Seems like Wembley stadium is about to be sold. I am guessing the prospective new owner could price the RFL / fans out of it, given his association with the NFL.

Don't care now we've finally won there

could go two ways couldn't it, he either tries to fleece us then we move it to another venue, new tottenham or nal would be good if we want to keep it on london, ideally. Or he is hot for more RL action in the stadium and does a great deal and we could be looking at a couple of Rl super league double headers, an extra international every year and no more club wembley fiasco, and get some proper full houses again.

I’ve thought for a while that we should be looking for if not a permanent move away, then a rotation of venues to keep it fresh. It is clearly the traditional home of the Challenge Cup Final but things change and tastes change and it isn’t the big day out for Northerners that it used to be.

I always felt Cardiff was a great venue in the year we held it there. Slap bang in the middle of a cracking city with a stadium capacity that suits the sort of crowds we’re attracting to the game.

It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this.

Should it move away from Wembley, it has to be the Millennium for me.

nfl teams have 16 home games before play offs

plenty of spare dates for the challenge cup final to remain at wembley

It's never been the same big day out since the new Wembley to me anyway. There was something special about seeing the twin towers for me.

No there's 16 games a season. Which means about 8 home games.
And given there's a contract with the new Spurs ground to host games for the next 4 years (I think). There's more than enough dates. Plus the NFL season doesn't start till September.

I like Wembley, but it's always more about the occasion. We do enough to destroy traditions in the game anyway (remember the county cups, premiership, regal trophy. Etc), be nice just to keep one.

either way, there are plenty of dates, plus the rfl will no doubt have a contract in place (i hope)

Same here. The new stadium just doesn't have the feel or character of the old stadium. Shame really.

True.

Personally would like to see the challenge cup moved to the last bank holiday in may. Think part of the problem is that it's to close to the GF which detracts from the event. Not sure how you fit the rds in.

Agree that the new wembley is a let down, and doesn't feel particularly special.
Though I suppose some of that depends on if you win or not.

Bloody hell, talk about jumping the gun.
First of all, it isn't sold yet and more importantly, the new owners, if/when there are some, may well want to continue staging the event.
If not, we find a new venue

The old stadium was a ****hole. Designed to be mainly standing, once they stuck seats in the bottom tier, it was useless. Rubbish facilities too. The new one is far superior.

I hope the game doesn't move. The Wembley Weekender is one of my yearly highlights.

The new owner will want as many events there to keep revenue high and make back their £800million back as soon as they can. I know it's not a stadium filler anymore but it will make money. I imagine the RFL have a deal in place to play it there for the next few years anyway.

Yes, the Challenge Cup is contracted for a while yet as I understand it. But the American mindset is all about "revenue" so the writing is on the wall. Look what has happened to ticket prices of football clubs taken over by Americans.

AS mentioned by other posters, The Challenge Cup Final at Wembley is a great event, IMO better than the GF but, IF it has to move, it has to move and if any new owner comes in and starts to jack up prices, it may push the Cup Final in a new direction.

It would be a pity but, not the end of the world. However, nothing is for ever and all things are negotiable so let's not worry about it.

Personally I think the challenge cup should move around the country, as magic weekend has. Send it out to tender, get a local authority’s to stump up some cash and make some money from the game.

England games should be played in the capital.

As much as I don't think the new place has the same emotive feel about the place it's massively better than the old girl in terms of view and seating. Also I'd rather it wasn't moved given it's only 35 minutes drive and a leisurely 20 minute walk to the turnstiles for me.
Maybe the RFL will redevelop Odslum and make it the 'wembley' of the north or will the plan be to simply use the Manchester stadium?

Wherever the location it has to be moved to the end of May for the final, means no massive gaps between rounds, far less chance of conflict with school holidays and thus reduced potential of those that can attend.

It’s not in a Wembley owners interest to price RL out. They make money from hosting the Cup Final so why wouldn’t they continue to host it?

Only three stadiums in the country have a capacity that the CC final gets though so you can’t really do that

The attendance at the final looks to be on a downward trend, so that may not be the case for too much longer.

As well as Wembley, London Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Millennium Stadium, Old Trafford, City of Manchester Stadium, Anfield, St James Park and Murrayfield could all soon be big enough.

As a Salford fan I'd be more worried if they sold off the HJ or John Smith's to ruin our big Semi-Final day out!

Downside of May is that I think you’d need to move Magic Weekend too. It would completely kill the crowd having both of those in the same month (it’s a surprise the RFL haven’t thought about it!)

I would like to see it moved off the bank holiday weekend though. Last week in July perhaps? Before the football season starts to help get an extra bit of publicity.

we simply bin off 'magic' weekend, this then means we don't need to squeeze in two games over Easter.

I think would have to move from Wembley if it was to be end of May bank holiday, football play offs weekend