TheTotally Wicked Stadium[7]is a multi-purpose stadium inSt Helens,Merseyside,England. Known asLangtree Parkuntil 2017, it has a capacity of over 18,000 and is the home ground of rugby league clubSt Helens R.F.C.and football clubLiverpool F.C. Women.The stadium was granted planning permission in 2008 and construction started in 2010.[8]
St Helens Stadium | |
 | |
 | |
| Full name | Totally Wicked Stadium[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Totally Wicked Stadium McManus Drive Peasley Cross St Helens WA9 3AL |
| Coordinates | 53°26′51″N2°43′39″W/ 53.44750°N 2.72750°W |
| Owner | St Helens R.F.C. |
| Operator | St Helens R.F.C. |
| Capacity | 18,000[4] |
| Record attendance | 17,980 (St. HelensvsWigan6 April 2012)[5] (St. HelensvsWigan18 April 2014)[6] |
| Surface | Hybrid Desso[2] |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2010–2011 |
| Opened | 2011 |
| Construction cost | £25 Million[3] |
| Architect | Barr Construction |
| Main contractors | Langtree Group |
| Tenants | |
| St. Helens(2011–present) Liverpool F.C. Women(2024–present) | |
| Website | |
| https://www.totallywickedstadium.com/ | |
The first rugby league match played at the stadium was between St. Helens andWidneson Friday 20 January 2012. St. Helens won the opening game by 42–24 and moved in ready for the2012 Super League season.[9]
From the 2024/25 season,Liverpool FC Womenwill play at the stadium, after signing a 10 year deal.[10]
Plans and construction
editThe proposed plans came in three parts. The proposed parts were:
- The transformation of the derelict former United Glass site to create a new 18,000-capacity stadium forSt. Helensas well as a 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2)Tesco Extranext to the rugby ground. The stadium itself was to be a seating and standing arena with an oval shaped roof extending out from the south stand.
- The redevelopment of the existing town centre Tesco store in Chalon Way into alternative high quality retail use, enhancing the retail available in St Helens town centre.
- The development of the existingSt. Helenssite atKnowsley Roadto create high quality residential accommodation, regenerating the local area.
The club stressed that if one of the three parts fell through, the whole project would have been in jeopardy. However councillors in St Helens approved the new Saints' stadium. Members of the Planning Committee endorsed the triple planning application granting permission subject to terms and conditions and a health and safety risk assessment
Demolition of the former UGB Glass plant began in late January 2009, with construction due to begin after the clearance of the 46-acre (190,000 m2) site had been completed.[11][12]In July 2010, the building contractorBarr Construction Ltdwas selected to build the new stadium.[13]Construction commenced on 23 August 2010, with the Tesco store completed in October 2011 and the stadium in November 2011.[14]
Layout
editThe stadium has two terraced stands and two seated, the pitch is grass although the touchline has some astro-turf. The match day hospitality consists of the sale of the Saints Gold beer which is served inside the ground at a number of kiosks and in the Redvee cafe bar. The stadium has a large Saints badge on the outside with the recently restored town motto:Ex Terra Lucemunderneath. A bronze statue of former club captainKeiron Cunninghamstands over the main entrance.[15]
The stadium can be accessed via a number of routes, including the Steve Prescott bridge, named in memory ofSteve PrescottMBE, a formerSt. HelensandHull F.C.player renowned for his fund raising contributions to charity.
North Stand
editCapacity – 4,718 (seated)
The North Stand runs parallel to the South Stand along the side of the pitch. The stand is completely seated and hasSAINTS Vspelt out in the seats and is occupied by home fans.
South Stand
editCapacity – 5,233 (seated)
The South Stand is the main stand of the ground and holds the club's hospitality boxes, tunnel and player changing rooms, ticket office, bar and club shop as well as the TV gantry.
East Stand
editCapacity – 3,899 (standing)
The East Stand is located behind the goal posts and is completely terraced. The stand also houses the score board in the North East corner and the stand is used by away fans.
West Stand
editCapacity – 3,796 (118 seats)
The West Stand is mostly terracing but also has 118 seated in the corner of the stand.
