Attendance thread

[Dave T]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

That seems a good solution.

Everyone's free to come to their own opinions. I'm very happy with the presence of French teams in the Cup and League comps. 

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

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. 

Leigh don't have primacy of tenure. Weddings and Manchester United Women can get their fixtures moved.

[Harry Stottle]

51 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Everyone's free to come to their own opinions. I'm very happy with the presence of French teams in the Cup and League comps. 

Even if it means a big financial loss should those teams be successful in one of those comps?

Better pray that if Toulouse decide to play in the CC they don't meet Catalan in the final.

[Dave T]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

Even if it means a big financial loss should those teams be successful in one of those comps?

Better pray that if Toulouse decide to play in the CC they don't meet Catalan in the final.

If we are worrying about finances at that level we are too small time. See also people freaking out because we make severance payments. 

[Harry Stottle]

1 minute ago, Dave T said:

If we are worrying about finances at that level we are too small time. See also people freaking out because we make severance payments. 

Outside of International Series/World Cup seasons the Challdnge Cup final along with the GF is our biggest earner, quire rightly we should try to safeguard our biggest assets if that means protecting it with bonds then so be it.

It may come as a surprise to you Dave but we ain't that big that we can squander money.

[gingerjon]

39 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Outside of International Series/World Cup seasons the Challdnge Cup final along with the GF is our biggest earner, quire rightly we should try to safeguard our biggest assets if that means protecting it with bonds then so be it.

It may come as a surprise to you Dave but we ain't that big that we can squander money.

A page or so back you were saying you were going to enjoy the Cup final and not worry about the attendance?

[Dave T]

57 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Outside of International Series/World Cup seasons the Challdnge Cup final along with the GF is our biggest earner, quire rightly we should try to safeguard our biggest assets if that means protecting it with bonds then so be it.

It may come as a surprise to you Dave but we ain't that big that we can squander money.

I don't see Catalans in the Cup as squandering money. 

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

A page or so back you were saying you were going to enjoy the Cup final and not worry about the attendance?

And so I am but I doubt that the attendance will cost the game money, didn't really think that needed saying Jon.

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

I don't see Catalans in the Cup as squandering money. 

Only if they reach the final Dave, and even your self admittance - was it 3 times - that your maths is somewhat wanting can see that can't you?

[Dave T]

17 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Only if they reach the final Dave, and even your self admittance - was it 3 times - that your maths is somewhat wanting can see that can't you?

If you look at things at too low a level then you will ultimately fail to see the bigger picture and make short-term decisions. You are well within your rights to come to the conclusion that maybe missing out on £3-500k gate receipts is too much of a cost to have French teams in SL - but I think you have to look at the bigger picture and the benefits that Catalans bring to the comp.

We are in different headspaces - you publicly state that you are happy with the game as it is - your prerogative, but that will lead you to the conclusion that we shouldn't be as bold as add French teams, or target London, or whatever. But that isn't where I am on this. I'm of the view that the way to handle that is to drive more income rather than not do these things at all.

And I would add that I have no issues with charging clubs to join the comp - if we ever move more into a franchise space, we should charge amounts that stop us acting small time.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

2 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

 

It may come as a surprise to you Dave but we ain't that big that we can squander money.

Agreed....the CC final is a big part of the RFL finances .....a crowd of say 20,000 for an all French final? 

How much less money would the RFL have for ground roots support.....how many development officers would that be for the year? 

[bobbruce]

4 hours 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.

No they don’t it was on a thread earlier in the week any short fall is payed by the clubs involved. I asked on that thread was the bond the RFLs way of ensuring Catalans pay that. Not being members of the RFL it may not be possible to hold them to that so the bond might’ve been security so the RFL can treat Catalans the same as a member club. 

[gingerjon]

45 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

And so I am but I doubt that the attendance will cost the game money, didn't really think that needed saying Jon.

But we know that a lower crowd means less money and lower than that crowd means no money at all. The bar seems to be around the 60k mark.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

8 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

But we know that a lower crowd means less money and lower than that crowd means no money at all. The bar seems to be around the 60k mark

Is that true? 60k is the break even for the CC final? (Genuine)

Edited July 28, 2023 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[gingerjon]

1 minute ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Is that true? 60k is the break even for the CC final? (Genuine)

It's a best guess from me on the level where the attendance seems to impact on the RFL bottom line. Others may be able to work something out a bit more accurately.

 

[meast]

18 hours ago, daz39 said:

About that yeah, they outnumbered us 3 to 1 as well.

