Attendances (Multiple Merged Threads)

[Damien]

19 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Where would you play Saints v Wigan though, if neutral venues could easily be booked with two weeks notice? 
 

Leigh or Warrington would be far too boring and scream tin pot. Bolton is too big, Ewood Park or Turf Moor maybe?  A good thing about Elland Road is that it’s famous and many will never have been there before, so may be attracted to go there rather than another SL ground where they go for regular SL fixtures. 

There's 4 weeks between and it was never much of a problem for decades watching the game. Warrington, Widnes, Leigh - There's no shortage of RL grounds to fall back on and that's before you get to the likes of Bolton.

[idrewthehaggis]

I am in favour of "Double Headers."

It should make the Semi Final into a bigger event. Problem is that us M62 cloth heids and caps find it curiously challenging to travel. Whilst English football fans will steel themselves for "Aways" in various exotic and distant European locations, some of us blanch at a quick trip across the Pennines.

Go on RL needs Big Events. This could be this. 

Public transport is not great for Elland Road. 

The rigged system has not done West Yorkshire well in helping the county develop its transit network. 

We have done Ok in Mancunia, but as much as you might envy the Metrolink, it is merely a catch up with something that should been across Greater Manchester fifty years ago.

If I applied the usual RL Forum opinion, I would be saying that there is no tram/trolleybus/train to Elland Road because the council is failing, needs to up its game, should be replaced by erm Bradford/Toronto/Leigh erm. if there was a way to blame Tracy Brabin for the municipal version of low crowds/lack of an academy/meccano stadiums then I am sure someone would find a way.

So its rigged. The same teams crop up with success drenched boredom and are somehow uneasy in leaving our various towns to see a game in the next valley. 

But hey double headers can be the double event we need.

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by idrewthehaggis

[dkw]

2 hours ago, FearTheVee said:

I think Leeds is a poor choice and Elland Road a poor stadium.

Leeds is difficult to get to for a lot of people and even once you're there it's a 40 minute hike from the train station to Elland Road.

Its an awful ground, been to see RL there and could hardly walk afterwards, the space for seats is shocking. 

[Damien]

31 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

I agree double header semi finals is poor, it’s to bring costs down as only 1 venue needs to be hired. If we can’t afford/it’s not economically viable to hire 2 venues, the first team out of the bag in the draw should play at home with a split gate as is the case in the quarter final.

I'm not convinced that the cost differential would be that much between hiring 2 smaller venues, requiring far less staff and for a shorter period of time, compared to 1 much bigger one for a longer period of time with many more overheads. I'm not even convinced if Elland Road would be cheaper at all than say hiring Warrington and Headingley and of course that money stays in RL too.

Edited April 20, 2022 by Damien

[Leyther_Matt]

4 minutes ago, Damien said:

I'm not convinced that the cost differential would be that much between hiring 2 smaller venues, requiring far less staff and for a shorter period of time, compared to 1 much bigger one for a longer period of time with many more overheads. I'm not even convinced if Elland Road would be cheaper at all than say hiring Warrington and Headingley and of course that money stays in RL too.

It isn't necessarily the ground rental, but if memory serves me right it was a big selling point that the BBC would only have a single set up cost for broadcasting three games?

[Tommygilf]

Max 12k crowd in Leigh for a Cup Semi final between 2 of our undisputedly biggest clubs is ideal? 

Really?

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

It isn't necessarily the ground rental, but if memory serves me right it was a big selling point that the BBC would only have a single set up cost for broadcasting three games?

BBC have a TV deal for the Challenge Cup, saving money for the BBC really shouldn't be a consideration when it comes to what is best for RL. If our decisions are revolving around cutting costs for the BBC and saving a few quid, possibly, in ground rental then no wonder there is zero direction when it comes to the games planning and strategy.

[gingerjon]

8 minutes ago, Damien said:

BBC have a TV deal for the Challenge Cup, saving money for the BBC really shouldn't be a consideration when it comes to what is best for RL. If our decisions are revolving around cutting costs for the BBC and saving a few quid, possibly, in ground rental then no wonder there is zero direction when it comes to the games planning and strategy.

We don't know the terms of the deal.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

We don't know the terms of the deal.

That works both ways.

What we do know is that BBC are quite happy to show other rounds, such as quarter finals on different days at different locations. It's so Rugby League to undersell ourselves and think that some straight jacket agreement is in place solely for semi finals. Based on what has happened for decades and what happens in previous rounds there is simply no reason to jump to the conclusion that it's a BBC condition.