Usage
editRugby League
editSt Helensplayed their first league game at the ground in 2012, when they won againstSalford.Their record victory at the stadium was 76–0 againstOldhamin the Challenge Cup. The highest recorded attendance for a match so far was 17,980 againstWiganon 6 April, with an average attendance of 14,212 for the 2012 season.[16]
The venue hosted the first of twoRugby leagueInternational Origin Matchin 2012 between England and the Exiles.[17] Langtree Park held a group match in the2013 Rugby League World Cupbetween Australia and Fiji.[18][19]The stadium hosted three group games in the2021 Rugby League World Cup.[citation needed]
The stadium also hosted the opening match of the2023 Tonga rugby league tour of England.
| Date | Winner | Score | Runners up | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 June 2012 |  England |
18-10 | Exiles | International Origin | 11,083 |
| England Knights |
62-4 |  Ireland |
Friendly | 11,083 | |
| 2 November 2013 |  Australia |
34-2 |  Fiji |
2013 World Cup | 14,137 |
| 18 October 2022 |  Tonga |
24-18 |  Papua New Guinea |
2021 World Cup | 10,409 |
| 24 October 2022 | Tonga |
32-6 |  Wales |
7,752 | |
| 29 October 2022 | Australia |
66-6 |  Italy |
5,586 | |
| 23 October 2023 | England |
22-18 | Tonga
|
2023 Tonga rugby league tour of England | 12,898[20] |
The stadium played host to theChallenge CupSemi Final betweenWarringtonandLeedson 9 August 2014.
Association Football
editAll of Liverpool U19s NextGen matches in the 2012–13 season were held at Langtree Park, as were many Under 21s matches.[21]
From 2024, Liverpool FC Women will play at the Totally Wicked Stadium, moving fromPrenton Park.The stadium is expected to be re-branded, to cater to both St Helens and LFC Women. Because of this new partnership, the pitch will be replaced with a "Premier League standard pitch".[10]
Sponsorship
editIt was announced on 15 November 2011 that primary developers, the Langtree Group, had gained the naming rights and that the stadium would be named Langtree Park.[9]In 2016 the club signed a five-year deal withTotally Wicked,a vaping and e-cigarettes company, for the naming rights to the stadium, effective in early 2017.[22]In 2022 the deal extended until 2025.[23]
Notably, the stadium is referred to as "St Helens Stadium" by Liverpool FC.
| Year | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–2016 | Langtree Group | Langtree Park |
| 2017–present | Totally Wicked | Totally Wicked Stadium |
References
edit- ^"New stadium: Totally Wicked Stadium".
- ^"New Pitch Complete".totallywikedstadium.com. 8 July 2024.Retrieved8 July2024.
- ^Saints granted permission for new stadium
- ^"Langtree Park".saintsrlfc.com.St Helens RLFC.Retrieved1 April2014.
- ^"First Team Results 2012".saintsrlfc.com.Retrieved16 September2012.
- ^"Saints Dented By Wigan".St. Helens R.F.C. 18 April 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2014.
- ^Langtree Park gets new name
- ^"St Helens stadium given go-ahead".BBC News.11 July 2008.
- ^ab"BBC Sport - Langtree Park will be the new home of St Helens".BBC Sport.15 November 2011.Retrieved15 November2011.
- ^abMaguire, Tom (3 May 2024)."St. Helens to be the home of Liverpool FC Women".St.Helens R.F.C.Retrieved3 May2024.
- ^"Stadium begins to take shape".
- ^"Stadium plans to be unveiled soon".
- ^"The Totally Wicked Stadium - Home of St Helens RFC".30 November 2016.
- ^"New St Helens Rugby League Stadium & Tesco Store".New St Helens Stadium Community Website.Retrieved12 October2011.
- ^"Cunningham statue moves to new stadium".St Helens Star.18 October 2011.Retrieved25 October2012.
- ^"Record crowds watch Super League in 2012".St Helens Star.14 September 2012.Retrieved16 September2012.
- ^"England v Exiles: Sam Tomkins try clinches revenge victory".BBC Sport.BBC. 16 June 2012.Retrieved14 February2014.
- ^"Rugby League World Cup 2013 - St Helens, England".Archived from the original on 7 March 2013.Retrieved14 February2014.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^"Rugby League World Cup 2013: Australia 34-2 Fiji".BBC Sport.BBC. 2 November 2013.Retrieved14 February2014.
- ^Walker, Callum (22 October 2023)."Attendance revealed for England's Test match against Tonga at St Helens".Total Rugby League.Retrieved5 February2024.
- ^"Langtree Park to stage NextGen ties".Liverpool F.C. 2 November 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2012.Retrieved14 February2014.
- ^Press Association (30 November 2016)."St Helens rename Langtree Park ground the 'Totally Wicked Stadium'".The Guardian.
- ^"Saints and Totally Wicked Renew Partnership After Over A Decade Together".St Helens R.F.C.27 April 2022.
External links
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