Does the 'build time' that was bandied around actually mean how long for the whole project or does it refer to just the actual building the stadium once the groundworks are done? If the latter it will be a tight squeeze to be open for Christmas(I refer to of course xmas 2011), especially as you guys still have have/have had a boxing day game?

www.barr-construction.co.uk/case ... e-stadium/

www.barr-construction.co.uk/case ... e-stadium/

archaeology trial trenching, hope they find nowt.

Ditto. That could delay the project for ages.



I noticed it said a completion date of October 2011. The stadium will then have to be fitted and kitted. It's gonna be tight!

If time team is anything to go by then there will be an archaelogical time window to enable recovery of artifacts. Will probably be two weeks. After which everything starts again. Only chance of getting things delayed longer is if archaelogists found something like the Lost Ark of the Covernment. or King Arthurs Camelot buried under the glass works.



Interstingly looking at Warringtons stadium. They started work in January 2003 and handed over the completed stadium that October.

Now when you consider that Barr have started the Saints ground some 5 months earlier than Wires ground, but with the same month of estimated completion, then it shows to me that there is some leeway in the timescales being worked to.

There shouldnt be any concern at this stage about not being in the new stadium for the start of 2012.



Just to show you how quick things can move wants everything is demolished.



This was the HJ stadium site in February 2003









This was the same site in May of the same year

If they find my screwdriver, Avo 8 and potentiometer that I left at UGB on a service visit many years ago then it will cause massive delays in the construction phase.

They are real relics.

Seriously Rogues, what do guys like you - fans of local rivals, think about the prospect our new home?

Like you I'll be sad to see the old girl go. As I've posted on the Wigan site I've got some great and not so great memories of Knowsley Road, from sitting on folding chairs on the ringside, watching the Harlem Globetrotters, Boxing days through an alcoholic haze, the 5 -4 Lancashire Cup classic and the 75 - 0 and so many more.



Onto the new ground. Like everyone else I suppose it'll take a bit of getting used to. Where do we park? Where do we go for a beer etc. I'm already looking forward to our first visit, and will keep an eye out on the progression on my weekly Wednesday visits to B&Q





I sincerely hope everything goes to plan, it's ready on time and it's a success. However I do have one reservation. I'm not convinced that Saints will see the expected crowd increases, particularly if on field success isn't achieved.

A lot of people point to Warrington's crowd increase as a template, but in their case the HJ coincided with the a wholesale change under Simon Moran and the hope that a middling team starved of success was moving into a new era of success (which to be fair, is reletively true). Saints on the other hand are a team that's been consistantly at the top and regulary winning trophies for 14 years now, even if its been a bit slow of late. There's not a lot more they can offer on the field.

Mind you, even if crowds stay the same, i could imagine the running costs will be lower due to the lack of running repairs needed and we'll surely get more income from the coporate/conferencing side of things.



I'll miss the old place like crazy, I've a lot of great memories, but tbh Widnes is more convinient for me (which is a minor silver lining), and once we're in our own new shiney stadium, I think the heartbreak of moving will heal quicker than people realise.

Lets be honest though, their ground is more like a Meccano kit, functional but spartan, yours is going to be at least the equal of the KC and should take at least 13 months from start to finish when you consider how much demolition needs doing & the signing off etc.

Archaeology digs can always be worked around anyway but it might be the weather that holds things up if we have anything like last winter.

It'll be cracking when it is done & fitting for the Saints team performances, hopefully the town will show their support in greater numbers than ever especially for games that are not so appealing which is where it appears you fall down even during your all conquering season (7 out of 14 home games were under 10K with 2 of the other 7 just over by less than 100).

I don't get this "mechano kit" rubbish. Ok our ground may not be the biggest, may not be the best, but it is ours. It was built mainly for use a rugby league ground, it holds the largest function room in warrington, and also houses an nhs clinic.



It also has the prospect to be expanded. I think Saints ground us gonna look great, but I thank the lord the HJ came when it did, mechano or not!

I'd be disappointed if i was a saints fan that the ground is not 18,000 all seated. I still shake my head when i see blokes walking to the 'newly built' HJ stadium, with milk crates and stools for their kids to stand on so they can see. The architects need to watch a match kneeling down on terracing to experience the view anyone under 5'8" gets before they design a new stadium with terracing.

I would think terracing would be a request from the customer ( the club ) and not just in the mind of the architect!

As I have posted time and time again. In 2007/8, Saints did a series of surveys around the borough. It focused on schools and why people weren't attending.



Knowsley Road, for some part of St Helens, is 3 bus journey's away. The new stadium is a five minute walk away from any bus trip from any part of town.



For people from St Helens, this is a massive plus, it takes away the need to drive and risk parking down Dodd Avenue and other areas.



Saints expect the rise to come mainly from people (be they juniors with their mates, or families) coming from their homes in the borough.

the fans wanted.



(Look how many football fans you see standing in all-seater stadia at Premier League games !).



Plus terracing reduces the build costs of the stadium.

So some of the fans views are allowed to influence what the majority would want. I feel its the wrong decision.

I am aware the cost will be lower, but again its short sighted, i feel, and just think what an 18,000 all seater purpose built RL stadium would be like. You would then have some of the best facilities in the country. Now you will have an ok stadium where a good proportion of the crowd will find it difficult to see the game when the ground is full.

It was a sizeable number of fans who voiced their opinion that they would prefer standing areas within the new ground and the club listened.Giving the supporters the option to sit or stand,where there is no legal reason to have an all-seater stadium,is what was requested and what was delivered.

Largely empty looking I should think! But if fans fall out with the idea of standing, seats can be put in. It won't be the same capacity but it will be all-seater. However, lots of fans wanted to stand. They preferred to stand along the sides, but behind the sticks will do. I want to stand. I want to be free to jump up and down, and to change my view, albeit with limited variation given the position behind the sticks. But lots of fans are going to miss the freedom they had at Knowsley Road and being able to stand is one way of maintaining that.



I just hope the atmosphere in the Wide to West end can be something similar to the Pop Side. It won't ever be the same, but maybe we can get something going.

A choice or seating and standing is what the majority of fans wanted and thats what they are getting.



As I stand at 6' 4" tall I am more than happy I can stand at our new stadium, as most stadia's in the UK don't cater for larger people generally.

I am 5ft and have rarely had a problem with view when standing, I get in early enough I can position myself where I should be fine, if there is a problem its easy enough to move when stood anyway (not that I can remember the last time I had to). If anything I have had more problems when sitting as I seem to always end up with the giants sat in front of me!



I will be sitting in the new ground as it will be easier with 2 young children hopefully attending games within the next few seasons. If it wasn't for that though I would have happily stood at the new ground.

Just ask Sadfish to move if he's sat infront of you

Stood in front of you is worse!!!

Thank you, whilst arguing for your new stadium as it will be you make my point for me, "I will be sitting in the new ground as it will be easier with 2 young children"

Why exactly does that mean that there shouldn't be the option to sit or stand as there is now?



Just because my personal preference has changed it certainly doesn't mean that is what everyone else will want.

And what's even better about the new stadium is that like it or not the majority of you Goons are going to have to stand behind the sticks, as only a tiny proportion of seating, tucked away in the far corner, has been allocated for Away fans.