Perhaps it's a structural thing? Could be allowing the wind through temporarily whilst something else that strengthens the structure is put in place., then they'll close it off maybe.

Hope so! Otherwise they needn't have bothered with about a third of the cladding in the West Stand!

Does anybody know if they are going to be doing the South stand?
The problems were just as bad there as the West and East.

Either you are a bit



Or you have a few too many

before you get in the ground

[uthe South Stand[/u

Are the corners being left open as they are or they doing something with them as well ?

I think you mean the North as the South is where all the boxes are and is already clad, but if you do, yes they do plan to do the North.

I prefer the idea that each week he has turned up so plastered he's just sat on the wrong side

According to the plans, both the west stand and the east stand will be fully clad. There are currently some sections that are not cladded. I think the reason for this is because they are a bit more difficult to clad. They may be leaving the trickier bits until last.

If you look at the section that is open in the west stand, it is in the far corner where the west terrace meets the south stand. The brackets for the cladding are going to have to be attached to a wall rather than one of the steel uprights.

It is the same in the north stand. Pretty much all the brackets are in place except the ones near the centre where the red cladded wall/section is. I think quite a bit of work is going to have to be done in these areas in order for the brackets to be bolted on.

Like I said, I think they are just leaving the tricky bits until the end. Lets wait and see.

I have to say though, I fully agree with what a few people have said on here since the game on friday night. It felt like a proper stadium. The noise was great. When it is fully complete it will be a truly fantastic rugby league stadium. Well done Saints!

Ah-hem. Yesh (hic) I do mean the North Stand.

Any idea when? In time for next season do you think?
I vaguely remember that they were doing East & West first but leaving the North until much later as they only had so much in their budget or was I drunk again?

On the website today McManus has said that the stadium will be fully cladded and completed by the time we host the World Cup game which is some time in October I think.

Think it's due to be finished mid october.

North stand cladding is continuing apace.

Hopefully it will resemble the West and East stands by Saturday.

Currently both corners have been clad and a number of panels down the side of the stand.

Still about half the stand yet to have steelwork put up and cladding then applied.

Looking good hopefully should make for a more fearsome atmosphere against Hull KR on Saturday.

Well that was my first time at the ground since the cladding has been put in and it has worked in my book.

Yes the West stand where a noisy bunch yesterday, but even the before they really got going, the sound carries from the crowds down the ground I'd say 100% to 200% better. I sit at the far side of the north stand and usually the away fans would struggle to hear the west. Not any more.

As for the wind tunnel effect, for me it's gone. After the game there was a fair breeze outside the ground, but not that noticable inside. You can't cut out the wind completely, but the effect of the cladding has certainly stopped it feeling like a wind tunnel.

Good job and much better atmosphere.

Not sure on the crowd, I've seen 2 figures one from the game and another 3k higher.

But for those that went it was a great atmosphere

The atmosphere did not come over on TV, except for "Oh When The Saints" singing, The Halliwell Stadium attendance figure was lower, but the atmosphere felt electric, perhaps it was the game was more intensive.

I'm not sure which match you were watching! I saw the game on Sky once I'd returned home and I could hear the West Stand regularly with their 'right side/left side' chant as well as the usual songs. Langtree Park is bigger than the HJ and so the two cannot really be compared.

For me the cladding has worked already. It has killed the wind hitting the back of me, and I've now been in the West and North Stands since the cladding was put up, and the sound travels much better. Definitely a plus and when it is fully completed the aesthetics of the stadium (least of all worries I suppose) will be improved 100%.

To be honest atmosphere is really for those who attend. I think on tv the sound is. Dependant on where the pictures come from which at saints is the ssouth pointing at the north. If it did not come across on tv that's a pity as hull kr where in good voice too.

The contractors have been adding the trim to the corner of the west stand to close up any gaps



North stand now has a fair degree of cladding on it, though lots of work needed to add the fascia trim to tidy it off



These two pics show what it now looks like in the North Stand.
The lack of sun coming into the back of this stand made it feel somewhat colder, and there was still a breeze to be felt within the stand. The true test though will be next season in February.





The view of the East stand, resplendent with Hull KR fans



A very poorly attended west stand.
Always find it funny that there was a huge chorus from a vocal minority calling for terracing. Yet when terracing is provided, most fans show their preferences by sitting down or not even bothering to attend the match. All season the west terrace has been sply attended.

You should try looking at the North Stand! Hardly full! And as for the South Stand ...



Stand Wars

for a playoff game, i think the west stand looks pretty full.
HullKR's legendary away support, not so much though

Was the attendance actually confirmed, from the two that have been announced.

Piccies from this weekend

Not much done in the way of fitting cladding panels, but they have been concentrating on doing lots of cosmetic work, such as adding the trimmings that make it look a lot more presentable and fill in those awkward little gaps

North West corner of West stand
They have put some nice trim on the corner right angle. Also filled in the base and top with black panelling



North West corner still needs a panel fitting, lots of trim work needs to be done



North stand central section, framework in place for the two panels required



eastern corner of the north stand also has framework in place



finally the corner of the East stand which has had a little bit more trim work done on it than the corner of the west stand




My personal prediction is that the cladding work should be completed in the next two to three weeks.
The North stand will probably have all the cladding fitted by Wednesday and then there will be a week or so then fitting all the trim. Meanwhile it will probably take a couple of weeks to sort out the awkward corners of the East and West stands were they join with the south stand.

Will the work be on hold till next season now we've been booted out of the play offs and are facing yet another season without a money generating final appearance?

There's practically no money in the grand final

He'll try anything for a bite, this lad