Re: Apparently : Fri Mar 12, 2010 6:45 pm  

littlerich wrote:

Fingerpost will LOVE that !!

You mean Javier Mascherano

Re: Apparently : Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:54 pm  

Shouldn't do our franchise hopes any harm whatsoever, as long as their stay at Widnes goes without any major hitches.

On the other hand, if Saints can fill the Stobart and we can't four years down the line, what does it say for the growth prospects of the Vikings as a SL entity?

Re: Apparently : Sat Mar 13, 2010 4:05 pm  

I hope that your fans and wonderful stadium will make us feel welcome.

Re: Apparently : Sat Mar 13, 2010 5:39 pm  

richardviking wrote:

Shouldn't do our franchise hopes any harm whatsoever, as long as their stay at Widnes goes without any major hitches.

On the other hand, if Saints can fill the Stobart and we can't four years down the line, what does it say for the growth prospects of the Vikings as a SL entity?

Saints may only fill the Stobart against the likes of Wigan & Wire & possibly Leeds - they don't really get attendances to trouble our capacity in any other games TBH.

We, due to our demographic possibly won't fill it unless we become successful on the field and host major play off games. That however should not be seen as a slur on our prospects.

If elected to SL, we will see an instant leap of 50% in our attendances. We will continue to grow in subsequent seasons but not at the same rates dependant upon success.

If we can show the RFL that we have grown in a short space of time compared to contemporaries then we should see this as success in the short term.

Build on that and in the medium/long term we can expect on field success and with that comes further growth.

Re: Apparently : Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:21 pm  

There's been lots of panic on Trustinwidnes I've noticed. Almost all of which unnecessary, but one point did make me think.

Will the casual Widnes supporters (those being the ones we hope and expect to attract back to the club if we are in SL) and other intrigued members of the Widnes / Runcorn public become St Helens fans if the club moves to the area?

Imagine if Widnes hosts the Saints Wigan derby, or Saints Leeds. The place would be rocking and the quality of rugby on the field will be as good as anyone in the Borough will have seen since the early 90s.

Re: Apparently : Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:41 pm  

richardviking wrote:

There's been lots of panic on Trustinwidnes I've noticed. Almost all of which unnecessary, but one point did make me think.

Will the casual Widnes supporters (those being the ones we hope and expect to attract back to the club if we are in SL) and other intrigued members of the Widnes / Runcorn public become St Helens fans if the club moves to the area?

Imagine if Widnes hosts the Saints Wigan derby, or Saints Leeds. The place would be rocking and the quality of rugby on the field will be as good as anyone in the Borough will have seen since the early 90s.

It only takes a change in the direction of the wind for mass hysteria to break out on that crazy forum.....

The casuals will do whatever they do, if they can only be arsed switching their allegiances when these clubs turn up on our doorstep it's doubtful in my opinion that they would make that extra effort to go the extra distance when they relocate to their new stadium..

Our crowds in Super League will be fine should we get there, what happens for a few months in between now and then with regards to this situation is of little consequence. We're too big a club to be held back by something so trivial.

Re: Apparently : Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:09 am  

richardviking wrote:

Imagine if Widnes hosts the Saints Wigan derby, or Saints Leeds. The place would be rocking and the quality of rugby on the field will be as good as anyone in the Borough will have seen since the early 90s.

Um, you clearly haven't watched Saints this season.

Personally I don't think there is anything to concern any Widnes fans should the arrangement for Saints to play at Widnes become official. We'll bring in some extra revenue, that's for sure. I would imagine the concern would be the state of the pitch. With two teams playing on it in a week it could get a hammering. Although Saints are apparently working with the RFL to try and organise as many away games as possible for the first half of next season, I would imagine there would have to be some creative scheduling to ensure that the pitch is in top form for both teams.

Re: Apparently : Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:54 am  

Redchemic wrote:

Saints may only fill the Stobart against the likes of Wigan & Wire & possibly Leeds - they don't really get attendances to trouble our capacity in any other games TBH.

We, due to our demographic possibly won't fill it unless we become successful on the field and host major play off games. That however should not be seen as a slur on our prospects.

If elected to SL, we will see an instant leap of 50% in our attendances. We will continue to grow in subsequent seasons but not at the same rates dependant upon success.

If we can show the RFL that we have grown in a short space of time compared to contemporaries then we should see this as success in the short term.

Build on that and in the medium/long term we can expect on field success and with that comes further growth.

I'd like to think our crowds would go up 100% if we got into SL. If they only went up by 50% on last years we would average something like 5,400

Re: Apparently : Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:07 pm  

I know alot who do not go because not in superleague, so i am sure the widnes fanbase would touch 6-7000 fans.Does not help with nothing to play for in 3yrs.So now is mainly hardcore fans going.

Re: Apparently : Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:20 pm  

A.N.Other Viking wrote:

I'd like to think our crowds would go up 100% if we got into SL. If they only went up by 50% on last years we would average something like 5,400

You are right A.N. Other. I meant to say they would practically double = your 100% quote. My thinking heads in for repair!!

richardviking wrote:

There's been lots of panic on Trustinwidnes I've noticed. Almost all of which unnecessary, but one point did make me think.

Will the casual Widnes supporters (those being the ones we hope and expect to attract back to the club if we are in SL) and other intrigued members of the Widnes / Runcorn public become St Helens fans if the club moves to the area?

Imagine if Widnes hosts the Saints Wigan derby, or Saints Leeds. The place would be rocking and the quality of rugby on the field will be as good as anyone in the Borough will have seen since the early 90s.

I would take that another way. If people do go then you could argue that there is a market people for people in the borough to watch Superleague, thus enhancing our chances.

People have and will continue to watch other teams such as Saints, my nephew for one - partly due to their success and partly due to John Stankevitch becoming part of the family.

It works both ways. Plenty from St Helens and the Wire borderlands came to watch Widnes when we were successful (some continue to do so). We can still poach this type of fan should we regain a place at the top table.