RFL put gun in mouth and squeeze!

[Fairleigh Good!]

The Challenge Cup Semi Final venues have been announced today by the RFL.

St Helens V Huddersfield @ Warrington
Warrington V Wigan @ Widnes

The Saints game is pretty fair really and should be a great day. The capacity is 14,000 which seems okay with Saints average crowd this year set to be around 11,000 and Huddersfield's around 5,000. Should sell out, have a great atmosphere and look magnificent on TV.

HOWEVER the Warrington Vs Wigan game being staged at Widnes is appalling by the RFL. Wigan's average crowd is around 10,000 and Warrington could average 9,000 or more at their new ground this season. Given the crest of a wave Warrington are riding, surely Widnes' Halton Stadium which holds 12,000 is far too small for that game?

THERE WILL BE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND A CUP SEMI FINAL. How bad is that? Anyone at Warrington and Wigan without a season ticket will have to make do with their favourite armchair!

 

[terracesider]

Another triumph for the RFL.

I fear you're right, FG and I'm not convinved the Indiana Jones stadium is big enough. It's always amazed me how many Hudddersfield folk come out of the woodwork for big matches. If only they turned up to SL.

 

[deluded pom?]

I can`t understand why one of the semis isn`t being played in Yorkshire . Surely the Saints v Huddersfield game should be played at Headingley . No way should Lancashire get both semis . If it had been four Lancashire teams involved then fair enough .

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

I can`t understand why one of the semis isn`t being played in Yorkshire . Surely the Saints v Huddersfield game should be played at Headingley . No way should Lancashire get both semis . If it had been four Lancashire teams involved then fair enough .

Headingly was ruled unavilable by Hetherington due to the dates being close to a Union match and cricket.

I don't think the Saints V Huddersfield game is an issue, I would expect 15k MAX to have turned up to a bigger ground.

Wire V Wigan however could have got 18-20K with the Wires feel good factor.

 

[Asim]

Choosing the Halton Stadium is a joke, Wire look like they could get a bit of a roll on in terms of crowds and limiting them to about 4000 for a semi is a bad move on the part of the RFL.

I think a problem we have is the lack of many stadiums with a capacity of between 15-20k, it can look bad on TV at the 25k grounds with lots of empty seats so I can sort of understand why they've gone for small venues, even though I don't agree with it.

 

[Paul-The-Cowboy]

I can`t understand why one of the semis isn`t being played in Yorkshire . Surely the Saints v Huddersfield game should be played at Headingley . No way should Lancashire get both semis . If it had been four Lancashire teams involved then fair enough .

Didn't Yorkshire get both the semis last year? I agree though. JJB aside (which probably wasn't available because of Latics), Lancashire clubs don't have stadiums capable of hosting a semi, nevermind 2. I wouldn't have minded travelling to Headingley, at least we wouldn't face the potential problems of fans not being able to get in and the opening day fiasco at the HJS doesn't fill me with confidence.

The Halton Stadium decision is a joke. Just compare the capacity with how many fans there were at the play-off fixture at the JJB last season.

The RFL really have no ambition. I understand the RFL have picked it because of corporate facilities? Which would've ruled out Knowsley Road. But there's going to be a lot of disappointed Wigan and Warrington fans. I'm sure the Wire and Wigan fans would prefer to have travelled over the Penines to the McAlpine rather than get no tickets at all?

And I know people say, "But on the bright side a sold out stadium looks good on TV". But I can't see a stadium with 3 stands and then nothing behind one goal looking particularly great to be honest.

 

[JasonE]

I wouldve thought the Reebok Stadium would be a good choice for the wire/wigan game.

 

[Paul-The-Cowboy]

I thought that as well. Maybe Bolton weren't too keen on the idea? I don't know.

Or a double header at the City of Manchester Stadium would've been an interesting avenue to explore.

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

I thought that as well. Maybe Bolton weren't too keen on the idea? I don't know.

Or a double header at the City of Manchester Stadium would've been an interesting avenue to explore.

That would have been great, but the TV deal rules it out. The Wigan Versus Warrington game at the Reebok would have been great though. 20,000 would have been achievable.

Next season we HAVE to be more ambitious, there is no point selling out tiny grounds like Widnes. The RFL claim it looks good on TV, but they don't care one bit about the fans. I know a Wire fan who has been to EVERY game HOME AND AWAY for as long as he can remember. He doesn't bother with a season ticket as he can never afford the payment. He won't be getting to watch the semi final live, frankly its unacceptable.