Attendance thread

[Harry Stottle]

On 27/07/2023 at 07:14, gingerjon said:

It has been said, repeatedly, that the way to boost crowds, profile etc is by having new teams in the final. It's also been said we need a decent but not too long gap between the semis and the final. And that tickets should be available reasonably early. *And* the RFL's approach (not mine but it's their way of increasing attendance) is by having three finals in one day and, they've got the best possible outcome for that: six different teams.

So we have absolutely everything that has been said is needed.

If, at the end of all that, it doesn't move the needle towards increased numbers then we're a bit stuck.

Actually, I am not in the least bothered, I know where I come from, I know the size of our town, I have been in attendance when barely 4 figs have been in attendance, I was there with my team as an 18 y.o. in '71 and also been in attendance for the Cup Final on many other occasions I am immensely looking forward to my day in the sun again in 2 weeks irrespective of the crowd figures.

If we and the needle are a bit stuck as you put it, were do you apportion the fall off from?

[The Masked Poster]

11 minutes ago, meast said:

A worry for who and what?

It's been like that for decades, it's not a new thing, there's probably very little interest in most towns that host RL clubs if we're honest.

 But yeah let's pick Huddersfield out again

Not necessarily true, Huddersfield had better crowds not that long ago. I know they are targeting one game later in the season for a big attendance but is it really acceptable to just throw your arms in the air and declare that it's just how it is?

And every club gets criticised when they get small crowds, not sure why Huddersfield would be any different.

[Harry Stottle]

Reported this morning that there are 60+ coaches going from the LSV that is not counting pubs and clubs doing there own thing and independent travellers.

[Harry Stottle]

10 hours ago, meast said:

8,000 Hull fans?

Said 800 fan's from Hull on commentary last night, so that makes it 3,779 Fartown Faithfull.

[Harry Stottle]

54 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

The point I made subsequently is that there aren't many other stadiums to choose from that meet the same criteria. There's literally 2 others.

I suppose I'm not as soft as some old timers who don't like the good old days...

Just 2 others? I can think of far more.

You dissapoint me Tommy I thought you would have come up with a better excuse than your reply, being an away fan I would look at the weather forecast before going to Leeds to be allocated that end, I am going to Headingley on the 6th August but I am in corporate for that game.

As for your last sentance, I go to lots of community games and dress appropriately for the facilities, I do not think I should have to do the same respect at the home of the richest RL club in the Northern Hemisphere, really does put our sport into perspective.

 

[Harry Stottle]

17 hours ago, Dave T said:

Really, you strip out the anomalies like hosting it at Spurs or a French team making the final, and getting 60k would still be the lowest crowd for almost 70 years. 

Why you mention that Dave, had Catalan made this final would it have just been acceptable that it would have made for a bad attended final? 

[Tommygilf]

5 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Just 2 others? I can think of far more.

You dissapoint me Tommy I thought you would have come up with a better excuse than your reply, being an away fan I would look at the weather forecast before going to Leeds to be allocated that end, I am going to Headingley on the 6th August but I am in corporate for that game.

As for your last sentance, I go to lots of community games and dress appropriately for the facilities, I do not think I should have to do the same respect at the home of the richest RL club in the Northern Hemisphere, really does put our sport into perspective.

 

Only 2 other modern wholly RL owned grounds in the UK Harry. The rest are shared, rented or council owned.

[Harry Stottle]

16 hours ago, Dave T said:

Yup, my maths was poor again, should have said almost 80 years! 

Not really your forte this maths thingy is it

[Harry Stottle]

4 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Only 2 other modern wholly RL owned grounds in the UK Harry. The rest are shared, rented or council owned.

Why does it have to be wholly owned RL grounds Tommy, I know that was mentioned in the debate, but I still maintain that Headingley is not appropriate in inclement weather for big crowds, if that end is covered it is perfect.

[Tommygilf]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

Why does it have to be wholly owned RL grounds Tommy, I know that was mentioned in the debate, but I still maintain that Headingley is not appropriate in inclement weather for big crowds, if that end is covered it is perfect.

Money going back into the game is a good thing, as discussed further into that thread.

Even without the Western Terrace, which is fine, it is still bigger in capacity than Warrington.

