Grand Final on the move?

Reports in the media yesterday confirmed that Super League's deal with Manchester United to hold the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford will conclude after next year's showpiece. This presents Super League with a choice. Stick or twist?

A Historic Bond

Rugby League has a long association with Old Trafford, with the first match being played there in 1925, when Lancashire hosted a travelling New Zealand side.

The stadium has hosted league matches, test matches against Australia, a World Club Challenge, Premiership Finals, second division finals, World Cup semi finals and finals and every Super League Grand Final bar one.

Manchester United have been a loyal partner to the sport for the best part of a century now. Whilst there is no doubt that the stadium is not the height of modernity that it once was, its 75,000 capacity makes it an imposing venue and it remains the second largest sports venue in the UK, behind Wembley Stadium.

The loyalty that I mentioned earlier was perhaps most in evidence when Manchester United turned down the chance to host a Rugby Union World Cup match in 2015, out of concern of harming its relationship with our sport.

If you're interested, the Super League Grand Final still took place at Old Trafford that year, with Leeds edging out Wigan in a thriller to complete a treble. In an act of what some may call pettiness (not me, I assure you), the Rugby Union World Cup organisers decided that England would play Uruguay at the Etihad Stadium in the east of the city on the same night.

England won the match by 60 points, in a victory that BBC Sport described as "hollow", following the hosts disastrous campaign. You may recall the Rugby Union authorities blaming Sam Burgess for all ills at that time, in a rather desperate attempt to distract from its failings.

Stick!

If we do move the Grand Final from Old Trafford, we will almost certainly play the showpiece event at a smaller venue. This will have the impact of reducing the maximum potential crowd figure and gate receipts at a time that we cannot afford to do that. In a time where the sport is keen to grow, moving to a smaller venue seems a retrograde step.

We must also remember that the Grand Final is hosted in the midst of the Premier League season. It remains to be seen whether there is a particular appetite from other football clubs to host our showpiece event as their own season is ongoing.

Loyalty should not be underrated either. Let's say we did move to the Etihad Stadium. What if Manchester City decided in five years that they didn't want to host the Grand Final again? I very much doubt Manchester United would welcome us back with open arms.

By moving away from Old Trafford, we would risk the Grand Final enduring a nomadic existence in years to come. You would risk diluting the event. You would likely have lower crowds.

In a sport that seems obsessed with change, the Grand Final at Old Trafford is a rare constant in Rugby League. Moving it is not without risk.

Twist!

The counterargument is that Old Trafford is simply not a suitable stadium for Rugby League.

Every time a match is played at the stadium, there seems to be a sickening collision between a player and advertising hoardings, which sit down a slope that is far too close to the end of the playing surface.

Teams also adopt their approach. Many teams are reluctant to try a kick to the in goal area due to their shortness. Instead, they run a powerplay and take a tackle when near an opponent's line. This leads a more risk-averse, more attritional and less entertaining spectacle.

At the Grand Final this year, the stadium was looking noticeably tired. From its cramped concourses, to leaking roof, to an uncomfortably small amount of legroom for anyone over 5 and a half feet, it's not an ideal fan experience.

When you compare the stadium to some of its counterparts, the Theatre of Dreams no longer lives up to its name. You could argue that a change is exactly what the Grand Final needs, to reset and boost its wider appeal.

Get Off the Fence!

The sport's organisers may face a tricky decision this time next year. Or, they may not. If there isn't much interest in other venues hosting the Grand Final, then we will almost certainly stick with Old Trafford.

In a hypothetical world where the world was our oyster, despite its limitations, I would keep the match at Old Trafford. With all decisions, you must look at risk and reward. And, for me, the risk of moving the match from Old Trafford far outweighs the potential benefits.