Salford could launch bid to buy AJ Bell Stadium

Salford could make a bid to buy their AJ Bell Stadium home, as co-tenants Sale Sharks also consider their options.

Rugby union side Sale have made no secret of their desire to buy the stadium, currently owned by the council-run City of Salford Community Stadium Ltd.

But they have started to look at other options after having an initial bid to buy the stadium rejected.

If Sale move on, that would leave Salford as the only tenants of the stadium which opened back in 2012 thanks to an initial £22m loan from Salford City Council.

New Red Devils director Andrew Rosler told the BBC: “The stadium is an event now. It’s growing all the time and every time you go, nearly every day of the week, the car park is full so it is generating revenues for the stadium.

“The challenge for us is to see whether we can get together a group to potentially launch a bid to take ownership of the stadium.”

Salford opened the stadium against Castleford in February 2012. Sale moved in to the stadium back in April 2012, signing a 25-year lease.

They boast the record attendance at the ground, 11,247 for a game against Leicester Tigers in December 2014.

Sale have confirmed that should they buy the AJ Bell Stadium, Salford would still be welcome as tenants.
Salford’s average crowd last season was 4,480, with Sale averaging 6,202.