748 Hull fans outnumbering the home support.

Away fans outnumbering the home fans at Huddersfield so far this year;

Warrington- 1,531 ( 7,731)

Wakefield 1,444 (5,872)

Wigan 1,027 ( 5,777)

Leigh 877 ( 4,977)

Hull FC 748 (4,579)

St Helens 740 ( 4,684)

Castleford 389 ( 4,070)

Castleford 361 ( 4,206)

[meast]

8 hours ago, JM2010 said:

You took it!!

I like to use my right to reply  

[meast]

7 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

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

Faithful being the operative word here.

[eal]

We can solve the issue of French teams and attendance by simply moving the Challenge Cup Final to Nice or Barcelona. The English fans will show up anyway for a bit of fun in the sun, and the French fans will show up if their teams are playing close to home.

[meast]

8 hours ago, The Masked Poster said:

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.

No other club gets nearly half as much flak as Huddersfield do, all other clubs are given valid excuses for poor crowds but not Huddersfield.

We've gone round the houses with this so many times, Huddersfield have never attracted big crowds, better crowds yes, on the back of a few good consistent years in differing circumstances, we have an ageing fanbase, the oldest in SL, we are, like the rest of rugby league struggling to attract a younger more socially active fanbase to replace these older fans who either pass on or stop coming.

I'm not sure what you want me to do? I try my very best as Chair of the supporters association, myself and our committee work extremely hard with the club and the general public of Huddersfield but to little avail.

There simply isn't the interest from Huddersfield's large student and commuter population in the local RL club.

I always say, if anyone knows the answer as to how Huddersfield attract better crowds then I'm sure they'd love to know, meanwhile, the 4,000 ish die hards will still turn out and sing and cheer our hearts out.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

34 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

It's a best guess from me on the level where the attendance seems to impact on the RFL bottom line. Others may be able to work something out a bit more accurately.

 

So do they pay Wembley a set fee or is it a joint 'risk' in terms of crowd?

[OnStrike]

21 minutes ago, meast said:

I'm not sure what you want me to do? I try my very best as Chair of the supporters association, myself and our committee work extremely hard with the club and the general public of Huddersfield but to little avail.

I'd say you're doing enough mate. The band of supporters that go seem to have plenty of colour and make plenty of noise and good luck to them. Liked the 'Fools rush in' song. Ignore the digs, it only comes up as an issue because the ground is so big.

[Tommygilf]

The "map" for those interested.

Also for those interested, I remember getting block 230 for £40 in 2017 on an early ticket buyer deal. I can't remember what those seats were at full whack.

[RL Tragic]

1 hour ago, meast said:

No other club gets nearly half as much flak as Huddersfield do, all other clubs are given valid excuses for poor crowds but not Huddersfield.

We've gone round the houses with this so many times, Huddersfield have never attracted big crowds, better crowds yes, on the back of a few good consistent years in differing circumstances, we have an ageing fanbase, the oldest in SL, we are, like the rest of rugby league struggling to attract a younger more socially active fanbase to replace these older fans who either pass on or stop coming.

I'm not sure what you want me to do? I try my very best as Chair of the supporters association, myself and our committee work extremely hard with the club and the general public of Huddersfield but to little avail.

There simply isn't the interest from Huddersfield's large student and commuter population in the local RL club.

I always say, if anyone knows the answer as to how Huddersfield attract better crowds then I'm sure they'd love to know, meanwhile, the 4,000 ish die hards will still turn out and sing and cheer our hearts out.

I think firstly you need applauding for your hard work and passion. Did Huddersfield not have some approaching 10k crowds a few years ago by opening up to the university with offers .

[The Masked Poster]

1 hour ago, meast said:

No other club gets nearly half as much flak as Huddersfield do, all other clubs are given valid excuses for poor crowds but not Huddersfield.

We've gone round the houses with this so many times, Huddersfield have never attracted big crowds, better crowds yes, on the back of a few good consistent years in differing circumstances, we have an ageing fanbase, the oldest in SL, we are, like the rest of rugby league struggling to attract a younger more socially active fanbase to replace these older fans who either pass on or stop coming.

I'm not sure what you want me to do? I try my very best as Chair of the supporters association, myself and our committee work extremely hard with the club and the general public of Huddersfield but to little avail.

There simply isn't the interest from Huddersfield's large student and commuter population in the local RL club.

I always say, if anyone knows the answer as to how Huddersfield attract better crowds then I'm sure they'd love to know, meanwhile, the 4,000 ish die hards will still turn out and sing and cheer our hearts out.

For a start I don't expect you personally to do anything. Unless there's something you're not telling us I don't think you own the club and are responsible. It sounds like you are a dedicated fan but you're not above being sarcastic about other clubs and their fans so don't act so offended when people point out things like this. 

Wakefield and Salford probably get more stick for their attendances than Huddersfield. Probably the reason Huddersfield do get a bit of grief is because they have spent quite a bit of money and have had a modicum of success, so probably more is expected.