New stadium layout a mistake? : Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:13 pm  

This is probably been discussed to death already in the discussions about our new pad, but after experiencing Widnes it has come to my mind again. That is the wisdom of having the noisy element of our support behind the sticks. At Widnes is makes the atmosphere in the North and South stands non existent and the stadium is far quieter than Knowsley Road was and the likes of the HJ have. It will be hard to create any sort of atmosphere when the whole pitch length is a near silent sound vacuum.

So.... why wasn't the North Stand made standing room? Are we going to have the North Stand silent and the South (Corporate) Stand 90% empty like it is at Widnes?

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:19 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

So.... why wasn't the North Stand made standing room?

I would imagine it is less expensive to placate the fans who wanted to stand by putting them behind the sticks than it would have been to recreate the Pop Side in the North Stand. Also, if we have too much standing area, internationals are a no-go. In addition, the North Stand holds more people. Therefore, there is more money to be made by selling North Stand seats predominantly as allocated seating, shoving us unallocated cheap plebs behind the sticks.

I think there was a good atmosphere in the East Stand on Friday night. I think we might have actually made ourselves heard. At one time, I heard what sounded like the whole of the North Stand singing, which was fab. There is hope.

Also, with the corners filled in at the new stadium, that should help to create an atmosphere. The accoustics will be slightly better than they are with open ends.

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:30 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

This is probably been discussed to death already in the discussions about our new pad, but after experiencing Widnes it has come to my mind again. That is the wisdom of having the noisy element of our support behind the sticks. At Widnes is makes the atmoshere in the North and South stands non existent and the stadium is far quieter than Knowsley Road was and the likes of the HJ have. It will be hard to create any sort of atmosphere when the whole pitch length is a near silent sound vacuum.

So.... why wasn't the North Stand made standing room? Are we going to have the North Stand silent and the South (Corporate) Stand 90% empty like it is at Widnes?

Must admit I think this is a big mistake keeping one stand seperate for corporate customers.

Are we going to get enough corporate customers to fill it ...unlikely the way business is in this town at the moment.

What corporate customers we will get will focus on the big games so most of the times the seats will be unused.

There wont be much of a partisan crowd/atmosphere in there so any guests attending a game for the first time aren't likely to be impressed enough to become regulars.

I used to be in business in the town and have sponsored matches in the past, it was always difficult to get out of town customers to come along, they were getting free food and drink and I even arranged transport for them but when people have family commitments its not easy.

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:32 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

This is probably been discussed to death already in the discussions about our new pad, but after experiencing Widnes it has come to my mind again. That is the wisdom of having the noisy element of our support behind the sticks. At Widnes is makes the atmosphere in the North and South stands non existent and the stadium is far quieter than Knowsley Road was and the likes of the HJ have. It will be hard to create any sort of atmosphere when the whole pitch length is a near silent sound vacuum.

So.... why wasn't the North Stand made standing room? Are we going to have the North Stand silent and the South (Corporate) Stand 90% empty like it is at Widnes?

i was in the south stand on friday near the saints end and the atmosphere created by the singing really came across,especially when large elements of the north stand sang along it was like k.road when all the home support including the main stand joined in,and as mentioned with some corners being filled at the new ground this can only add to the matchday atmosphere..

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:32 pm  

Its all about the £££'s
I think it'll be louder than widnes in the north stand as alot of people who used to stand (like me) will be there, but the south stand i think will be dead as dodo, until the prawn sandwiches are served of course

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:34 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I would imagine it is less expensive to placate the fans who wanted to stand by putting them behind the sticks than it would have been to recreate the Pop Side in the North Stand. Also, if we have too much standing area, internationals are a no-go. In addition, the North Stand holds more people. Therefore, there is more money to be made by selling North Stand seats predominantly as allocated seating, shoving us unallocated cheap plebs behind the sticks.

I think there was a good atmosphere in the East Stand on Friday night. I think we might have actually made ourselves heard. At one time, I heard what sounded like the whole of the North Stand singing, which was fab. There is hope.

Also, with the corners filled in at the new stadium, that should help to create an atmosphere. The accoustics will be slightly better than they are with open ends.

Im sat in block c towards the far end of the north stand, not at the moment, and the atmos there was good. I was trying my hardest to get our end singing and there was indeed a few occasions when we joined in or even tried to wing it on our own. I was quite impressed with the atmosphere TBH.

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:02 am  

Part of the difficulty is that everyone has moved. For decades people would sit/stand with the same people again and again. Now people are split. I know that the information of who can sit where has changed each match.

My sisters bought unreserved tickets for the North stand, as they knew that on different match days different members of the family would come or not come to matches and so they would like to have sat with them.

The 1st Match they were told tickets where no longer unreserved and they had to sit in the number seat on the ticket, other family members where told they could not get a ticket for the same section, even thought there were spaces.

2nd MAtch, my sisters where told it was unreserved and they could sit anywhere within the section but other members could not buy tickets for it.

3rd MAtch everyone sat together where ever they liked in the section, season ticket holder or not.


I think there is some bedding in to go on, and it will all start again next year. I think some fans are going to have to take it upon themselves rather than wait for ' the popular side' to start everything. ANd as fans learn this the atmosphere will be even better. Ideally some former 'popular siders' will be spread about, causing a tradition of singing to be created at all sides rather than just the 1.

I was never a popular sider but you would get some weird looks when you started singing along. Like we don't do that here!

[Sadfish]

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:02 am  

When the original plans where drawn up we fought quite hard to get the layout the same as Warrington.

But the club dug their heals in and went for the standing ends, the big problem will come when for most matches the standing home end will probably be full with the two seated stands half full at best. Which will look a bit daft.

At the end of the day I think that we got the choice to stand and sit and that was a real contencious issue particluarly with the board before Eamonn.

It's too late now anyhow......

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:20 am  

To be honest at The HJ in the away end behind the sticks more noise can be created due to fans being more together and the roof is a bit lower. We could even hear the Quins fans the other week, well for a bit anyway

So the layout you have gone with might turn out to be good.

Re: New stadium layout a mistake? : Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:22 pm  

Sadfish wrote:

When the original plans where drawn up we fought quite hard to get the layout the same as Warrington.

But the club dug their heals in and went for the standing ends, the big problem will come when for most matches the standing home end will probably be full with the two seated stands half full at best. Which will look a bit daft.

At the end of the day I think that we got the choice to stand and sit and that was a real contencious issue particluarly with the board before Eamonn.

It's too late now anyhow......

I though the North Stand looked quite full on Friday, but that's from being sat in it. Was it not?

As long as the cameras are pointed towards the full stands, unlike the set up currently, there's no issue for me.