Unfortunately this piece of "new" news has started all the old debates but lets just stick to basic facts for a moment....
the news item referred to simply says that the stadium will be launched in stages. It doesn't say it won't be built. Why is building in stages a problem? As said above, if it's fit for purpose and is not breaking the bank then it's good enough.
If 12k capacity is no.1 priority importance to the RFL then Cas are not the only one in trouble and if the stadium is built with "capicity increasability" then I'm ok with that too.
Sounds like sensible Project Management if the alternative is proving difficult.

Also, when deciding who should be getting franchise, why not stick to the criteria already stated by the RFL rather than picking the one that fits your arguement.....otherwise we'll just end up mirroring the previous epic threads and getting it locked at 500 pages.

The biggest concern I would have if I were a Cas supporter isn't that it's that potentially the ground is going to be built in stages, it would be the fact that he has confirmed they don't have the funding in place to build any of it at present.

I wonder if any of the money that has been WASTED on overseas players could have gone towards the cost of a new stadium for some clubs?

wow, bang on the money for once

I’m sure some of it could, but enough to fill a funding gap for a new stadium, perhaps not?

Besides money wasted is very subjective, some overseas players have proved very useful, for example the number of overseas players Wakefield had in 2006 probably enabled them to stay in SL, and if they hadn’t spent that money on them then the situation they find themselves in now would be very different.

Chances are, with little clout as a Championship team, they wouldn’t find themselves in such a position to be on the verge of securing a new stadium. The developers probably wouldn’t have bothered involving them in their scheme.

Please clarify where he said we have NO funding.

You are correct looking at it again he doesnt specifically state it- however, the The SL website states funding has not yet been secured.


"The club have outlined planning permission for a 14,000-capacity stadium just off the M62 but have yet to secure funding and chief executive Richard Wright today warned they may have to build the new ground in stages."

The stadium talk wasnt what concerned me, but the downbeat attitude to Cas' on field chances this year that seemed a little strange

You seem convinced that a new stadia will enable expansion via Manchester.

The proposed the new stadium is further away from Manchester than Salfords current home.
The Willows hasnt always been an old ground,so why havent Salford expanded into Manchester before?
Could it be that the people of Manchester dont have any appetite for Rugby League and prefer their football.

Although evidence shows that new stadia increases crowds,what evidence is there to suggest it will increase the geographical expansion of the game?

Im far from convinced that Salfords new stadia would offer any real expansion into Manchester.

I'm not going to speak about Castleford's stadium plans in any great detail because I simply don't know the truth about their situation. Richard Wright has made so many statements over the past four or five years regarding funding, design, deadlines etc etc. I'm not sure whether even the most informed Castleford fan knows what's true and factual and what’s smoke and mirrors.

As for Wakefield Trinity's plans whilst not being involved in any capacity I do have a good understanding of where they are in terms of planning and funding.

The most recent and possibly the most encouraging news to have emerged regarding Wakefield's new stadium at Stanley is the councils underwriting of a £150,000 loan by the developer from the Co-op bank. This loan is to pay for the detailed planning application for the stadium and services which will supply the stadium, roads, power etc.

What makes this underwriting or guarantor position important is that it will only come into effect should the planning application fail; it is therefore a vested interest of the Council that this planning application succeeds.
When/if the planning application succeeds then the funding for the stadium is released and the £150,000 loan from the Co-op bank is repaid from that funding and then the stadium construction begins. Should the planning application be referred to the government it is widely expected that the government will immediately pass it back to the council? The council would not be acting as a guarantor for a loan which is taken out for the purpose of securing planning permission were it not ready to grant that planning permission in the event that the government passes the decision back to them.

As far as the site at Newmarket Lane is concerned, I doubt there is a more suitable site anywhere in the Wakefield district. There certainly isn't another site that would not attract some level of opposition from local residents, so what we're talking about is the level of opposition that any particular site would attract. Once again in terms of the level of opposition to the build there isn't a more suitable viable site anywhere in the Wakefield district.

When considering all of the above and factoring that 100% of the funding is secured pending a positive outcome to the planning application, you don't need to be Albert Einstein to work out why Wakefield Trinity, the development company and the council are so optimistic about this project being completed.

