I don't think it is. That said, Bradford being a city of culture might get the government a bit more publicity if they awarded the funding, which is what they'll enjoy.

At least it won't be a dream they can spin out for years, we should find out very soon shouldn't we?

The cynic in me wonders if Bradford has sufficient numbers of marginal seats to merit winning this bid for £50m. Even then the scheme relies on another £50m of match funding. That's a heck of a lot.

What's that fat pink thing flapping overhead and going oink oink?

That would be Nigel Wood exploring his feminine side I believe

Any ideas when the decisions are made etc?

The council driving the project gives a small amount of more creditability and there seems to be more sensible thinking from capacity size to multi purpose use.

Still very very unlikely we ever see a spade in the ground mind.

A Tory government dishing out cash to a labour stronghold going back to the 70s for the main purpose of a sport played predominantly in northern towns to a limited number of spectators. And with the main tenants struggling to attract around 10% of the projected capacity? Sure why not.

I wonder where they will put the statue for Nigel Wood OBE?

Thinking about the size, if we were somehow to become a sustainable SL club in the future (I know) then 25k would still be far too big.

I know they want to stay at Odsal and there would be the other benefits talked about in the plan, but realistically 15k would be more than enough.

Unless we get a backer and we manage to win something, then even as a sustainable SL club I think there would be only 1 or 2 games where we would sell out at 15k.

Anyway, back to reality….

In that reality, we would look like Wigan in the DW I suppose

This is sounding more and more like that "...if I won the lottery..." thread

I can never understand this concept of a "25K stadium for the Bulls + RL showpiece events".

It's far too BIG for the Bulls unless we ever get a cashed-up sugar daddy, and we all know that's never going to happen.

And it's actually far too SMALL for the RL showpiece events. Too small for Magic, Cup Finals, Grand Finals, et al. Too small for Internationals, unless we are talking about games vs France or Combined Nations. You'd have to think we'd be looking bigger for Australia or even NZ. Maybe it would be OK for Summer Bash and Semi-Finals but do we really need a dedicated stadium for that?

So you end with someone that's in a weird middle ground. Far too big for week-by-week club use but not really big enough for the kind of showpiece events that we have (apart from a couple of annual niche events).

Basically, a big, expensive white elephant that suits nobody.

That's probably what makes it more likely to happen... another multi-million pound phuq up

Too many cooks involved in the decision making. What the rfl need, what the Bulls need and what the council want are 3 different stadia.

I hope if the new ground is built they have a retractable pitch for the stock cars.

Or just a really small pitch

Only if they are "E" Stock cars!

The 25K seating is a comprise one by the look of the plans mainly due to keeping the pitch where it is.

The fact a Tory Government is in is not relevant, as previously mentioned the Tesco one got Flamed by a Labour Home Secretary,

I think you have to always consider the political considerations. As you say it was Labour last time (damn you Stephen Byers!). The allocation of "Levelling Up" money will be a political hot potato.