Impressive RLWC21 Figures

[Hela Wigmen]

[gingerjon]

I think this just confirms that this is a parochial game for select small northern towns and there is nothing that can be done to change that.

[Click]

2 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I think this just confirms that this is a parochial game for select small northern towns and there is nothing that can be done to change that.

Think this is that proof that is needed to show that the game has no chance in growing outside the North

[snoopdog]

Another example of the potential this great game could have given direction , leadership and less self interest.

[RP London]

16 minutes ago, snoopdog said:

Another example of the potential this great game could have given direction , leadership and less self interest.

and an international game that plays more than once at home every 2 years!

[Dunbar]

As a sport, we are not shy in criticising our leadership... and I have to say, very often that criticism is warranted. 

But as I have said many times over the last 12 months, this World Cup has not put a foot wrong in its organisation, media and social media work. They are doing everything right.

I am convinced that this time next year we will see the best and most successful tournament our sport has ever seen.

[paulwalker71]

Wow! Those are some seriously impressive figures, and positive proof  (just at the time when we are obsessing over which small Northern town to 'allow' to come into SL) that the International game could really drive something special with our game.

[Eddie]

45 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I think this just confirms that this is a parochial game for select small northern towns and there is nothing that can be done to change that.

Agreed, and it’s for old codgers too, young people just want to play FIFA and go on Tik Tok or whatever it’s called. 

[Eddie]

49 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

This doesn’t actually say how many tickets have been ordered does it? It could actually mean that 5,000 tickets have been booked by Londoners for the Arsenal semi final and only 4,000 tickets have been booked for all the rest of the games. Obviously it doesn’t mean that but those stats offer little context for what’s actually happened. 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Really great figures, hats off to the organisers! 

[Toby Chopra]

Remarkable statistics, the World Cup organising team has played a blinder. People want World class sport, big events at top venues, and international competition, and we can actually deliver that when we put our mind to it. 

[RP London]

4 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Agreed, and it’s for old codgers too, young people just want to play FIFA and go on Tik Tok or whatever it’s called. 

dont play the "i dont know what its called" card.. i bet your on it all the time!

bloody youngsters 

[Damien]

8 minutes ago, Eddie said:

This doesn’t actually say how many tickets have been ordered does it? It could actually mean that 5,000 tickets have been booked by Londoners for the Arsenal semi final and only 4,000 tickets have been booked for all the rest of the games. Obviously it doesn’t mean that but those stats offer little context for what’s actually happened. 

Its a PR piece and all about creating a positive image and perception of the tournament, which it does very well.

[Chris22]

Whilst I sound like a broken record...our highest international crowds are in London consistently. Why do we play so few international matches there?

[Toby Chopra]

1 hour ago, Chris22 said:

Whilst I sound like a broken record...our highest international crowds are in London consistently. Why do we play so few international matches there?

To be fair, only once in the last decade have we failed to hold a test in London when we've had one of the big 2 over here (or hosted a World Cup).

That was in 2018 when NZ toured and we stayed up north. I seem to remember that series was cobbled together quite late on - bad in itself but might be why we chose the grounds we did.

But other than that, on all four occasions we've hosted an Aus or NZ tour, or WC, since 2010 we've played in London - plus we would have had Spurs Ashes test this year and will have Arsenal WC semi next year. 

I think the bigger issue is that we simply don't have enough big games to hold in London, partly because when we go down under we don't play at home.

Yes, one might ask, why don't we play other teams on London? Well, until now I think that's been the right call, no other team would have had the pull of Aus or NZ for a variety of reasons to justify the expense of a London stadium to create the 'big event' appeal. Playing France at Millwall would not draw a big crowd. That said, I am interested if London could work if we invite Tonga over in 2022/3, if they make a splash in the WC and capture the imagination.       

  

 

 

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Chris22 said:

Whilst I sound like a broken record...our highest international crowds are in London consistently. Why do we play so few international matches there?

Absolutely. Leeds and London consistently do well for internationals and should be the standard international locations on the calendar

[Gerrumonside ref]

Good to see the organisers are prepared to keep hammering home positivity about this World Cup.

With the global pandemic they could easily have been forgiven for being brow beaten by events.

Instead in public at least they seem to be rising to the challenge.

[Themusician_2]

We are going to surpass australia in tournament fan support.

[Gerrumonside ref]

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

This doesn’t actually say how many tickets have been ordered does it? It could actually mean that 5,000 tickets have been booked by Londoners for the Arsenal semi final and only 4,000 tickets have been booked for all the rest of the games. Obviously it doesn’t mean that but those stats offer little context for what’s actually happened. 

I noticed this too that they went for percentages and demographic groupings rather than hard sales numbers.

It might be significant it might not.

I think though the picture they paint is one to be positive about.

[Tommygilf]

7 minutes ago, Themusician_2 said:

We are going to surpass australia in tournament fan support.

Think we came close to that in 2013 tbh!

[JonM]

38 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Think we came close to that in 2013 tbh!

458K for 2013 WC (counting the double header attendances only once, obviously) vs 382K for 2017 WC.

[Eddie]

It would be good if they said how many tickets have been sold (or applied for in the case of ballots needed) so far. I’d have expected the final to oversubscribed for example but am thinking now that it won’t be, unless 40,000 Londoner millennials who’ve never been to a RL game before have bought tickets. 

[Oldbear]

Which is why we need more international games, an England game has much more chance of attracting attention and interest, especially if marketed correctly, than a club game ever could.

[Chris22]

Whispers that there's going to be announcement of significant investment in the tournament tomorrow.

[Eddie]

7 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

Whispers that there's going to be announcement of significant investment in the tournament tomorrow.

Good news if true. From who though?