Challenge Cup Final

[Cumbrian Fanatic 1,264]

Just had an email from the RFL that this years Challenge Cup will be now played behind closed doors, only to be expected I suppose.

Next years final will be on 17th July and I have the option transferring my tickets to next year, requesting a credit note or requesting a refund. Up until now all our party wants to transfer until next year, so fingers crossed we are in a better place then

[Eddie 3,064]

I think people will be chomping at the bit for a cup final by July next year, hopefully we’ll see Wembley full again. 

[Hela Wigmen 1,850]

Gutted about this. It’s one of my favourite days of the year and one of our big events. It won’t be the same behind closed doors but hopefully we get a big TV audience. 

[Cheshire Setter 1,199]

5 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

Gutted about this. It’s one of my favourite days of the year and one of our big events. It won’t be the same behind closed doors but hopefully we get a big TV audience. 

The experience wouldn't be the same though, so maybe it's best to wait until next year so you're not left with flat memories of the match and the build-up around the stadium.

[wiganlad 20]

Not sure if having the final at Wembley with no fans is the right thing to do. 
im assuming it will cost the rfl more to host it at Wembley rather than one of the super league teams hosting it. Then when you add the cost for the clubs to travel down, stop overnight etc ( assuming they will do that) is it the right approach in the current financial climate?

[wiganermike 308]

19 minutes ago, wiganlad said:

Not sure if having the final at Wembley with no fans is the right thing to do. 
im assuming it will cost the rfl more to host it at Wembley rather than one of the super league teams hosting it. Then when you add the cost for the clubs to travel down, stop overnight etc ( assuming they will do that) is it the right approach in the current financial climate?

I would assume that the cost of cancelling the Wembley booking and then booking a venue up north would be higher than the cost of going to London and holding it in an empty Wembley. Prize money for making the final will outweigh travel and hotel costs for the two teams. Keeping the final in London also reduces the likelihood of fans of the competing clubs travelling to and gathering outside the stadium, as that could more easily have happened with a final up north.

[Rupert Prince 1,400]

Lets hope whoever gets to Wembley has been able to keep virus free.  

[ELBOWSEYE 830]

This will be first final were the obsession of predicting the crowd and counting instead of watching the game will not happen will this result in a massive reduction of posts on this site for the final. 

[Cumbrian Fanatic 1,264]

4 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

This will be first final were the obsession of predicting the crowd and counting instead of watching the game will not happen will this result in a massive reduction of posts on this site for the final. 

Never thought about that, good point

[LeeF 1,994]

5 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

This will be first final were the obsession of predicting the crowd and counting instead of watching the game will not happen will this result in a massive reduction of posts on this site for the final. 

No someone will still crowd count to see if people like the current England coach are attending etc

[GeordieSaint 6,165]

4 hours ago, Eddie said:

I think people will be chomping at the bit for a cup final by July next year, hopefully we’ll see Wembley full again. 

Great conspiracy theory...

... the RFL manufactured COVID to fill Wembley next year! 

[yipyee 934]

9 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

This will be first final were the obsession of predicting the crowd and counting instead of watching the game will not happen will this result in a massive reduction of posts on this site for the final. 

Will they still report 25000 attendance for club Wembley tickets

[LeeF 1,994]

3 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Great conspiracy theory...

... the RFL manufactured COVID to fill Wembley next year! 

I’ve heard more outlandish ones

[pahars 73]

2 hours ago, wiganlad said:

Not sure if having the final at Wembley with no fans is the right thing to do. 
im assuming it will cost the rfl more to host it at Wembley rather than one of the super league teams hosting it. Then when you add the cost for the clubs to travel down, stop overnight etc ( assuming they will do that) is it the right approach in the current financial climate?

I’m not sure if it’s changed but the RFL certainly used to have a contract that they had to hold one event at Wembley each year. 

[ELBOWSEYE 830]

Who will the pre match entertainment be?. 

What about song choices. 

Im so lonely 

Your not alone

Empty chairs and empty tables. 

[Man of Kent 7,001]

14 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Who will the pre match entertainment be?. 

What about song choices. 

Im so lonely 

Your not alone

Empty chairs and empty tables. 

