Attendances (Multiple Merged Threads)

[Tommygilf]

10 minutes ago, daz39 said:

From my quick calculations, those 3 teams have lost about 4,000 fans between them since 2019, quite strange conisdering every other club has slightly increased or stayed more or less the same, is it a case of some glory hunters haven't been able to go so have just stopped bothering or is it more long term, hardcore fans who have gone AWOL?

For Leeds and Wigan its not far off 4000 fans each since a decade ago.

[ELBOWSEYE]

10 minutes ago, daz39 said:

But wouldn't the same be said for all fanbases rather than just the top, best supported ones?

Just commenting on what I see at Warrington, yes it maybe replicated in other teams. Warrington have good ideas but from a fans perspective it doesn't seem like a fully planned objective. The area could easily fill the stadium on a regular basis but the club has not got the right people in to tap into the local market. Although we are surrounded by big football clubs I bet the actual people in the warrington area who actually attend these football clubs is a miniscule amount. 

[M j M]

11 minutes ago, daz39 said:

From my quick calculations, those 3 teams have lost about 4,000 fans between them since 2019, quite strange conisdering every other club has slightly increased or stayed more or less the same, is it a case of some glory hunters haven't been able to go so have just stopped bothering or is it more long term, hardcore fans who have gone AWOL?

It's a set of circumstances specific to each club, as ever, just as for the clubs heading the other way. That doesn't suit people who like a grand narrative version of history but it's just the way it is.

Leeds' reasons are obvious; Wigan have been in long-term decline since, off field, they stopped having a decently functioning marketing team and, on-field, started playing the least exciting form of football. Warrington fans would be able to explain what's happening there better than I am but I'd expect it to be some combination of years of Pryce-ball, a failure to make the hoped-for breakthrough and perhaps a sense of drift from club leadership.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

32 minutes ago, daz39 said:

From my quick calculations, those 3 teams have lost about 4,000 fans between them since 2019, quite strange conisdering every other club has slightly increased or stayed more or less the same, is it a case of some glory hunters haven't been able to go so have just stopped bothering or is it more long term, hardcore fans who have gone AWOL?

Have Salford and Wakefield?

[Tommygilf]

9 minutes ago, M j M said:

It's a set of circumstances specific to each club, as ever, just as for the clubs heading the other way. That doesn't suit people who like a grand narrative version of history but it's just the way it is.

Leeds' reasons are obvious; Wigan have been in long-term decline since, off field, they stopped having a decently functioning marketing team and, on-field, started playing the least exciting form of football. Warrington fans would be able to explain what's happening there better than I am but I'd expect it to be some combination of years of Pryce-ball, a failure to make the hoped-for breakthrough and perhaps a sense of drift from club leadership.

Obviously the general popularity of and interest in a given sport wouldn't be reflected in its leading clubs, "international" fixtures, cup games, World Cup and TV broadcast deals...

[daz39]

11 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

Have Salford and Wakefield?

Wakefield down 375

Salford up 559 so yes, more or less about the same.

[Damien]

3 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

For Leeds and Wigan its not far off 4000 fans each since a decade ago.

This isn't Leeds and Wigan specific comment, and is the case for all clubs, but I'd love to see a decent analysis on the affect of Thursday night fixtures when it comes to averages. 

As an example Wigan's Thursday night games have been against Hull FC, Huddersfield and Castleford. None of these are handy for fans travelling from these places on a Thursday, Hull is practically impossible for those working, and I just don't see how it can't have an impact.

Edited April 24, 2022 by Damien

[Josef K]

What was the official attendance at Rovers ?. 

[meast]

4 hours ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Just commenting on what I see at Warrington, yes it maybe replicated in other teams. Warrington have good ideas but from a fans perspective it doesn't seem like a fully planned objective. The area could easily fill the stadium on a regular basis but the club has not got the right people in to tap into the local market. Although we are surrounded by big football clubs I bet the actual people in the warrington area who actually attend these football clubs is a miniscule amount. 

