Or they'll probably end up allowing the AWAY supporters in to avoid any potential aggro. As regards HOME fans? Answers on a postcard please!

Blackpool,they are really frightening,even my great grand son is scared

Main stand impressive , seats and view are fine.The other three are scaled down versions of the stands at the Halliwell Jones and not impressive at all., The two end terraces don`t look to offer decent views, suppose we`ll find out at the Leigh game.
Food and drink seemed pretty standard , must admit there was a marked improvement with the tea and coffee compared with the Willows.As for the beer etc on offer nothing there to tempt me.
Think our new home is going to take some getting used to.
The pre purchase car parking ticket is going to end in tears for the Stadium Company , they really do need to think again. I have no problem with the charge at the stadium its on a par with Wigan and Huddersfield to name but two.Five quid to have an undamaged car at the end of the game is a small price to pay.

As I didn't attend the event on the 27th it's perhaps wise not to comment. However, may I ask those that did attend whether they believe the new stadium to be, as the club describes on a regular basis, "iconic" or "world class?"

Secondly, interlinking with your opinions of the new stadium, what do you believe it takes to be an iconic or world class stadium?

I think the use of the word iconic in relation to this quietly got dropped some time ago, BUT it depends what you mean by iconic - something doesn't have to be architecturally spectacular (or even impressive) to become so synonymous with a location as to be termed iconic. Take the RAC control centre as an icon of the M6, Castle Hill flats in Sheffied, This n That curry cafe as an icon of the Northern Quarter. Being a prominent structure in a visible location means that the sight of it will become inextricably linked with that area - this doesn't mean it's good architecture.

As for world class; the facilities inside the west stand are up there with what I've seen in very high profile stadiums, so arguably we will offer world class corporate facilities. The other three stands are sub Leigh Sporting Village class (unless pitch level views float your boat).

Paid up seasoncard holder at Salford City Reds. My main concern is that if a similar number of folk turn up at the new stadium for the opening game on 4th February as turned up against Catalans at The Willows last September, there'll be complete gridlock. And folk may not then come back again in a hurry.

no food in boxes as each seats 10, so food and bar are extra, I did ask

no food in boxes as each seats 10, so food and bar are extra, I did ask

I see your points re what is meant by the term 'iconic.' However, in the examples provided, how did they all come to be considered as iconic? That is, did the RAC and Sheffield council simply decide that their buildings are iconic or was this something constructed over time by a broader group of people? My point being, can the club just represent the new facility as iconic and thus, it is iconic? Or, does iconic status come over time and is it constructed by people?
(Overlooking This n That curry cafe for obvious genre diference).

Hmm. So, as equally arguable is the notion that the term 'world-class' is merely playing with semantics? Personally, the 'world-class' term has really riled me as it borders on the ridicuolous. That said, I've been to some of the world's best stadia and have often been accused of having extraordinary high standards so perhaps the meaning I place on what 'world-class' is, is different from the norm and should perhaps be overlooked. Meh...

Yes it was pointed out earlier, bloody expensive then, youve done well to sell them, with food and drinks yuoll be looking at 170/180 per head per match

Is the stadium ' Iconic ' ? , yes, due to its design of one large stand with three much smaller ones it will be easily recognisable, it is that which will make it Iconic

Not the original ' Armadillo ' but still an interesting design, funnily enough if you ever build the 2 nd phase it will become less iconic

Perhaps the recognisability of the stadium does give it status but, I'd argue that it gives it 'distinction' rather than an iconic status for the reasons listed earlier.

Applied to your second comment, the 2nd phase would make the stadium less distinctive rather than less iconic.

Meh, semantics and discourse giving rise to civilised conflict.

Yes ' Distintive ' rather than ' Iconic ' , much better

The scoreboard's shocking, surely a better one could have been put in? Agree with the comments re. the other three stands as well - although I guess the argument would be that if the other two building phases ever happen they'll be improved, even if it's only slightly.

Catering left a lot to be desired, as much as it's what you'd expect these days that doesn't mean it's good. Can't see myself using it that often to be honest.

The corporate facilities are spot on. I just hope we do see the majority of cash from them, rather than the stadium company. But seeing as we don't have any control over the standard catering, ticketing and the turnstiles I'd be a little sceptical about that.

G4S don't have the best reputation and it showed in some occasions yesterday. Walking up to the ground The Optimist said "alright mate" to one of them who just glared at him and muttered "alright" sharply back. Cheer up, for pity's sake.

