Rugby League Club Widnes Vikings Penalized Over Stadium Facilities
The Widnes Vikings have faced a significant setback in their pursuit of a return to the Super League, as the club lost a five-figure central funding sum and a full point in the IMG grading system. This was due to shortcomings in the size of their car park and press box at their stadium.
The Vikings were ranked 22nd in the recent IMG gradings with a score of just 8.60 points, leaving them over five points behind the Super League places. However, the reasons behind this low score have now been brought to light.
Widnes’ stadium score was reported to have taken a hit of a full point due to two particular issues. Firstly, the club’s press box only had 24 seats, falling short of the 30-seat minimum requirement set by the IMG handbook. This prevented the Vikings from securing the maximum 1.5 points available for the facilities section of the stadium aspect of the grading.
Additionally, Widnes fell short in the size of their car park and the spaces allocated for broadcasters. The IMG handbook stipulates a minimum 50m by 50m designated parking area for broadcast operations, with 50 car park spaces for the OB Compound and an additional 15 spaces for broadcast staff. Widnes were unable to meet these criteria, leading to a further point deduction.
The cumulative impact of these shortcomings meant that Widnes lost a five-figure sum, estimated to be around £15,000, in central funding for the next year. This funding is distributed based on the IMG gradings on a sliding scale.
However, the Vikings have challenged this score and expect a significant increase in their IMG grading in 2025. Despite this setback, the club remains determined to make a return to the top flight of rugby league.
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