New Stadia - RFL push towards it?

[ancientnloyal]

St Helens are World Champions, SL champions and everything else that Wigan have loaned out to them briefly... Wakefield are nothing, and so too are Salford and Leigh. But the thing is, Leigh and Salford have concrete plans to build new stadiums fit for the 21st century, Leigh should have theirs next year or so and building work looks good so far on Atherleigh Way. Salfords stadium looks impressive and they have the go ahead.

Why is it that St Helens haven't got anywhere near completed plans for a stadium instead of chasing ambitious ground share proposals with Everton or even their own stadium somewhere over Billinge?
IMO if the super league franchise is to be a success we need all clubs to have modern stadiums fit for media, fans and to promote rugby league. We need easy access, something that St Helens dont generally have.

Wakefield is another problem. so too is Hull KR

So too is Castleford

Leeds and Bradford are fine as bradford is very easy to get to and doesnt need a major overhaul but look at Hull FC, JJB, warrington's shed, Quins, Huddersfield, Halton... magnificent stadiums only let down by Knowsley Road's dump. The RFL need to strongly push for improving grounds or enhancing stadia for Rugby League, we're not in 1955 any more the crowds are smaller and need seats or a roof at least.

Im moaning because we still have to go to Knowsley Road, Hull KR and Wakefield this season and not the delights of comfy seating in the sun

[GeoffN]

Simple solution; Saints don't get a franchise in 2009.

[Cruncher]

GeoffN posted:
Simple solution; Saints don't get a franchise in 2009.

This view has been aired several times now, and not just by one-eyed Wigan fans. Stevo has also said it. Saints fans, however, are responding with amused contempt and a "they won't dare throw us out" attitude, which is very reminiscent of the attitude some deluded Wiganers adopted last year as relegation became more and more likely.

Whether they're right to feel this way, only time will tell. Personally, I can't see the RFL having the bottle to tell the champs that they're relegated until they get their house in order. But if they don't, then they can't do it for any of the others either, and the franchise thing will be utterly meaningless.

[highland convert]

May be time for them to bow out. Look how many players they have retiring in a couple of years. When we take the CC offf them it is the beginning of the end, Bradford will take the title. St. heelends will take the hump. Wellens may be a good signing now but he is on the decline, But they are on the slide. Will the league bale out a sinking ship. HC

[OJ]

If the stories about the amount of tax etc that they owe are true then maybe it has something to do with that. I have heard many stories as to why the new ground isn't going ahead but I don't know which are right which are just conjecture and which are just the thoughts of fertile imaginations. When HM Inspector finally gets to the bottom of it all maybe we can eliminate one - or alternatively know the answer. :conf:

[DaveO]

A friend of the family works for a firm or Architects and he is working on the design for a new ground for Saints. In fact it is his first job and assignment since leaving Uni last year to be part of the team doing this.

So things are happening.

However there is a big difference between having a design and getting the thing built.

The franchise system isn't the first set of criteria the RFL / Sl have put forward for membership of the elite. A while back there was "Framing the Future" which set standards for grounds and even minimum average crowd size (10,000).

Wakefield were allowed into SL despite being nowhere near any of these criteria more or less on a promise they would meet eventually. This was years ago and they have not progressed.

So they should get the boot in favour of teams who can demonstrate they meet the franchise criteria.

However if Saints still don't meet the criteria they will never boot them out and so the consequence they won't be able to boot out Wakefield either.

That should have the NL1 sides uo in arms as they agreed to SL ending promotion and relegation on the basis of there being a clearly defined and transparent set of rules for the franchise system.

They will probably fudge the issue though because I am pretty sure one of the franchise criteria is playing to an acceptable standard which Saints clearly do unfortunately.

Dave

[DaveO]

Nobby`s Girl posted:
Difference between Stains out the League and Wigan out the League, is that the League would`nt survive without Wigan, Due to the money side of it, We fans keep other clubs running with our away attendances...Stains would not be missed in the League...

Wigan take about 3000 away on a good day. Many of those will be concessionary tickets. Our away following makes for a good atmosphere but it doesn't make that much difference to most clubs money-wise. I would imagine even poorly supported sides like Saints take over 1500 hard core fans away so the difference between away attendances won't be anywhere near as great as the home gate differences.

Clubs get most of their income from the Sky TV deal and sponsorships and gate receipts from away fans are a tiny amount compared to that even when Wigan take 3000.

Sky would be bothered if we dropped out if SL as I am sure it would affect viewing figures but other clubs would not be affect anywhere near as much as you might think.

Dave

[fitzy]

stains wont be chucked out of super league because according to the rfl and sky no one won anything before super league and the rfl dont have the bottle to tell stains that they need to replace there shed.cas have plans in place for a new stadium and they have sold the jungle to a building developer and a long as the building developer gets planning permission to build some houses then cas are building a new stadium