JJB Stadium

The JJB Stadium is a sports stadium located within the Robin Park Complex in Wigan, it is the home ground of both Wigan Athletic F.C. and Wigan Warriors rugby league club. The stadium in named after its principal sponsor, the sporting goods retailer JJB Sports (whose chairman, David Whelan, owns both clubs).

Related Topics:
Wigan - Wigan Athletic F.C. - Wigan Warriors - Rugby league - JJB Sports - David Whelan

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The stadium was opened on August 4 1999, having cost £30m to construct. It is a modern all-seater stadium with a capacity of 25,004. The stadium's inauguration was marked with a friendly between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, who were then reigning European Champions, with Sir Alex Ferguson officially opening the stadium. Wigan Athletic had spent the previous 102 years playing at Springfield Park. Wigan Warriors played their first game at the stadium on September 19 1999 against Castleford Tigers.

Related Topics:
August 4 - 1999 - Manchester United - European Champions - Sir Alex Ferguson - Springfield Park - September 19 - Castleford Tigers

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On March 7 2005 Greater Manchester police announced that they would stop policing Wigan Athletic matches at the stadium from April 2. This move would almost certainly have resulted in the stadium's safety certificate being revoked, effectively forcing the team to play behind closed doors. The move was part of an ongoing dispute between the police force and David Whelan surrounding £300,000 in unpaid policing costs. The police's decision would not have effected Wigan Warriors, whose games are stewarded instead of policed. The situation was temporarily resolved on March 8 with both sides reaching an agreement that would allow Athletic to play at the ground until the end of the season. Four months later, Wigan, facing the prospect of playing their home games in the FA Premier League in an empty stadium, grudgingly paid the money they owed to the police, thus resolving the situation.

Related Topics:
March 7 - 2005 - Greater Manchester - April 2 - March 8 - FA Premier League

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