| FORUMS > The Virtual Terrace > Salford's situation |
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| Quote: shinymcshine "Looking back a bit, Salford's average attendances upto 2012, at The Willows were nearer to 4000, so an assumption of doubling that purely down to a new location seemed wildly optimistic.'"
i seem to recall thinking at the time, being disappointed that they didn't get teh last season influx, lapsed fans coming back for one last look, |
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Warrington were lucky with their stadium.
The luxury of political help - is he now Lord Hoyle,the former Labour politician,plus the Tesco link.
Salford were unlucky,2008/9 the banking crash.
Some councils want stadia - some don't.
Perhaps Super League will reject clubs,like Wigan who have to share stadia owned by an outside sport.
Or clubs like Leigh,who don't own the Sports Village.
Newcastle won't get into Super League,nor York,as their stadia owned by Union and soccer clubs,respectively.
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IIRC I don't recall much "luck & luxury" in Wires rough & rocky journey to a new stadium.
I do recall 7-10 yrs of planning & financial wranglings and uncertainty of whether the club had a viable future.
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| Quote: SaleSlim "Oh I dunno.... weren't Wire averaging something like 4000 at Wilderspool before they moved to the shiny new HJ? It's amazing how winning multiple Grand Finals can add another 5-6000 to your fanbase. ![]()
Hull's average went from 7k in the final season at the Boulevard to 11.5k in the first season at the KC. But a big factor is we had a lot of fans who had drifted away during our dreary 90s where we played on division2, struggled financially and became the Sharks etc we also improved on the field around that time and winning the Cup in 2005 and then reaching a Grand Final in 2006 probably converted those 'new' fans into lifetime ones.
Salford have been in the doldrums for years and sadly due to Covid the boost from their afinals appearances has been muted, and a lot of the team have moved on rather than containing to build.
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| Quote: Fantastic Mr Catpiss "So, taking this at face value, in the final season at Wilderspool,2003 we averaged 6904,the year before was probably about 4k, if not less due to the state we were in, we didn't get to and win the challenge cup until 2009. 5 years later. our first play off win was in 2006, so you it had nothing to do with success.
In 2004, the first year at the halliwell jones, the average was 9880, and halfway through that year is when simon moran became majority shareholder. He Pays for the nice things, the extras but the stadium is self sufficient with plenty of non matchday income, that was crucial to the design of it, it had to pay for itself.
Why did that attendance increase? a combination of reasons, mainly the location of the stadium was within walking distance of about 60% of our season ticket holders (and lapsed members at that point) with good motorway links and close to a trains station, to make it easier for away fans, and we went down the family angle. Since the stadium plans went to planning enquiry we ramped up our community projects and were in schools all over warrington practically every day, building a new fan base, kids and their parents, we won the SL community club of the year award something like 4 times in a row over those 4/5 years, we put a lot of effort in.
We didn't just build a stadium and expect people to turn up.
Salford moved away from their walk up/hardcore supporter base, to a location thats a ballache to get to.
The location of the article is neither here nor there, the picture, the artist impression, was released by Salford City reds, this was there grand design, its a fantastic design, almost iconic, and at the time that's admirable, you couldn't possibly tell me with a straight face that you weren't disappointed with what you ended up with.
But hey, it's easier to hit out, then admit faults of our loved ones.'"
You are right that location is a big factor, luckily in Hull we moved to pretty much a centre spot between The Boulevard and Boothferry Park to suit both fanbases with good train and bus links. Moving to an out of town retail park hasn't been good for many teams in Football. Fans are hard to win back when they have got out of a habit, and for some being able to wander from the Pub, or meet their mate at a bus stop etc is part of the day out. |
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| Quote: UllFC "You are right that location is a big factor, luckily in Hull we moved to pretty much a centre spot between The Boulevard and Boothferry Park to suit both fanbases with good train and bus links. Moving to an out of town retail park hasn't been good for many teams in Football. Fans are hard to win back when they have got out of a habit, and for some being able to wander from the Pub, or meet their mate at a bus stop etc is part of the day out.'"
Indeed, as i say, Winwick road link to the motorway is fantastic (apart from the traffic) and having central a stones throw away as well is a massive help.
All the town centre parking as well.
