Also handy for the weekly shop at Tesco !!!

I think the council payed for half of the price of the stadium, Whelan payed the other half. I know the go-ahead for the building of the stadium was on the premise that it was used for both RL and football. Whelan wasn't given the go-ahead when it was just WAFC alone, only when Wigan RL joined the party. At first Whelan wanted to buy Wigan RL and move Latics into Central Park.

Again this is a nothing argument. Just a wind up from Saints fans.

And you'll still always be second to Wigan.

its not meant to end up in a wind up argument,,it's just hard for a few warriors fans to stomach that saints will have a brand new purpose built rl stadium,,and we will own it !!!

Owning your ground doesn't matter a jot. Tell me what difference it'll make?

Well lets put it this way, i for one wish we had not had to sell out to Whelan, the idea to re-do CP with the money of investors at that time would have been a lot more benificial in the long run to WRLFC and we would not have to dance to the tune of WAFC.

The whole playoff debacle was a disgrace having to move grounds, as stated saints will not have to be the poor relation in there ground.

IMO it matters a hell of a lot.

AC Milan are tenants in the San Siro. nuff said.

I've seen the models of CP with it all re-done. Looked fantastic. Whelan saved us after Robinson sold CP. If Whelan hadn't bought us, we would have had to have built a brand new ground one way or another.

Quite simply financial stability, that can secure the long term future of the club.

Since transfer fees are more or less a thing of the past, players aren't really assets any more, however a multi million pound stadium on prime real estate! The stadium will also generate revenue from corporate events, social events etc.

If you buy a pint at the DW who gets the income? If you hire a function room at the DW where does the money go? The money from those kind of products and events at the new saints ground will go to? Yes you guessed it, Saints.

So own our own new purpose built ground or rent it? Sooner be in our shoes than yours thank you very much.

then had us bent over a barrel and shafted us when it suited him !

Why don't we build our own new stadium? It can't be cost, if Saints can afford it, we certainly can.

So why on Earth do we bother selling those kind of 'products and events'? I'd be interested in your response in the wake of 'The Big One 2'.

If we owned the DW, these would be the advantages

Revenue from events such as Weddings, Social nights etc
No silly ground venue changes due to the Latics
A large asset (currently the value of Wigan RL is in its players, Orrell training ground, and its gym facilities)
More control over prices of food and drink and extra revenue from sales

Disadvantages

Upkeep is high for a 25k stadium (much higher than the rent we pay)
We would be liable for crowd trouble/damage

Bottom line

Would the council have been willing to fork out to upgrade CP, NO

Good point. Its probably a percentage to Whelan, a pecentage to Wigan.

Didn't the ground cost £32M? Did the council conribute 50% to the price of the ground?

another issue is the planning permision and a location to build a new ground if we ever did look at the idea in the future.

Arguing about the figures is not important. What is important is that we do get a cut of this money. What our friend from over the hill is not considering is the amount we pay in lease, as a result.

Its widely acknowledged that The Stadium company have a certain reliance on 2 teams being there - as do most modern stadia outside the most successful football teams. To take a cut of the income we generate, we feel the benefits in terms of a VERY good lease.

In addition to this we would never in a million years get permission to build a second stadium in Wigan,there is no need at all. But then again why should we? with the above considered, and the atmosphere like it is on occaisions like Friday - I'm more than happy there.

It'sfunny as I was at the Saints game today, and the atmosphere when McManus came out was very surreal. Almost like he was begging for the fans' patience, and the fans not believing. Either way I hope it comes to fruition, as the condition of that stadium is a disgrace.

Saints will have a lot of council money like we did to build the DW. Ifg they would have know what we would have been treated like they wouldnt have got planning or funding.

You dont, whelan does.

Its obviously in your interest to promote games (eg, The Big One 2) because presumably 100% of the gate receipts are yours, but the sale of refreshments will go to the the stadium co. not Wigan RL, as will the renting out of function rooms for weddings, conferences etc

But we have no overheads apart from the rent of the ground which is very, very good value so the extra 10k_ fans admission is sitting nicely.

Clearly that is the case (weddings etc). But we have a product to sell, and that is rugby league. We can use all those facilities during games like the one and Friday and make a lot of money in the process.

Although we would like those facilities the compromise that's met is on the rent. Your situation is unique in this day of age. That's what worries me. Although its enviable to have that potential to make money, it looks like you'll have to make sure you do to make it viable.

Good for cash flow, but leaves you asset poor, with a balance sheet that looks a bit thin.

That goes without saying and is the same for any business, sporting or not. In fact its the same for you, only more so, you need the bums on seats and sale of club merchandise as its your only source of income, where as Saints will have gate receipts, merchandise, AND the income that the stadium itself can generate such as already mentioned function rooms & bars, plus semi finals, international matches, and the biggy the naming rights to the stadium.

The money for the stadium is there already, from the sale of KR, the Council and grants from the NWDA, (money from the Council and the NWDA is NOT a loan but grants, this does not have to be paid back and does not give either body any ownership or rights to the stadium)

From were i live the Widnes ground is only about a 50 minute walk and less than a 10 minute drive,though Saints could have handled this better and should put free transport on.

Saints have said they will do, alongside offers on season tickets that are tied to the season at Widnes and subsequent years too.

I for one am ecstatic at this news. Best news for many a year at Saints.

It makes sense that Saints are recruiting heavily for next season, they need to be successful to ensure the fans travel to Widnes.

KR is a disgrace & I really hope the new stadium is finally on the way.

Personally im very pleased saints are moving to a modern staduim. If Salford get their finger out, all Lancs clubs will have good staduims, its just yorkshire thats letting RL down

Solution
Bradford - Sell odsal and buy into Valley Parade
Leeds - Build a roof over the away end!
Hull FC - No probs there
HKR - build an away end!
Cas - Merge with wakey
Wakefield - Same as above

See easy!