Would the relative success of Warrington's semi pro football teams and their increase in attendances have affected Wire?

Rylands, for example won the Northern Premier League West and attracted 1200 yesterday, and have seen their crowds increase by 354% over the last year, Warrington Town have made the NPL Play offs and could be 2 levels from the EFL next season, they're averaging over 500 for this season and have almost doubled their average crowds in the last 4 years.

Could it be that the "hangers on", casual supporters have now switched their fandom from the rugby to football?

Yesterday was the emptiest, quietest and unresponsive I think I can remember seeing the HJ.

Edited April 24, 2022 by meast

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

4 hours ago, daz39 said:

Wakefield down 375

Salford up 559 so yes, more or less about the same.

Leeds clearly need to learn a thing or two from Wakefield and Salford 

[ELBOWSEYE]

1 hour ago, meast said:

Would the relative success of Warrington's semi pro football teams and their increase in attendances have affected Wire?

Rylands, for example won the Northern Premier League West and attracted 1200 yesterday, and have seen their crowds increase by 354% over the last year, Warrington Town have made the NPL Play offs and could be 2 levels from the EFL next season, they're averaging over 500 for this season and have almost doubled their average crowds in the last 4 years.

Could it be that the "hangers on", casual supporters have now switched their fandom from the rugby to football?

Yesterday was the emptiest, quietest and unresponsive I think I can remember seeing the HJ.

You obviously done some research, but I live less than a mile frpm Warrington Town and have never felt the urge to go, no but living here and not just occasionally attending a match, their are over 200k living inside the boundaries of Warrington and the ground holds 15k, and if you lived here you would see fans who actually play for union sides in Warrington as season ticket holders, people who play sunday football at games so people will watch their local teams whether they play the sport or not. So the relative success of other sporting teams in Warrington don't affect the attendance. Just on a side not amateur rl clubs have had crowds of over 1k in days gone by. And to finally put your lack of understanding of Warrington the local paper the warrington guardian has more on wire games than all football/union clubs put together. 

[Spidey]

1 hour ago, meast said:

Would the relative success of Warrington's semi pro football teams and their increase in attendances have affected Wire?

Rylands, for example won the Northern Premier League West and attracted 1200 yesterday, and have seen their crowds increase by 354% over the last year, Warrington Town have made the NPL Play offs and could be 2 levels from the EFL next season, they're averaging over 500 for this season and have almost doubled their average crowds in the last 4 years.

Could it be that the "hangers on", casual supporters have now switched their fandom from the rugby to football?

Yesterday was the emptiest, quietest and unresponsive I think I can remember seeing the HJ.

Rylands are the “trendy” football club at the moment - it’s a shame their success led to the Rugby League club being turfed out of their home

[soulboy]

5 hours ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Just commenting on what I see at Warrington, yes it maybe replicated in other teams. Warrington have good ideas but from a fans perspective it doesn't seem like a fully planned objective. The area could easily fill the stadium on a regular basis but the club has not got the right people in to tap into the local market. Although we are surrounded by big football clubs I bet the actual people in the warrington area who actually attend these football clubs is a miniscule amount. 

A lot of areas of Warrington ( Penketh , Sankey , Cinnamon Brow , Birchwood , Westbrook , Chapelford , Whittlehall , Barrowhall ) have large overspill from Liverpool and Manchester , with some estates dating back to the early 60s .

Most of these folk still resonate to football ( Everton , Liverpool, City and United ) and see RL as an afterthought.

I’ve seen Warrington Bank Quay and Warrington Central packed with fans going to home games at one of the above stations . So to say that the amount that travel to football is minuscule is incorrect.

Having lived in Penketh for 62 years and an avid RL supporter, the game is still seen as untrendy and not hip.

