: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:51 pm  

The Challenge Cup Final and Wembley are synonymous with each other. This should never change, IMO.

However, MS is a great stadium and the area can just make any event seem better than it may actually be. I think it definitely needs something there. Thought we had it with MM, but it's a shame it didn't work out with the Welsh Tourist Board.

The idea of having the semis as a double-header there sounds a good-un, except that the place is huge and wouldn't sell out (well maybe not right away). If you shut the upper tier however, I reckon you could easily sell out the bottom and middle tier with the 4 teams fans + neutrals. Fans complain that they wouldn't be able to afford all these events on a short notice, but this year it is 10 weeks between the quarters and the semis, plenty of time to save up the pennies. I'm sure if they got to the final they'd find the cash because no-one would want to miss that (well, except Saints fans who might as well have an annual seat there).

Perhaps a good way to get more neutrals to go would be to have a sevens tournament there on the same weekend for the teams that aren't involved (or maybe even include them, but they'd have to put a weakened side out obviously. Shouldn't be too hard with a small sevens squad). Could have games switch between MS and Cardiff Arms Park to get as many games played as quickly as possible?

Re: Challenge Cup Final - Time for a change? : Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:16 am  

Bobbin' Along wrote:

Cardiff's great by all accounts, but winning at Wembley is that little bit extra special.

No, winning at Wembley is a pointless thing that is not worth doing. Drawing there and winning on a replay in somewhere like Leeds though, that is special.

crucrucrusaders wrote:

I think Millennium Stadium gives fans a better, closer view of the action. It gives more a feel of being involved.

Some of the Wembley seats give you a feeling of being away from the action.

Having tried both I fully agree. Having sat at the front of the upper tier at Wembley I was looking across the two lower tiers and the pitch seemed miles away. Same sort of spot at the Millennium Stadium and it was like I was looking straight down onto the touchline.

Wembley is in general a better building, but the bowl design makes for a much poorer view than the overhanging tiers in Cardiff.

Wellsy13 wrote:

The Challenge Cup Final and Wembley are synonymous with each other. This should never change, IMO.

In the Super League era, and as everyone knows rugby did not exist until 1996, there have been 6 finals at Wembley and 7 finals not at Wembley.

As a sport we seem to love how progressive we are, yet when it comes to Wembley suddenly people start arguing tradition as if it a reason for something. It is simply an historic statistic. All things being even then it is fair enough to use tradition as a reason to side one way over another, but to do something just because it is tradition is foolish.

Michael.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:22 am  

Cardiff for me

Longer travel time but a much more hospitable place with a better atmosphere and the ability to mix with other fans, simply not do able in Wembley unless you're on Wembley Way/ the concourse 30 minutes before the game.

Cardiff jsut has something special about it i think.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:20 am  

Cardiff, no question. I was very disappointed with the new Wembley - What a boring place to be.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:26 am  

piemandan wrote:

Cardiff, no question. I was very disappointed with the new Wembley - What a boring place to be.

The old one was even worse - so much excitement in the build up to going to the mecca that was Wembley and when i got there it was like....' huh is that it ?, what a sh!thole !! '

not been to the 'new' one yet though so cant comment on that

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:29 am  

Wembley for me, how about having the northern rail cup final as a curtain raiser?

Gives that competition an added edge too.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:42 am  

piemandan wrote:

Cardiff, no question. I was very disappointed with the new Wembley - What a boring place to be.

It gets better when your team plays there

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:46 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

The idea of having the semis as a double-header there sounds a good-un, except that the place is huge and wouldn't sell out

Why does it have to? Do any semis (apart from them being played in stupidly small stadiums) sell out any way?

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:25 pm  

EL CAMO wrote:

Wembley for the simple reason that I hated the locals when we were at MM.


Some cock asked my mates cousin (12) if he was english and when he said yes spat on him. This bloke must have been at least early 20s. And rugby fans get a bad name!

Talk about a chip on your shoulder!

and i hope you all responded by smashing said scoates face into the pavement

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:34 pm  

Cardiff would get my vote