Alternative home grounds : Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:36 pm  

Questions need asking as to why local grounds are considered unsuitable when other clubs play at grounds with very limited facilities. We all live in different parts of the borough so have differing local knowledge of the possible grounds.

I'll throw Brodsworth's ground in for starters. Turnstiles, 3000 capacity and 228 seats. Does that meet requirements?

Also as a bonus a 15 minute bus ride from town.

Added bonus. They use Tattersfields old floodlights.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:38 pm  

The answer is not to move away from the Keepmoat and concede home advantage.
Any other ground is a neutral ground.
Yes it may be convenient for supporters, but points and opportunities are being thrown away.
Just consider this ... we would be playing Widnes at Wembley very probably given games at the Keepmoat and nigh on top of the table too!!!
It is an administrative problem ONLY!

Re: Alternative home grounds : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:15 pm  

Rob Nash wrote:

Questions need asking as to why local grounds are considered unsuitable when other clubs play at grounds with very limited facilities. We all live in different parts of the borough so have differing local knowledge of the possible grounds.

I'll throw Brodsworth's ground in for starters. Turnstiles, 3000 capacity and 228 seats. Does that meet requirements?

Also as a bonus a 15 minute bus ride from town.

Added bonus. They use Tattersfields old floodlights.

When I last raised this matter at the Fans' Forum meeting, I was told that no local grounds meet requirements except Castle Park.

Pitch size and fixed wall perimeter surrounds were mentioned as potential issues for some of the other local venues.

I will mention Brodsworth at the next Fans' Meeting to see whether this option has been considered. The next meeting is scheduled for 29th August.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:40 am  

Once Castle Park had been ruled out it meant that we had to source a ground with corporate facilities that certain people have become accustomed to. When you look at other grounds in this league the perimeter wall issue (argument) fails to stack up. IMO Brodsworth or Rossington are no worse than some of the grounds that the Dons have played at during the past few seasons.

Sheffield appear to have managed at a ground that is a glorified Keepmoat pitch 2.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 10:01 am  

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:

Once Castle Park had been ruled out it meant that we had to source a ground with corporate facilities that certain people have become accustomed to. When you look at other grounds in this league the perimeter wall issue (argument) fails to stack up. IMO Brodsworth or Rossington are no worse than some of the grounds that the Dons have played at during the past few seasons.

Corporate facilities, that's why it makes common sense to sort this before season kicks off and change games around that need changing.
they KNOW its going to happen EVERY year.
That keeps the businesses onside and the players can play on there OWN ground.
Simples really.
I would like to know whats happening next season with this situation before i decide or get our season tickets next year.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 10:14 am  

Correct me if this is not accurate, I believe Hull have to go on the road due to pitch maintenance. Its not ideal playing consecutive games away but that surely is the answer if we want our home games at the Keepmoat.

You are amongst a number that have raised the season ticket issue, financially the club have to get this sorted.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 10:16 am  

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:

Once Castle Park had been ruled out it meant that we had to source a ground with corporate facilities that certain people have become accustomed to. When you look at other grounds in this league the perimeter wall issue (argument) fails to stack up. IMO Brodsworth or Rossington are no worse than some of the grounds that the Dons have played at during the past few seasons.

Sheffield appear to have managed at a ground that is a glorified Keepmoat pitch 2.

Sorry, Wilf, I might not have been clear when I mentioned 'fixed walls' in my earlier message. The club said that no ground with a 'fixed wall' on its perimeter is suitable as it potentially causes a danger to players, especially when in the act of scoring tries.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 10:31 am  

onedon wrote:

Corporate facilities, that's why it makes common sense to sort this before season kicks off and change games around that need changing.
they KNOW its going to happen EVERY year.
That keeps the businesses onside and the players can play on there OWN ground.
Simples really.
I would like to know whats happening next season with this situation before i decide or get our season tickets next year.

The club try to 'reverse fixtures' so we have no home games scheduled during the period of pitch maintenance but this can only be done with the consent of the other club. If the other club don't want to co-operate (and why should they if if means it messes up their own home/away rota) we're stuck. It's actually to their benefit to make us play at a neutral venue as it reduces our 'home advantage'.

I don't particularly like having a run of home games at the start of the season (as happens with fixture reversals) as it means we play these matches in the freezing cold of March and April, with fewer matches in the nicer weather. This must have a negative impact on attendances.

I feel the mistake the club made was not to keep the Athletics Pitch as an option. This would have done away with all the uncertainty that is clearly very frustrating to fans and could prove costly in future season ticket sales.

I doubt that when season tickets go on sale for 2020 that the fixture lists will have been published at this point. It'll be impossible to know which/how many games could be affected.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 10:34 am  

Double Movement wrote:

Sorry, Wilf, I might not have been clear when I mentioned 'fixed walls' in my earlier message. The club said that no ground with a 'fixed wall' on its perimeter is suitable as it potentially causes a danger to players, especially when in the act of scoring tries.

Yes I see that thanks for clarifying ( the problem with written debate)

I do recall Jamie Bloem introducing the Widnes player to the Tattersfield fence

Some good points raised and a few pro's and con's.

Re: Alternative home grounds : Tue Jul 30, 2019 11:36 am  

I thought it was Alan Tait but when he was at Leeds