gingerjon Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 5 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said: Looks as if the BBC are doing the random days/times, and presumably channels, thing again. Disappointing. Yes. I'm sure there are reasons but it's not great. Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)
Chrispmartha Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 2 minutes ago, Tommygilf said: 6 games Friday night, 7 games spread across Thursday (2), Saturday (4) and Sunday (1). The Saturday games are a mixture of 1730 (2), 1500 (1) and 1430 (1) kick offs. The last round of matches, we are against Wigan, is TBC. I think there has been some comment towards the club being too weeknight focused in recent times, so I think it's a fair balance. 6 Friday night games is really poor, I realise it’s just a personal opinion but Friday nights has been a bit of a mainstay for the Rhinos, and I know it’s the best for corporate clients. Anyway I suppose it’s inevitable if they want to avoid games in at the same time.
Chrispmartha Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 Not a fan of this fixture list to be honest - 4 thursday home games in a row near the end
gingerjon Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 20 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said: Anyway I suppose it’s inevitable if they want to avoid games in at the same time. It's this. And avoiding games at the same time, as much as possible, has to be a priority in terms of rights selling and take up of things like SL+. 4 Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)
Chrispmartha Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 24 minutes ago, gingerjon said: It's this. And avoiding games at the same time, as much as possible, has to be a priority in terms of rights selling and take up of things like SL+. Yeah I can see the logic and why it's being done but as I say it messes with my personal preferences, which is of course the most important thing 2 1
Tommygilf Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 1 hour ago, Chrispmartha said: 6 Friday night games is really poor, I realise it’s just a personal opinion but Friday nights has been a bit of a mainstay for the Rhinos, and I know it’s the best for corporate clients. Anyway I suppose it’s inevitable if they want to avoid games in at the same time. It's nearly half of our Home fixtures, in a day an age of all games broadcast live, that's really good consistency. Add the 2 Thursdays on too. The weekend games are a bit more family friendly, and the majority of those being Saturdays is good too in terms of atmosphere. I think we can get a bit lost in a tunnel regarding the Friday night aspect, so the variety is welcomed at least. As much as the corporate dollar is important, the boost from families and travelling support on Saturdays should improve that too. I suspect a clash with LUFC is also potentially less likely now as well. In any case, it's around a third of our home games, so not the be all and end all.
M j M Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 I'd never give up my season ticket but if I was considering it on a purely financial basis it'd be hard to justify vs paying as I went along with the sort of split of timings for Leeds home games. Less than half the games on Friday nights is crazy. I understand the desire to avoid matches conflicting with each other. But I think it's foolhardy to drive attendances down in pursuit of this "streamlined fixture list".
Archie Gordon Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 I think having a max of 2 games in any single slot is a great step forward. As a casual viewer, I really do like a Saturday and Sunday option. So much better than the recent past where many a SL weekend was finished by 9.50 on a Friday night. 4
Snowys Backside Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 There will be some big attendances on Week one. Should be 20k at Wigan. Leeds will be close to Sell out. HKR would sell out even if playing a chess board !! Would prefer Sunday Night games to Thursday though. Thursdays are shockers !!
WN83 Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 This seasons fixture set up looks much better from a Wigan POV in terms of home and away balance. Come mid season last year, I'd been to Cas more than I'd been to games at the Brick. It's not for everyone but I quite like the spread of days and times for the games as well. Away games can be a pain on Friday nights and while home games are probably my preferred slot, I do like a Saturday afternoon/evening games and it's easier to take the kids to those games and on Sundays. Not perfect but way better than the farce that was last years fixture set up IMO.
Chrispmartha Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 11 minutes ago, Tommygilf said: It's nearly half of our Home fixtures, in a day an age of all games broadcast live, that's really good consistency. Add the 2 Thursdays on too. The weekend games are a bit more family friendly, and the majority of those being Saturdays is good too in terms of atmosphere. I think we can get a bit lost in a tunnel regarding the Friday night aspect, so the variety is welcomed at least. As much as the corporate dollar is important, the boost from families and travelling support on Saturdays should improve that too. I suspect a clash with LUFC is also potentially less likely now as well. In any case, it's around a third of our home games, so not the be all and end all. I understand all that, just my personal preference so having a vent. The 4 Thursdays home games in a row is not the best though.
