Re: The new iPitch : Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:43 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I'm not so sure. I think most teams in the league are watching eagerly for how the experiment goes. The pitches they use in the NFL are just incredible. They look so lush yet play so fast in any weather conditions. If it works I think a lot will adopt them as long term the savings would be enormous I'd expect.

Only problem is that NFL players cover all their skin, so it'll be interesting to see how badly burned the league players get in dry conditions on a hot day.

As soon as anyone gets an injury on it, particularly during a Sky broadcast, Hemmings will question the pitch. Every time it happens, he’ll question the pitch. He likes to create controversy and, once he gets a bee in is wig, he rattles on and on about it. He was an embarrassment when we played the Aussies last week; whinging constantly about the ref. And what about when your lot played here? Hemmings was blaming the stadium for Saints’ early form every time his baggy face appeared on telly.

If he doesn’t go on about the injuries, it will be about Widnes gaining some massive advantage by using it. God help us if we win a few games at home. That kind of thing tends to stick, and could kill this great initiative stone dead.

Re: The new iPitch : Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:07 am  

Pepe wrote: Steve O’Connor: “This will generate income for the club and the stadium.” http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=5601 If it works, it would be a great income boost for many clubs and could make a massive difference. But I reckon as soon as the first injured player limps off the pitch, Eddie Hemmings will be going on and on about it possibly being the pitch and then Oooooooooh there’s another! “It must be the pitch” and then he’ll be whinging about it again on B&A , every chance he gets, regardless of whether it has anything to do with the pitch or not. And that will be that – Back to grass everyone. I know that's what O'Connor said, I just thought the stadium was council owned so not sure how widnes will get any money out of it. Sure there is some arrangement in place. As for the pitch, you're right. It's inevitable that the first player that goes down on the pitch will be highlighted by Sky, or the first 'non grass' bounce that leads to a try. League Express letters page will implode if widnes kick well one week and a team can't deal with it. Knee jerkery is a certainty.

Pepe wrote: Steve O’Connor: “This will generate income for the club and the stadium.” http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=5601 If it works, it would be a great income boost for many clubs and could make a massive difference. But I reckon as soon as the first injured player limps off the pitch, Eddie Hemmings will be going on and on about it possibly being the pitch and then Oooooooooh there’s another! “It must be the pitch” and then he’ll be whinging about it again on B&A , every chance he gets, regardless of whether it has anything to do with the pitch or not. And that will be that – Back to grass everyone. I know that's what O'Connor said, I just thought the stadium was council owned so not sure how widnes will get any money out of it. Sure there is some arrangement in place. As for the pitch, you're right. It's inevitable that the first player that goes down on the pitch will be highlighted by Sky, or the first 'non grass' bounce that leads to a try. League Express letters page will implode if widnes kick well one week and a team can't deal with it. Knee jerkery is a certainty.

Re: The new iPitch : Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:37 am  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/football/15722636.stm?psdata=11_3_8_4_9_10__CD11__CK12_14_15_ Soccerball taking our lead it seems

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/football/15722636.stm?psdata=11_3_8_4_9_10__CD11__CK12_14_15_ Soccerball taking our lead it seems

Re: The new iPitch : Fri Nov 18, 2011 4:00 pm  

Ian 77 Redux wrote:

I know that's what O'Connor said, I just thought the stadium was council owned so not sure how widnes will get any money out of it. Sure there is some arrangement in place.

As for the pitch, you're right. It's inevitable that the first player that goes down on the pitch will be highlighted by Sky, or the first 'non grass' bounce that leads to a try. League Express letters page will implode if widnes kick well one week and a team can't deal with it. Knee jerkery is a certainty.

Steve O'Connor has already pumped millions into the infrastructure that stadium. HBC also own 10% of the club and have a seat on the board. So, I would expect that the stadium is run for the benefit of both. What form the agreement takes, we'll probably never know, but there clearly is some agreement in place. Maybe the revenue from the new i-pitch (which is funded by SOC) will pay for the rental of the stadium, or something like that.

Re: The new iPitch : Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:17 am  

I think the new pitch just outlines how much of a visionary genius Steve Jobs was.

Glad we got it off him before he popped his clogs .

Re: The new iPitch : Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:51 am  

Saddened! wrote:

I'm not so sure. I think most teams in the league are watching eagerly for how the experiment goes. The pitches they use in the NFL are just incredible. They look so lush yet play so fast in any weather conditions. If it works I think a lot will adopt them as long term the savings would be enormous I'd expect.

Only problem is that NFL players cover all their skin, so it'll be interesting to see how badly burned the league players get in dry conditions on a hot day.

Can't see it being an issue to be honest and you'd be surprised. I played on this rubber stuff earlier in the year at an indoor Football venue near where I live and from sliding on it (and being tackled awkwardly) the potential for injury in terms of cuts and carpet burns is far less than playing on a hard pitch. Not entirely sure when it comes to rolling ankles over etc. I expect Eddie & Stevo will be creaming themselves come February.

Re: The new iPitch : Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:58 am  

Pepe wrote:

As soon as anyone gets an injury on it, particularly during a Sky broadcast, Hemmings will question the pitch. Every time it happens, he’ll question the pitch. He likes to create controversy and, once he gets a bee in is wig, he rattles on and on about it. He was an embarrassment when we played the Aussies last week; whinging constantly about the ref. And what about when your lot played here? Hemmings was blaming the stadium for Saints’ early form every time his baggy face appeared on telly.

If he doesn’t go on about the injuries, it will be about Widnes gaining some massive advantage by using it. God help us if we win a few games at home. That kind of thing tends to stick, and could kill this great initiative stone dead.

I fear you are correct. in fact, i know you are correct. At least i will be present at our home games so wont have to listen to him rambling on about it on the sky coverage, and when i watch it back on sky plus when i get home (assuming we have just beaten wire or wigan of course ) the mute button will be getting much love.

Re: The new iPitch : Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:10 pm  

The turf will be going down in week and half. The groundworkers are just putting the curbs in now and then the turf will be put down.

Re: The new iPitch : Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:21 am  

Heard on Wire FM yesterday that there are problems with laying the new ipitch as "conditions have to be dry" (basically its too wet!) . Gonna be a very small window between now and the start of the season for it to be laid.

Re: The new iPitch : Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:25 pm  

St pete wrote:

The turf will be going down in week and half. The groundworkers are just putting the curbs in now and then the turf will be put down.

Need to sack your informant Pete, Turf not being delivered until next week at earliest. Dependant on contractors xmas break and weather you wont see "grass" laid this year