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bradfords ground

dogz08

dogz08

First Grade
Messages
6,189
whats up with bradfords ground i saw are game on fox couple of weeks ago and there ground looks shocking just full of hills an looks old for are ground now days aint they 1 of the top 4 clubs in the superleague? dont look like it with there ground any plans for them to upgrade? or build some more seats?
 
deluded pom?

deluded pom?

Coach
Messages
10,897
There's been plans to redevelop Odsal on the board for what seems decades but apart from the ugly hospitality stand at one end nothing has been done. With some money spent on it it could be a great stadium as it's built into a natural bowl. It must work against them in the franchise race.
 
roughyedspud

roughyedspud

Coach
Messages
12,181
the football club play at valley parade
bradford1.jpg


the rugby club played there for a couple of years a few years ago but it did'nt work out..

i've seen the plans for the new odsal and if the pull it of it'll be a cracking RL stadium
 
deluded pom?

deluded pom?

Coach
Messages
10,897
roughyedspud said:
the football club play at valley parade
bradford1.jpg


the rugby club played there for a couple of years a few years ago but it did'nt work out..

i've seen the plans for the new odsal and if the pull it of it'll be a cracking RL stadium
Click to expand...


I've heard that one for years spud, and I'm a tad older than you. Just a tad mind ;-)
 
dogz08

dogz08

First Grade
Messages
6,189
that ground looks alot better then bradford bulls home

whats there ground like has any1 been to odsal?
 
E

Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
It's alright, more like an Australian ground than a Super League ground in all honesty. It's a bit basic and there is no cover so you get wet when it rains. It's not the worst ground in the league though. Half the trouble is that there is no atmosphere there, because the Bradford fans are probably the quietest in the league, and recently crowds have dropped off there so it always seems a bit empty. Like I say though, there are a lot worse grounds in the league.
 
jed

jed

First Grade
Messages
9,280
There's been issues with council approval for what the Bulls want to do. There's a rumour going around that a move may be on the cards, not necessarily to Valley Parade.

Personally I'd be disappointed if they did move. Odsal is a unique ground (where else do the corners of the field lift a few feet from the centre of the ground), and it's only a 15 minute walk from my UK address. But one of the things I like is the fact that most of the ground is terraces - that's one of the best parts of it's atmosphere when it's packed. And with that in mind, 105k is not as surprising.
 
D

dallymessenger

Coach
Messages
10,970
ive been there and it provides good views from the sideline.

one sideline area is an open terrace which is basically a load of steps which you stand on to watch the game. no roof which given it always rains in bradford is a problem.

the oval shape of the ground mean either end is too far from the field.

the view was fanstastic from the sideline.

but the ground is costing the club a fortune to maintain.

the future of the club is probably at Valley Parade, though most bulls fans hate the place.

the chances of odsal getting reveloped dont look good.
 
dogz08

dogz08

First Grade
Messages
6,189
why do you reakon crowds are down cause there not doing so well anymore i remember they used to be are top 2 team now there lucky to be are top 4 side last year againest wigan in are final they got 8.000 plus not very good signs
 
D

dallymessenger

Coach
Messages
10,970
dogz08 said:
why do you reakon crowds are down cause there not doing so well anymore i remember they used to be are top 2 team now there lucky to be are top 4 side last year againest wigan in are final they got 8.000 plus not very good signs
Click to expand...

theyve lost loads of good players and havent gotten good players in.

eg vainokolo and hape to union.

they let their coach go to wigan, let fielden go to wigan too.

the cost of the ground means the footy club doesnt have as much money and they arent one of the top teams anymore.

their crowds have fallen around 50% from around 15,000 to 10,500 or so.
 
E

Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
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7,178
They have replaced star players like Vainikolo, Fielden and Pryce with decent players from mid-table sides like Sykes and Nero, and complete duds like Chris Feather and Platt.
 
jed

jed

First Grade
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9,280
Hard call on Feather there. He's not setting the world on fire, but he's hardly a complete dud either.

They've had financial difficulties for the last few years. The Iestyn Harris case has cost them a bucketload, and they were forced to sell off their top assets (Noble, Fielden and Peacock) to survive. They're in a rebuilding stage at the moment (a euphemism for "they suck compared to a few years ago"), but if they can hold onto some of their youngsters (Halley, Kopczak, Burgess, Jeffries), they'll be back at the top in a year or so.
 
D

dallymessenger

Coach
Messages
10,970
i dont think the future of the club is at odsal, the maintenance costs are massive there.

bulls fans might not like it but Valley parade would be a much better option for the club

odsal is a great historical ground, but the costs of redevelopment are massive.

with more sl clubs getting better grounds, bradford need to move to valley parade to compete.

that will upset lots of bulls fans as they love odsal but i cant see how they can survive long term there.

as the oldest RL club in the world, the game needs a strong rl club in bradford.
 
C

Calixte

First Grade
Messages
5,428
LeagueXIII said:
You wouldn't believe that ground held 102,500 at the CC Final replay in 1954.
Click to expand...

And the rest.

There is no doubt the Replay was the biggest rugby crowd of all time bar none.

Reliable estimates from police, local authorities, the stadium owners etc. all suggest that something between 120,000-130,000 were inside the ground. With many, many more unable to get anywhere near it.

The figure you quote was the official counted attendance prior to the crowd finding its own way in...
 
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