I said it at the time of Bradfords problems about the RFL finding a sponsor and money to buy a stadium for Englands 'home' and loan it back to the club.

Could they not buy the lease for SCS and help Salford out, get a Stadium for England, sell naming rights and also make some money out of the other SCS tenants at the same time?

It probably seems pie in the sky really but it would be great if it could happen.

Re naming rights, I am sure at one point Sale's main sponsor were going to buy them. Though with Sale fighting to avoid relegation (so I am told) they may have reconsidered.

Sale took the option of buying the abilty to sell naming rights for the stadium when taking up tenancy. Salford must have earlier declined to do so. I would also imagine that even if the SMC were willing to sell the lease then the RFL would only be able to purchase Salfords half of it as Sale have a contract and can't just be booted out. I also think it would be unlikely for the leasehold to be sold unless Sale withdrew and Salford ceased to be leaving an empty white elephant for the SMC. At which point with no Salford club to house why would the RFL want to buy it?

Over the mucky side of the hills, nah.

For the record Salford were never offered the naming rights. They were also not given chance to negotiate any terms on the stadium. Ironically it was except our terms or stay at the willows and lose your franchise
Salford also had to pay 50,000 to get the space downstairs fitted out as a shop. Which was then given to Sale in their contract negotiations alongside the right to purchase naming rights.

Some familiar situations there to Leighs move to the LSV

How much money do the RFL supposedly have for like this?
What happened with Odsal in the end that was anything more than a cash for nothing deal? Bulls still held bar / sponsorship income IIRC.

I have no sympathy with the Salford owners, if youre gonna play at business do it properly, negotiate properly and get yourself a good deal. They only have themselves to blame.

Considering the ground is owned jointly by Salford City Council and Peel Holdings, with Salford and Sale as tenants, I can't see how the RFL could realistically buy it out? The money both companies have tied up in there is ridiculous. No chance.

the RFL don't have the money to do this.....end of story

Imagine how skint they'd be if that fancy stadium with the flash roof had been built. Instead of the bus shelter that was built.

Imagine the rent on that? Jokes

The idea at that point was the ' Super Casino ' would have paid the rent, I seem to recall Cas's drawings had something similar, never happen

They all seem to have grand schemes attached to them - massive hotel complex, conference centres, lobby factories etc..... RL clubs can't build that kind of thing though.

You can't escape the fact that Salford cynically kept promising a beautiful, futuristic looking stadium with a 20k+ capacity and an iconic design. It was done to ensure that during a couple of rounds of franchising they were awarded a licence at the expense of other teams. A lot of fans of those teams will have little sympathy for Salford.

To focus on the facility itself, what was actually built is a dreadful stadium which looks like a slightly more expensive version of South Leeds Stadium - it would be an embarrassment as a home to the English RFL / national side.

Realistically, is a move back to the Willows possible? ie is it still there/do the club still own it?

What makes the SCS any worse than Halton?

The SCS has 2 problems, the car park and the fact that they put seats on the sides and standing on the ends. Should have been like Haliwell Jones, with 1 side seating, 1 side standing, 1 end seating and 1 end (the away end) standing.

The ' lop sided ' nature of the stands makes building an atmosphere difficult, it is a poor design

The willows has been completely demolished. So no chance of ever going back.

Cynically? Are you sure?
The club were drastically unlucky. First the casino plan was quashed. Then neolithic findings were found and had to be excavated. Apparently one of the members behind the company who were to make the "fancy" stadium died. I believe this is one of the reasons why that dream folded. The club then went down the route of getting a teaching establishment on site, but funding went elsewhere. Oh and then this small thing called a recession happened!

As for the ground. If you had seen the plans for phases 2 and 3. The 3rd phases is actually a ground that would be well worthy of being England's RL home!

But if this was to happen then it'd surely become too big for Salford (& Sale) to get anywhere near filling?

Those phases are written into the contract when certain attendance figures are triggered. All the foundations are already in place apparently as part of the initial build.

I agree with your statement. However [iIF[/i the RFL were to purchase the stadia the phase 3 build would be perfect IMO

Ah okay, sounds like a good way of doing it actually.