Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Wed Nov 23, 2016 5:11 pm  

Looking around the boards, on Facebook I can see the attendance being very healthy (if not selling out)! Plenty of Wiganer's up for this one for the novelty of it (both the team and the stadium). I can also see plenty neutrals attending too.

One thing I did notice is that it may be an idea to take binoculars due to the distance from the stands to the pitch cause of the running track. Especially behind the sticks either end.

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Wed Nov 23, 2016 6:10 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Looking around the boards, on Facebook I can see the attendance being very healthy (if not selling out)! Plenty of Wiganer's up for this one for the novelty of it (both the team and the stadium). I can also see plenty neutrals attending too.

One thing I did notice is that it may be an idea to take binoculars due to the distance from the stands to the pitch cause of the running track. Especially behind the sticks either end.

Pretty sure that it doesn't have a running track - this is the new 7000 capacity stadium on the opposite side of the road (connected to the Etihad Stadium by a new bridge) and not the original small stadium behind the Etihad.

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Wed Nov 23, 2016 7:02 pm  

Bert's Medal wrote:

Pretty sure that it doesn't have a running track - this is the new 7000 capacity stadium on the opposite side of the road (connected to the Etihad Stadium by a new bridge) and not the original small stadium behind the Etihad.

Wonder if I'm looking at the wrong stadium then?

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:14 pm  

MattyB wrote: Wonder if I'm looking at the wrong stadium then? This link shows the new stadium in the foreground Matty - the smaller stadium with the Athletics track is behind the Etihad. I think that the new stadium is officially titled the 'Academy Stadium'. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-city-allow-mirror-behind-6961350

MattyB wrote: Wonder if I'm looking at the wrong stadium then? This link shows the new stadium in the foreground Matty - the smaller stadium with the Athletics track is behind the Etihad. I think that the new stadium is officially titled the 'Academy Stadium'. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-city-allow-mirror-behind-6961350

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Thu Nov 24, 2016 7:48 am  

Cheers for that Bert, yes was getting mixed up with the smaller stadium behind the Etihad.

It looks very smart and the 7k capacity will do the job on the day.
Quite a clever move by Wigan to play this game here as we'll get some welcome exposure from it.

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Thu Nov 24, 2016 7:51 am  

Thinking about it yesterday, Wigan have a history of playing newly created teams in the first match (and getting beat by them too). Didn't Wigan play Fulham away in 1981 with a 10k attendance and narrowly lost.

I'm sure similar happened against Catalans as well if I remember correctly.

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Thu Nov 24, 2016 9:35 am  

Bert's Medal wrote:

Pretty sure that it doesn't have a running track - this is the new 7000 capacity stadium on the opposite side of the road (connected to the Etihad Stadium by a new bridge) and not the original small stadium behind the Etihad.

Are you sure about that? The Regional Arena (which does have a running track) is used by Manchester Rangers RL, Manchester Met RL and hosted the NCL Trophy Final this year so clearly a big rugby league connection. As far as I'm aware the other stadium you mention has never been used for rugby league.

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Thu Nov 24, 2016 10:36 am  

Grimmy wrote:

Are you sure about that? The Regional Arena (which does have a running track) is used by Manchester Rangers RL, Manchester Met RL and hosted the NCL Trophy Final this year so clearly a big rugby league connection. As far as I'm aware the other stadium you mention has never been used for rugby league.

You are no doubt correct about the RL connection with the other stadium - I understand that Koukash is looking at taking a Salford match to this new, 7000 capacity stadium though.

We will need to await confirmation from Wigan.

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Thu Nov 24, 2016 10:54 am  

MattyB wrote:

Thinking about it yesterday, Wigan have a history of playing newly created teams in the first match (and getting beat by them too). Didn't Wigan play Fulham away in 1981 with a 10k attendance and narrowly lost.

I'm sure similar happened against Catalans as well if I remember correctly.

Well you can rest easy, your game won't be torontos' first match

Re: Toronto Wolfpack to play Wigan in Manchester : Thu Nov 24, 2016 11:56 am  

number 6 wrote:

Well you can rest easy, your game won't be torontos' first match

To be honest I wouldn't mind them if they did beat us, or you, or both.

What a shot in the arm that would be for them.