Also the new breed of Warrington fan just know RL as Superleague. Rugby League pre HJ stadium means nothing to them and they have nil interest in the rich heritage and history of the sport .

A prime example of this is that the 3 RLWC trophies where on show yesterday in the middle of Warrington , the interest was virtually non existent , yet there was a home game on against Huddersfield. 
 

Whatever people think , Warrington is a football loving town and RL comes second .

 

 

 

[GUBRATS]

On 16/04/2022 at 19:26, London Balham Bronco said:

I am new to this forum and rugby league in general but really enjoying following it already. Taking in Leigh v London next sunday and have tickets for the Broncos section. Just a query what sort of away supporter numbers would London normally take to this and to expect there next week?

Hope you enjoyed your visit to the LSV , I really felt for your lads , never stopped but totally outclassed 

[ELBOWSEYE]

29 minutes ago, soulboy said:

A lot of areas of Warrington ( Penketh , Sankey , Cinnamon Brow , Birchwood , Westbrook , Chapelford , Whittlehall , Barrowhall ) have large overspill from Liverpool and Manchester , with some estates dating back to the early 60s .

Most of these folk still resonate to football ( Everton , Liverpool, City and United ) and see RL as an afterthought.

I’ve seen Warrington Bank Quay and Warrington Central packed with fans going to home games at one of the above stations . So to say that the amount that travel to football is minuscule is incorrect.

Having lived in Penketh for 62 years and an avid RL supporter, the game is still seen as untrendy and not hip.

Also the new breed of Warrington fan just know RL as Superleague. Rugby League pre HJ stadium means nothing to them and they have nil interest in the rich heritage and history of the sport .

A prime example of this is that the 3 RLWC trophies where on show yesterday in the middle of Warrington , the interest was virtually non existent , yet there was a home game on against Huddersfield. 
 

Whatever people think , Warrington is a football loving town and RL comes second .

 

 

 

Yet 30k turns out at Wembley, there is potential in Warrington its just the club has not got the right people to tap into it. When I coached junior rugby in the early 90s there were only a handful of schools playing RL now most schools have teams, so children of these football fans attend these schools and some will play rugby, it is an untapped market, I know people who never had any contact with rugby but when their  child was a mascot have become lifelong supporters. 

[GUBRATS]

2 hours ago, meast said:

Would the relative success of Warrington's semi pro football teams and their increase in attendances have affected Wire?

Rylands, for example won the Northern Premier League West and attracted 1200 yesterday, and have seen their crowds increase by 354% over the last year, Warrington Town have made the NPL Play offs and could be 2 levels from the EFL next season, they're averaging over 500 for this season and have almost doubled their average crowds in the last 4 years.

Could it be that the "hangers on", casual supporters have now switched their fandom from the rugby to football?

Yesterday was the emptiest, quietest and unresponsive I think I can remember seeing the HJ.

No 

[meast]

1 hour ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

You obviously done some research, but I live less than a mile frpm Warrington Town and have never felt the urge to go, no but living here and not just occasionally attending a match, their are over 200k living inside the boundaries of Warrington and the ground holds 15k, and if you lived here you would see fans who actually play for union sides in Warrington as season ticket holders, people who play sunday football at games so people will watch their local teams whether they play the sport or not. So the relative success of other sporting teams in Warrington don't affect the attendance. Just on a side not amateur rl clubs have had crowds of over 1k in days gone by. And to finally put your lack of understanding of Warrington the local paper the warrington guardian has more on wire games than all football/union clubs put together. 

Cheers, so no correlation then?

[meast]

1 hour ago, Spidey said:

Rylands are the “trendy” football club at the moment - it’s a shame their success led to the Rugby League club being turfed out of their home

A sugar daddied plaything I believe?

[ELBOWSEYE]

Just now, meast said:

Cheers, so no correlation then?

Sorry had look up the meaning of that word I am only a simple bloke. But no non if what happens with other Warrington sports clubs has any impact on Warrington wolves. 