‘Abide With Me (At A 1m-plus Safe Distance)’

‘On Ilkley Moor Baht Face Covering’

And for the victors’ party afterwards ‘Saturday Night Fever With A New, Continuous Cough’

[ELBOWSEYE 830]

Just now, Man of Kent said:

‘Abide With Me (At A 1m-plus Safe Distance)’

‘On Ilkley Moor Baht Face Covering’

And for the victors’ party afterwards ‘Saturday Night Fever With A New, Continuous Cough’

I think you should get your coat

[derk 12]

21 hours ago, pahars said:

I’m not sure if it’s changed but the RFL certainly used to have a contract that they had to hold one event at Wembley each year. 

they have a contract .it goes towards the exorbitant cost of re-building the place.thats why fa cup semifinals are played there as well as finals.still it carries on the centuries old tradition of exporting northern wealth(ho-ho) to the deep south

[Sir Kevin Sinfield 1,849]

On 28/09/2020 at 18:02, ELBOWSEYE said:

This will be first final were the obsession of predicting the crowd and counting instead of watching the game will not happen will this result in a massive reduction of posts on this site for the final. 

I’m sure plenty of people will have an opinion on what the crowd would have been, had fans been allowed to attend. 

[gingerjon 14,337]

On 28/09/2020 at 18:28, pahars said:

I’m not sure if it’s changed but the RFL certainly used to have a contract that they had to hold one event at Wembley each year. 

There must have been some changes to the contract because we used to not be able to sell Club Wembley tickets and now we can.

(Not that that matters this year but indicates that the original contract can no longer be the one in play.)

[wiganermike 308]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

There must have been some changes to the contract because we used to not be able to sell Club Wembley tickets and now we can.

(Not that that matters this year but indicates that the original contract can no longer be the one in play.)

I think the Club Wembley seats not being available for sale by the RFL was a separate thing to our contract. There was IIRC a mechanism in place whereby Club Wembley seats were sold by Wembley Stadium (the company that run it) itself and were for every event held there for a specific number of years. This allowed guaranteed sales and income for the stadium (as they seek to recoup the astronomical build costs) as those buying Club Wembley seats paid the stadium company for all events regardless of their attending or not. The time period for that set up expired and it wasn't renewed so those seats were then released to the RFL for sale along with the others.

[Dave T 17,371]

I think this is the right decision. If there is one thing we know about RL, is that we are pretty cheap, so if we are doing this, we must assume that the cost is not a big issue. 

We are doing it on the cheap at the moment, through using one ground a week (I know that is moving on a bit at the moment) - but I think it is important that we retain the finals at prestige venues. These are showpiece finals, and hopefully we will get bigger viewing figures than ever - I don't think moving to regular grounds to do this is the way to show off our best self, even in these times.

[Cumbrian Fanatic 1,264]

20 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I think this is the right decision. If there is one thing we know about RL, is that we are pretty cheap, so if we are doing this, we must assume that the cost is not a big issue. 

We are doing it on the cheap at the moment, through using one ground a week (I know that is moving on a bit at the moment) - but I think it is important that we retain the finals at prestige venues. These are showpiece finals, and hopefully we will get bigger viewing figures than ever - I don't think moving to regular grounds to do this is the way to show off our best self, even in these times.

I tend to agree with you

The original email in May postponing the final stated that they intention was to still play the final  contingent on the public health situation and Government advice. A follow up email said it had been rescheduled for Saturday 17th Oct,  that the venue was still to be confirmed Wembley had provisionally (my emphasis) been booked and once it was known if fans could attend a decision on the venue would be made. I got an email on 22nd Sept confirming Wembley as the venue but discussions were still ongoing with the Government and the relevant stadium and local authorities about the possibility of spectators attending.

All this suggests that the RFL could have backed out of the Wembley booking at any time, though the costs could have course just been carried over from the original July booking.

I'm with you on staying at a more prestigious venue and the decision may of course have been taken in discussion with sponsors who will want the best exposure at this time.

I must say, the RFL have been very good at keeping those who bought tickets informed of developments and their options

[Rupert Prince 1,400]

On 28/09/2020 at 18:32, ELBOWSEYE said:

Who will the pre match entertainment be?. 

What about song choices. 

Im so lonely 

Your not alone

Empty chairs and empty tables. 

Will the man in the white suit have to wear a mask?

Actually, with the presentations, will the celebrity (and the players) have to mask up and tap elbows...?

 

[Scubby 11,681]

Can I pay on the day?