I think if you look at the game from a Bulls/M62 prospect the above dire projections might be right.

But if you look at the NRL - top 8 separated by 2 points, the advances made by the Island nations - eg Tonga, and in the sunny south of France - then the wider future is perhaps brighter. Might just have to accept that the Bulls may never regain the top tier

I think I am fine with being a strong CH club.

Currently what I am not fine with is this protectionism from the SL clubs and their fans, some of whom almost went bust (Warrington - a week from liquidation) and some of whom were not even in the original SL (eg Hull, Hull KR, Huddersfield (two of which had terminal financial meltdowns)).

Our game was founded on anti-elitism but to me these SL clubs are saying 'We're ok now, sod you!'. So yes, if we never make it back that's cool. But EVERY team should be at risk of never making it back.

I can understand their thinking, only 4 teams have won the SL and one is in L1 and they are scared silly given the games shrinking but tht is the way it has to be.

Conversely, with a new stadium on the horizon and some real momentum building York should not be stymied, if it mean losing a Hull or a Hudds then that's good for the game.

Whilst we have Odsal we'll be stuck, and again I am fine with that because I love the place

I used to love Odsal but she's had her day. We need a nice new ground. Nothing big and flash. Something like Leigh, Donny or Warrington.

Of course that's never going to happen...

At Odsal in 1954 I had one of my most cherished memories in over 70 years of watching rugby league.

A Challenge Cup Final replay watched by over 102,000, a world record RL attendance, until exceeded in 1999 at the newly built Sydney Olympic Stadium with a crowd of 108,000 for the NRL Premiership Final. I was there too.

But there were waaaaay more at Odsal

We all seem to have rather gone off topic and rather than looking at the future of Odsal we appear to be looking back at its history which is fine but is not really the topic of the thread.

We accept what Ferocious Aardvark says in that the term "[iwatch this space[/i" regarding the Head Lease really says nothing. But in any case keep watching fellow Bulls fans and rugby league fans.

Belcki, were you walking up Bradford Road, Birkenshaw on Tuesday about seven pm?

That's rubbish stalking. You're not supposed to tell them you've been following ffs.

Odsal is a grand old ground but unless they decide to make The Kings Speech 2, it is unlikely to be anywhere near filled for a long long time to come. It is clearly the case that we need a new stadium but we have been discussing this on here for years now.
Over the years we have seen new stadiums for, Wigan, Leigh, Warrington, Saints, Huddersfield, Widnes, Salford, ‘ull FC, alongside significant upgrading at Leeds. We have been left behind clinging onto a financial millstone due to “history.”
However, as an outsider, the complete apathy of the Bradford Council towards both its premier sports club is shameful and it won’t change. But, on the other hand, the stadium is still way better than holes like Castleford and Wakefield which are, IMO, more embarrassing for people watching than half-empty stadiums are.

And he's back.
Hello Eddie, how we have missed you....

It's my favourite Jock.

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie

Oi, Oi, Oi

Quote: Mrs Barista "Hull FC fan in peace, no agenda other than I live locally. Apologies if covered elsewhere but heard some outlandish rumours today (from a random source) which can be summarised as; RFL have agreed to sell Odsal for housing Richard Dunn centre will be demolished and will house a new 12k seater for you guys RFL also to relocate Red Hall to this site. Sounds bonkers to me but the source, although nothing whatever to do with RL, generally has their finger on local property news. Sound crazy? I heard this rumour too. About 40 years ago, and again 30 years and again 20 years ago and again 10 years ago. I heard they were going to build the Wembley of the North at Odsal, a Sky Dome, a multi faceted state of art leisure/media facility and the third runway for Heathrow along the M606. None have happened. The RFL do not own Odsal, they cannot 'sell it'. The council own it, but have no money to build anything on that land or Richard Dunn, in the current economic climate. There are no planning applications in for any of these 'projects', nor for any 'land fill proposals.. Once again another Odsal rumour that will likely go no-where. Now as much as I love Odsal, it makes absolute sense that Bradford should have a large, all purpose 'city stadium', close to the M62. It should hold approximately 40/50K and be used for major events such as concerts/festivals as well as different sports, have leisure facilities to bring people into the city and be used as a decent home for the Bulls and Bradford City/or Park Avenue. If that could build on the land on which Richard Dunn sits, or the land at the back of Odsal along the M606, fantastic. However as stated, we've been saying this for forty odd years. It is not happening yet and likely never will. That's a shame, but true, as we've been saying for a very long time. https://planning.bradford.gov.uk/online ... pplication

Quote: Mrs Barista "Hull FC fan in peace, no agenda other than I live locally. Apologies if covered elsewhere but heard some outlandish rumours today (from a random source) which can be summarised as; RFL have agreed to sell Odsal for housing Richard Dunn centre will be demolished and will house a new 12k seater for you guys RFL also to relocate Red Hall to this site. Sounds bonkers to me but the source, although nothing whatever to do with RL, generally has their finger on local property news. Sound crazy? I heard this rumour too. About 40 years ago, and again 30 years and again 20 years ago and again 10 years ago. I heard they were going to build the Wembley of the North at Odsal, a Sky Dome, a multi faceted state of art leisure/media facility and the third runway for Heathrow along the M606. None have happened. The RFL do not own Odsal, they cannot 'sell it'. The council own it, but have no money to build anything on that land or Richard Dunn, in the current economic climate. There are no planning applications in for any of these 'projects', nor for any 'land fill proposals.. Once again another Odsal rumour that will likely go no-where. Now as much as I love Odsal, it makes absolute sense that Bradford should have a large, all purpose 'city stadium', close to the M62. It should hold approximately 40/50K and be used for major events such as concerts/festivals as well as different sports, have leisure facilities to bring people into the city and be used as a decent home for the Bulls and Bradford City/or Park Avenue. If that could build on the land on which Richard Dunn sits, or the land at the back of Odsal along the M606, fantastic. However as stated, we've been saying this for forty odd years. It is not happening yet and likely never will. That's a shame, but true, as we've been saying for a very long time. https://planning.bradford.gov.uk/online ... pplication