Sale looking to buy AJ Bell

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41037231

As a Sale fan I am kind of hoping they fail and do build their own with much better transport links, the current location has stopped me from seeing as many matches as I would like.

Development land is so hard to come by at the minute, after the government made it easy to concrete over green belt the price of any land likely to be developed has rocketed up.

What are the transport links like then?

Thinking about coming up for the Cardiff match in December and one thing has been mentioned is that the links aren't the best but on a Saturday afternoon they can't be that bad?

Currently the only ways to get to the stadium are limited.

by car - believe it is a £10 parking fee at the stadium, or you can park in residential areas and then a walk. Of course limits your beer intake.

by train - Either Irlam (3.2 miles away) or Eccles station (2.0 miles away)

By Tram - Nearest is Eccles then a long walk or number 67 bus from the bus terminal near the station.

By bus - First Bus Number 100 Service operate the following PUBLIC bus service which also leaves the Trafford Centre Bus Station:

This bus service will drop you off on the A57, the stadium is a 5 minute walk.
First Bus Number 67 again this is a PUBLIC service and is not booked or controlled by Sale Sharks or the AJ Bell Stadium.

There are also bus services that operate between Shudehill, Eccles and the Stadium, these drop off and pick up on Liverpool Road (A57). The Number 67 Bus also takes passengers through to Irlam Train Station. Trains from Piccadilly and Victoria stop at Eccles. (copied and pasted from interweb)

So links are far from ideal, certainly compared to when they were playing in Stockport.

The tram will be going to the trafford centre, which is only a mile away, will have a new tram stop within 2 years so that will help things.

You feel that Sale have to do something about their stadium. When they left the ageing Edgley Park, I thought this stadium would be a fantastic move for them. However, the fans haven't been able to embrace it because of the poor transport links(Salford rugby league have found the same problem). Their attendances have dropped off and it is sad to see all the empty seats on the telly. The more I think about it, the more I think it would be a bad thing if they bought the AJ, it is straying into white elephant territory. It is imperative that they own their own ground, but somewhere with good access is a must. They have got ambitious owners, investement in the playing squad, good youth products and a huge catchment area. All the ingredients for success are there...