I'm puzzled by this "designed for football" view.

Does the all seater thing really make a difference to people? While I can remember my younger years at CP, e.g. trying to see around the person infront or around a supporting post just as a try was scored there's no way that I would want to go back to limited views and the like. Oh, how I miss the gents or the smell of urine as it trickled down the kop when people couldn't be bothered making a trip.

What would a brand new owned stadium on the old site deliver? Some standing options? Less parking? A shorter walk into town? A "standard" concrete stadium with none of the character?

I'm not impressed by the Warrington's groud, Salford new one with tiny end sections looks odd and I suspect that Saint's ground when complete will still be a bit sterrile and characterless having not grown orginically over a number of years. The East Manchester and New Wembeley leave me cold, large and impressive but not inviting at all.

You say that like the DW has character, it doesn't.... but I agree with your point that no new stadium really has character.

As a Wire fan, I can honestly say that I wish our stadium was all-seater. Having people ignorantly push past you, every two mins is very annoying.

Having standing as an option is a good idea though, it creates a better atmosphere.

If you don't like it then go in the seating section of the ground.

why dont you sit down then?

Because on a cold day, the concrete is freezing on your @rse!

i didnt like leaving CP having watched there since the late 50s.....but now consider the jjb (i still refuse to recognise the meglomaniac) to be our "home" regardless of the fact we dont own it.
Excellent facilities, excellent view from practically every seat....and SEATS......us oldies dont like standing up for over 2 hours after walking from the town centre.

now...Whelans selling off Latics so his kids dont inherit the huge debts....so its possible he might sell the stadium?
which brings in a good hypothetical question for Lenegan at the fans forum?........if the stadium came up for sale, would he consider buying it?..and if not...why not?

Who would want to buy a stadium? A buyers market for sure, it's not like there are many sporting teams that need a 25k stadium in Wigan.

Ah, didn't mean to infer any character on the DW. It's a concrete box just like all new stadia. However it's light years ahead of CP in terms of facilities, I have many great memories from CP and very few from DW which doesn't help either.

I think if CP were still there and had the remaining 3 sides redeveloped then we would have ended up with a concrete box, with some standing facilities. It wouldn't be the CP I remember growing up with, I suppose the Douglas Stand would still be there as was and would also represent a large cost to redevelop with the river flowing next to it (I expect this would also present a safety-at-sports-grounds issue too with limits exit routes for the crowd).

I would suggest that it is FAR too early for IL to show his hand.... There is no way he will make any overtures or even suggestions to buy the place yet, even if it is his intention.

Agreed.

It's only a matter of time before Latics get into serious financial difficulties. Uncle Dave was on the telly last night telling Alan Sugar that he had spent £100m on Latics and now he wanted to find a new benefactor for the club in the next 3-4 years.

I know even Blackburn has foreign owners now but I just can't see which rich benefactor would see Wigan Athletic as a trophy asset they wanted to invest in and spend vast sums propping up, it just doesn't make sense.

IL will be aware that if Latics go bust he will be the first person an administrator will approach to see if he wants to buy the club (which apparently now owns the ground, or does it?). It's difficult to see who else would want to pay much for a club with a small fanbase in football terms and no brand identity whatsoever.

There's no reason for IL to show his hand yet if he would be interested in buying the Latics, all he will do is risk inflating the price he has to pay in future.

On a separate point, those getting over-excited about Saints' stadium should remember it is only 18,000 capacity. That's far too small for a club as big as Wigan.

IL already is already a major shareholder of a football club.

Which means he can't be involved in another.

And says he won't buy the Kassam Stadium for Oxford Utd - which they currently rent as well (at a considerably higher price than we pay for the DW).

Woah, woah, woah. Let's not compare Wigan Athletic to Blackburn Rovers. Don't make me hate you.

Fixed. Ok, midnight tonight. Bring your own bulldozer.