SOLD OUT

[Wendall]

THE Carnegie Challenge Cup final between Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves is a sell out with the last remaining tickets for the Wembley showpiece final being sold earlier today.

In a recent survey, developed by leading UK Sports researcher SportsWise, the Carnegie Challenge Cup final came out on top as the best major sports event to attend - beating off competition from other major sporting finals.

[JWAD]

Thoughts? Where are all these spectators during the rest of the season?

[Wendall]

Thoughts? Where are all these spectators during the rest of the season?

If you look at big events such as the FA Cup, Heineken Cup, Six Nations and Champions League Final etc these are dominated by bandwagon jumpers.

RL is no different it seems.

[brooza]

######, tube's gonna be packed

[XIII]

Excellent news that it has sold out all of the available tickets. However what will be interesting to see again is that this does not unfortunately include the club Wembley middle tier, so that is likely to create gaps as a number of corporates only utilise these tickets for the big football games there and they do not get resold if they are not going to be used.

Edited August 20, 2010 by XIII

[brooza]

Thoughts? Where are all these spectators during the rest of the season?

Personally, 150 miles away. I've made it to a couple of matches this season, but with a house to redecorate, and 3 hours travel time, it makes it tricky to get to too many matches.

There's 10 of us that have bought tickets through St Albans Centurions, and I imagine the other 9 haven't been to many SL matches

[Maximus Decimus]

Thoughts? Where are all these spectators during the rest of the season?

Of course people are more likely to attend finals. In RL a final is a family day out that everybody wants to get to.

No matter what this is great news for the sport and shows that the Challenge Cup still has a great pull.

Club Wembley will always be the same problem but a sellout between 2 genuinely big teams should guarantee a good take up.

[Northern Eel]

I think its fantastic that RL has sold out Wembley for the 1st time since it was rebuilt and we must thank both Leeds and Wire fans along with the rugby league community accross the country and wider afield for doing so.

[sallywt]

We attend every year regardless of who is in the final. Lots of people do. It's a great weekend away close to the end of what has been a long hard season for some of us.

[terrywebbisgod]

Thoughts? Where are all these spectators during the rest of the season?

Watching their respective clubs.

[Dave T]

Thoughts? Where are all these spectators during the rest of the season?

Don't think there was any need for this comment tbh. The only sport that will attract fewer fans from each team for a final than a regular game is football, and that is down to Wembley's capacity if a couple of big teams get there.

I'm not going to turn this into a Union thread, but that sport is exactly the same.

[Dave T]

In a recent survey, developed by leading UK Sports researcher SportsWise, the Carnegie Challenge Cup final came out on top as the best major sports event to attend - beating off competition from other major sporting finals.

[Dave T]

Excellent news that it has sold out all of the available tickets. However what will be interesting to see again is that this does not unfortunately include the club Wembley middle tier, so that is likely to create gaps as a number of corporates only utilise these tickets for the big football games there and they do not get resold if they are not going to be used.

They can be resold, although think you may have to go through official channels (although they do just appear on ebay).

I would think that this game would be pretty attractive to neutrals, and would hope that take up on these seats will be pretty high.

Can't wait now, ages since I've been to a live match, can't even make tonight's last home one of the season!

[Wendall]

Of course the the rugby league community accross the country always supports the cup final and what makes it a unique sporting event in my opinion.

But imagine if Saints v Catalans would have been the final, nowhere near as many tickets would have been sold and it would not have been a great showpiece final that RL deserves.

[Dave T]

Of course the the rugby league community accross the country always supports the cup final and what makes it a unique sporting event in my opinion.

But imagine if Saints v Catalans would have been the final, nowhere near as many tickets would have been sold and it would not have been a great showpiece final that RL deserves.

That was proved last year. The simple fact is that Hudds took fewer than Leeds will, and I reckon there will have been fewer neutrals for a game between two clubs not known for appearing in finals.

[Wendall]

Quote from RFL:

[indomitable]

Good to hear of the sell out, but where were the supporters for the cup ties? Terrible attendances, despite many give away inducements. We couldn't even get 20K attendancies for the semis, somehow we have to induce more support for the ties.

[Dave T]

Good to hear of the sell out, but where were the supporters for the cup ties? Terrible attendances, despite many give away inducements. We couldn't even get 20K attendancies for the semis, somehow we have to induce more support for the ties.

There is a huge difference between a regular game against a lower league team in an early round, or even a Semi at somewhere as lacklustre as Widnes or Hudds.

Both Leeds and Wire had good followings at their respective semi finals, but this will always double/treble when it comes to a final.

[JohnM]

Its great news and something to be proud of and to be exploited for maximum media coverage.

You can see the press headlines now.

" Another David and Goliath clash at Wembley!

Can a low-budget team from small town on the banks of the Mersey do what Sheffield did all those years ago and beat one of the leagues heartlands glamour clubs...etc.

No, but it IS good news and its great to see the Final still up there as the one to watch.

[paley]

Why can't they really play this piece of research up?

I'm sure some other sports would have this all over the media by now.

First I have heard of it

[MrPosh]

Don't think there was any need for this comment tbh. The only sport that will attract fewer fans from each team for a final than a regular game is football, and that is down to Wembley's capacity if a couple of big teams get there.

I'm not going to turn this into a Union thread, but that sport is exactly the same.

It isn't the same at all. Union's big crowd's are disproportionately corporate and much more bandwaggony, where as the Challenge Cup final is an event for all of the rugby league community - who turn out in big numbers for this event, no matter what the tie.

[ArmchairRhino]

But imagine if Saints v Catalans would have been the final, nowhere near as many tickets would have been sold and it would not have been a great showpiece final that RL deserves.

Saints-Catalans sold out in 2007

[Wendall]

Saints-Catalans sold out in 2007

Not quite. 84,000 were there that day but that was mainly due to the fact the Wembley had just opened and the novelty of the final returning 'home'.

[Dave T]

It isn't the same at all. Union's big crowd's are disproportionately corporate and much more bandwaggony, where as the Challenge Cup final is an event for all of the rugby league community - who turn out in big numbers for this event, no matter what the tie.

Agreed, but the point is the same. Clubs may get around 10k for a regular game in Union, but put them in a final and the whole town will get behind it.

I was addressing this from the point of view of the two finalists sets of fans rather than the RL community...

[trakl]

If the Challenge Cup final is indeed "sold out" then can the RFL not post an official "attendance" of 90000 irrespective of whether some of those "Club Wembley" patrons decide to stay at home or go elsewhere?

Are there not some sports in this country and abroad who would do just that?

After all, what more can the RFL do between now and the big day to ensure that everyone who can attend does so?