dandaman wrote:
There's nothing wrong with us renting the Stadium. It doesn't cause us to miss out on revenue streams people think it does, and in some ways works to our advantage now the smc is being run by people who consider our needs. Issue I've got with the Stadium is we don't use it effectively on match days. We should close north and south stand and try and full the east and west stands to create an amosphere while were at low figures. Think we should invite buskers/live music acts onto the concourse before kick off and at half time. Try and create a mini festival atmosphere into the match day experience
Funnily enough the talk of missing out on millions and millions every year in match day revenues, burger vans and concerts only started when Rovers took out the mortgage on Craven Park and then all of a sudden according to them the only way of being successful was owning a ground while completely ignoring the likes of Wigans success over the years, can’t believe our fans fall for it.
Don’t get me wrong it’s great for them no denying that but they’re a completely different animal, they have multiple rich backers and simply had the opportunity to buy Craven Park at a cost a rugby league club could make viable.
In the 20 odd years we’ve played at the Stadium I’d say for the vast majority of those we’d have managed to run a wage bill to compete with the top clubs. We’ve won 3 cups and made the GF but mostly underachieved by poor recruitment/retention decisions. It’s not that ground that’s held us back. I’m not sure what the implications of not owning a stadium in Covid was if that made of us more exposed than anyone else, but without a big financial backer and no income we were doomed anyway. Agree entirely about the atmosphere in the ground, again I’m not sure that’s down to not owning the stadium I’m sure if there was a will to improve the atmosphere and decent performing side on the pitch it could be bouncing again.
