Ground move consideration

[Salthouse Bridge]

Controversial subject I know but came across an article by chance in the total rugby leaguer online article about Barrow rugby league chairman saying he doesn't think that Craven Park would meet super league standards and that he wants to work with Bae and the council ( good luck with that one) to help get a first class sporting venue to attract more people to come to work in the town and have first class rugby and football team , there was no mention of ground sharing but if we had new stadium would we consider this option, i know when the drawings for the new marina there was a provision for an all purpose sports stadium and quite a few premiership clubs have moved from their spiritual home what's people's view on this as it's something which in reality won't happen but just open to debate

[McMark]

Always a popular topic Especially the ground share. https://www.barrowafc.net/viewtopic.php?t=6438&start=15
Why would we move from here; https://youtu.be/YIb8k4jY7KM
It’s beautiful And more importantly it’s ours.

[olbarrafancumbak]

Would have said yes years ago when we never looked like ever getting back into the efl but now? Nah not for me

New stadium? Yes and no..

Yes it would be great to have modern facilities and a smart looking ground that people don't slag off but I wouldn't want a total plastic soulless place either if that makes sense?

Being sentimental would say no cos it's a place we are accustomed too and a place we call home. So maybe down the line, the old steelworks end re built and used better? Even the temporary stands have made a big big difference along with the covered hs end, it's not perfect but it is ours!

And being down the dock area would surely give us more weather issues than we do where we are? We get a bit of cover off the slag banks and surroundings but down the docks would surely be ten times worse? And then getting there and back being so far out the way?

It's a difficult one but I like where we are but yeh, some future developments down the line would be fab

[Wintergreen]

It can't really be 15 years since we last discussed this on here can it? I thought it was an annual event! The old place is certainly a hotch-potch now but conversely is much improved and as olbarra intimated in a good post, it's our hotch-potch and we love it. But should we be looking to future-proof ourselves and seize the day if a feasible proposal comes along? I say this in light of the government's recent pledge to 'invest heavily' in the community in light of BAE's AUKUS deal. Maybe the stars are starting to align?

Old driving range on Park Rd would be a better site than the docks methinks.

[sambino]

If we did make it to league 1 then I’m sure we would need to start looking at further improvements or a move. For me trying to buy up the land round the ground
And over the road,would be how I’d go. It would enable for us to stay put but expand.

[BarrowLad71]

Oh here we go again

Groundshare - no
Council owned new soulless bowl - no

Imagine how much income we’d lose. We are better off without having to support the Barrow Raiders when we make a loss ourself.

[olbarrafancumbak]

Currently we have what seems to be a very astute board and chairman and if we were to seriously consider a new place, what better group of people would you want doing it?
For the owners, what a legacy that would be for them all of they managed the unimaginable?

[blue nige]

Their chairman works at BAE ,he mentions getting them involved under present rules there's absolutely no chance of them getting involved ( spirit will back me up on this )
It would have to involve benefitting the community etc, not withstanding all the other complications etc , who owns it. Financial implications, cost of renewing pitch every season the list goes on ,the Rugby have no interest in what we do, they see us as a means to an end!
Non starter!

[behind the goals]

Let the Rugby get on with it don't need to involve the football club, at the moment our ground is compliance to EFL 1/2 even if rules change to having more seats the Holker end can be altered easily, we don't sell out and probably won't for a league game, also all the work the GMV have done to improve the ground would all be for nothing, the Rugby have been very lucky the last couple of seasons to avoid relegation and would need a minimum 10,000 capacity if ambitions are to reach the Super league so all the best in trying for a new ground.

[blue nige]

In the article he does mention the football club so he's trying ( indirectly) to get us involved!below is part of his interview!

BAE Systems understand that in order to attract a high calibre workforce, the town has to become more attractive, and having top-class rugby league (and EFL football) should be part of that attraction.”

Craven Park, built in 1931, has a capacity of just 6,000.

[HenneysKnee]

Compared to our ground Craven Park is falling down

If a Barrow fan won the Euromillions and wanted to build us a new ground then fantastic, can’t see any other way it happens these days, and a strong no to a groundshare imho doesn’t benefit us at all, would be far more the Raiders getting the benefit of that move

[Adam29]

You wouldn’t sell your own house to move into a council house.

There is further expansion room at Holker Street so no need to even look at moving in the near future.

[beachy01]

i feel like if we knocked down the steelworks end and build a half decent stand in there with boxes etc for hospitality then our ground would be/look half decent

that end looks awful, almost embarrassing on TV. its served its purpose, of course it has but if we were looking to do something, that end would be high on my list, but im guessing thats a big 'if'

last time the marina stadium was muted, i was close to the chairman of the rugby at the time and the only benefit either team was going to get was a new stadium, all revenue for match days etc went to the council, including the money from the sale of the 2 old grounds

[olbarrafancumbak]

i feel like if we knocked down the steelworks end and build a half decent stand in there with boxes etc for hospitality then our ground would be/look half decent

that end looks awful, almost embarrassing on TV. its served its purpose, of course it has but if we were looking to do something, that end would be high on my list, but im guessing thats a big 'if'

last time the marina stadium was muted, i was close to the chairman of the rugby at the time and the only benefit either team was going to get was a new stadium, all revenue for match days etc went to the council, including the money from the sale of the 2 old grounds

Problem with knocking down the steelworks would be huge loss of income! If you think about it, the fan zone, the club bar and hospitality so unless they could do it all close season (impossible) or had another area that could generate and accommodate the above, it becomes a real headache!

Perhaps the purchase of the garage could be utilized bit you wouldn't get pitch views.

It's a very difficult problem but like anything it's not insurmountable just bloody expensive!

[mall]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.
If Everything Was Rosy In The Garden at Craven Park, Barrow Soccer Could Go To Hell In a Handcart - It's As Simple As That!