[gingerjon]

9 minutes ago, Damien said:

That works both ways.

What we do know is that BBC are quite happy to show other rounds, such as quarter finals on different days at different locations. It's so Rugby League to undersell ourselves and think that some straight jacket agreement is in place solely for semi finals. Based on what has happened for decades and what happens in previous rounds there is simply no reason to jump to the conclusion that it's a BBC condition.

I strongly suspect it's a useful money-saving arrangement for both sides that they're both happy with.

[Tommygilf]

3 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I strongly suspect it's a useful money-saving arrangement for both sides that they're both happy with.

I also suspect that this is the best they can do for the Women's cup final in that respect too.

[gingerjon]

Just now, Tommygilf said:

I also suspect that this is the best they can do for the Women's cup final in that respect too.

Yes. At least they basically admit that - although, again, I think there is a shoulder shrugging, "Will this do?" element to that as well.

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

Leigh or Warrington is exactly where it should be held 

I can imagine the uproar of how tin pot it was if the semi final was held at LSV. 

[Eddie]

40 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Max 12k crowd in Leigh for a Cup Semi final between 2 of our undisputedly biggest clubs is ideal? 

Really?

If anything spelled out small time it would be that. 

[Tommygilf]

Just now, gingerjon said:

Yes. At least they basically admit that - although, again, I think there is a shoulder shrugging, "Will this do?" element to that as well.

I think its better than playing it before a stand alone mens semi final in Leigh or Warrington - which is the likely alternative to keep the BBC coverage. Even for "this'll do" its not the worst option.

[Tommygilf]

4 minutes ago, Eddie said:

If anything spelled out small time it would be that. 

That is no slight on the LSV, but really the Challenge Cup Semi Finals should be aiming higher than 12k.

[Damien]

4 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

That is no slight on the LSV, but really the Challenge Cup Semi Finals should be aiming higher than 12k.

10k rattling around Elland Road is no better.

[Dave T]

One point I would make - if we are going to go with double and triple header events, we really should be choosing comfortable grounds. Elland Road is not a good ground to go and spend the whole day at.

 

[Eddie]

5 minutes ago, Damien said:

10k rattling around Elland Road is no better.

Do you think they’d sell LSV out? I expect a lot of people wouldn’t bother going to such an uninspiring venue. 

[Tommygilf]

5 minutes ago, Damien said:

10k rattling around Elland Road is no better.

You can make 10k look alright at Elland Road tbh, especially on TV. And lets be honest we should be looking at 20k upwards for just the two semis, which again, doesn't look terrible on TV.

Chances are you'd be looking at 6k at LSV.

[Damien]

Just now, Eddie said:

Do you think they’d sell LSV out? I expect a lot of people wouldn’t bother going to such an uninspiring venue. 

I wouldn't play at at the LSV either.

Elland Road is a dump these days and isn't an inspiring venue to most RL fans who have been there and done that. Countless RL events have been held there, there isn't anything novel about it. If we are going down the double header route its as uninspiring as you can get. Far more Wigan and Saints fans would have gone to the game if it was at Warrington or Bolton than will go to Elland Road that's for sure.

[Damien]

4 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

You can make 10k look alright at Elland Road tbh, especially on TV. And lets be honest we should be looking at 20k upwards for just the two semis, which again, doesn't look terrible on TV.

Chances are you'd be looking at 6k at LSV.

So you think 10k Wigan and Saints fans would go to Elland Road but only 6k to Leigh a few miles away? Not a chance.

[Tommygilf]

3 minutes ago, Dave T said:

One point I would make - if we are going to go with double and triple header events, we really should be choosing comfortable grounds. Elland Road is not a good ground to go and spend the whole day at.

Agreed. Headingley for example would be better for this (easier to move around, more comfortable seating etc.) 

Given the current picks for "marquee games" I wonder if the strategy of the RFL is related to strengthening relationships with future partners ie LUFC and Tottenham, on the basis of games that were kiboshed by the Pandemic.

[Tommygilf]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

So you think 10k Wigan and Saints fans would go to Elland Road but only 6k to Leigh a few miles away? Not a chance.

You think they would sell out at the LSV?

[Damien]

7 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

You think they would sell out at the LSV?

I'm not sure why you keep talking about the LSV like its the only option. I'm not even sure why the focus is on whether if the LSV having to sell out but you are happy with a semi final in front of a quarter full Elland Road. You think only 6k would go there, I think that's nonsense for a Wigan v Saints game.

Edited April 20, 2022 by Damien