I doubt it very much Steve. A bit curmudgeonly from me on a poor day I reckon, but the general sentiment still holds. We can attract better crowds by fielding a successful side; pre-match entertainment is ephemeral and will not retain anyone's interest without the former being in place.
We got bigger crowds in the 70's and we had the occasional marching band and the Thornhill Lees Militaires (awful!). I don't think the reintroduction of these will cause an increase in the gate.
HTH
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment behind what you say BSJ.
Those who think that off field distractions will improve the experience and make for bigger crowds, and those like me who hold an opposite view need to think about the phenomenon that was Keighley Cougars in the late 80's or early 90's.
Was that club's success in putting bums on seats due to the razzmataz around the ground before and during the game, or was it because they had an great side with the likes of Nick Pinkney and Ned's sparring partner Mr Ramshaw, who played some exciting and thoroughly entertaining rugby. Answer that and you know whether or not marching bands and the like will encourage bigger crowds.
I hated the man on the speaker and all the song and dance associated with a trip to Lawkholme Lane after it was rebranded as Cougar Park, but we had some great matches with them which I would have not liked to miss. They were the side everybody wanted to beat, and I reckon that in that period honours were about even.
