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Saracens & Ealing |
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workerbee
World Cup Winner Joined: 20 May 2009 Location: Wirral Status: Offline Points: 883 |
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The best Stadium outside Twickenham is Darlington Mowden Park is can seat 28,000. Full hospitality and Big bars for supporters, However they rarely get more than 800 spectators and only use one side. Whilst they have been in Nat 1 for a number of years they cannot make the break though into the Championship and are not able to fund their plans for the future especially as they are not able at present to hold any off field events. This is always the problem with clubs who have big overheads and are unable to provide any income to fund them and this is not just a Covid issue. You can count on the fingers of one hand those clubs who have succeeded Exeter being the best Example.
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WEvans
World Cup Winner Joined: 08 Dec 2016 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1370 |
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Best Stadium? I think not. Biggest maybe.
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workerbee
World Cup Winner Joined: 20 May 2009 Location: Wirral Status: Offline Points: 883 |
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I am sure that if you have been into the main entrance you would have been impressed, the only club I know with a Lift and elevators, a main function room on the first floor, with a night club at the other end. On the ground floor a main bar under one stand and a large public lounge along side. On the third floor a directors lounge and restaurant and private boxes. The area under the stand for changing rooms is so big a referee could not find the way out. Secure car parking for several hundred cars and additional land which the club was hoping to develop a multi sports facility and an all weather pitch which is currently on hold. If they can get their commercial operations right they have the facilities which are much better that most of the current Premier league teams. However that is the problem, together with their location that they are too far North for the RFU .
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Kimbo
World Cup Winner Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6186 |
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TBF, I think the main problem is that (thus far) they just aren't good enough to get out of the third division. That's not the RFU's fault.
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Raider999
World Cup Winner Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Location: Crawley Status: Offline Points: 4432 |
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On the face of it, very impressive - however there is a lot to maintain when crowds are averaging 800 per game and an even bigger millstone when there are no games/crowds. |
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RAID ON
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castleparknight
World Cup Winner Joined: 07 Jun 2012 Location: Doncaster Status: Offline Points: 2974 |
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Workerbee - come visit Castle Park the things you mentioned are pretty much available here too.....
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Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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PlangentThrowback
World Cup Winner Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1265 |
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Whilst buying the arena at a good price, performance on the pitch hasn't matched up to it and the running costs (even with some conference/meeting income) must be horrendous even before lockdown restrictions. I suppose it can always be sold for housing as was going to happen before MP stepped in.
I agree about Castle Park, always my favourite away trip, and a model of how to develop a ground. Just the right size, good facilities and space to expand if the situation warrants. Surely a better proposition than Ealing if the Premiership wants to bring in another club (leaving aside all the issues about financial backing etc).
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Neasham
World Cup Winner Joined: 09 May 2014 Location: County Durham Status: Offline Points: 461 |
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That bar under Doncaster’s main stand is like a concrete bunker.
Mowden Park’s arena is in need of a good lick of paint to day the least
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workerbee
World Cup Winner Joined: 20 May 2009 Location: Wirral Status: Offline Points: 883 |
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I have been to Doncaster's ground and it is very impressive, However even they cannot fit in 28,000 into their ground. It would seem that there are only a handful of stadiums that could meet Premiership criteria and even Ealing are considering moving if the chance of premiership was on offer with a 14 team league.
I agree that Darlington Mowden Park have found that the stadium has been a millstone around their neck and have been struggling to make it pay. You are quite right the running costs must be horrendous and it will only work if Non Match day revenue covers the running costs. In theory it was a great idea and getting it for a knock down price seemed a no brainer unfortunately they did not have the infrastructure to Manage it.
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castleparknight
World Cup Winner Joined: 07 Jun 2012 Location: Doncaster Status: Offline Points: 2974 |
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Oh you haven't been there of late then Neasham - our Knight Shift Renovated the whole area last season it is much more bright and welcoming - but yes it was a concrete hall but it was covered, had a very long bar and good food.
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Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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Moseley Mauler
World Cup Winner Moseley Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 637 |
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And at Moseley....
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castleparknight
World Cup Winner Joined: 07 Jun 2012 Location: Doncaster Status: Offline Points: 2974 |
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Yes the present accommodation cannot hold 28k - but we can, in a matter of months, get the ground set to the minimum standards for crowds etc etc. And be a place with atmosphere - at Darlington you would need a crowd in excess of 15 k to create an atmosphere I would guess (the current numbers they get will make it feel like Nottingham when they played at the County Ground souless, which I believe they still have a deal in place to use if they made the premiership).
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Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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WEvans
World Cup Winner Joined: 08 Dec 2016 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1370 |
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This sounds like a "my dad is bigger than your dad" argument.
There's more to a good dad/stadium than size.
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castleparknight
World Cup Winner Joined: 07 Jun 2012 Location: Doncaster Status: Offline Points: 2974 |
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True, I shall cease at this point.
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Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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Kimbo
World Cup Winner Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6186 |
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Quite.
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kempstonblue
World Cup Winner Joined: 20 Jun 2020 Location: Kempston Status: Offline Points: 504 |
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I am just happy that writer at The Times likes the matchday at my clubs ground.
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Looking forward to new beginnings.
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corporalcarrot
World Cup Winner Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Location: St Brelade Status: Offline Points: 4724 |
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Donny has the best pies in the ground anywhere although to be fair to DMP the Taylors Pork Pies in Skinnergate push them close.
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Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD.
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'Hopper
World Cup Winner Preston Grasshoppers Joined: 24 Oct 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1512 |
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Obviously you've never been to Otley.
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What if the Hokey Kokey really IS what it's all about?
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Kimbo
World Cup Winner Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6186 |
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Don't take them into the stadium and expect to eat them hot though. DMP have offered the stadium to the NHS for cold storage of the Covid vaccine. Might be too cold though as it only needs to be stored at -80 degrees.
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Kimbo
World Cup Winner Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6186 |
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Prefer the ones at Skipton personally. Takes all sorts though.
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