[meast]

13 minutes ago, GUBRATS said:

No 

Thanks for your input

[meast]

2 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Sorry had look up the meaning of that word I am only a simple bloke. But no non if what happens with other Warrington sports clubs has any impact on Warrington wolves. 

I meant is there any connection between Warrington Wolves crowds dropping and Warrington Town and Rylands crowds going up.

It seems not.

[soulboy]

11 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Yet 30k turns out at Wembley, there is potential in Warrington its just the club has not got the right people to tap into it. When I coached junior rugby in the early 90s there were only a handful of schools playing RL now most schools have teams, so children of these football fans attend these schools and some will play rugby, it is an untapped market, I know people who never had any contact with rugby but when their  child was a mascot have become lifelong supporters. 

I’ll freely admit my post was a bit of a sweeping statement and i do have a lot of Liverpool and Manc friends around my age , have got into the RL through there grandchildren etc and they now love the sport .

Like you stated the potential is still untapped, especially these new housing estates that have ‘ shot up ‘ in the last 5 years . 

I’m still staggered to see replica Warrington shirts in Stockton Beak and Grappenhall, 15 to 20 years that would have been unthinkable.

Like you said though it all starts in the schools .
 

 

 

[Dallas Mead]

1 hour ago, soulboy said:

A lot of areas of Warrington ( Penketh , Sankey , Cinnamon Brow , Birchwood , Westbrook , Chapelford , Whittlehall , Barrowhall ) have large overspill from Liverpool and Manchester , with some estates dating back to the early 60s .

Most of these folk still resonate to football ( Everton , Liverpool, City and United ) and see RL as an afterthought.

I’ve seen Warrington Bank Quay and Warrington Central packed with fans going to home games at one of the above stations . So to say that the amount that travel to football is minuscule is incorrect.

Having lived in Penketh for 62 years and an avid RL supporter, the game is still seen as untrendy and not hip.

Also the new breed of Warrington fan just know RL as Superleague. Rugby League pre HJ stadium means nothing to them and they have nil interest in the rich heritage and history of the sport .

A prime example of this is that the 3 RLWC trophies where on show yesterday in the middle of Warrington , the interest was virtually non existent , yet there was a home game on against Huddersfield. 
 

Whatever people think , Warrington is a football loving town and RL comes second .

 

 

 

This ^^^^ 100%.  Things are on the improve from when I first started watching mid 1980s.  We’ve basically gone from a hardcore of 3500-4000 at wilderspool to a hardcore of 8000 now at the HJ.  All of the above is true though, pretty much everyone I know has a football club to follow that isn’t Warrington based!  The town is full of Man U(re) and Liverpool fans.  It’s understandable as we’re only 20 mins from each city, but if everyone who was a “fan” of these close PL teams watched Warrington town instead there would be 30,000 there!

[Damien]

31 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Yet 30k turns out at Wembley, there is potential in Warrington its just the club has not got the right people to tap into it. When I coached junior rugby in the early 90s there were only a handful of schools playing RL now most schools have teams, so children of these football fans attend these schools and some will play rugby, it is an untapped market, I know people who never had any contact with rugby but when their  child was a mascot have become lifelong supporters. 

That's great to hear.

[Damien]

1 minute ago, Dallas Mead said:

This ^^^^ 100%.  Things are on the improve from when I first started watching mid 1980s.  We’ve basically gone from a hardcore of 3500-4000 at wilderspool to a hardcore of 8000 now at the HJ.  All of the above is true though, pretty much everyone I know has a football club to follow that isn’t Warrington based!  The town is full of Man U(re) and Liverpool fans.  It’s understandable as we’re only 20 mins from each city, but if everyone who was a “fan” of these close PL teams watched Warrington town instead there would be 30,000 there!

But that's the same in plenty of places. Warrington isn't particularly unique in plenty of people liking and supporting bigger football clubs from elsewhere.