Old news? They saw fit to discuss last night hence my post on here, i'd say it was current and future news considering that there is nothing formally agreed or announced yet

Let's discuss it then.

So Rich, what do you think about the prospect of Saints playing at the Stobart Stadium?

Come on yooooooou saaaaaiiinttts

burrrrrrrrr

You mean Javier Mascherano

Shouldn't do our franchise hopes any harm whatsoever, as long as their stay at Widnes goes without any major hitches.

On the other hand, if Saints can fill the Stobart and we can't four years down the line, what does it say for the growth prospects of the Vikings as a SL entity?

I hope that your fans and wonderful stadium will make us feel welcome.

Saints may only fill the Stobart against the likes of Wigan & Wire & possibly Leeds - they don't really get attendances to trouble our capacity in any other games TBH.

We, due to our demographic possibly won't fill it unless we become successful on the field and host major play off games. That however should not be seen as a slur on our prospects.

If elected to SL, we will see an instant leap of 50% in our attendances. We will continue to grow in subsequent seasons but not at the same rates dependant upon success.

If we can show the RFL that we have grown in a short space of time compared to contemporaries then we should see this as success in the short term.

Build on that and in the medium/long term we can expect on field success and with that comes further growth.

There's been lots of panic on Trustinwidnes I've noticed. Almost all of which unnecessary, but one point did make me think.

Will the casual Widnes supporters (those being the ones we hope and expect to attract back to the club if we are in SL) and other intrigued members of the Widnes / Runcorn public become St Helens fans if the club moves to the area?

Imagine if Widnes hosts the Saints Wigan derby, or Saints Leeds. The place would be rocking and the quality of rugby on the field will be as good as anyone in the Borough will have seen since the early 90s.

It only takes a change in the direction of the wind for mass hysteria to break out on that crazy forum.....

The casuals will do whatever they do, if they can only be d switching their allegiances when these clubs turn up on our doorstep it's doubtful in my opinion that they would make that extra effort to go the extra distance when they relocate to their new stadium..

Our crowds in Super League will be fine should we get there, what happens for a few months in between now and then with regards to this situation is of little consequence. We're too big a club to be held back by something so trivial.

Um, you clearly haven't watched Saints this season.



Personally I don't think there is anything to concern any Widnes fans should the arrangement for Saints to play at Widnes become official. We'll bring in some extra revenue, that's for sure. I would imagine the concern would be the state of the pitch. With two teams playing on it in a week it could get a hammering. Although Saints are apparently working with the RFL to try and organise as many away games as possible for the first half of next season, I would imagine there would have to be some creative scheduling to ensure that the pitch is in top form for both teams.

I'd like to think our crowds would go up 100% if we got into SL. If they only went up by 50% on last years we would average something like 5,400

I know alot who do not go because not in superleague, so i am sure the widnes fanbase would touch 6-7000 fans.Does not help with nothing to play for in 3yrs.So now is mainly hardcore fans going.

You are right A.N. Other. I meant to say they would practically double = your 100% quote. My thinking heads in for repair!!



I would take that another way. If people do go then you could argue that there is a market people for people in the borough to watch Superleague, thus enhancing our chances.

People have and will continue to watch other teams such as Saints, my nephew for one - partly due to their success and partly due to John Stankevitch becoming [ipart of the family[/i.

It works both ways. Plenty from St Helens and the Wire borderlands came to watch Widnes when we were [isuccessful[/i (some continue to do so). We can still [ipoach[/i this type of fan should we regain a place at the top table.

Why don't you put it forward that Saints ST holders get discounted tickets for your games then and try to attract some of their fans to your games while they are playing there.

Would you as a club keep all the concessions money or does it go to the Council as I guess the rent does ?

Aye, something of a double-header Sunday or something.

I'd guess Saints rent the ground and get ticket money and any bar sales etc will go to the council as I think they do now! We own a decent % of stadium I believe but don't know if we get anything out of it extra tbh.

The council fully own the stadium, the council also own a percentage of the club so I guess it works out that we own a percentage of the ground but to all intense purposes we don't.

However we have negotiated a fairly good deal so that we keep some, if not all of the money from the concessions etc.
In the case of Saints... pretty much all the money would go into the council coffers.

There are rumours going around that Saints maybe playing at Widnes for 2 seasons.

Isn't Saints new ground well into the building side and all going well? (Makes a joke of Salfords plans when you look at time scale etc).

Not yet mate,there are roadworks around the site but the contractor has'nt been sorted yet.

Oh right thought it was all steams ahead :S!

At last widnes fans can go and watch exciting attacking rugby!

You'll come good mate cream always rises to the top.I've always had a soft spot for Widnes and they have always been my 2nd team,come on you Vikings