DVS is not council owned. It's owned by Sheffield Internation Venues, who seem to think that it's appropriate to play rugby league on a pitch covered in broken glass.

There isn't one in the area AFAIK. I know that Chesterfield are currently building a new 10,000ish capacity stadium, but apart from football & darts theres not really much sport in Chesterfield. (I know this, having lived there for 17 years)

Doncaster has it's own team, with the stadium. Perhaps it would be for the best after all for Sheffield & Doncaster to merge. Sheffield's squad with Doncaster's facilities would help the game survive in the area IMO.

Maybe you are right, but you just can't force a merge on two teams, they have to do it themselves.

You then lose your localised opposition which is also a plus when trying to build a support base , and the Keepmoat is already too big for both or either club as well

I've watched the eagles at Owlerton, Bramall Lane, Hillsbrough, Don Valley and Saltergate. I work within spitting distance of Bramall Lane.

Big problem is Sheffield is simply not a rugby town, never will be. Neither is Chesterfield, I live there. No one gives a damn. Bramall Lane will give a better atmosphere, but apart from a thousand or 2 diehards I can't see where the fan base will come from. I'd love it to happen but having been here for 20 years, I've still never heard anyone out round town talk about rugby.

DVS is a soulless place though, no atmosphere, I wish Mark et al all the best

Spot on. They had a brilliant CC win and yet the people of Sheffied were still not interested. Nor were they when ST prices were slashed. That is when the Sheffield owners knew there was no long term viability in SL and they looked to a merger.

Well at least Bramall Lane will give the club a higher profile better income stream and better publicity, SL would be a different ball game as the money and profile are a lot higher than when Sheffield were last in the elite division. Realistically a successfull SL Eagles team could pull 5000-6000?

Will let you know what its like there in January. Hull Fc play Sheffield in a friendly on the 24th January!

Aye just read that in the rag, very pleased.

Neither do leeds

so RL should only expand to places where RL is already strong eh?

It takes time to build a tradition, there are a few decent amature teams in the area so at least the game is played already. From Little Acorns mighty oaks grow!

And to be quite honest, the Eagles are far from a failing outfit anyway. In fact, I think it's nothing short of a miracle that they maintained such a high average at Death Valley.