It was my first visit to your place today and I would like to give my opinion. The main stand was very impressive, but the other 3 are just about big enough to create a good atmosphere.

Views were excellent, facilities were good but a little cramped in places, toilets for example. Bit surprised at the open aspect and i would imagine a cold February wind would blow right through the concourse.

Biggest negative was the location, isolated. Did the Eccles RLFC parking option and the walk from there was bleak and uninsipring even on a sunny July day. The sooner facilities are built around it the better.

Good luck for the rst of the season and I hope you make the play-offs.

So yet another Wire who did not visit the stadium for the drubbing a couple of weeks ago. Funny that....you'd think there were no Wire fans there that night as everyone I've spoken to so far says they didn't go!!! There will be about 200,000 at Wembley tho



The walk from Eccles RL was bleak? So does that mean putting a tesco next to the ground would make it any less bleak like the HJ?

Also as with the HJ our place is not yet finished as per the plans. Phase 2 and 3 have yet to be started and this may well change the open aspect! The HJ has just had 2 corners put in which has improved it and I would expect the other 2 to be done at some point. I find fans have some real funny ideas and want everything straight away. Patience is a virtue!!!

Thanks for the other positive aspects of your post but then you ruin it with this


What do you expect, views of the Taj Mahal on your way to the ground

Couldn't here any actual voices from my house, but could hear the annoying beat of the drum after the game. Think it may have been coming from Eccles ARLFC rather the ground itself!

This weekends disappointingly low attendance figures for the two semi finals must be a real concern for everybody involved in the game. Leeds v Wigan arguably the two best supported clubs only attracting 12’600. Then yesterdays match not even breaking the 10’000 mark at 9400.

It raises the question is our game financially sustainable and has it become too expensive for some people and can our sport sustain the wage levels the players are getting without increased sponsorship from Sky? With football clubs raising season ticket prices to ridiculous levels 'year on year' has this has had a negative impact of milking dry those supporters who like to go and watch both sports?

With the Bulls in the situation they are in and several others rumoured to be really hurting it's a very worrying situation for the game.
.

On the other hand, could the rise in football season ticket prices lead to some of the people who watch both sports reassessing whether paying a king's ransom to watch 22 effete men who lack the core skills of being able to control the ball, run with it and pass accurately really constitutes value for money?

The demise of Leeds United certainly boosted the fan base at the Rhinos and I am sure many have stayed Rhinos fans even though LUFC crowds are increasing.

Sign of the times www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18834894 Problem is players are on these six figure contracts but the Sky money hasn't increased at the same percentage as football and clubs are struggling to find sponsors and get people through the turnstiles. If the sports finances don't improve (or get worse) I would not be surprised if the game was forced to go back to being semi professional in two years time. The NRL and rugby union are leaving us behind financially and this will impact even more negatively on Superleague in the future.

Sign of the times www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18834894 Problem is players are on these six figure contracts but the Sky money hasn't increased at the same percentage as football and clubs are struggling to find sponsors and get people through the turnstiles. If the sports finances don't improve (or get worse) I would not be surprised if the game was forced to go back to being semi professional in two years time. The NRL and rugby union are leaving us behind financially and this will impact even more negatively on Superleague in the future.

But Listening to Sky and in particular those two clowns you would think everything is perfectly fine.
The whole set up of SL needs revamping to get people interested again.
The Franchise system has not worked as we still have clubs going bump, the top clubs get richer and any promising youth or other players are poached by these said clubs.
What have the clubs in the bottom 5 now got to play for, we have a very very slim chance of a PO spot but that depends on a whole load of factors going for us.
Clubs in the Championship have the NR Cup as a day out at the end of the season but what does winning the league bring , a chance to bid in the next franchise round whoopee do


Our sport will wither and die unless there is a serious sorting out of the whole structure.

Blimey, wish I would have lied now.

Jeez guys, I actually agree with TF (yes I'm agreeing with a Wire fan

), it's not the appealing walk and it's one that'll take more than just a few years to sort.

It was a much nicer walk before they removed the sofa from the stream, ahhhh the heady days when Salford had one of the modern wonders of the world in it's very own back yard



I've got to be honest what difference does the walk to a ground make? the approaches are all clean, tidy, safe and when the rest of the construction is complete it will be much easier to get in and out.

To paraphrase Basil Fawlty: what do you expect to see walking through Barton? The Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?

Apparently in the not too distant future, work on the new road and bridge over the canal is starting. That'd make the approach to the ground even less desirable, for those who aren't keen as it is. In my opinion, it could do with maybe a pub or a fast food outlet nearby, and of course better road access - which should improve with the new road.

To better paraphrase Basil Fawlty: what do you expect to see walking through Barton? The Sydney Roosters perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Bradford? Herds of Wildcats sweeping majestically across the plain?

- "I expect to be able to see the motorway!" - "you can see the motorway, it's between the land and the sky..."



I think people have read the negative(ish) write up in Rugby League World "Secret Speccie" and are now joining the bandwagon a bit. To be honest I go to ground to watch a rugby match and not the scenery. No one has criticised the stands, the view of pitch or prices - so where's the problem?

I'm not saying that Winwick Street or Orford lane are pleasant to look at but at least there are pubs and eateries. Are there plans to build a footbridge across the canal to the TC. That would be good.

Fair point. I think things will get better as time goes on. Mostly it is out of our control as the Stadium Management Company call the shots not the Rugby club.... But as the ground is going to be used for lots of things all year round ( RugbyUnion / Soccer / League Semi's etc) - someone will see the opportunity and open up some stuff. The recession is not helping new business start up as they can't get any money from the banks.

All that will come. It might take 20 years though.

They've only just got rid of the great crested newts, remnants of the Viking invasion, Pocahontas's brothel, Guy Fawkes secret gunpowder stash, two World war two un-exploded bombs and two visits from Warrington fans! Give em a chance!

That'll take at least 2 generations I expect.

ffs


If fans want scenery then go to the Lake District.
I have been to every SL ground in the country and not once have I felt urged to comment on the views whilst I walk to a ground.
What else will people find to moan about, the wind that blows on match days....hang on

The problem for me has been the £1 increase in the ticket price every season, way beyond the inflation rate. I was probably going to 15 games a season when it was £12-£14 (and often taking along friends new to RL) but now at £20 I'm going about 3 or 4 times a year and can never persuade newcomers.