Concerns about the future

Concerns about the future of the Wigan Warriors were arrested in the same announcement, as Whelan extended the lease on the stadium by 50 years for the rugby league team.^[6] Before Wigan Warriors' match against Leeds Rhinos in July 2009, both clubs were given the opportunity to rename one stand, with the intention of renaming them in honour to a recognised player from each club's history. Sony VAIO VPCS11X9E/B Battery

The rugby league club were granted the East Stand, which they renamed 'The Boston Stand' in tribute to the Welsh winger Billy Boston,^[28] As Wigan Athletic had spent many years in the lower leagues it was recognised that most of their players were not known at national level, so the West Stand was renamed 'The Springfield Stand' after the club's former ground. Sony VAIO VPCS123FGB Battery

The stadium design is based on cantilevered, prefabricated steel roof and terrace structuring.^[1] It is an all-seater arena with a seating capacity of 24,826.^[1] The stands are rectangular and both the northern and southern stands have supporting steel girders suspended from beneath the roof. Sony VAIO VPCS125EC Battery

The four stands are of approximately the same height, however the stadium is not totally enclosed, leaving four exposed corners.^[29]

At both Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors matches, away supporters are situated in the North Stand behind the goal.^[2] Sony VAIO VPCS128EC Battery

Occasionally, during rugby games which attract low away support, the 5,418 capacity North Stand is closed altogether, and the away fans who attend are put into an alternative stand.^[1][30] The eastern stand, known as 'The Boston Stand', and the western 'Springfield Stand' run across the longer sides of the pitch. Sony VAIO VPCS129GC Battery

The Boston Stand is the largest, capable of seating up to 8,238 fans and holding an electronic scoreboard.^[1] The Springfield Stand contains the stadium's vital facilities; four dressing rooms, benches, a doping control room and a treatment room for the players, as well as four executive boxes, ten radio commentary points and a designated TV studio, in addition to holding 6,100 fans. Sony VAIO VPCS12C7E/B Battery

The North Stand and South Stand have a seating capacity of 5,418 and 5,412 respectively.^[1] The stadium also has facilities and access for up to 278 fans with disabilities, with facilities for partially sighted fans.^[31] The seats are a mixture of both resident teams' main colours—red and blue. The stadium is fully compliant with safety guidelines for a sports ground.^[31] Sony VAIO VPCS12L9E/B Battery

The pitch is large enough to conform with both FIFA and the standard rugby league requirements, at 110 by 60 metres (120 yd × 66 yd). This leaves an in-goal area just 5 metres (5.5 yd) deep for rugby matches. It is mostly made of natural grass, with 2% of the pitch composed of synthetics to provide stability.^[1] The ground has irrigation, and an under-heating system to resist icy weather. Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B Battery

Wigan Warriors moved from Central Park to the stadium in 1999 after the end of Super League IV's regular season. Since moving to the new stadium, Wigan Warriors' success in rugby league has not been as high as it was at their old Central Park ground, however the good times do seem to be back for the club after they won the Super League Grand Final and League Leaders shield in 2010 under the guidance of coach Michael Maguire and chairman Ian Lenagan. Sony VAIO VPCY115FGS Battery

Attendances have generally risen for the Wigan Warriors since the start of the 2002 season, averaging around 14,000 over the three seasons from 2006 to 2009.^[44] Aside from Grand Finals, the largest Super League attendance was recorded at the stadium in 2005 when Wigan Warriors played their local rivals, St Helens RLFC.^[38] Sony VAIO VPCY115FX/BI Battery

This match is also the highest home attendance in the Wigan Warriors' history at the stadium. The twenty thousand mark has been broken ten times since moving to the new stadium in 1999—eight times against St Helens RLFC, once against local rivalsWarrington Wolves in the opening round of the 2008 Super League XIII season, Sony VAIO VPCY115FXBI Battery

and once in July 2009 against the Leeds Rhinos following a campaign advertising the game as the 'Big One'.^[12][45] In 2010, the Warriors were officially the biggest supported team in the Super League.

Wigan Athletic's success has improved considerably since their move to the stadium from Springfield Park in 1999. Sony VAIO VPCY118EC Battery

Since 2000, Wigan Athletic have climbed up two divisions and now play in the Premier League.

