Challenge Cup Attendances

[yipyee]

On 12/05/2019 at 22:26, Lobbygobbler said:

If you are going to have seeding then make it harder for the clubs who already have the advantages.

personally I think we should ditch it and make SL clubs play away at lower league clubs. I would also apply the same for championship clubs at League 1 clubs

Yes, increase attendances by making the biggest supported teams play away in smaller stadiums with smaller ground capacitys that should do the trick!

[yipyee]

Part the problem is over exposure. So many televised games now that cup games loose the special appeal. This is the same for soccer.

Secondly the BBC being stuck in the past forcing sat and sun games. 

Saints moved all their home games to Friday night and saw a rise in attendances. Saints play on Friday night's. BBC moved the game to Saturday afternoon for no good reason other than being out of touch. Shock horror this leads to a poor attendance. 

Thirdly and this has been overlooked by everyone who discuss this topic... 

The challenge cup is played the weekend after the marathon of Easter weekend. This weekend traditionally sees large attendances with many casual fans attending and many ST holders going to away games all at an extra cost. This coupled with the players picking up knocks and players being rested/ not playing at 100% the week after leads to lower intensity games. Fans who pay extra choose the derbys over the challenge cup the week after. Then the next round is after magic weekend. Again a big expense to fans and fans choosing magic weekend away over paying extra for CC. Then all momentum is lost as the next round is 6 weeks away. Is this scheduling A ploy by SL to downgrade the RFL comp and ensure SL gains the kudos of the top trophy in the country?

 

[Lobbygobbler]

On 04/06/2019 at 22:51, yipyee said:

Yes, increase attendances by making the biggest supported teams play away in smaller stadiums with smaller ground capacitys that should do the trick!

The crowds would generally be bigger if the SL clubs played away plus the grounds would be fuller and more chance of shocks. A no brainer

[Bulliac]

Is nothing sacred? 

We've had cup draws since Adam was a lad, it's fair, above board and it works. When you start 'fiddling' with it that leads to people being convinced that they, or their club, are being done out what is rightfully theirs. Leave well alone, imo. 

[Rob Nash]

On 12/05/2019 at 20:45, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Hull vs Castleford - 6,230

Wakefield vs Widnes - c.2k

Dewsbury vs Halifax - 1,207

Salford vs Hull KR - c. 2k

Bradford vs Leeds - 10,258

Catalans vs Doncaster - c. 4k

Warrington vs Wigan - 7,086

Huddersfield vs St Helens - 3,233

 

Can't find the other attendances, but put a prediction based on their averages and the fact it's the cup usually means it's around half of what it usually would be.

 

That's about 35k for 8 games, or about 4.5k a game. Looks awful on TV. Wouldn't this be a much better scene for a Magic Weekend style event? Novelty of a new ground to visit and other games to watch may attract new audiences to travel as well as locals from that area.

Even just somewhere not too far like Bramall Lane would be a great place to visit and could start to help a place like Sheffield build more of an interest in the sport. 4 games each day. Job done.

Biased I know but Keepmoat would be a great venue for Summer Bash. Close enough to town centre. Based at Lakeside if a beach is essential! Seriously though. It's an appropriately sized stadium with an excellent infrastructure transport wise. Easy for everyone to get to. Where is it next year?

[Goughy]

46 minutes ago, Rob Nash said:

Biased I know but Keepmoat would be a great venue for Summer Bash. Close enough to town centre. Based at Lakeside if a beach is essential! Seriously though. It's an appropriately sized stadium with an excellent infrastructure transport wise. Easy for everyone to get to. Where is it next year?

I was in Doncaster for vacation last week and walked to the Keepmoat from town and was thinking the same thing about the Bash. Especially as there is all the room on the outside for a fan zone and the small athletics stadum right next door for other commuity rugby league events - whatever they may be.  May not be the perfect option but an option still - with great transport links and a in town with a history of accomodating many visitors with the races.

[Lounge Room Lizard]

On 04/06/2019 at 20:14, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Bradford v Halifax (6,591)

St Helens v Wakefield (6,453)

Hull FC v Catalans (4,832)

Hull KR v Warrington (3,311) 

Total - 21,187

 

Get the quarters at Bolton next year, semis at Sheffield.

 

Interesting the 2 Championship clubs beat the 3 SL ties. Well done Bradford (uhh!) and Halifax in selling the game to their fan base. I wonder how much the 3 SL clubs promoted their ties? 3311& 4832 is poor imho.

[yipyee]

On 07/06/2019 at 00:46, TheConductor said:

Look good on TV so yes

It so doesn't

#race to the bottom.