One thing that does get forgotten about, is removing Bridge Foot aka spaghetti junction from the traffic equation, coming from the north it was virtually impossible to miss if you were heading to wilderspool. |
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| Quote: Fantastic Mr Catpiss "i appreciate your need to defend your club, like a third rate vastman, but defending them blindly isn't correct.
however, i'll deal with your rebuttles in my next post. cos i think this deserves its own.
*clears throat*
WHAT GRAND FINALS?????
i get reminded on a daily basis on here, on facebook, on twitter that we've never won a (sl) grand final, so bit of a weird flex.'"
I think you missed the irony of my post.  |
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| Quote: shinymcshine "Whilst it was a grim night in February 2012, Salford only managed to attract 5424 to their first game at the new stadium, almost half the 10146 that attended their last game at The Willows - so never a good starting point.'"
Yeah I was there. It was about minus 5 IIRC.
And let's be honest half of those who turned uo at The Willows for the Catalans game did it to say I was there (exactly as they did at the Grand Final). I'm under no illusion we get small crowds.
BTW, you and Mr DogPlop are conveniently missing the point that we were forced out of the Willows by Super League who said the ground wasn't up to scratch but have since allowed Wakey and Cas to remain in their ultra modern abodes. Those s are every bit as much to blame for the shambles.
Edit: To clarify I'm referring to those s as in SL and not Wakey or Cas.  |
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| Quote: SaleSlim "Yeah I was there. It was about minus 5 IIRC.
And let's be honest half of those who turned uo at The Willows for the Catalans game did it to say I was there (exactly as they did at the Grand Final). I'm under no illusion we get small crowds.
BTW, you and Mr DogPlop are conveniently missing the point that we were forced out of the Willows by Super League who said the ground wasn't up to scratch but have since allowed Wakey and Cas to remain in their ultra modern abodes. Those s are every bit as much to blame for the shambles.
Edit: To clarify I'm referring to those s as in SL and not Wakey or Cas. ![]()
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and perhaps you should have held your ground (pun intended) and redeveloped the Willows. The 8k average attendance to support your move to the new ground was a club figure as I understand it and was always a big ask.
A triumvirate of you Cas and Wakey would be better placed to resist the mandate of new ground requirements if you worked that ticket together
Btw the previous poster saying that some local authorities should support stadiums like we Wire were lucky well yes we are but Salford's stadium is owned jointly by Salford City Council and came at a cost. The location although not as central as the Willows is there such a thing in Salford, wasn't a big surprise either I just think that you the supporters were victims of a combination of desperation and pipedreams
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| Quote: SaleSlim "Yeah I was there. It was about minus 5 IIRC.
And let's be honest half of those who turned uo at The Willows for the Catalans game did it to say I was there (exactly as they did at the Grand Final). I'm under no illusion we get small crowds.
BTW, you and Mr DogPlop are conveniently missing the point that we were forced out of the Willows by Super League who said the ground wasn't up to scratch but have since allowed Wakey and Cas to remain in their ultra modern abodes. Those s are every bit as much to blame for the shambles.
Edit: To clarify I'm referring to those s as in SL and not Wakey or Cas. ![]()
I miss the willows, it had character none of this breeze block plastic seat e they knock out these days 
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| Quote: SaleSlim "I think you missed the irony of my post. ![]()
There were so many inaccuracies it just blended in.
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Salford getting 8k?? There is more chance of Warrington winning a grand final
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| Quote: Poky "Salford getting 8k?? There is more chance of Warrington winning a grand final'"
Jog on LeBron you snivelling little turd. |
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| Quote: SaleSlim "Oh I dunno.... weren't Wire averaging something like 4000 at Wilderspool before they moved to the shiny new HJ? It's amazing how winning multiple Grand Finals can add another 5-6000 to your fanbase. ![]()
5000 at wilderspool climbed fairly quickly to 11,000 over a few seasons at Halliwell Jones but it wasn't great success on the pitch..
Wire didn't get to a play off final until 2012 but had an 11,000 average crowd by 2005
It was the demographics, the rise and rise of soccer in Manchester........ and the move by Salford to a wasteland............against a fast growing Town with a top RL club as it's leading footy team.........
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| Quote: happyjack "Yet there are strong rumours around that they have signed one of your players, how do they afford him?'"
Because Warrington can still be paying his wages it just doesn't count against the cap anymore |
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