[Harry Stottle]

7 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Money going back into the game is a good thing, as discussed further into that thread.

Even without the Western Terrace, which is fine, it is still bigger in capacity than Warrington.

Looking at the forecast for the preceding 2 weeks before the semi at Headingley people knew - well especially Wigginers - what the weather was going to be like I reckon that kept those who are familiar with Headingley away, no need for that increase in attendance over other grounds.

[Harry Stottle]

11 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Even without the Western Terrace, which is fine

Do you live in a tent by any chance?

[Tommygilf]

36 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Looking at the forecast for the preceding 2 weeks before the semi at Headingley people knew - well especially Wigginers - what the weather was going to be like I reckon that kept those who are familiar with Headingley away, no need for that increase in attendance over other grounds.

Possibly, though I personally think they shared the ground the wrong way anyhow.

[Tommygilf]

36 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Do you live in a tent by any chance?

Not as posh as that

[Harry Stottle]

7 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Possibly, though I personally think they shared the ground the wrong way anyhow.

Does that apply to League games also?

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, Harry Stottle said:

Does that apply to League games also?

No, because League games generally get higher attendances, and the North Stand is still available as a shared facility for general admission - which I wouldn't have done. 

I note in the past when the East and West were similar terraces, fans would swap ends at half time.

[DI Keith Fowler]

1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

Why does it have to be wholly owned RL grounds Tommy, I know that was mentioned in the debate, but I still maintain that Headingley is not appropriate in inclement weather for big crowds, if that end is covered it is perfect.

To my mind it just needs to be a venue where the RL team has primacy of tenure. So Leigh and Widnes (plastic pitch forbidding) are suitable but Wigan and Hull FC aren't. 

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

Why you mention that Dave, had Catalan made this final would it have just been acceptable that it would have made for a bad attended final? 

It would have been a realistic outcome. 

In the same way that crowds fluctuate at say, RU's Euro final depending on the location and where the finalists are from. 

It's a fact of life that Catalans won't bring as many as Leigh or Hull KR. We can't just click our fingers and find another 20k to fill that gap. 

[daz39]

3 hours ago, Ragingbull said:

Less than 4000 home fans. Wow thats really is a worry. 

No matter what the Giants do there really is very little interest in the town is there

No,and you make the same point after EVERY Giants game, you're boring now, change the record or find something else to 'discuss'.

[ATLANTISMAN]

On the subject of away fans the 3 clubs that travel the most now seem to be Wolves/Rovers/Leopards followed by Hull FC/Saints Wigan and Rhinos dont travel so well nowadays.

 

[Harry Stottle]

7 minutes ago, Dave T said:

It would have been a realistic outcome. 

In the same way that crowds fluctuate at say, RU's Euro final depending on the location and where the finalists are from. 

It's a fact of life that Catalans won't bring as many as Leigh or Hull KR. We can't just click our fingers and find another 20k to fill that gap. 

So were the RFL correct in requesting that bond from Catalan? The alternative was just suck it up and take a financial clout.

[Dave T]

13 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

So were the RFL correct in requesting that bond from Catalan? The alternative was just suck it up and take a financial clout.

I don't agree with the bond, no. It's part of the decision you take when you admit teams like Catalans in the comp. At some stage you need to convert these things into financial benefits, otherwise they are vanity projects that you can't afford. 

Ultimately the whole model is flawed, and it leads to short-sighted things like the bond request. 

[Harry Stottle]

5 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I don't agree with the bond, no. It's part of the decision you take when you admit teams like Catalans in the comp. At some stage you need to convert these things into financial benefits, otherwise they are vanity projects that you can't afford. 

Ultimately the whole model is flawed, and it leads to short-sighted things like the bond request. 

Do you think that principles pays bills then? 

[Dave T]

15 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Do you think that principles pays bills then? 

It's not principles. If we don't want to deal with the outcomes of French teams being in the comp, I suggest we don't have French teams in the comp. 

[Harry Stottle]

3 minutes ago, Dave T said:

It's not principles. If we don't want to deal with the outcomes of French teams being in the comp, I suggest we don't have French teams in the comp. 

That seems a good solution.