Huddersfield Giants

[daz39]

1 minute ago, LeytherRob said:

Huddersfield were averaging 6/7k for several years in the early 2010’s though, so a period of decline is around 25 years prior is not a valid excuse - which is what all these points are (80’s/90’s struggles, football town, stadium too big). They’re just excuses for an underperforming commercial department that’s one and only plan to engage the population is to devalue the product through cheap tickets and wait for people to just turn up, as if the the people of Huddersfield are sat at home googling ‘cheap sports to watch this Sunday’. 
 

Huddersfield can and should be a bigger club than they are but are hamstrung by the 20th century mindset of marketing, that affordability is a consumers only barrier.

I agree to a point, since we won the LLS in 2013 our crowds have fallen every year despite for a lot of those years having a pretty competitive team in the upper echelons of the league and cup runs.

The club probably did have a let's wait for them to come now, attitude back then (09-13) due to how well we were doing on and off, unfortunately people come and go and with it do their thoughts, ideas and willpower.

The backroom staff we have now are all excellent and doing a fantastic job on the limitations we have as a club (the JSS is partly to blame too, again another reason why we cannot wait to get out) but unfortunately the manpower or money just isn't there.

[LeytherRob]

Just now, daz39 said:

I agree to a point, since we won the LLS in 2013 our crowds have fallen every year despite for a lot of those years having a pretty competitive team in the upper echelons of the league and cup runs.

The club probably did have a let's wait for them to come now, attitude back then (09-13) due to how well we were doing on and off, unfortunately people come and go and with it do their thoughts, ideas and willpower.

The backroom staff we have now are all excellent and doing a fantastic job on the limitations we have as a club (the JSS is partly to blame too, again another reason why we cannot wait to get out) but unfortunately the manpower or money just isn't there.

Considering the level Ken Davy bankrolls the club though, those limitations are self imposed. I look at how often in recent years have Huddersfield wasted huge money on players they didn’t really need - Jake Connor instantly springs to mind when Hudds already had a well functioning spine that only got disrupted, and even Tom Burgess this year(undoubtedly a great player but Huddersfield already have great front row options and had needs elsewhere). Ken Davy would be far better served putting one of those deals on some better sales and marketing staff that can think outside the box and work out how to engage the Huddersfield public. 
 

 

[Yonder Province]

3 hours ago, LeytherRob said:

Considering the level Ken Davy bankrolls the club though, those limitations are self imposed. I look at how often in recent years have Huddersfield wasted huge money on players they didn’t really need - Jake Connor instantly springs to mind when Hudds already had a well functioning spine that only got disrupted, and even Tom Burgess this year(undoubtedly a great player but Huddersfield already have great front row options and had needs elsewhere). Ken Davy would be far better served putting one of those deals on some better sales and marketing staff that can think outside the box and work out how to engage the Huddersfield public. 
 

 

I think the current assistant coach of Seattle Seawolves would be the guilty party in the examples quoted above.

[LeytherRob]

19 minutes ago, Yonder Province said:

I think the current assistant coach of Seattle Seawolves would be the guilty party in the examples quoted above.

He played his part but it’s up to those above the coach to think about the bigger picture. More investment in the off field business of the club makes the coaches spending more sustainable.

[OldRedEyes]

A smaller stadium would be a godsend for Huddersfield. 
 

You can’t underestimate the positives of a vibrant atmosphere and having a good time with friends, family and likeminded people. Going to a soulless stadium staring an empty stands isn’t going to get repeat custom or floating fans.  
 

You can’t blame their marketing, they’ve done everything possible with cheap deals in the past and had okay one off crowds, but the issue is getting people to come back. 
 

Huddersfield home games on Sky are sometimes a chore to watch, for the same reasons. 
 

On the pitch, nothing major to worry about. A couple of good recruitment cycles and the right overseas players, and they are challenging the 6. 

[ricky]

6 minutes ago, OldRedEyes said:

Huddersfield home games on Sky are sometimes a chore to watch, for the same reasons.

How Australian NRL viewers put up with watching a game with 70,000 empty seats yawning away is beyond me

[LeytherRob]

5 minutes ago, OldRedEyes said:

A smaller stadium would be a godsend for Huddersfield. 
 

You can’t underestimate the positives of a vibrant atmosphere and having a good time with friends, family and likeminded people. Going to a soulless stadium staring an empty stands isn’t going to get repeat custom or floating fans.  
 

You can’t blame their marketing, they’ve done everything possible with cheap deals in the past and had okay one off crowds, but the issue is getting people to come back. 
 

Huddersfield home games on Sky are sometimes a chore to watch, for the same reasons. 
 

On the pitch, nothing major to worry about. A couple of good recruitment cycles and the right overseas players, and they are challenging the 6. 