Glasshoughton?

no stranger than justin morgan and brian mcdermott saying they were going to win super league last year.

having met richard wright and knowing what is knowledge on the playing front is pretty appalling for a ceo id take what he says with a pinch of salt on playing matters,im sure the players and coaching staff have set out a few goals for the season which i would imagine would be something along the lines of a play off spot and a good cup run which given the age of our side would be a good season.

just remember a pessemist is never dissapointed.

I agree....who are the "people of Manchester" that Salford are targetting.

You have inner city "estates" such as Moss Side / Gorton etc....who either are died in the wool football (Man City) fans or have no disposable income or inclination to travel across town on a Friday night.

Then you have the inner city young professional apartment dwelling types, who would take a LOT of persuading to be interested in any form of rugby league - never mind in giving up their Friday night out to go to watch "Salford" play any type of sport.

Other than that there are outlyng towns such Stockport, Oldham, Bury etc....who already have RL on their doorstep, and will probably already be aware therefore already likely to go if they are interested.

I would be interested to see the Salford marketing plan on who they are targetting and how they are intending to do it.

Surely Dally will have access to this.lol.

Well put,i just dont get this attitude of a new stadia will expand the game into Manchester.
I wish Salford all the best and hope they realise their dreams of a new stadium,as i do with every club trying to get a new stadium.

Sheffield played in super league in modern facilities,but were unable to make a significant mark on a city dominated by football.

Hmm I don't think the Salford stadium would happen but if it did it would see Salford as a club boom imo.
The Willows hampers attendance like no other ground in SL, call me disrespectful but the area is a rough dump of the lowest class.
A stadium just off the M60 won't only see home crowds flock back but a huge increase in away following due to its accessibility and area

I dont disagree that crowds will improve,i just dont think they will improve because of expansion into Manchester.

Unless there is something to get them there in the 1 st place people tend not to ' flock ' anywhere , and just to look at a new stadium wont be enough

Something you have been a long way from throughout this thread. I have rarely read so much ill-informed comment spouted with so much authority.

Wakefield fans know that the funding is in place, and all that is needed is permission to build.
Castleford fans know that permission is in place but have no funds.
In terms of youth development, it is worth pointing out that Wakefield won the 2009 Academy Grand Final. Castelford, equally, are in a strong youth area.

Which one is further ahead is a matter of debate, but most of those closer to the action would bet on the spade hitting the dirt in Wakefield first. And as for Manchester being expansion? Where have you been? It's a heartland area, especially around Oldham. It just doesn't have any decent clubs at the moment.

They have had decent attendances in the past, they have poor ones now.
The prices they charge to travel to that dump are extortianate. I think Salford would average 7-8000 in a new stadium situated where it's planned to be.
Common sense

lets assume wakefield and cas are both removed from superleague and replaced by widnes and halifax in their nice shiny stadiums.

what impact does this have on the sport and the competition?

two more uncompetitive teams to add to crusaders and salford(assuming they survive the cull)

lets not forget who funds SL. SKY want a good competition and are more concerned about good quality teams than they are about pretty stadia.

sooner or later they may just tell the RFL to get their acts together or they might find another sport to fill the friday/saturday night spot

he who pays the piper calls the tune.

your attitude seems to be that people will only watch 1 sport at a time.

you are aware that RL is now a summer sport right?

if a club like sale can improve crowds with marketing and money, salford playing a far more attractive sport will do likewise

salford havent had money for ages. a new ground will certainly bring in fans and media into salford

and also the BBC moving to salford their sports dept. will help..

manchester is a heartlands area huh?




franchising decisions are made 1 year hence.

will you get planning approvals in a year?

nope.

looks like its another case of wakey "promising" a new ground to stay in
SL.

uncompetitive is based on a teams ability to spend the full salary cap

widnes with a new ground and rich owner will be able to go closer than wakey (esp. higher crowds)

Wow, you’re a clairvoyant!






[size=50Any chance of this Fridays winning Euro Lottery numbers please?[/size

I bet wakey aren't THAT much off the cap.
possibly a couple of megastars wages but I bet they are about 1.3 mill