I'm not slagging the ground as a facility because it's miles better than HP but you can't ask fans to pay to get into their own bar and then charge them £3.50 a pint or whatever it is.

The ground doesn't have anything in it that says "Leigh Centurions" about it either. At the moment it lacks a bit of character and our stamp (and Genesis) on it. Until that happens the average fan will always feel we were better off at HP.

Correct. You've got to strike a balance somewhere and they're way off the mark at the minute.

A vicious circle

You need fans to create atmosphere to bring in fans to make money to run the club to improve the quality of the players to improve the performance of the team to provide entertainment to help create atmosphere

You cannot create atmosphere without fans

Getting fans in costs money if you dont have enough paying fans to create the atmosphere needed

You cannot control the results of the matches within reason but you can attempt to control the entertainment that the team provide and also the atmosphere you create

It is not easy but it can be done

a very interesting thread, and it seems the vast majority of us hanker back to the old hp days, me too. i missed the last lisa meeting, but am i right in thinking this simon toone geezer was present, if so were these problems/concerns raised, and do we know if he or somebody from lsv will be coming to the next one. Because surely as a business it is beneficial for lsv have more peole use its facility. One of the real bug bears it seems and i agree is the lack of a supporters bar, until this is solved then it won't feel like ours, people are not going topay 2 quid for the privledge of walking into a bar, yes many problems but we and they will have to to solve them, because much as we look back to the good old days of hp its gone.

no he wasn't at the last meeting (the one before) and a LSV rep isn't on the list for the next one (see thread above)

He did agree to be in attendance at any meeting requested though Fred


So the MAY meeting

One thing LSV/caterers could easily do is let LISA members in the Legends bar before the match & at half time without charge.A simple act that rewards that section of supporters & may even encourage others to join LISA.That in turn would help the club to get better players & a better team would increase the attendance and so on and so on.

Totally agree with East promoting themselves and if LSV/Caterers have a problem maybe they could:

Let people in the bar for free
Lower the prices on food
Lower the prices on drinks

But we all know they are money grabbing at the min so good luck to East taking advantage

I like the new ground.

Great to have a [iclub[/i shop which is on site and offering reasonably priced, good value merchandise to buy.

Normally prefer to stand.

This season West Stand season ticket holders.

Fantastic sheltered and unhindered viewing along the sidelines.

However, has the rugby on display made me less animated/excited/vocal and supportive? Is it because I am sat down? Is it because of those spectators around me? Or am I just maturing a little?

I am unsure as to which it is but one thing for sure is certain, as many have said, it does not feel like home and at times is like moon base alpha -somewhat lacking atmoshere!

Also, even though I have never been a big 'pint before the game man' I like the option and prefer to be amongst fellow supporters in comfortable surroundings within the grounds. There desperately needs to be a free supporters bar which is accessible before and after the match. It is fine to get your refreshments 'under the stand' during the game (if you can afford to) but it is just not the same. I am a Leigh Miners man but the Easts is by far the best option at the moment.

Also, it is important that there is a little bit of something for kids entertainment pre match as this definately helps with THEIR match day experience.

I know there are a million and one other improvements that could be made, but until the free supporters bar and kids entertainment issues are addressed the place will remain souless and non-atmospheric.

Well said! Having started the thread I am amazed at the level of response and pleased at how many suggestions for improvements there have been.

Hit the nail on the head. We all show our frustrations with the club and they do make mistakes, but are they flogging a dead horse?

There seems to be some idealist memories of Hilton Park as well. Would anyone really have enjoyed Sunday's game any more if it was at Hilton Park???

I like the new stadium but I feel several things have to change.

Open up the west stand central area. It will stop the empty terrace view and create more noise. Also the west stand has a great disabled platform let some people use it free and then they will probably bring a helper.

Get some cover over the ticket office or open 1 cash turnstile per stand for the last minute supporters. Make it easy to get in rather than an effort.

Offer, not individuals, but groups of people a free ticket to visit a game. A complete class from a school (sorry if they do this already), fire service, nurses, British Legion etc. Maybe once they have been they will come back again.

Have a supporters bar selling reasonably priced food (like the MM bar). I use the hotel at the moment £5.50meal deal (food and a pint).

Get rid of the rest of the scaffolding around the stands. Put some shirts or posters up. Make the concourses friendlier where supporters can chat.

The new stadium is a great opportunity but if not careful it may turn into a bureaucratic white elephant.

Kids......

At HP, they could wander round a bit, facepaint and bouncy castle beforehand, our Alex (9yo) enjoyed the afternoon out with a couple of mates. A couple of drinks in the MM, meeting a few players, it was a safe enough haven for them to learn a bit of social independance.

At a younger (and controlable) age they just want to move about and explore a bit, follow Parky or whatever its called now, wander over to the tunnel when the players are going through, that kind of stuff.

Now and again they'd watch some of the rugby too. But every home game they looked forward to it.

Now they sit on a seat for 80 minutes watching rugby that can test the patience of many a man. Its free, yes, but its bloody boring for them too.

I have been told your caterers come from Huddersfield,no wonder it is a rip off, i understand the Park Inn is the best value for a pre-match meal thats where i will be heading on our visit.