Is the Championship reaching a crisis point?

[Wellsy4HullFC]

One of the main problems is the same with SL clubs. Ticket prices need to be lower, or at least more flexible.

Honestly can't think of a worse suggestion than to cheaper already cheap tickets.

I've lost count of how many games I have been to against the likes of Catalan, Wakefield or Salford and the away stand is almost empty. Clubs must know how many tickets they have sold, and therefore in my opinion, should drastically reduce the ticket cost 12-24 hours before a game.

Again, this will not drive ticket sales. All this will do is make people wait until the last minute before buying, giving them an even longer time to have something else to do.

Or even give them away to chosen charity or volunteer services. Or even to schools, to introduce kids and their parents to the game.

That's something a lot of clubs already do. However, some clubs who don't own stadia have logistics issues when it comes to giving away certain amounts of free tickets.

The point being, clubs see the pound sign more important than filling the stands and berating a great atmosphere. It needs to change. And fast.

Clubs that stop thinking about to pound sign will go bust. And fast.

People don't value a cheap product. Many perceive it as poor. Good things aren't cheap and cheap things aren't good.

[Futtocks]

League 1 clubs get £70,000 a year from central funding.  Not a lot can be done on that.  Championship clubs get a sliding scale.  I don't know what the scale is this season but the higher the finish last season the higher the money in the pot this season, a system which I think is detrimental to that league.   I would rather see two up two down P&R in all leagues with League 1 getting more money than at present and Championships getting the same central funding regardless of where they are in the league.  The Superleague clubs get massive amounts of central funding by comparison with the Sky money alone now covering the cap.

I agree they don't get much, but it's more than before. And if there's competition allowed for the next SL broadcasting deal, they may get a more useful amount.

 

I doubt they were getting anything financially significant from Premier Sports, just coverage. However, that coverage does have an intangible value of its own, which is now mostly gone. If a Championship team doesn't finish in the top 4, they'll appear live on screen only once a season (at the Bash), barring a cup run.

[Magic XIII]

Really? I find the prospect of Brexit a tenuous reason for low attendances in the Championship.

 

I live in north London and I am skint, so from this sample of one, you are incorrect ! I'd love to be up the M1 every other weekend to away games but cant afford it.

[Lounge Room Lizard]

Part of the problem is that its much harder now for clubs (SL or Championship) to spread themselves and what they are doing in to the local community. Many local newspapers for example are online and gone from daily to a weekly edition. So using the local media has lost its power. Clubs use Twitter and Facebook but they are mainly preaching to the converted. Clubs do go out in to Schools and Summer events to promote themselves, but the attractions of today are far more than what was on offer 5 or 10 years ago. Money is tight for many and often the woman has the say and would rather spend less money elsewhere. There is no answer to solve the problem and realistically Rugby League Clubs are dieing a slow death much like many Sports teams that are not in the top Leagues. Somehow clubs need to work more together and  look to make events rather than just Rugby League games. Bradford did this very well as did Keighley. But its been a while since we had clubs really go out and create events and re brand themselves and the game. I know clubs have "Forces Day " etc but we really need something different and something that is not going to cost too much money to do.

[themainbrace]

The OP has taken one week, a particularly bad week to suggest the Championship is in trouble.  I haven't particularly done the calculations but the impression I got is that crowds had increased last season and this season for the Championship.  Add to that it had been quite competitive in terms of results and the challenge cup results have thrown up some surprises this year and last.

[Cowardly Fan]

Part of the problem is that its much harder now for clubs (SL or Championship) to spread themselves and what they are doing in to the local community. Many local newspapers for example are online and gone from daily to a weekly edition. So using the local media has lost its power. Clubs use Twitter and Facebook but they are mainly preaching to the converted. Clubs do go out in to Schools and Summer events to promote themselves, but the attractions of today are far more than what was on offer 5 or 10 years ago. Money is tight for many and often the woman has the say and would rather spend less money elsewhere. There is no answer to solve the problem and realistically Rugby League Clubs are dieing a slow death much like many Sports teams that are not in the top Leagues. Somehow clubs need to work more together and  look to make events rather than just Rugby League games. Bradford did this very well as did Keighley. But its been a while since we had clubs really go out and create events and re brand themselves and the game. I know clubs have "Forces Day " etc but we really need something different and something that is not going to cost too much money to do.

 

Crowds in the football league (i.e. below the Premier League) have been increasing for the last 5 years or so quite steadily.  These clubs face similar problems - more entertainment, economy, media impact, outside top league, etc.  Not to say those aren't they aren't genuine but definitely possible to overcome.