You can, because it’s pretty evident that in the current climate that cheap deals are not an effective marketing strategy and constantly repeating it just continues to drive the perception that it’s a cheap sport with no value. That is not something to commend and say ‘well they’ve done everything they can’ because they’ve literally tried one thing.
 

 

[OldRedEyes]

12 minutes ago, ricky said:

How Australian NRL viewers put up with watching a game with 70,000 empty seats yawning away is beyond me

Different culture and 90% of the games are not like how you suggest. 

See the most watched league in the world (PL) and even darts. Nobody is watching darts if it’s played in a 25000 seater stadium with 2thousand people in. 

IMG know the score, that’s why there’s the stadium utilisation score. Ken Davy knows. I’d say it’s obviously the number one biggest issue that they have, the game day experience and the underlying issue is the stadium. 

[UBranger]

Well I'm all for a move to a new stadium and it has already sparked my interest. Drop the Giants moniker also.

[ricky]

7 minutes ago, OldRedEyes said:

Different culture and 90% of the games are not like how you suggest. 

See the most watched league in the world (PL) and even darts. Nobody is watching darts if it’s played in a 25000 seater stadium with 2thousand people in. 

IMG know the score, that’s why there’s the stadium utilisation score. Ken Davy knows. I’d say it’s obviously the number one biggest issue that they have, the game day experience and the underlying issue is the stadium. 

It seems as if you feared I was being sarky. I wasn't. I've tried watching a game with 7,000 people rattling around in the Accor, and it just felt so weird, I couldn't stick it out.

I'm intending to go to Huddersfield - KR this season, and am not looking forward to being outnumbered by empty seats. On the other hand, at least getting a ticket should be straightforward.....

Edited January 26 by ricky

[sam4731]

1 hour ago, OldRedEyes said:

Different culture and 90% of the games are not like how you suggest. 

See the most watched league in the world (PL) and even darts. Nobody is watching darts if it’s played in a 25000 seater stadium with 2thousand people in. 

IMG know the score, that’s why there’s the stadium utilisation score. Ken Davy knows. I’d say it’s obviously the number one biggest issue that they have, the game day experience and the underlying issue is the stadium. 

Do you remember when the RLWC2021 team said the were going to run a ballot for tickets?

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, UBranger said:

Well I'm all for a move to a new stadium and it has already sparked my interest. Drop the Giants moniker also.

That set me wondering. Do you think dropping "Giants" will help make the club more successful, win more games, increase crowds etc? 

[UBranger]

Just now, JohnM said:

That set me wondering. Do you think dropping "Giants" will help make the club more successful, win more games, increase crowds etc? 

The Giants name put me off and the logo is even worse in my opinion. So I think a re-brand would create more interest and help increase crowds and the atmosphere of a game. Teams play better with a good atmosphere too. All along with a new stadium of course.

[Tommygilf]

2 hours ago, LeytherRob said:

You can, because it’s pretty evident that in the current climate that cheap deals are not an effective marketing strategy and constantly repeating it just continues to drive the perception that it’s a cheap sport with no value. That is not something to commend and say ‘well they’ve done everything they can’ because they’ve literally tried one thing.
 

 

I think the product is what is fundamentally a problem and is why they are trying to find a more appropriately sized venue. They can't successfully market a sub par experience which is what 5k in the John Smiths stadium is.

[LeytherRob]

37 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

I think the product is what is fundamentally a problem and is why they are trying to find a more appropriately sized venue. They can't successfully market a sub par experience which is what 5k in the John Smiths stadium is.

We don’t really know that because the only thing they’ve done year after year is put tickets on a discount and wait for people to show up. You are correct though that it’s a sub par experience currently at Hudds home games but there are things you can do to improve that before without changing venues. They need to start by adding value  and quality to the experience rather than telling everyone how little it’s worth.

[Dave T]

It's a while since I've been to Hudds and I understand it's a bit tired, but I do think the stadium impact is being overstated somewhat. I can't believe that the stadium can't be used in a way that keeps fans closer together and events presented in a positive family experience.

I appreciate I'm saying this as an outsider but it rather feels like Hudds have been going through the motions somewhat in recent years.

Sure, facing a huge empty stand is a bit rubbish, but it doesn't cancel out everything else that can be enjoyable.

[Just Browny]

22 hours ago, ricky said:

On the other hand, at least getting a ticket should be straightforward.....

Don't count on this. The email I got advertising the Wire match next month says it is a cash-free stadium and the only way to pay on the gate is by cash.

[OldRedEyes]

On 26/01/2025 at 14:40, LeytherRob said:

You can, because it’s pretty evident that in the current climate that cheap deals are not an effective marketing strategy and constantly repeating it just continues to drive the perception that it’s a cheap sport with no value. That is not something to commend and say ‘well they’ve done everything they can’ because they’ve literally tried one thing.
 

