https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/61118140 I see yet again, Cas have come up with a way not to have their home ground at the standard of all the other SL clubs (bar Wakefield), by deciding to "redevelop" their antiquated stadium. I wont be holding my breath to see anything half decent in place of that crumbling hole of a stadium in the next 4 years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/61118140 I see yet again, Cas have come up with a way not to have their home ground at the standard of all the other SL clubs (bar Wakefield), by deciding to "redevelop" their antiquated stadium. I wont be holding my breath to see anything half decent in place of that crumbling hole of a stadium in the next 4 years.

It’s an interesting one. I personally like the old stadiums much more than the new ones. Give me a Belle Vue or Wheldon Road any day of the week. I also understand the game needs to move on and new up to date fit for purpose stadia are now essential for the image of the sport and also to bring in a new generation of fan.

I see the refurbishment of a stadium personally as a great way of retaining the classics features of the stadium whilst introducing the essential features required to bring the clubs in line with the sports ambition and generate income away from the sport and increase turnover on match days.

Headingley is a great example of how it can be done successfully and seeing plans for both Cas and Wakefield’s new stadium I’m excited to see what can be done as I believe if done right they will be fantastic assets to watch rugby league in.

Wakefield’s stadium in now nearing the end of the pre construction phase with the bulldozers ready to arrive in the next few months and I hope Cas get the same with less of a struggle with the funders.

I’m personally very excited to see these schemes and the end results because I think they have the potential to stay true to the history of the game whilst embracing the future.

Well said. I personally hate these football stadiums that are generally half empty’s and soulless. Wherein road is usually absolutely rocking on a Friday night, and the actual pitch us probably the best on SL. Horses fit courses though. I personally prefer atmosphere and accept a crumbling stadium. Headingly is a pretty good compromise but is awful when we are getting 6k in for local derby’s…!

The pitch at Wheldon Road would be even better if they could make it the same length as all the others in Super League.

Yep - pretty sure most would have embraced the offer of a redeveloped Central Park.

Bang on the money. New stadiums are depressing. Feels like the heritage has been ripped out. As said, a redeveloped Central Park would have been brilliant. Cas staying at Cas is a good move for me. The fans can enjoy new perks but stay on their stomping ground. I miss central park terribly and I even miss Knowsley Road terribly. I mean, who wants to have a pi$$ in a toilet anyway?

Absolutely, it was already 25% redeveloped as well. Shameful how it's end came about.

As far back as 1998 they where supposed to build a new stadium and retail park! They have spent there entire home games on a ground that only measures 88 metres try line to tryline.

Maybe they should just rent a local football stadium instead?

or ask Tesco to build them one....

This clown isn’t a Warrington fan, he’s just a Warrington obsessive from a small deprived town from down the road. Sad, but there we go….

Tesco buy stadiums don’t they?

bought the land and built Wires...aye

Personally, I don't think it matters how you finance your stadium. 100% preferable to us, who are stuck in one of the worst grounds in the league, complete with d head landlords to boot.

At least they've got one to develop, just saying like.

Technically we currently still own a stadium that's falling to pieces as well.

Just a dig at the OP mate not the club or it's fans

Couldn't agree more, I used to trot off to Weaste after work when we were playing Reds at the Willows. Complete shed held together with spit & string, but it did have atmosphere. Altough I did wonder about the tea van being so close to the toilets at the away end

Sooner be in Cas's position than ours

Older grounds tend to be in the middle of towns. New(-ish) ones, like the DW, tend to be out of town, on some God-forsaken trading estate, etc.

I never went to Knowsley Road (before my time in Lancashire), but that was the exception, wasn't it? Some way from the town centre.

Wasn't a huge walk but easy to get to (off the train for me) few pubs along the way, always good banter. Never saw any violence. In the ground you had to walk through the St Helens end to get to the Wigan end, again, always good banter and no violence. Used to get my name shouted by a few as i was walking through as i expect many did by Wigan based Saints fans. That's what my pi$$ing in a toilet comment was about. The toilets at Knowsley Road consisted of a wall everyone used to just lash up against. Obviously can't have that now but still good memories. Loads of little aspects have been taken out of stadiums that make them a bore. The smoking ban, you no longer get the faint whiff of cigars being smoked by the flat cappers, even things like mobile phones, nobody used to have their hand up in the air videoing everything. When people are sat down and not being entertained they reach for their pockets. I am nit picking of course and i am only 37 so that is how fast the it has changed. It hasn't been over a 50 year period, its like 15. So grounds like Cas and Wakey, we need some around. Look down into the Championship, there is only Leigh, York and Widnes that have stadia that the Super League want and with the championship getting sod all funding, the likes Workington have got no chance. The super league will expand (Maybe this year because they want Toulouse in there) and then expand again then it will be a closed shop and take relegation away again.

To be fair, The HJ stadium is well located for the train or bus station, is less than 5 minutes walk from the town centre and is surrounded by numerous pubs. You can see why it gets a lot of semi finals and world cup games, despite a lower capacity than most of the modern stadia in super league.

You mean the tesco express they built on Central Park?

At least get your facts straight!

















It’s a Tesco Extra

Cas could get away with developing 2 stands, the Railway End and the Main Stand. Plenty room at the back of both stands to flatten them and build something proper, with corporate facilities.

The other 2 stands aren't in the best condition but at least they have a roof over them, I think it'd be a shame to change them.