 

Part of their success has been based on research into the matchday experience, they have group of fans attending each club who give in-depth feedback.  Some of the changes can seem very minor, example I remember is of clubs introducing healthier kids meals, but worth it as sometimes little details decide if new fans come again or not. 

[Wiltshire Rhino]

I think much of the low attendances could be put down to the fact that outside of London people are still pretty skint.

And yet some of those skint people from outside London will travel all over the country supporting their football team.

Rugby League fans seem to find it very easy to find a reason not to attend a game of Rugby League.

[Celtic Rooster]

Super League is all that matters to the RFL and as long as the Super league clubs are ok the RFL continue to say that the game is thriving. Anybody who has been involved in the game at lower levels for as long as I have will tell you that it is not thriving - it is in decline. The greatest sport in the world is, unfortunately, a minority sport and that is how it will remain while the RFL keep building from the top. If you don't start building any structure from the foundations upwards it will topple over and crash.

[westlondonfan]

Crowds in the football league (i.e. below the Premier League) have been increasing for the last 5 years or so quite steadily.  These clubs face similar problems - more entertainment, economy, media impact, outside top league, etc.  Not to say those aren't they aren't genuine but definitely possible to overcome.

 

Part of their success has been based on research into the matchday experience, they have group of fans attending each club who give in-depth feedback.  Some of the changes can seem very minor, example I remember is of clubs introducing healthier kids meals, but worth it as sometimes little details decide if new fans come again or not.

I don't think that is very minor example at all. Some of the food I have seen served at football grounds has been terrible and I include Brentford and Barnet in that. I think being at Trailfinders has been a massive improvement in the matchday experience when watching the Broncos. Obviously success on the pitch is crucial but the food, beer and ability to walk round the ground without restriction really makes a difference to me.

[TaxiEgg]

The game is in major decline purely and simply because of the RFL and its policies .

They are turning people off the game look at how the community game is being treated ?

The RFL identified three years ago that from 14 years up the participation levels were in decline what have they done to address it NOTHING .

This IMO is having a knock on effect with people actually attending pro games .

When then RFL switched the whole game to summer I said at the time this would have a negative effect on attendances for the pro game .

How many families are going to give up a full week end to RL ?

Dad plays or Coaches Saturday .

Kids train Saturday morning .

Kids play Sunday Morning travelling here there and every where , go and socialise back at respective clubs .

Home just after 12-2pm

Pro game kicks off 3pm

Go watch game back home 5-6 pm

Weekend gone .

Too much is expected of the average RL family simple outcome RL burn out .

This was the danger of putting all your eggs in one basket , I keep banging on to the RFL on other issues that "one fit does not suit all "

Do they listen NO !!!!!

[The Parksider]

Some have suggested a 2 x 10 full time team league would be more beneficial as a league structure but would it? 

 

Of course it wouldn't Gary.

 

Nobody knows the realities more than Neil Hudgell who was in the forefront of the cut from 14 professional clubs to 12 - a figure that some in the know top figures felt should be be 10.

 

Anyone who seriously suggests Mr. Hudgell is wrong and the game should be 20 professional clubs i.e. double the figure must be on a wind up.

 

I've seen it "suggested"

 

I've never seen it justified by some outline figures, logic and reasoning.

[Dave T]

Well you can't now publish fixtures with Tia new format as it depends where you finish. You couldn't make it up lol

well everybody knew about last week's matches.

[PurstonJavelin]

Super League is all that matters to the RFL and as long as the Super league clubs are ok the RFL continue to say that the game is thriving. Anybody who has been involved in the game at lower levels for as long as I have will tell you that it is not thriving - it is in decline. The greatest sport in the world is, unfortunately, a minority sport and that is how it will remain while the RFL keep building from the top. If you don't start building any structure from the foundations upwards it will topple over and crash.

Correct. The Championship can be seen as an annoying drain on resources, an embarrassment and a distraction to the main purpose of British RL which is Super League. (Although it's interesting that the lower clubs and Championship 1 are viewed with affection, perhaps because they don't offer a challenge to the cosy cartel of Super League). The truth is, the game would fail without these clubs. They keep the sport alive in significant areas where kids have an historic affinity for the game, they offer an alternative pathway to players on the fringe of the top level: players who would likely leave the sport if full-time income was not available to them. They exist in areas with a framework for development - school, local junior sides, top level amateur and local professional. They are not just important to the sport: they are essential. The reason they don't get the fan numbers hoped for is that those in control of the sport have, for two decades, relentlessly chosen to promote Super League, rather than Rugby League.

[Dave T]

Makes you wonder why the RFL bothered securing the millions of pounds of tv money for the championships routing the money away from sl.

[The Parksider]

Super League is all that matters to the RFL and as long as the Super league clubs are ok the RFL continue to say that the game is thriving. 

