Article on the Widnes World website.
https://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/26005435.council-offload-stadium-future-review/
It’s a shame we couldn't afford it.
Would be a great for the club.
We couldn't afford the upkeep, and it's too big for our needs.
Paulie xx
@member151 It wouldn't be great for the club in the Championship with 2,000 fans in a 13,500 capacity stadium. To make it viable we would need to be in SL. I hope they don't sell it with all that history being on the original site of Naughton Park. And I hope we dont end up with a small facility like Sheffield Eagles have ended up with.
If widnes have aspirations to go back up to the super league this is an opportunity for a complete buyout from an elite investment team with full ownership of club and stadium which imo is the best option to become an established club in the top flight, they could have a bar/restaraunt/casino/events room.
the potential investment from the nrl would look at this as a great club in control of its own future and finances
The council will be selling it, it's happening.
Scenarios for us: (1) it makes us more appealing to an investor (2) it gets sold to someone who wants to keep it as a community stadium and continues to charge us the reasonable rates the council does (3) it gets sold to someone who wants to keep it as a community stadium and decides to hike our rent (4) it gets sold to someone who wants to knock it down and we have to find somewhere else to play.
I'll have a pound on 4.
I think writing is on the wall for number 4
what that means for us, I don’t know…
Other than NP, not knowing Widnes very well at all, could I politely ask is there a(nother) facility within the town that could house Championship football?
Spelly.
@spelly no, the football club tried to upgrade an old club and playing fields as they were making decent strides in non league football.
but the council fought them on the parking situation and the club couldn’t see a way forward so packed in as they couldn’t sustain playing at the stadium
Widnes RU has a ground and Runcorn FC share a ground. But they don't meet Championship standards. Other than those, all I can think of is playing fields. We would have to go out of town I would imagine until one is built (as if).
@spelly no, the football club tried to upgrade an old club and playing fields as they were making decent strides in non league football.
but the council fought them on the parking situation and the club couldn’t see a way forward so packed in as they couldn’t sustain playing at the stadium
Thanks mate.
As I've said many times, we've known for over thirty years what it's like to play outside of the town that bears our club's proud name.
Worrying times if you're a Chemic I would imagine?
Spelly.
The only thing I'm thinking is, it could be an expensive job to buy the ground, demolish it, then build on there. Could put a developer off in terms of ROI. Who knows?
I think there’s room to expand Halton Farnworth hornets ground in Wilmere Lane, if it’s not “Green belt land”.
It would also mean it being used a lot more than once every 2/3,weeks that it is at the moment, and more money coming in from the bar takings and events held at the club.
@dan1 its got massive potential for the club if done correctly. As it could be used day in day out for various different things, we could even have a grass pitch and bring back semi finals etc, host different events even bring Elton John back… And owning the stadium would be a great incentive for a investor into the club as well.
(this is certainly dreamland thinking tho)
What will happen is the stadium will be sold rent goes up and Widnes won’t be able to afford the use of it anymore.
My thoughts have always been, that if WV die, the DCBL Stadium noose will be massively to blame.
Someone may know, was there anything in writing that if the Council closed the stadium, WV who gave up Naughton Park for the 'new asset' (owned by the community/council tax payers) would get a kick-back from the sale?
A smaller stadium (standing and seating) on the corner of Ditton Rd/Speke Rd would be an ideal location.
It would be Utopia, but I can't see it happening.
Paulie xx