Salford overhaul

[hutch]

i know this has been discussed before, and it is a sore point for most salford fans, but surely it is time for an overhaul, or rebranding of the salford club. i understand that they play in a dodgy 100 year old stadium, i have been there and it is not up to professional sporting standards, and that they are building a new stadium in the near future (will the new stadium be close in proximity to the current one?). but surely, after all this time and only averaging 5000 odd fans per game, something needs to be done.

would there be any benefit in rebranding the team as manchester/salfod, or salford/manchester, and appealing to a broader market. the manchester name is famous in world sport. i have spent some time in manchester, and yes while it is soccer mad i did see quite a few rugby league jerseys around town, and the grand final was an unbelievable atmosphere.

i just think that a change in name for salford may open new avenues for the club, and give rugby league a greater presence around manchester.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

That isn't a bad question. Any of our English friends have an opinion?

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

When Super League was first launched Murdoch wanted to create a merged "Manchester" team from Salford and Oldham.

I don't know - to me the idea seems like a bit of a desperate attempt leech off the popularity of the global "Manchester United" brand (Salford are the original 'Red Devils' anyway). I personally don't think matters if they're called Salford City or Manchester - they can still draw fans from the wider area if they play in a decent stadium and get decent results no matter what they're called.

I realise it's a bit different but lots of Eels fans come from the Hills District, not just the Parramatta District. When I was growing up we didn't need a team called 'Hills District' (obviously there was in the metro cup) in the NSWRL for me to turn up to a game.

 

[jed]

I also don't think the fans would be terribly impressed with a name change. The NRL has seen a few changes (Canterbury-Bankstown -> The Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland -> The Sharks, Eastern Suburbs -> Sydney Roosters), but if Salford were to become Manchester, I think a great deal of history would be lost.

I wasn't sure that London Broncos would work as Harlequins, but that was to align themselves with a stronger Union side, and seems to have settled in well, but I would stick with Salford. And as CA81 suggested, it's more important for them to get results than worry about what to call themselves - a re-naming won't do anything about their performance on the field.

 

[hutch]

I also don't think the fans would be terribly impressed with a name change. The NRL has seen a few changes (Canterbury-Bankstown -> The Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland -> The Sharks, Eastern Suburbs -> Sydney Roosters), but if Salford were to become Manchester, I think a great deal of history would be lost.

wouldnt you rather upset 5000 fans in order to potentially gain many more? i understand the club and its history, i lived in manchester for a while last year, i think it would open up to a whole new market. it will probably never happen anyway, and i know the club has big plans in moving forward with a new stadium, i just think there is way more potential in that part of the uk!

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

wouldnt you rather upset 5000 fans in order to potentially gain many more? i understand the club and its history, i lived in manchester for a while last year, i think it would open up to a whole new market. it will probably never happen anyway, and i know the club has big plans in moving forward with a new stadium, i just think there is way more potential in that part of the uk!

Salford is in Greater Manchester - they're in that area.

Presumably it would already be logistically possible for the same Mancunians who support Manchester Utd to support Salford?

 

[hutch]

Salford is in Greater Manchester - they're in that area.

Presumably it would already be logistically possible for the same Mancunians who support Manchester Utd to support Salford?

most people in manchester i spoke to didnt speak well of salford at all, let alone their sporting teams. i understand it was a rough area a few years ago, but isnt as bad these days. salford quays is quite nice.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

Isnt Leichardt Oval an old ground, yet an NRL team play there? OKI Oval isnt that upto standard either so please dont have a pop at The Willows. Its a stadium with character, some not found with the 'modern' stadiums of today.

Salford will get thru this.

 

[deluded pom?]

Salford is in Greater Manchester - they're in that area.

Presumably it would already be logistically possible for the same Mancunians who support Manchester Utd to support Salford?

The joke about Manchester United is that most of their supporters don't actually come from Manchester. In fact Manchester United don't even come from Manchester, they come from Trafford. This is probably a question only Salford fans can answer.

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

All Salford are lacking is a decent stadium (Which now seems dead in the water?) and a decent team.

No team can improve their fan base when they are as bad as Salford. They've not had a side capable of competing for trophies in decades. That hurts.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

All Salford are lacking is a decent stadium (Which now seems dead in the water?) and a decent team.

No team can improve their fan base when they are as bad as Salford. They've not had a side capable of competing for trophies in decades. That hurts.

And what would a Wolves fan know about the Reds?

I was there last Friday (yes soundly beaten) before I returned back to Oz, and there is still a lot of optimism about the stadium. Just because you cannot see anything visible, does not suggest is isnt happening.

And secondly we will have an iconic stadium not some boring bland '4 stands' like Haliwell Jones which lacks everything.

 

[bartman]

Thought FG was a Saint?

I am confident the stadium will go ahead at some point. Most local areas these days seem to be considering improved facilities of some description, whether it's centred around league or a combination of local sports.

Just not confident Salford will stay up this year? Which will cause all sorts of anxiety about whether they will get a Super League franchise in 2009...

And one of Hull KR, Salford, Widnes, Castleford most likely is going to miss out, as they wouldn't expand the competition numbers without trying to expand the competition area.

 

[hutch]

Isnt Leichardt Oval an old ground, yet an NRL team play there? OKI Oval isnt that upto standard either so please dont have a pop at The Willows. Its a stadium with character, some not found with the 'modern' stadiums of today.

Salford will get thru this.

it may have character but it isnt up to todays standards im afraid. its old and run down.

i hope the new stadium does go through, do you know where abouts its to be built? i remember hearing it may not actually be in salford itself.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

it may have character but it isnt up to todays standards im afraid. its old and run down.

i hope the new stadium does go through, do you know where abouts its to be built? i remember hearing it may not actually be in salford itself.

It will be built at Barton, a suburb about 5/6 kms from The Willows westwards and opposite from club sponsor The Trafford Centre which is Europes biggest shopping mall.

 

[hutch]

It will be built at Barton, a suburb about 5/6 kms from The Willows westwards and opposite from club sponsor The Trafford Centre which is Europes biggest shopping mall.

great location. i went to the trafford centre quite a few times, quite impressive and a nice area.

 

[bowes]

Wouldn't work, Sale are a much bigger RU club than Manchester, the Manchester basketball team folded and the ice hockey team did twice, though have reformed. If they lose the few fans they've got (but nearly twice as many as Harequins) they won't even pick that many new fans up and they'll be rined, anything to attract new fas needs to not put off many existing fans.

The Harlequis change has been a disaster from a spectator point of view and has seen the already low crowds drops dangerously low, to the extent that they have an uncertain future, but they have made up the money from other areas of the move, so it was a good idea, but still it has done aything but increase crowds

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

I hope the Sale lot dont move in at Barton. big mistake having the greedy rah rahs there!

 

[brendothejet]

When I was in manchester I couldn't help but think that it was a town that needed more than the Salford Reds.

It is a rugby league city. They are aware of it, attend it, and it gets good media coverage.

A team playing out of City of Manchester Stadium or Old Trafford would have a massive sports mad and parochial following.

If you can steer clear of attaching yourself to United or City (soccer) then you'd go along way for giving the mancs something to do during the summer and make massive cash for RL.

Not to mention boosting juniors, media, crowds etc....