Someone wrote in another topic that one of the reasons for our poor performances was that players and supporters had not settled in the new stadium. It does not feel like home.

I agree with this. I go there and appreciate the magnificent facilities and the comformatable seat. I have a great view and the atmosphere is pleasant.

All this is great but I just don't feel at home. I miss Hilton Park! Does anyone else feel like this or is it just me?

I've only been too the ground twice due to work & I must admit I ain't impressed, ok there's been few away fans but the atmosphere is poor

it does lack atmosphere, but i like what has now become my regular spot.



for me, part of hilton park died when the paddock disappeared.


positives;

good view
dont get wet
dont have to climb over the wall to the by-pass
the new club shop


negatives;

getting off the car parks afterwards
food and drink prices

I hate it at present, its quite obvious the LSV co dont want people to enjoy the experience with the exception of corporate.
It needs to become a fun place to visit, that welcomes you as a paying guest and generates the comraderie that HP had.
Not having a bar to meet up in before and after is a mistake, ie not letting fans use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having unopened stands and little away fans will always look and feel poor but there is so much more that we can do to improve the experience for the average fan.
It has been shambolic to say the least and typical of WMBC imho

I feel exactly the same, I was actually looking forward to the new place, because I thought it would be something special, how wrong can you be. once on you are trapped really if you see an old friend in the west stand you cant stroll round for a chat anymore. you cant move from the north stand or from the west stand,its a very impersonal place, it holds no memories it has no atmosphere. I an already brassed off with the stewards who keep on shooting up the steps in the North stand just to move some poor kid who has inadvertantly stepped onto a step that has some yellow paint down the side of it. I wold have to have been on my death bed to miss a home match at Hilton Park not any more, there is a much better atmosphere away from home

As said several times open the East stand as a community/schools stand.

If there isn’t enough away fans to justify opening the South, then give them a fixed section South end of the West, this will hopefully mean we play the second half towards the North, hopefully we and them will create some atmosphere huddled together


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i think the problem is the atmosphere and the overall experience.
at HP you could create a decent atmosphere with 2000 spectators but these new grounds just dont feel the same.

i miss the comrardery of the mick martyn bar at half and full time.

we do however need to keep the faith, things would look different if we were top of the league and back to crowds of 2700 plus.
things can change quickly just like they did when millward first arrived.

just hope some money in the pot for new signings

New grounds tend to increase gates by circa 30%+, we are in danger of reducing gates by 30%+.

I was saying the same at the match.

Looking out from the north stand you see the south and east stands empty and it pretty much feels like you are stood in an empty stadium.

Our fans seem subdued at the moment as there is very little singing or little noise to encourage the lads.

Fact is we need bigger crowds

Yes this is a really peculiar aspect of the stadium. I know lifelong supporters who have not even been there yet!

call me stupid but i bet my mate we would average 3000 this year.

looks like i will lose that bet

It does feel very sterlie in the new ground. I think little touches like red stripes on the posts and some kind of Leigh Centurions or town coat of arms branding around the stadium would help to make it feel more "homely".

With the new regime of keeping fans penned into sections of the ground and with the men and women in orange jackets unable to use discretion or common sense it no longer feels like the social event a Leigh match used to be, where you could walk around the ground and talk to different groups of friends and acquaintences. The new place desparently needs some kind of fans bar area and not just the breeze block hole in the walls under the stands.