This is probably been discussed to death already in the discussions about our new pad, but after experiencing Widnes it has come to my mind again. That is the wisdom of having the noisy element of our support behind the sticks. At Widnes is makes the atmosphere in the North and South stands non existent and the stadium is far quieter than Knowsley Road was and the likes of the HJ have. It will be hard to create any sort of atmosphere when the whole pitch length is a near silent sound vacuum.

So.... why wasn't the North Stand made standing room? Are we going to have the North Stand silent and the South (Corporate) Stand 90% empty like it is at Widnes?

I would imagine it is less expensive to placate the fans who wanted to stand by putting them behind the sticks than it would have been to recreate the Pop Side in the North Stand. Also, if we have too much standing area, internationals are a no-go. In addition, the North Stand holds more people. Therefore, there is more money to be made by selling North Stand seats predominantly as allocated seating, shoving us unallocated cheap plebs behind the sticks.

I think there was a good atmosphere in the East Stand on Friday night. I think we might have actually made ourselves heard. At one time, I heard what sounded like the whole of the North Stand singing, which was fab. There is hope.

Also, with the corners filled in at the new stadium, that should help to create an atmosphere. The accoustics will be slightly better than they are with open ends.

Must admit I think this is a big mistake keeping one stand seperate for corporate customers.

Are we going to get enough corporate customers to fill it ...unlikely the way business is in this town at the moment.

What corporate customers we will get will focus on the big games so most of the times the seats will be unused.

There wont be much of a partisan crowd/atmosphere in there so any guests attending a game for the first time aren't likely to be impressed enough to become regulars.

I used to be in business in the town and have sponsored matches in the past, it was always difficult to get out of town customers to come along, they were getting free food and drink and I even arranged transport for them but when people have family commitments its not easy.

i was in the south stand on friday near the saints end and the atmosphere created by the singing really came across,especially when large elements of the north stand sang along it was like k.road when all the home support including the main stand joined in,and as mentioned with some corners being filled at the new ground this can only add to the matchday atmosphere..

Its all about the £££'s
I think it'll be louder than widnes in the north stand as alot of people who used to stand (like me) will be there, but the south stand i think will be dead as dodo, until the prawn sandwiches are served of course

Im sat in block c towards the far end of the north stand, not at the moment, and the atmos there was good. I was trying my hardest to get our end singing and there was indeed a few occasions when we joined in or even tried to wing it on our own. I was quite impressed with the atmosphere TBH.

Part of the difficulty is that everyone has moved. For decades people would sit/stand with the same people again and again. Now people are split. I know that the information of who can sit where has changed each match.

My sisters bought unreserved tickets for the North stand, as they knew that on different match days different members of the family would come or not come to matches and so they would like to have sat with them.

The 1st Match they were told tickets where no longer unreserved and they had to sit in the number seat on the ticket, other family members where told they could not get a ticket for the same section, even thought there were spaces.

2nd MAtch, my sisters where told it was unreserved and they could sit anywhere within the section but other members could not buy tickets for it.

3rd MAtch everyone sat together where ever they liked in the section, season ticket holder or not.


I think there is some bedding in to go on, and it will all start again next year. I think some fans are going to have to take it upon themselves rather than wait for ' the popular side' to start everything. ANd as fans learn this the atmosphere will be even better. Ideally some former 'popular siders' will be spread about, causing a tradition of singing to be created at all sides rather than just the 1.

I was never a popular sider but you would get some weird looks when you started singing along. Like we don't do that here!

When the original plans where drawn up we fought quite hard to get the layout the same as Warrington.

But the club dug their heals in and went for the standing ends, the big problem will come when for most matches the standing home end will probably be full with the two seated stands half full at best. Which will look a bit daft.

At the end of the day I think that we got the choice to stand and sit and that was a real contencious issue particluarly with the board before Eamonn.

It's too late now anyhow......

To be honest at The HJ in the away end behind the sticks more noise can be created due to fans being more together and the roof is a bit lower. We could even hear the Quins fans the other week, well for a bit anyway



So the layout you have gone with might turn out to be good.

I though the North Stand looked quite full on Friday, but that's from being sat in it. Was it not?

As long as the cameras are pointed towards the full stands, unlike the set up currently, there's no issue for me.

It was. Just the edges had empty seats so far as I could see (from the East Stand). Saints are working to attract people into the South Stand it would seem, offering tickets for three matches for a total of £60, which will probably annoy Southstanders who have bought season tickets there!

I can't see it being that much of an issue, regarding the atmosphere.

It's going to be hard just to instantly create an atmosphere, it will take time but eventually it will become the fortress that KR was.

When I booked my 5 year Season Ticket for the North Stand they told us it was nearly full so only a small bit at either end will be empty or available or unreserved.

In fact they had set the last two blocks at one end as unreserved then ended up selling at least one of those blocks to Season Ticket holders.

I imagine the North Stand will be almost full every game as will the East Stand (Standing) the 'away' end could be quite empty though!

Is the South stand at the new stadium going to be just for corporate tickets? Surely not.

No there are sections available, but not all of it.

I wanted to stand, as a popsider would have preferred the side on view but between standing behind and sittting down there was no real choice. Its not as good but that is the compromise.

In this day and age we are lucky to at least have the choice.

Interesting debate. I think the lay out will be ok. I am in the North Stand and there will be atmosphere in the new place. The bad start at Widnes has left people worried about the atmosphere, had we got on the front foot against wire and been playing at the top of our game the atmosphere would have been electric, with east and north stand singing and really getting behind them. 24 - 0 down the atmosphere would have been flat as a pancake at KR! Harlequins next up, not a fixture to get the pulse racing, KR like a morgue even when beating Harlequins! Bradford, best game, atmosphere thus far, because we played some decent stuff and had something to shout about. Just like at KR when we play the big games at the new place the atmosphere will be electric as long as the team gets on the front foot and really rips into the likes of pies, wire and leeds.

Really? Looking at the brochure they sent here and the it is named the South (Corporate) Stand.

Im sure I read somewhere they had a rethink.

They were never going to sell 5-6 k corporate tickets, but leaving that stand till last will ensure that the other three stands are always reasonbly and usually completely full. Then put the TV cameras on the South stand and hey presto, stadium looks full on TV every game

I'm sure the board have worked it out.

I think we can confidently say that 6k at Widnes is our base figure. When you switch that to a game at KR that would add an extra 1k - 2k in walk ups.

In terms of crowd figures I would expect the new stadium to have a higher baseline figure for fans.

It could be something closer to 10k. With the big games doubling that figure with additional Saints fans and additional away fans.

Also with the location of the stadium it's basically been built on a dual carrage way so for away fans there will be none of that sat waiting to drive away whilst the walk ups get out the way. There will also be ample parking given the link to the town centre and the car parks there.

I'm going to miss sitting in traffic, inching slowly towards the Nag's Head and listening to the post-match on the radio....

I can't understand why Saints didn't just replicate the old ground in a new way.

Standing for the away fans at one end.
A popular side holding 6-7k ish, the camera would probably face here.
A smaller seating end for people who would like a seat but a view behind the goals.
A stand for the prawn sandiwch eaters.

One thing is for sure, on derby days it will be bouncing, the ground will be full and loads of away fans will be there. On normal match days it could look quite emtpy, especially if the team doesn't take any momentum in the move.

We had many of the same problems though. If I were you I would just be happy that you have your own stadium which can be used exactly how the clubs wants it to be used, you also have standing room and enough capacity to hold international matches and semi-finals.

I wouldn't complain too much.