Media Visit Salford Stadium Site

[KalgoorlieRed]

21 February 2008
The site where the new City of Salford Stadium will stand was visited for the first time today by the media and local council dignitaries as Red City Developments hosted their first official site visit for the press.

Officials, coaches and players from the Reds were also present as Red City's Adam Thomas took journalists from Sky Sports, the Manchester Evening News, the Salford Advertiser, Key 103 and the League Express on a tour around the site where work has now begin in earnest.
Over the past two weeks most of the trees have been removed in preparation for the drilling rigs that are expected on site shortly, and visitors were finally treated to a tour that took them into the heart of where the Reds are making their new futuristic home at the gateway to the city, seeing first hand the incredible machinery at work cutting and chipping the trees on site.
As the cars screamed across the Barton Bridge overhead and the planes came in to land at the nearby aerodrome it was possible at last for the press to visualise the enormous nature of the project.
Here are some images from the day and we will be following the build closely with a photo library of the development as it takes place over the coming weeks.

Shaun McRae, Malcolm Alker and Steve Simms

Onlookers watch as another tree is cleared

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Is this what they're building?

 

[Evil Homer]

Is this what they're building?

Alledgedly

 

[dallymessenger]

Is this what they're building?

yep, aint it a beauty.

i think theyll become one of the richest RL clubs on earth.

and the BBC are moving their sports offices from London to salford so a strong RL club around the corner will help get them interested.

in addition to salford having a large population in its own rights, being next to manchester theyll be able to target that market as well.

they have the potential to make a big difference to the profile and growth of SL in england.

 

[Henson Park Hornets]

What are they going to do with all those extra seats when they play Swinton? Or Gateshead...

But they'll need everyone of those seats for when the Hornets Army arrives in town!!!!

HHHooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnttttttttttttttttttttsssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dallymessenger]

some more impressions of the ground :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/salford/6184407.stm

 

[yankeerugger]

I would think that RU's Sale Sharks could indeed be in the running to use this venue. Looks impressive. I've never seen one that looks like it.

 

[hutch]

will salford own this stadium? if so, they will be one of the richest clubs around, especially if other codes hire the stadium off them.

 

[dallymessenger]

I would think that RU's Sale Sharks could indeed be in the running to use this venue. Looks impressive. I've never seen one that looks like it.

nope.

the reds chairman said he will never deal with the owner of sale.

they were asked to contribute financially but wanted a share of the project for free.

sale will not be using the ground but man utd reserves might

 

[dallymessenger]

will salford own this stadium? if so, they will be one of the richest clubs around, especially if other codes hire the stadium off them.

owned by the chairman of the reds and other companies assocaited with the development

the reds will receive something like 1.8 million pounds from the adjoining hotel and retail space.

the club has said they need crowds of 8000 to be able to spend the full salary cap.

last time salford were in SL,they spend something like 1.2 million on players 1.8 million being the full salary cap.

with the ground behind them theyll have much more money

 

[International RL]

nope.

the reds chairman said he will never deal with the owner of sale.

they were asked to contribute financially but wanted a share of the project for free.

sale will not be using the ground but man utd reserves might

Excellent news. Classic union, wanting to ride the coat-tails, without rolling up their sleeves.

One would think that with this Stadium Salford have got a license guaranteed?

 

[dallymessenger]

Excellent news. Classic union, wanting to ride the coat-tails, without rolling up their sleeves.

One would think that with this Stadium Salford have got a license guaranteed?

you would think so.

not guaranteed but close to it.

they rank as a Cat B club (5 - 7 points on the criteria) which means they are likely to get in.

they could do wonders for SL by getting manchester interested in RL, and the BBC who largely ignore RL seeing a strong RL club close by

sale RU gets loads of media despite fairly average crowds. with salford in SL their crowds will be larger than sale get

i wouldnt be surprised if salford became as strong as wigan

 

[yankeerugger]

thanks for the info! Very interesting indeed. Do keep us posted!

 

[Th1rteen]

Few more facts...

Called the City Of Salford Stadium, holds 22,000, right next to a main motorway and has a 200-room hotel, shopping centre and casino. Will be the fourth biggest stadia in Greater Manchester after Old Trafford (MUFC/76,000), City Of Manchester Stadium (MCFC/48,000) and JJB Stadium (WWRL+WAFC/25,000).

 

[Coastbloke]

yep, aint it a beauty.

i think theyll become one of the richest RL clubs on earth.

and the BBC are moving their sports offices from London to salford so a strong RL club around the corner will help get them interested.

in addition to salford having a large population in its own rights, being next to manchester theyll be able to target that market as well.

they have the potential to make a big difference to the profile and growth of SL in england.

There goes either the Toulouse or Celtic franchise...

 

[dallymessenger]

There goes either the Toulouse or Celtic franchise...

maybe not.

a club like hull kr or wakey could miss out, and both crusaders and toulose get in.

 

[t-ba]

I can't see the Calder getting two sides.

It's pretty much a battle royale between Wakey and Cas for the one spot.

 

[yankeerugger]

IF salford are going to make themselves a must have for the ESL,
AND Cardiff and Toulouse are necessary for market/game expansion,
AND The ESL is set on expanding from 12 to 14...

Who would be the weakest side currently in the ESL to go down to make room for these 3 to go up?

(By weakest side, not just on the pitch, but economically... worst financial shape, worst venue, worst market, worst fan support... easiest to drop and NOT take much of a financial hit for the league in the process...)

 

[Th1rteen]

IF salford are going to make themselves a must have for the ESL,
AND Cardiff and Toulouse are necessary for market/game expansion,
AND The ESL is set on expanding from 12 to 14...

Who would be the weakest side currently in the ESL to go down to make room for these 3 to go up?

(By weakest side, not just on the pitch, but economically... worst financial shape, worst venue, worst market, worst fan support... easiest to drop and NOT take much of a financial hit for the league in the process...)

Wakefield or Castleford. Although there are still rumours that there might be 15 franchises.

 

[dallymessenger]

Wakefield or Castleford. Although there are still rumours that there might be 15 franchises.

unfortunately not.

the RFL ruled that out, and said that going to 14 isnt a sure thing