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

I've never worked behind a bar but it baffles me how they still manage to have problems with the pumps in the South Stand more or less every game. Surely they must lose more money from all the people put off by the queues than what they would need to spend to fix the issue.

I think this is what has brought wane and also wigan success consistently and why even when against arguably better sides have come up trumps in big games. Some of the players in the side will have been coached by him at every stage of their Wigan career which I believe is huge these players will give that bit extra over a player brought in from another club.

I am excited for his international debut.i think it will suit him more than going to another club.if he can instil that win at all costs attitude into the england and gb set up I will be very happy

Very good question, but I'd flip it and say where do those 8 -10k fans go when it's not Good Friday?

The stadium isn't the be all and end all, but it does play a part in answering the question. The ground, for whatever reason, doesn't get going until there's a decent crowd on there.

Would a smaller stadium have created a more intimidating atmosphere and would that in turn have made it more appealing to stay away fans? I don't think anyone could answer that question, but smaller grounds do tend to have more atmosphere and that adds something to a night out at the rugby.

I agree it is very good but it’s daft to say it’s better than the DW IMO

It would be lost gate receipt revenue of £200-220k every two years with additional losses on merch, food & drink sales. Also every two years Wigan play Saints at home twice (loop fixture) and whilst we don't normally attract a capacity crowd it's normally well attended... 17k to 19k. So there's more lost revenue there.

Add in other games that have attracted more than 15k (Wire, Leeds at home) and it starts to add up. Then there has been World Club Finals that have been held.

Yes im mindful that our attendances over the last 2-3 seasons have dipped but historically since we've been at the DW we've had a decent number of gates over 15k (Bradford in their pomp... etc).

When crowds are allowed back I don’t think there’ll be many, if any, empty seats in most SL stadiums. It’ll be a huge money spinner for all clubs concerned and you’d imagine they’ll be throwing out cheap tickets like confetti to get crowds in and back.

The CV19 conspirators were right about one thing (kind of) - the great reset. The time fans have spent away from the game [ishould[/i act as motivation to get back to games they’ve made excuses not to get to in the past. If we as a sport can capitalise on that with the correct marketing we could be on to something. This becomes more prevalent with the World Cup which I’d imagine would be the first major international tournament held with crowds probably in Europe post CV19.

Crowds are dropping because the grounds too big! Brilliant.

I am on about design of stadiums.

All the ones I have mentioned are better examples than the DW Stadium.

As for atmosphere, even Victory Park, home of Chorley FC has a better match day atmosphere than the souless DW Stadium!

Why, do you not know?

Going off your logic.... If I gathered a dozen of my mates into my kitchen (post covid of course) and gobbed off a few rounds of "Wanky Warrington" it would have a better atmosphere than the DW stadium.

Depends if your kitchen is designed to have 12 or 25 in it. If it’s 12 it’s rocking, if it’s 25 it’s a soul less white elephant mate

Oh I know. I'm just wondering if you're willing to accept why it was given your love affair for all things 4.

Not looking likely i dont think.

In an era where most RL clubs including us are struggling to make ends meet, the idea of Wigan building it's own ground is for the birds.

I don't love the DW but at least it's a stable and somewhat modern home.