Saints have hosted a few concerts now, sell-outs. I'm not sure it matters who is playing. A full house is a full house.

I have no evidence but I'd assume beer and food sales would be bigger for a concert than for a sports event.

Wire were on fire in that 1st 20 minutes. Might be their year.

It is a good earner for Saints, but I have a good idea how these things work and they won’t take the F&B.

Bands like the Who are a machine, when they move in they take over and I mean take over. It’s not just roadies these days, it’s security, facility management, all concessions etc etc, nothing is left to chance.

The Stones have their own company that has trucks that brings food and drink to the venues and buses that bring their own staff, even cleaners. They used to bring in their own cash machines at one time! The Who may not go that far but they will have companies they use exclusively for everything.

So Saints get a flat fee and to me that’s good business, why attempt to handle an event outside of your normal remit when you can take the money and let others take the strain.

You probably know as well as anyone, it’s as easy to lose money as make it in the entertainment industry, it’s full of sharks. Doing it the way I’m suggesting and Saints might make a bit less but there will be zero risk. It’s certainly what I’d do if RL was my business and Rock concerts weren’t. I’m not being negative just realistic.

However what I was really trying to point out was that there is no future hook up with the Who. No legacy that will see their fans come back to the TWS to watch Saints. They may never play there again, but then at their age….To me it’s just a lucrative sideline and nothing more.

My only surprise is that the Who are now playing in such a relatively small arena. Tours are all about economy of scale and I wouldn’t have thought there was the return. Though it is over two nights I believe?

Maybe it’s just me and I read too much of the expansionist crap on Total RL. I just think RL fans read far to much into things at times and see everything as a new nirvana.

The point of a new stadium like ours, isn't to draw people to the rugby, though nice if it does. It's to have income on the other 300+ days of the year.
Doesn't matter whether it's an international rock band or a local wedding.
It's the profit that counts.

Yep our model is a very different one to Saints or most SL team. You’re totally correct, BV has to embed itself into the Wakefield community as the place to go for almost anything.

Whether that be business or private function, as I keep saying we want that carpark full from 7 in the morning to 10 at night, 7 days a week if possible. That’s where the income will come from imho, not big events.

People mock because it’s just one stand but it’s far more. There will also be imo a massive increase in the desirability of the old clubhouse and the flats once you can park in a nice carpark and not a mud heap. Suddenly a lesser function or taking up office space will seem far more acceptable.

Baby steps for us, fairly big ones though.

Has a decision been on what will happen with the flats yet? Seen a few ideas thrown around but nothing official?

I understand Speed awareness courses are a good earner and run all year round.

I don't think anything is happening to the flats. It's the Rollin Shack building where the changing rooms are that will be re-purposed.
Not a gym though

Sorry, I meant as in what they'll be used for going forward?