arrangements I have ever been in, only been the once needless to say I will never return.

Agreed, being sat in the older touchline stand was easily the most uncomfortable I have been at any ground. Absolutely awful. At the 4 Nations final people were just getting up and standing in the stairwells and entrances and some were just leaving completely. No stand at Old Trafford is as bad as that.

I can understand leaving Old Trafford if there is a strong argument is to go to a similar sized ground in the North that is of a more modern standard. However I'm yet to see it and to leave Old Trafford for a much smaller ground, that also isn't up to par, is nonsensical.

[Damien]

As I always say in this debate I am also very wary to just leave what has been a pretty fantastic partner for Rugby League for nearly 40 years. That's not to be dismissed lightly. Old Trafford have always accommodated Rugby League when we've needed it and have even prioritised the sport over an RU World Cup. In contrast many of the other major Football grounds in the North, bar Elland Road which is even older and smaller, have shown a reluctance to hold Rugby League at various times, including the likes of the Etihad and Anfield. We could easily go elsewhere then that ground may not be interested after a couple of years then what.

[Harry Stottle]

2 hours ago, Gomersall said:

You can count me out if they ever move it to a RU stadium.

Many years ago when the CC final was at Twickenham, I met an old mate who was in a picnic club and went to the final every year it was in a pub near the ground I came across him, as it approached time to vacate the pub and go to the ground I beckoned him to come with me, pointing at the telly he said I will watch it here, no way will I be going into a Union ground and there he stayed.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

Manchester hotels hike their prices, too. Using Millennium Stadium/Twatters means almost all club fans have to travel/ overnight. 

Having been to Anfield once in my life, never again. 

United may well get a promise of a Labour government funded Wembley of the North as a bribe .

Earlier on Sunday, co-owner Ratcliffe met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss the redevelopment of Old Trafford. It's understood Starmer attended the match as Burnham's guest. He is a member of a task force looking at how to revitalise United's home ground.

But there are a lot of nearby places (10-15 mins drive) that are cheap me compared to Newcastle......Newcastle doesn't have the cheaper towns around it to do the same....add in an extra 4 hours of petrol driving etc

 

Agreed on Anfield...the seats are ludicrous ...worse than Elland Road which.is bad 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

16 minutes ago, philipw said:

It's not really - even with the upcoming expansion, the Etihad will only be 62k - still a full 11k below Old Trafford (15% of OTs capacity as a difference). 

So Etihad is 85% on terms of OT...I'd say that is similar enough

Especially as that is bang on what we get at the GF each year 

It would even open the opportunity to say "Sold Out".....that holds massive value once that is established....people will buy earlier and see it more of an event 

I'm  even more convinced Ethiad is the way forward 

The only argument against is the history of OT..Damian has a point that is something of value we might need to think about 

Edited May 13 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[fieldofclothofgold]

Well it has become a tradition going to Old Trafford just like Wembley when the Challenge Cup was big . It is quite Central for Rugby league fans .yes I know we get many fans nation wide for the event . We should think carefully before this change is decided. Our sport developed a good relationship with Manchester United too . We do need to have aspirations for for a capacity of over 70K otherwise I would say move it permanently to ??? Elland Road ! SORRY SORRY JOKE JOKE . Seriously seriously until there is a stadium other than Wembley with that capacity I would stick with Old Trafford.  I like the KO time of 6pm ,but moving it to Wembley would it be better having it start at 2pm or 3pm ?

[Damien]

8 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

So Etihad is 85% on terms of OT...I'd say that is similar enough

Especially as that is bang on what we get at the GF each year 

It's not though. The 17 Grand Finals prior to the Covid/Catalans years all had a capacity exceeding 62k, including 7 that exceeded 70k.

[audois]

I've looked at the OT length - the short and dip

[RP London]

2 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Twickenham is by some margin my least favourite big stadium in the UK and I've been there loads

Difficult to get to, awful views from majority of seats, looks Soviet, ludicrously expensive drinks 

Yesterday I checked out tickets for the Gallagher Prem final they have there. Normal class 1 tickets are £95.....for club union....that is not hospitality 

was there yesterday for the womens RU community cup finals with my daughter... £7.50 for a pint! I used to live down in that there london and it made my eyes water! 

[whatmichaelsays]

London for the GF isn't happening. 

RL fans tend to moan when a match isn't on their local bus route, never mind having to travel to London when the cheap advance tickets are long gone. 

I'd echo what @Damien said in that for all of the faults with Old Trafford, they have always been a willing friend of the project when it comes to RL and that's not something to be sniffed at. 

[jacksy]

We should stick with OT. They have stuck with us.

[17 stone giant]

Would it be worth trying one year of?:

Grand Final at Wembley

Challenge Cup Final at Etihad/St James/Cardiff

[Gav Wilson]

Eastlands for me. A 62k sellout in a modern stadium is way better than 68-70k in a ground thats falling to bits with a dangerous playing surface. You could have the women's grand final in the academy stadium and the wheelchair grand final at Co-Op Live to make a full weekend of it too, if so inclined.

If the event regularly becomes a sellout then you can start charging a premium for tickets too.

Alternate Bramley Moore Dock, St James Park and Millenium Stadium (Cardiff, not Fev) for Magic Weekend.

Alternate Wembley and Spurs for the cup final. 

Three big events in May, July/August and October. Lovely stuff. 

[Spidey]

46 minutes ago, Gav Wilson said:

Eastlands for me. A 62k sellout in a modern stadium is way better than 68-70k in a ground thats falling to bits with a dangerous playing surface. You could have the women's grand final in the academy stadium and the wheelchair grand final at Co-Op Live to make a full weekend of it too, if so inclined.

If the event regularly becomes a sellout then you can start charging a premium for tickets too.

Alternate Bramley Moore Dock, St James Park and Millenium Stadium (Cardiff, not Fev) for Magic Weekend.

Alternate Wembley and Spurs for the cup final. 

Three big events in May, July/August and October. Lovely stuff. 

I'd adjust the prices from the get go, the facilities at City are much better than United - the tickets for the GF now are  cheap, a bit of a restructure and you could easily get the same revenue from 60k tickets v the 70k+ you get at OT

I like the idea of all grand finals being there over the weekend

[EggFace]

17 hours ago, wilsontown said:

We seem to do this question several times a season. For the prosecution:

• It's falling to bits
• The pitch is too short and the in-goals are dangerous as a result

For the defence:

• No-one can come up with a venue of similar size in the North

Now what?

You get a full house at St.James Park but take a hit in profit being a smaller stadium and since Newcastle didn't get Magic weekend then why not.

[fieldofclothofgold]

Maybe test the ground in France ? If Cats start to have a long period at the top and got to the final designated there .there is usually a good following from English clubs too