Rising success on the pitch has been met with increased attendances. Promotion into the Premier League meant that in their first season of English top-flight football, Wigan Athletic's average home attendance almost doubled from the season before. Sony VAIO VPCY118GX/BI Battery

Over three times more fans attended matches at the stadium during Wigan's 2007–08 season in the Premier League than had attended in the 2001–02 season when Wigan Athletic were in the Football League Second Division. Wigan Athletic's average home attendance for 2007–08 was the lowest out of all 20 teams in the Premier League, Sony VAIO VPCY119FJ/S Battery

failing to make the top 30 English clubs in terms of attendance.^[49] The same season saw the highest ever attendance at the stadium, when 25,133 people witnessed Wigan play Manchester United on the final day of the season.^[7]

Wigan Athletic's average attendance was again the lowest in the league for the Premier League 2008–09 season.^[50] Sony VAIO VPCY11AFJ Battery

Premier League attendances fell on average by around 426 per club during the 2008–09 season. Wigan Athletic's home attendance fell by more than this, with their average attendance for the 2008–09 season falling by 633 from the season before.^[47] The highest attendance at the stadium for this season was a match between Wigan Athletic and Arsenal F.C., in which 22,954 people were counted. Sony VAIO VPCY11AGJ Battery

This attendance was 2,357 fans lower than the highest attendance in the season before.^[47][48]Despite the attendances being lower than other Premier League teams, Wigan Athletic's attendances in the top division have been consistently higher than the Wigan Warriors Super League team, affirming the elevation of "The Latics" as the dominant sporting presence in the town. Sony VAIO VPCY11AHJ Battery

The stadium's numerous lounges provide a venue for small musical acts to perform, and the stadium plays host to minor bands and tribute acts. They are also available to book for private parties.^[52] During match days, bands may provide pre-match entertainment on the pitch.

As well as the fixtures for the two domestic teams, the stadium is a venue for international rugby league. Sony VAIO VPCY11AVJ Battery

Since the stadium's construction in 1999, it has been an ever-present venue whenever the Rugby League Tri-Nations series has been played in England. Its first involvement came during the 2004 series, where the home Great Britain and Ireland national teamdefeated the Australians 24–12, with Terry Newton and Andy Farrell both scoring in their home town of Wigan.^[26] Sony VAIO VPCY11M1E/S Battery

The venue was again selected for the 2005 series, and again the match was between Great Britain and Australia—this time the home team lost 6–20—with Greater Manchester born Adrian Morley scoring Great Britain's solitary try.^[25] Both matches were complete sell-outs, each having attendances above 25,000. Sony VAIO VPCY11S1E Battery

The match in 2004 was the third highest attendance of the series, coming behind a match at the City of Manchester Stadium between Great Britain and Australia, and the series final between the same two teams at Elland Road.^[53]

In addition to the Tri-Nations, the stadium has also played host to visiting nations during their European tours. Sony VAIO VPCY11V9E/S Battery

Australia played Great Britain in front of a sell-out crowd during the 2001 Kangaroo Tour, with the home side losing 8–28.^[54] Australia narrowly defeated Great Britain again in 2003 at the stadium, winning by a margin of four points during their 2003 European Tour.^[55] New Zealand have also played at the stadium during their tours. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/BI Battery

In 2002, a try scored in his home town by Martin Gleeson helped Great Britain to defeat the 'Kiwis' 16–10.^[56] The visitors lost again during their 2007 tour, this time 28–22 in a closely fought game in which Wigan-born second-rower Sean O'Loughlin featured.^[57]

The stadium is yet to host a Rugby League World Cup fixture, Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/G Battery

even though the event in 2000 was hosted by other English venues including Barrow Raiders' New Craven Park, St Helens RLFC's Knowsley Road and Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium.^[58] The stadium has hosted the World Club Challenge twice, in 2000, between St Helens and the Melbourne Storm and in 2011 when Wigan took on St. George Illawarra Dragons. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/L Battery

The stadium's surroundings are mostly urban, as it is located in the north of Wigan's Robin Park retail complex in the western suburb of Newtown, on the south bank of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, west of the Miry Lane industrial estate. The stadium's car parks are situated around the canal, and can hold up to 2,500 cars.^[1] Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/P Battery

Next to the stadium's South Stand lies the Robin Park Arena,^[60] which is operated by Wigan Sports Development Unit and is capable of seating 1,000 spectators.^[61] The arena is mainly used for athletics, as well as functions for: North West Counties Football League side Wigan Robin Park,^[62] and Wigan Athletic Reserves. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/L Battery

The arena was formerly used by the Wigan Warriors' junior academy, before they moved to Edge Hall Road to join the reserve side.^[63][64] Robin Park Sports Centre is situated directly opposite the Stadium and Arena.^[60]

The main road serving the complex is the A49, running west-bound 750 metres (820 yd) south of the stadium. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/P Battery

Both of Wigan's railway stations, Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North Western lie 1.3–1.6 kilometres (0.8–1.0 mi) east of the stadium.

Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/SI Battery

They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'. In the early days many of their supporters worked as glassblowers which is another of the club's nicknames.

The Tigers play their home games at 'The PROBIZ Coliseum' named after their main sponsor PROBIZ. Sony VAIO PCG-3B1M Battery

The ground was previously named 'The Jungle' after sponsorship at that time, and before that its original and historic name was after the road where it is situated, Wheldon Road. Despite its decrepit style the ground is still believed to offer one of the best and most volatile atmospheres in the game. The club enjoy intense local rivalries with Featherstone Rovers andWakefield Trinity. Sony VAIO PCG-3C1T Battery

There was also a Castleford team which took part in the Yorkshire League from 1896-97 to 1905-06 inclusive.

Castleford Rugby League Football Club was founded in June 1926, after a successful era in the Yorkshire Senior Competition and were admitted to the sport's professional ranks in 1926. Cas played at the Sandy Desert ground from 1920 to 1927 before moving to Wheldon Road. Sony VAIO PCG-3D1M Battery

The club was quick to achieve success, winning the Yorkshire League in 1932, followed by their first Challenge Cup title in 1935. The club record attendance was set at 25,449 for the third round Challenge Cup match against Hunslet in 1935. Sony VAIO PCG-3G2M Battery

Castleford, the winners of the 1935 Challenge Cup met French cup holders US Lyon Villeurbanne in a match played at Paris on 12 May 1935 for a trophy that later became the Lord Derby Cup. US Lyon Villeurbanne won it and were awarded the trophy.

Castleford were beaten Championship finalists in 1938-39. Cas dropped out of the wartime Yorkshire league in 1942-43 and did not return to league competition until 1944-45. Sony VAIO PCG-5R1M Battery

The official attendance for a second round Challenge Cup match in 1967 against Hull Kingston Rovers was 22,582 but a reported 8,000 people got in without paying.

Castleford were again beaten Championship finalists in 1968-69, when they suffered a late defeat to arch-rivals Leeds. Sony VAIO PCG-7141M Battery

The legendary half-back pairing of Alan Hardisty and Keith Hepworth inspired the club to back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs in 1969 ( v Salford) and 1970 ( v Wigan). Castleford's 7-2 victory over Wigan in the 1970 Challenge Cup Final is the joint lowest winning score at Wembley, along with Salford's 7-4 victory overBarrow in the 1938 Challenge Cup Final. Sony VAIO PCG-7143M Battery

From the introduction of two divisions in 1973 until the Super League era Castleford were one of a handful of clubs to have constantly remained in the top division of British rugby league.

In 1983-84 Castleford were beaten 18-10 by Hull Kingston Rovers in the Divisional Premiership final at Headingley. Sony VAIO PCG-7151M Battery

Castleford made it to the final of the 1988 Yorkshire Cup but were beaten 33-12 by Leeds at Elland Road.

They were the leading club in Yorkshire in the early 1990s, finishing in the top four of the Championship no less than four times during this period.

Castleford added 'Tigers' to their name for the 1992-93 season. Sony VAIO PCG-7154M Battery

John Joyner took up the reins as head coach in May 1993. The highlight of the early 1990s was in 1994 when Castleford defeated Wigan to claim the Regal Trophyat Headingley in a 33-2 victory. They were semi-finalists in the Challenge Cup and were also narrowly defeated in the Premiership final. At the end of that campaign Joyner was named as the Coach of the Year. Sony VAIO PCG-7162M Battery

In 1996, the first tier of British rugby league clubs played the inaugural Super League season and changed from a winter to a summer season.^[1] When the Super League competition has been proposed, it was suggested Castleford merge with Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers to form 'Calder'. Sony VAIO PCG-7181M Battery

Trinity's shareholders voted 2:1 in favour of a merger but Featherstone's members voted against and as the sport in Britain entered a new era, an independent Castleford competed in Super League I.