The other one was by the 'dug outs'. Crossing the stand just into the second half I got right up to them on one side to be told I couldn't walk in front of them and would have to cross in the seats. Fair enough, not a problem, so I crossed the seats and came down directly opposite where I'd started to turn right away from the dugouts. Only for some bulldog to screech at me that I couldn't come down there and would have to go further across in the stand. Not exactly consistent with the policy on the other side. I'd assume there'll be some sort of barriers once the season starts to make it clearer, but a little consistency and a friendlier attitude wouldn't go amiss.

On the other hand, some of the other stewards were friendly and talkative, including the two who stopped me as I was accidentally walking down the players' tunnel! Seems to be as I've found elsewhere with them - some of the 'higher' stewards, or those in a more specialised position with some knowledge of the game are friendly. The low-level grunts don't have a clue what's going on and see every situation as having potential for aggro. It'll be interesting to see their reaction to our supporters when we're getting leathered one week...

It's nice. It'll take some getting used to before it feels like home. But we've got to make the best of it now. I still can't help thinking that, with us not having any control over things and that we'll only see money from ticket sales if we sell enough to cover the rent first, we're not going to be that much better off. If we hadn't had the cock-up with RCD and the ground was still ours I'd feel a lot more optimistic. Then again, maybe I'm still just finding it hard to move on from the Willows.

What on Earth do Blackpool have to do with anything?

You're excelling yourself at the moment.

There are some right nob heads on here lol.


It's not our stadium so forget everything we dreamed about with RCD and the "iconic" stadium we planned. It's now all about making the best out of what we've got.

Yeah the stewards will take a while to get used to a RL crowd and the difference to a footie crowd, Yeah the food isn't great, but neither was the willows - at least you shouldn't get food poisoning here!

Yeah it's a fiver to park, but hey it's the stadiums ground if you don't like it feck off and risk your car somewhere else.

Bottom dollar is we now have to make the best of it we can. It's going to be a difficult environment to do it and things may not be the smoothest. However even I am willing to give them grace in the first year to get things sorted as they learn the best way to manage the stadium.

Shut the feck up moaning and pass it onto the club via FB etc.... as I have. whingeing on here will do feck all to sort things out

Hark at the keyboard warrior

, you'll be dyeing your hair a vivid hateful colour next.

Looking at some of the discussions on the club FB page, that'll achieve the grand total of bugger all as well.

No No No!!!!!!!!!! That can't be true because I've Whinged about loads of things and then they've changed their minds due to my whingeing.

I know this because Bobby told me that the club had listened to the fans, backed down and given us what we want regarding the open day etc.........

Reds you have a lovely new ground and as a Leyther I am looking forward to coming next week. May even become a casual visitor when we are not playing if I can park safely for free. You are going to have a bit of a bumpy first couple of seasons at the new place just like we have but all I can say is it will be more than worth it. Our place is only just starting to feel like home and the company who run the stadium are just starting to reallise that they need to talk to our club as equals for everything to work.
Both parties won't be use to this . The new management team for the stadium and you not being used to just being tenants. All I would say is never let it become an us and them situation as has been reported was happening at Leigh.
It has taken the near demise of our club for the LSV Co to sit up and listen.
Chins up Reds and good luck for this season.

If football hospitality is anything to go by you rent you box for £x per season and then pay for all your meals and drinks on top.

My first impression of the stadium in the main is very positive but I feel the reception/ hospitality areas are very bland and need some large wall pictures to brighten it up. A few people I spoke to said they preferred the feel of the Willows hospitality more than the greyscale contemporary look of the new place. Due to it's high ceiling, shear size and amount of glass I thought the large function room felt like an airport terminal without the gate numbers. Another recommendation would be some sofa's near the two bar areas.

I have to disagree the hospitally looks modern and clean,Sharp and spacious rather than the willows that looked dated, old school, like it was stuck in the 70/80s all cuddled up
We want to attract investors and new fans alike then this is the way to go.

That's exactly what happened

I don't disagree with what you are saying I was just saying what some were saying to me. I can understand what they meant and in my opinion some finishing touches like pictures and sofa's would help break up the blandness. Perhaps they already have these things planned but they weren't ready for the 27th.

Think someone needs to look at installing better sticks as despite there being very little wind yesterday they were all over the place, they looked not to be a solid construction.
Was very impressed inside in general and thought that the security staff seemed genuinely helpful, but do think the scoreboard needs to be much bigger.

A friend pointed something out that when say Warrington, Wigan or any of the other big teams come the North stand is not going to be anywhere near big enough for them, where will the balance of the supports go??