Although I know the cladding is some way off being finished, already I like the effect it is having. Last night I felt like I was in a stadium for the first time. The noise was terrific and there was no hint of the wind that I knew was blowing around outside. While the weather this year has been terrific when compared to last - when we most needed the cladding - I think once it is all done the stadium experience will be much improved by the cladding.

I like the fact too that I didn't have to think about having to wear wellies in the concourse. Even if it had rained, aside from those parts of the West Stand still to be clad, it would have been dry, and that in itself feels like a bonus.

You would still have to wear decent footwear in order not to get your feet wet when walking to the ground, so that argument is pretty much irrelevant.

The west stand is now fully clad, just the fascia's to put on to finish the job off.

Work is only expected to be complete for the world cup game in November
That should give people an idea of the work still needed to be done.

With regard to noise, I did notice a reverb when people clapped, which reminded me of the distorted sound you hear at old Trafford. This is no doubt being caused by sound waves bouncing off the cladding back into the stadium.

Do think that the cladding will help with atmosphere but ultimately its up too Saints fans to make the noise in the first place.

Yeah, but the wet indoor concourse was slippier underfoot than the outdoor one as the concrete is very smooth inside the stadium. It was an accident waiting to happen and I'm quite sure that the potential for slips was one reason why we now have the cladding to keep the area dry.


I doubt that as there is one segment which has no cladding at all and last night was causing a gale force wind to drive through on to the bar in the West Stand. That segment isn't even over the gateways. If that isn't being clad, and I can't see why it wouldn't be, then that would undermine all the rest of the cladding as rain would simply blow through and cover those of us waiting to be served at the bar.


Yes. Saints have said this via various media. Still, the work that has already been completed has had an impact and I like it.


Absolutely, and that's a positive.


Which they will if the team put in a performance worthy of making a noise in the first place.

It did seen odd that this section was open because it was the same in the opposite end. That leads me to believe that it may be being left open, although I'm sure the plans showed it all to be clad?

If that's being left open then there may as well be no cladding further in either. I stood at the bar and the wind being tunnelled through that gap was amazing, and that was with a relative breeze outside. I can't believe the club would be so dumb as to leave one big section like that unclad.

Could they?

Perhaps it's a structural thing? Could be allowing the wind through temporarily whilst something else that strengthens the structure is put in place., then they'll close it off maybe.

Hope so! Otherwise they needn't have bothered with about a third of the cladding in the West Stand!

Does anybody know if they are going to be doing the South stand?
The problems were just as bad there as the West and East.

Either you are a bit

According to the plans, both the west stand and the east stand will be fully clad. There are currently some sections that are not cladded. I think the reason for this is because they are a bit more difficult to clad. They may be leaving the trickier bits until last.

If you look at the section that is open in the west stand, it is in the far corner where the west terrace meets the south stand. The brackets for the cladding are going to have to be attached to a wall rather than one of the steel uprights.

It is the same in the north stand. Pretty much all the brackets are in place except the ones near the centre where the red cladded wall/section is. I think quite a bit of work is going to have to be done in these areas in order for the brackets to be bolted on.

Like I said, I think they are just leaving the tricky bits until the end. Lets wait and see.

I have to say though, I fully agree with what a few people have said on here since the game on friday night. It felt like a proper stadium. The noise was great. When it is fully complete it will be a truly fantastic rugby league stadium. Well done Saints!

Ah-hem. Yesh (hic) I do mean the North Stand.

Any idea when? In time for next season do you think?
I vaguely remember that they were doing East & West first but leaving the North until much later as they only had so much in their budget or was I drunk again?