I had it behind the KCOM, roughly equivalent to Huddersfield. I was going off size/quality of the stadium, bearing in mind Ruddy Duck said it was second rate. Don't get me wrong, as a fan I prefer the tinpot ones.

Huddersfield is looking its age now, thing is 1 side could fall down and another burn down and still be better than Cas, Wakey and HKR, I too prefer Wire and Saints grounds

I’m not going to reply to everyone.

Why did we leave Central Park?
Why is the DW a white elephant? You’ll do well here especially given we don’t even own it

It is behind KCOM, Totally Wicked and HJ purely down to age rather than facilities much like Anfield or the Etihad are behind Tottenham Stadium or the Emirates. It has bars, function rooms, large seating areas and a restaurant. It has facilities good enough for the Premier League. So why then is it second rate?

Does it need work done? Yes. Long overdue. Most stadiums need yearly work doing to them. That doesn’t mean it’s second rate.

Please do answer the questions I’ve asked. I suspect you can’t or won’t but please try.

very true

serious question based on last couple of pages of comments

why do fans see other stadiums as better than the DW? Is it because we only visit them once (or twice) a season, and as away supporters the atmosphere is usually better than at the DW? i have a season ticket in the East Stand, which is a great seat for watching the game, but poor in terms of atmosphere for the majority of games.

IMO the DW is a better stadium than most that we go to, i would say with the exception of Hull as there is something i like about that ground. Why do people see Saints or Wire as better grounds than the DW? is it mix of seating and standing, but would you appreciate standing week in week out (or is that just me getting older

) at one of those stadiums

I prefer to stand in all honesty

What about ripping the seats out and creating a standing section.

My opinion is they’re ‘better’ generally because they’re newer and have some better facilities. Other than that I don’t really see how they’re much better. If I had the choice I’d have a stand for standing but it wouldn’t be a clincher for me. I can see why others would prefer that though.

That depends entirely on the FA and their research into safe standing (if it’s still on going and assuming Latics do survive) I’d have thought.

Yeah deffo. Forget the costs, we should get it done.

Won't matter unless they make the Prem again.

Would any decisions on “safe standing” not reciprocate down the leagues?

Grounds dont have to be all seater outside the prem so if they choose to rip up the seats they can.

Shrewsbury have it already I think.

Fair enough didn’t know that

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Old Trafford is having some standing areas put in and if its a success then more will follow.

May I suggest that some of you look at some of the other many new stadiums in the 12,000 to 20,000 capacity bracket before you defend the DW Stadium which is is not as nice in design, no standing areas and has a capacity far to big for the two clubs playing in it due to a pipe dream of Whelan that Wigan could become bigger in Football than Rugby League.

Wigan could have had a far better designed Stadium with standiing areas and a capacity more suited to the crowds that both clubs now get these days.

Even in our own game of Rugby League, the DW Stadium is not as nice in design as the new stadiums in Doncaster, Leigh, Salford, St Helens, Warrington, now York and especially that of Rotherham United in Football.

Wigan like Hul is now a top club in Rugby League with a Stadium which is more geared to Football than what it is to Rugby League!

Yes, a souless White Elephant!

no it couldnt as Wigan had plans for the Prem and need an all seater stadium, you hit the nail on the head with new stadiums, Its over 20 years old now so isnt new by any stretch, again with Hull they have been in the Prem, can you blame them you got over 60 million a year for tv rights in football alone so why wouldnt you gear up for that?

So our 25k stadium is second rate, but a 12k stadium with standing would be first rate. You regularly moan that Wigan don't host as many internationals as we used to, how does that fit into the picture? Which York stadium are you saying is better than ours? Bootham Crescent is a shed, the LNER is all seated and holds 8k

Where would the 8-10k Wigan & Saints fans go on Good Friday if Wigan only had a 15k stadium?

I think the DW stadium is a great facility that probably has started to look a little weathered over the last five years. Yes a few things need to be addressed:

Stadium Sponsorship - Naming rights, why the hell is this still called DW?
A new sponsor replacing the seats inside the stadium to show logo's would improve one area that's needs tidying up.

New Screen - I like the new screen that was only installed last season. If another one in the opposite corner (South/East) could be erected then everyone in the stadium can see without having to crane their necks. I suppose this is a 'nice to have' rather than a 'must have'. Sound system within the stadium is fine, can hear announcements.... etc.

The pitch - a problem that hasn't been resolved no matter how 'world class' the new pitch seems to be. Could drainage under the stadium and pitch be improved (raising the pitch level). Expect this would cost millions though. However this side of town always seems to be underwater (Asda roundabout gets flooded every winter). Can't even blame two teams playing on the pitch these days.

Concourse - Always had that 'unfinished' look to it, bare concrete block walls but we've got used to this now. Food and drink kiosks could always improve their offering to reduce waiting times. Toilets are top class still (when comparing to Central Park River caves)

Things like the South Stand bar, North Stand Marquee, East Stand Corporate rooms are still very good, so no complaints there.

All of this is out of Wigan RL's control at this moment in time and would need to be upgraded by the stadium company (whoever that turns out to be), with 4-5 groups currently in the mix for buying the football club it's unlikely we will have any input (unless things take a drastic turn).

They could lift them over the gate or get their mated to let them in like they did at CP



As for the pitch, did anyone see the state of the KCOM at Hull last night?

And still no answer as to why we left CP to play in this 2nd rate stadium

All of which are newer than the DW therefore, generally, they will be better. And if you think the LSV is better than the DW you need your head testing.

You still haven’t answered;
Why we left Central Park?
How the DW is our white elephant despite us not even owning it?

I seem to recall you bemoaning the lack of internationals at the DW and making a point that it was a 25k seater so is well suited to host them (I paraphrase naturally) but now you want us to reduce it by 13k? Which is it?

The stadium design and look is subjective. You don’t speak for everyone when you say it could be far better designed. At the end of the day it’s a bleeding stadium. It’s going to look a particular way.

All it needs is money spending on it to make it look better, the concourse, the South Stand Bar, the seating and as someone else mentioned - almost certainly a name change. Other than that it’s a top class stadium with good facilities.

to be fair the LSV is very good but again is newer