Even if the club could afford to buy the stadium, it would take decades to make that money back now. Let alone the ongoing cost of maintaining/managing it.
As long as it can maintain primacy of tenure and a positive relationship with the council, then it has the next best thing.
The new 'profit share' with the council around fanzone etc has raised a massive £3,000 so far (roughly £1 for every social post they've sent out promoting the comedy night).
@jdgsport I have only attended 1 fan zone after a home victory as I live out of town. However only about 20 people were there. I would have thought more fans would go especially after a win. I did enjoy it & Hamilton interviewed Edge & Dixon & a singer on a guitar wasn't bad.
Spelly am holding breath for next year being an bout face twixt you and us.....but I have had my moan, been put in my place numerous times...so..good luck to you...Swinton are a club that I think should be applauded for their temerity...lets hope your offloads bring some for us...
Spelly am holding breath for next year being an bout face twixt you and us.....but I have had my moan, been put in my place numerous times...so..good luck to you...Swinton are a club that I think should be applauded for their temerity...lets hope your offloads bring some for us...
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Even if the club could afford to buy the stadium, it would take decades to make that money back now. Let alone the ongoing cost of maintaining/managing it.
As long as it can maintain primacy of tenure and a positive relationship with the council, then it has the next best thing.
The new 'profit share' with the council around fanzone etc has raised a massive £3,000 so far (roughly £1 for every social post they've sent out promoting the comedy night).
£3000 kickback for a percent of 6 months match day bar takings, probably 8 Longhouse openings and a joint venture comedy night is shocking.
We don't own our stadium - no revenue.
Our team isn't great - Wakey, Toulouse, Fev, Halifax, Bradford, add A N Other will all likely out-perform us next season.
We've done this conversation to death. Some people don't think we need money or a benefactor. God knows what they're thinking.
One path is that someone in Widnes wins the Euro Millions and propels us to world domination.
The other path is that we re-establish our academy, incrementally improve our IMG rating and somehow hope we end up Grade A at some point.
Do the lottery lads.
The breakdown of the IMG criteria illustrates just how fine the dividing line can be and how much detailed thought has to be applied by the Board and staff. Minor improvements can get us over the line sometimes and the Board obviously realise that.
On field improvement sadly won't instantly make a difference and wipe out our past poor showing but the sooner we correct our record the better!!!!
Hopefully getting a few 'lost' supporters back into the fold will break the 3000 barrier and that is where all supporters can help.
I feel with the introduction of the IMG system as a club we could either cruise along at a steady pace and realistically be a top 4 team in championship or the club could get together with the council and try and reinvent the club. A change of logo, music/comedy/comedian nights at the stadium, music events at the stadium like recently Elton John that could all raise funds. Obviously we need a competitive team on the field and all the other criteria like academy/women’s/wheelchair teams
the dolphins in the nrl built a casino next to the stadium to bring in funds and create a buzz. Ultimately money will bring a better quality squad and then it’s down to the coach and players to perform out on the field. I feel the clubs being like a part time social club and needs to redirect and start thinking about ideas to generate revenue to potentially attract a buy out so we can go up and compete against the best
You have been living in the USA for a long time mate. We're hamstrung with the council owning the ground. Despite it making a loss every year the council won't sell even if an investor came in. If by some miracle an investor was interested what has the club got to offer? We're a small town of 62,000 where amateur rugby has died off and more people would rather watch the football on TV than watch live rugby league. We would always struggle to compete in SL, sad but true.
A Casino built next the stadium where 2000 people gather once a fortnight for an hour and half ? An amusement arcade more like.Widnes isn't Queensland.The Vikings aren't the Dolphins.
@sinbad I’m not suggesting we build a casino rather that we do something, anything to generate a buzz! Obviously a competitive team on the pitch is going to help but…… and I think this is why the game as a whole is dying, all sports are now a business and without good investment and marketing will go out of business. Get back investing at all schools and amateur clubs. Should be mandatory to have affiliations with at least 10 schools in your catchment area, hold halton rugby league tournaments at the stadium, every amateur team within halton can enter and it should be council backed
@mckviking it's only one of a few bowling greens left in the town it gets used a lot by the older generation to have a bit of fun.
I'll have whatever you've been smoking please 😉
@johnny65 well it’s a little early over here for that but anyway 🤣
I wouldn’t want to destroy that for the older generation, you get what I mean though, what exactly are the club doing to generate revenue?
Should hold a schools rugby league tournament, all junior schools in halton enter a team and it’s played over a weekend. Maybe 2 brackets gold and silver to allow for different levels of ability to enter. Halton schools cup and plate.
@mckviking They did do this earlier this year. Had a turn out of two (2) schools/teams taking part.