The Hepworth cost the council around £20m up front and needs over £1m per year in subsidies to keep it open, that's hardly successful. The figures of 2 million people into the city are the council's own figures, it makes you wonder if they're making that figure up to cover up the failings of this massive waste of tax payers money

You have to consider the wider impact of having Hepworth in Wakey. it's not exactly my cup of tea but I've been a couple of times and it is what it is. But art types love it and it has potential to attract other similar schemes and make Wakefield a bit of a culture destination (bizarre as that sounds) Unity Hall reopening is another great addition to the city for this reason.

All it needs is for 1m visitors to spend £1 in wakefield (parking, coffee, food, other art places etc) and bam! pays for itself.

We need to make more of the yards and alley ways . They could be turned into atmospheric mini shopping and leisure areas. The vestiges of the past that remain, and were not destroyed in the short sighted 50's should be cherished. Perhaps then the people who visit the Hepworth might spend more time in the city and pass on to others what it has to offer.

I am all for that. I would start with Gallows Hill, its still sign posted so we could put it back into use. What a better way to celebrate our past than our esteemed leader to be the first to be used to test drive the site.

I think you are wrong here! Much of the funding was external, but there's was a chunk of money - mostly proceeds from the sale of LBA - that went in.

Funnily enough I was told personally by a Cabinet member that this money had been put aside and 'ring-fenced' to go towards the Thornes Park stadium venture! Now what happened there?

If the he council did pay that amount, I think it is a large waste of the tax payers money.

I think that could have been better spent elsewhere.

Just while we are on, I wonder how much it cost to put install those daft fountain thingy's in the bullring.

On a lighter note regarding the ground, I don't think we have had a floodlight failure during a game have we, like at Pittodrie last night. Didn't our near and dear rivals have one a few years ago in the Good Friday

When you consider the cost to the tax payer of Roaney, Wallhead, Rodgres,Jefferies and Box, which will only be slightly less, then I think the Hepworth is far better value by comparison.

It's estimated that visitors spend on average £21 per person in the City - that will include local cafes, bars and shops; the Hepworth projected 150,000 visitors in the first year and actually achieved that in 5 weeks - it's an amazing success and has become a destination for people from all over the world. In conjunction with the equally brilliant Sculpture Park, we are a genuine destination for horn rimmed spectacle wearing culture vultures, not to mention the architecture nerds who love the award winning, brutalist design of the building.

I'm a lifelong WT fan, and I firmly believe that WMDC and YCP have stiffed us; but including the Hepworth as an example of where money could have been better spent is just stupid. It appeals to and attracts exponentially more people than NM could ever hope or dream to, and is a shining light in an otherwise shabby and declining City.

That is a lot of people to be fair in a 5 week period Bren. Do you know roughly per year how many now are visiting the Hepworth.

I would imagine, projects like the Hepworth attract a lot at first, but then after a while or so, would imagine eventually would drop off steadily.

Potentially with a crowd of 6k, which is what Michael Carter was saying earlier in the year, to spend full cap, over around 14 games per season, you are looking at 84k attendances during the course of a calender year. This could even be higher as a new ground could increase the average gate, and the club may also be asked to host cup and international games.

Out of curiosity, to compare with the Hepworth and the new Castleford Stadium, I cant remember now how much the cost of the stadium would be projected at. According to Wiki, the new Castleford one is said to be around £15m.

Not fit for us but Sheffield need a home


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@SheffieldEagles to play home games at Wakefield's Belle Vue ground in 2017.

The 2 Million extra visitors ( some figure in that ball park) came from an 'independent' study which was funded by Wakefield Council. Call me a cynic but....

I don't have an issue with the Hepworth. It's a visitor attraction and gives people a reason to come to the city/district.

If it were to close Trinity would still be no where near getting a new stadium so the anger thsy is being directed towards it is misplaced.

Why do you continuously defend Lord Ted

Could the breaking news regarding Sheffield add the pressure onto the council and Yorcourt and force their hand.

This may bring in revenue tonsome extent but will only wear the old girl even more.

No chance whatsoever !! both of the above will not give a toss about it.

Only way to force their hands is via the courts, nothing less will do.