Scarlet Pimpernell wrote:
The problem now is that the improvements made just highlight how poor the rest of the ground looks. The situation in SL now is such that we may believe how good the redeveloped areas look but it is not the supporters they have to impress but IMG and their rating factors.
I agree that IMG have to be impressed but I'm not sure about the "rest of the ground".
Once the area is tidied up at each end of the east stand, I think it will look grand. Yes, the west stand is a bit rough, but the flats look fine, and to some degree are quite iconic. For all the talk of how wonderful Headingly is, the west stand there hasn't changed in decades. The Hull KR ground looks great in parts, but the two stands along the side are looking jaded, and there's nothing there for about a third of the ground. Salford is nothing special apart from one really good stand (I say that with the caveat that it is a perfectly good ground). Wheldon Road is a classic old school ground, but it is poor in comparison.
Will we still have the worst ground in Super League? No. Not at all. In fact, when you take out the grounds that are football stadiums too, ours comes out quite well. When IMG are tucking into their vol-au-vents whenever they are invited, I'm sure the overall impression will be positive.