The AL Bell was built with a capacity of 12k because, at the time of construction, that was a requirement of Super League Licensing stadium minimum capacity. Now, the new minimum requirements for a Super League standard ground do not state a minimum overall capacity at all, just the minimum number of seats required for paying spectators and directors, along with other requirements in respect of hospitality, car parking on site etc.

Hence the reason the proposed new Stadium for Castleford at the the proposed Five Towns retail development has a capacity of 10K (which of course can be expanded like the HJ, by filling in the corners)

Unfortunately, Salford have just been unlucky here and suspect if they were building now, an initial capacity of around 8k would have been ideal for them.

This is a beautiful post.

The biggest problem is you were 3rd in the league , had beaten Wigan the week before , were playing the top of the table and could only muster 4,400 speccies with Leeds making 2,000 plus of that , now i realise that some of you guys are as loyal as they come (Salford supporters) but unfortunatley there are not enough of you to sustain a Super league team

The Doc's money would have been better spent elsewhere. Obviously hindsight is a great thing. I just don't see it working out at Salford.

Why are some Rhino's fans obsessed with Salford's attendances? biggest problem Salford's got ..having 2 very successful Manchester football teams on the doorstep.....its a traditional football area plus Bolton is approx 12 miles away and Bury 10 miles from the Stadium.
Not having a go but you don't have that problem,, Leeds United are a pale shadow of a once great team playing in a lower league.... I suspect that Joe Public finds football an easier sport to watch and follow..Rugby is a more acquired taste and takes a bit of getting used to with respect to the complexities of the rules....Salford have had a lot of false dawns and very little success over the years and it will take time to get the larger public onside.. the AJ bell certainly doesn't help in its current state ..it desperately needs the surrounding infrastructure improving.... it resembles a scene from Halo at the moment ..anyway all the best for the rest of the season ..I always enjoy the Rhinos style of play and believe Rob Burrow is one of the most under rated players of the Super League era and will be a massive loss to you when he moves on or retires.

Not sure obsessed is the right word, but to answer the question, poor attendances = reduced cash into the club = a club that may not be financially viable in the long term = another potential failed club. Which in the end is bad for the sport we are all passionate about. Oh that and the fact that you can't beat a bit of friendly banter

Its just in the wrong place. Its as far from their core support as when Saints played at widnes for a year, like you guys having to play in Bradford. There is zero walk ups, which i've never known in any sporting stadium

Whilst I'm not discounting the effect of moving, I'd imagine there's very few walk-ups at Headingley these days.

But let us hope for the sake of the sport that Salford get it right

As was pointed out when the game time was moved - the Man Yoo v City derby was on the same afternoon as well. If Leeds United were playing a huge derby game (I guess against Man Yoo would be their biggest at the moment) and it was around the same time as the Rhinos were playing AND the LUFC game was on Sky, wouldn't that limit the potential crowd size at the Rhinos' game? Factor in as others have said if Salford's situation would be like the Rhinos playing in Bradford, how many 'floating supporters' would travel to Bradford and pay £20 to watch the Rhinos play when they could stay at home / go their local to watch a big 'derby' game in the football at the same time pretty much and for less money..?

Just got home from a few days away that started in St Helens on Friday.

Whatever the mistakes that Salford have made with their stadium, St Helens haven't.

Everything about Langtree Park is absolutely spot on. It's location is a 10 minute walk from the town centre, it has all the facilities you'd expect from a modern stadium. Tesco is right next door, there's plenty of free parking. The atmosphere is electric and it's an attractive, welcoming building.

Every time we've been to Saint's new ground we've been impressed - well done.

I dunno much about the ins and outs, but, this being the internet, I'll have a speculate anyway... The internet is never short of people to correct me when I'm wrong.

I suspect that the ground was a (with hindsight) poor business decision, but one made at a time when the club probably didn't have a ton of good options on the table. The good Doctor, while I don't always like the way he conducts himself in public, is a shrewd business man, and probably had the agreement to build the new ground been made on his watch it would look very different.

It's slightly surprising that some of our Salfordian visitors take umbridge at the criticisms, despite apparently having the same criticisms themselves. I like to see more strong, sustainable clubs in SL, and I hope Salford find a way to make it work.

Living, as I now do, near Coventry, I see that moving to a shiny new plastic ground away from your club's soul is sometimes a very short-term win. I can't help thinking that competing for the hearts and minds of some of the people from Weaste and surroundings would be a lot easier if you were sat on their doorsteps. Actually moving so that Manchester United are much closer to them, as well as having greater pulling power, seems a bit suicidal.

Well there's me for a start.

Always seems to be a decent queue at the cash turnstiles when I do go to games, which is what I'd class as walk-ups. People who haven't bought a season ticket and have decided - often on the day of the game - to turn up anyway.