All football and rugby clubs have to do a 'live practice' three times a year. It's to ensure that the stewards etc know where to be if a major incident occurs.

Best UK ground in Super League for me (I can't comment on Catalans as I've never been there, but I've been to all the domestic ones).

It's how our ground should have been built in my opinion - standing behind the sticks and seating at the side. I hated the South Stand until this season when they extended it so I can stand by the divide with the East Stand for more of a "behind the sticks" view.

Oh, and I didn't walk through the town or see the new bridge I'd been told about because I got walking directions from St Helens Central station off Google Maps and they sent us a different way. It was only a 10-15 minute walk though and brought us straight to the away end which was handy.

I therefore can't comment on pubs or walkways around the ground overall, but the bars on the concourse were quite quick to get served at and there was plenty of room around there, so I was fairly impressed.

I thought it was excellent but, as mentioned, a little lacking in atmosphere. I think we know, though, that it takes a few years to bed in a new ground and the cladding will surely sort that out.

It didn't feel like a trip to St Helens to me: no trudging through puddles, far fewer unwashed locals and a very poor opposition. Even though we parked a fair walk from the ground, still ended up getting home much sooner than you would have done from Knowsley Road.

Well done, keep it up (especially the quality of the team, they're hopeless).

I too got that unfinished feeling about it. Bit cheaper than our ground for ale etc.... but agree with dropkick, its good that both standing areas are behind the sticks at both ends. Adds to the atmosphere IMO......

we got dropped off in the town centre and went in Lloyds bar and Wetherspoons there was a good mix of fans in them both then we had a 5 mins walk to the ground over the new bridge.the ground itself is very good but certainly needs the cladding finishing off but all in all far better than K Rd.

Who are the Peasley Cross Partnership ? Wanting to charge a fiver to park on the Queen's highway. Gangsters no doubt.

Stadium should have been built where Tesco got located to make it just a bit nearer to the town centre, like we did with The HJ. But a much better location than Knowsley Road as it was only a short walk into town and of course it's great to have modern facilities.

They do need that cladding though as it was a bit windy and cold at times (I wouldn't like to be there when it rains) and of course it looks unfinished.

Stadium is ok, but spoilt by the wind. Did the Saints board run out of cash as it looks half finished ?

The big concern about last night though was the pre-match entertainment. What the hell was going on ? From the small parts that were legible I got the impression they were singing about Typhoo Tea ?

Credit to Saints on the admission price for kids too. I had a ticket which I paid £18.50 for from Warrington and I understood that it would be £20 on the turnstile (which it was). As this is exactly the same pricing as our terraces I assumed it would be the same for kids, so when I took a ticketless 12 year old lad with me I thought I would have to pay the £14 it costs me to get him into the South Stand on a match day. I was therefore delighted to get to the turnstile and discover it was only a fiver! Warrington please take note!

Yeah, but we all know what happens when you sell cheap tickets

I heard that it was supposed to have cladding all the way round but because the roof came off pre-season they couldn't finish it.

Also it was rather funny when the electrician was needed for the control room and a fan shouted they haven't payed the bill

Thoroughly enjoyed it and liked the stadium design, (obviously the game helps), but, some of the openness, as opposed to it being unfinished doesnt help contain the atmosphere.

Easy drive from M62, parked in Chalon Way multi storey only a pound and an easy walk to the ground. Noticed a few pubs that might be worth visiting next time to let the traffic 'go' after the game as we were on 12th floor.

If I was being really picky, the walk past Tesco and across THE bridge was a bit tight esp after match when larger numbers approached at the same time.

Nice ground, easy parking, no trouble, no underlying threat of trouble, nice experience, friendly staff, impressed.

You get an attendance which is bigger than Warrington's capacity?

It's a totally different experience in the piddling rain. Trust me, soaked was an understatement at the England game when I was queuing for ale. So overall, first experience has ruined my opinion of it. The grounds turd and unfinished. Although last night was better due to the dry conditions, bigger attendance and better atmosphere.

Still no HJ though, regardless of how many it holds.

Instead of using the bridge it's easier to follow the road next to the East stand up to the roundabout and turn left into Parr St to Chalon Way car park. www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/207883 ... l_plan.pdf

Instead of using the bridge it's easier to follow the road next to the East stand up to the roundabout and turn left into Parr St to Chalon Way car park. www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/207883 ... l_plan.pdf

Once the cladding is up the atmosphere should improve. Beyond that, why would you say the HJ is better? The facilities are better at Saints ground, the view of the pitch is excellent from anywhere in the ground as well.

Same for me. Really enjoyed the night, good atmosphere and a quality controlled performance from us.

It's miles better than the HJ.

I prefer the HJ to the all seater KCs, DWs and Galpharms of this world, but Langtree Park is a big improvement.

The cladding makes a world of difference. Just feels unfinished and soulless. Probably agree to disagree here but I'm glad to be at the HJ and wouldn't swap anytime soon.

Hated it when I went to the Exiles game, but it seemed ten times better last night. Maybe that was to do with the fact it was full and not ing it down. Plenty of decent pubs in the town centre, although I didn't go in I liked the bar in the stand, something we should look into, if we haven't got space to build one maybe stick a marquee up outside, would be a nice little earner for the club. Very impressed at how quick the service was inside the ground after hearing bad reviews from Saints fans, the 'beer only' queue was a great idea. The stewards were like the Gestapo at the Exiles game and ruined it for me, but there was none of that nonsense last night. Once the cladding is sorted out it will be a brilliant facility.

Unless you are behind the sticks on the first level, with Burly stewards in front of you (at one point 5 in number) we could not see the action on the left side. Why the Mounted police?

How do you think i feel when i have to pay £14 for my six year old boy.Plus the cost of my ticket some sundays it cost me the best part of £50 for the both of us.Thats with food and drink

That's right, Saints don't do student tickets so they have "young adult" tickets which is people from 16-21 years old.