 

I fear the pool of people they have to market to has already been exhausted. Sometimes you only have the one chance. I was hooked after my first game, I wouldn’t be hooked watching Huddersfield in their current arena. 
 

A fresh vibrant experience and somewhere new would help their marketing team tenfold. 
 

Hopefully they can sort it out before it’s too late. 

[LeytherRob]

1 hour ago, OldRedEyes said:

I fear the pool of people they have to market to has already been exhausted. Sometimes you only have the one chance. I was hooked after my first game, I wouldn’t be hooked watching Huddersfield in their current arena. 
 

A fresh vibrant experience and somewhere new would help their marketing team tenfold. 
 

Hopefully they can sort it out before it’s too late. 

I'm sorry, but the idea that Huddersfield have exhausted a market of 140,000 people is just nonsense, and even if it were true (it isn't) then just wind the club up now because Huddersfield evidently doesn't want a RL club.

I'm going to repeat again because this point is very important - cheap tickets is NOT the only way to build attendances

 

[OldRedEyes]

17 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

I'm sorry, but the idea that Huddersfield have exhausted a market of 140,000 people is just nonsense, and even if it were true (it isn't) then just wind the club up now because Huddersfield evidently doesn't want a RL club.

I'm going to repeat again because this point is very important - cheap tickets is NOT the only way to build attendances

 

You are missing the point and using bold and underlining does not solve Huddersfield’s issues. 
 

Cheap tickets alongside a solid marketing campaign has proven successful in sporting club. It has worked for Huddersfield in one off ventures, unfortunately the product, atmosphere and full package wasn’t good enough to entice people back in the ground.

Biggest issue - stadium size and soulless atmosphere. All is not lost, the same people can be won over in a new environment. 

Smaller venue, packed stands, vibrant atmosphere = people who go on a freebie are hooked - repeat paying custom. 
 

I’m stating the obvious here, Huddersfield and IMG both know this. 

[LeytherRob]

2 hours ago, OldRedEyes said:

You are missing the point and using bold and underlining does not solve Huddersfield’s issues. 
 

Cheap tickets alongside a solid marketing campaign has proven successful in sporting club. It has worked for Huddersfield in one off ventures, unfortunately the product, atmosphere and full package wasn’t good enough to entice people back in the ground.

Biggest issue - stadium size and soulless atmosphere. All is not lost, the same people can be won over in a new environment. 

Smaller venue, packed stands, vibrant atmosphere = people who go on a freebie are hooked - repeat paying custom. 
 

I’m stating the obvious here, Huddersfield and IMG both know this. 

I got your point, as I said - it's nonsense. It's a simplistic viewpoint looking for a silver bullet and this particular one of freebies and cheap tickets is a 20th century relic. You can change the ground, change the team, change the coach, you can even change the town you're playing in but if Richard Thewlis still markets the club as a bargain basement entertainment option for the population, then they'll continue to get basement attendances. 

Here is the result of over a decade of cheap season tickets rarely going much above £100 for the season. Tell me again how cheap tickets worked....

 

 

 

[daz39]

Strong rumour that the Giants V Wigan game in June will be played at Dewsbury as the John Smiths Stadium is unavailable due to the Stereophonics concert, interesting choice if so.

[Leyther_Matt]

4 minutes ago, daz39 said:

Strong rumour that the Giants V Wigan game in June will be played at Dewsbury as the John Smiths Stadium is unavailable due to the Stereophonics concert, interesting choice if so.

If it’s good enough for the Bulls…  

[Coggo]

4 minutes ago, daz39 said:

Strong rumour that the Giants V Wigan game in June will be played at Dewsbury as the John Smiths Stadium is unavailable due to the Stereophonics concert, interesting choice if so.

Dewsbury is a bit big for the Giants.

Was Siddal unavailable?

[The Blues Ox]

On 28/01/2025 at 00:01, LeytherRob said:

I got your point, as I said - it's nonsense. It's a simplistic viewpoint looking for a silver bullet and this particular one of freebies and cheap tickets is a 20th century relic. You can change the ground, change the team, change the coach, you can even change the town you're playing in but if Richard Thewlis still markets the club as a bargain basement entertainment option for the population, then they'll continue to get basement attendances. 

Here is the result of over a decade of cheap season tickets rarely going much above £100 for the season. Tell me again how cheap tickets worked....

 

 

 

Huddersfield have turned in to Wakey 2.0. Really add nothing to SL but always able to avoid relegation as there is always either 1 or 2 teams wosre, or the game is in a period where there is no relegation. Maybe the Giants need a season out of the top flight like Wakefield for people to get their appetite back or at least to give another club a chance to add some value to SL. I mean with the extra funding would any of York, Bradford, Fax, Fex, Widnes, and probably someone else I have forgot, do any worse than Huddersfield? I also get that its not a case of putting someone in who could do no worse but unless a club is given a chance its hard to see if they will be the next Hull KR/Leigh etc.