 

That was not the case when we went to the new system that continues to place a burden on the best Championship clubs and turns all other championship clubs into perennial also rans waiting for a rich man to turn up,

 

Six SL clubs were firmly against the RFL and their policies, the RFL do not head up a 12 club "I'm all right jack" superleague. Had the six had their day Leigh would not be a championship club yet again.

 

The game is in major decline purely and simply because of the RFL and its policies .

They are turning people off the game look at how the community game is being treated ?

The RFL identified three years ago that from 14 years up the participation levels were in decline what have they done to address it NOTHING .

When then RFL switched the whole game to summer I said at the time this would have a negative effect on attendances for the pro game .

Do they listen NO !!!!!

 

You sound like Lenegan, Davey, Pearson, Hudgell, Koukash and Moran. How much they care for the Championship is debatable, what they would do for the Championship we don't know fully.

 

But they would guarantee the competition the ultimate prize of entry to Superleague framed with rules to assist any promoted Championship club the chance to stay in Superleague.

 

The RFL seem happy to freeze the championship out yet they claim to represent the whole game and yet they seem to draw their powerbase fron the championship? 

[The Parksider]

It's been a long slow decline for a number of years and needs something radical doing sooner rather than later

 

1996 CC average crowd 2,405     2014  1,095

 

1996 CC1 average crowd 857        2014    375

 

There is your decline in the Championship......

 

2015  average CC crowd 1,773    increase of 60%

 

2015 average CC1 crowd 528      increase of 40%

 

They did do something about it, they allowed Bradford to join the Championship.

They did do something about it, they blocked Leigh from promotion.

They dumped CC clubs into CC1

 

Trebles all round at Red Hall as the Championship makes massive strides forward

 

That's the smoke and mirrors. Of course it's all guff.

 

One thing the RFL did do was allocate several £Millions to the Championship, but let's not be naively giving them any toffee for that. They did it to make the new system work and it didn't, so it's been a big fat waste.

 

It could (albeit some SL clubs would resist this) have been used to give a bigger subsidy to all Championship clubs paid as an even amount.  

 

It wasn't. 

[Trojan]

i believe the championship is being cut adrift by the RFL. there is very little to no exposure on TV or in the press. here in yorkshire the local TV news only gives out superleague scores. you have to scour the national press to find results, never mind match reports. the championship is not in the public eye, and as the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind".

I remember when Fev won the Championship in 2011, Look North didn't cover it. I wrote to complain, because what they did cover was Yorkshire NOT playing at Scarborough.  All I got in reply was a load of platitudes about how they tried their best etc.  Championship games get barely a mention on Radio Leeds, on the way home from Fev, a half hour drive, you are lucky to hear one, they'd rather reply some SL commentary from  Friday night.  I think there's something in the theory that the Championship is being cut loose.  After all in the words of the immortal Maurice, we are dross.

[The Game Caller]

Are these crowds telling us the actual number of people who attended or are some understated like they often were in the 80's

I cannot believe that only 723 attended the Town game for example. Also Dewsbury seem to be getting less now than when they were a very poor team. I find that hard to believe

Also neither Swinton or Sheffield are not playing "at home

That 723 figure is wrong.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

That 723 figure is wrong.

That's the gate given out by League Express - what was it in reality?

[PurstonJavelin]

Makes you wonder why the RFL bothered securing the millions of pounds of tv money for the championships routing the money away from sl.

We have there a major part of the issue: a belief long held, perhaps not by you, but by many, that the income from the TV contract belongs to Super League, not to Rugby League.

[Dave T]

We have there a major part of the issue: a belief long held, perhaps not by you, but by many, that the income from the TV contract belongs to Super League, not to Rugby League.

It did. The majority of the Sky payments have been to SL for the SL rights.

 

This new deal negotiated by the RFL changed that and for the first time Sky ring-fenced a major amount of money for Championship clubs. 

 

That said, even when the deals were purely SL deals I think there should still have been a desire to trickle funds down into other areas. 

[The Game Caller]

That's the gate given out by League Express - what was it in reality?

1,023

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

1,023

Thanks.

[Hopping Mad]

It's quite simple. When sky bought the game they only wanted 12-14 teams and since then any one outside the sl have gradually been cut adrift to achieve what they wanted in the 1st place. People have voted with their feet mostly due to promotion and relegation issues. The elite had to meet certain criteria which some clubs still haven't achieved.

 

Mirrors my feelings exactly. The RFL couldn't give a toss about the clubs outside Super League, so why should anyone else? I voted with my feet long ago.

[DemonUK]

Parksider, would you like to do a comparison of 2013, 2014 and 2015 for us instead of figures from 20 years ago when the systems and funding was completely different because I can't be bothered.