WN83 Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 1 minute ago, Snowys Backside said: There will be some big attendances on Week one. Should be 20k at Wigan. Leeds will be close to Sell out. HKR would sell out even if playing a chess board !! Would prefer Sunday Night games to Thursday though. Thursdays are shockers !! Until they were gone, I didn't like the Thursdays at all but found myself getting to Thursday last year, looking for what game was on, finding out there wasn't one and then being miffed. They're a pain if it's your team in them but great if they're not. On balance, I think it's a good decision to have them back in place. 2
WN83 Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 2 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said: I understand all that, just my personal preference so having a vent. The 4 Thursdays home games in a row is not the best though. Is that 4 home games in a row, on a Thursday for Leeds? that is really poor tbh. I like the Thursday games, as I mention above but not when Wigan are in them. No side should be getting 2 of them in a row if it can be helped, let alone 4.
Tommygilf Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 45 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said: I understand all that, just my personal preference so having a vent. The 4 Thursdays home games in a row is not the best though. Tbh Fridays are my preference too, so I understand. I do think the club has perhaps been a bit lazy with that though generally, there's more to the club than the corporate at Headingley (which will still be decent on Saturdays and Thursdays). I don't see the 4 Thursdays at home in a row? We have 2 home games in August and September and both are Thursdays, but as far as I can tell they are the only Thursday home matches we play?
Tommygilf Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 47 minutes ago, WN83 said: Is that 4 home games in a row, on a Thursday for Leeds? that is really poor tbh. I like the Thursday games, as I mention above but not when Wigan are in them. No side should be getting 2 of them in a row if it can be helped, let alone 4. Leeds do have 2 in a row, 4 weeks apart. Our only 2 home Thursdays of the season.
Chrispmartha Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 1 hour ago, Tommygilf said: Leeds do have 2 in a row, 4 weeks apart. Our only 2 home Thursdays of the season. Yes sorry I read it incorrectly. we have 3 home Thursday games though
Hopie Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 If the TV contract says there has to be Thursday games, then there has to be Thursday games, but hopefully it is made clear that if Sky want that then they have to pay extra. They get 2 picks so the driver for changing the other 4 better be a good one. From the outside it looks like we have arranged our fixture structure for the TV audience this year, to the detriment of in person crowds, but will get the same money from the main TV contract, so its going to be another tough year at the financial margins of a Super League existence.
Chris22 Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 Staggering the fixtures is great for TV viewers but bad for match going fans. Playing in five or six different slots instead of a regular match isn't ideal. I'm relieved that Saints have got lucky with most still on Friday nights.
Tommygilf Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 6 hours ago, Chrispmartha said: Yes sorry I read it incorrectly. we have 3 home Thursday games though No mate just those 2, HKR and Catalans. We have 3 away Thursdays though, Salford, Wakey and Leigh. 3 out of 13 away matches seems fair enough.
ricky Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 I went to the Wakefield - York playoff, and just saw the Wakefield fixture list. The first home game, against KR on a Thursday, appealed, but I just worked out that I wouldn't get back home until 12.30am. Perhaps not!
WN83 Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 57 minutes ago, Tommygilf said: No mate just those 2, HKR and Catalans. We have 3 away Thursdays though, Salford, Wakey and Leigh. 3 out of 13 away matches seems fair enough. I'm not complaining but I find it crazy that we (Wigan) have one Thursday night game all season and Leeds have 5! Ours is on opening night as well, so no more for the rest of the year. Not sure how other clubs Thursday night numbers stack up but a side with 5 and a side with 1 just seems off. 1
Tommygilf Posted November 21, 2024 Posted November 21, 2024 1 hour ago, WN83 said: I'm not complaining but I find it crazy that we (Wigan) have one Thursday night game all season and Leeds have 5! Ours is on opening night as well, so no more for the rest of the year. Not sure how other clubs Thursday night numbers stack up but a side with 5 and a side with 1 just seems off. It does, but I suppose that there is a difference where attractive fixtures come into play and perhaps requests from clubs too.
JDM Posted November 22, 2024 Posted November 22, 2024 Catalans' fixtures release video on instagram reels is something to behold. Round 9 in particular... https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCraQqfMjjs/ enjoy (if you can view it) 1
WN83 Posted November 22, 2024 Posted November 22, 2024 17 hours ago, Tommygilf said: It does, but I suppose that there is a difference where attractive fixtures come into play and perhaps requests from clubs too. To cut the guys planning the fixtures some slack, it is much better this season than last IMO and they do have plenty to deal with, due to ground shares, things like the Vegas trip for Wigan and Wire, concerts such as Coldplay at Craven Park and then all the TV requests. The difference in Thursday night games between Wigan and Leeds highlights it's not perfect and there is always room for improvement.
Dullish Mood Posted November 22, 2024 Posted November 22, 2024 On 21/11/2024 at 19:07, Hopie said: If the TV contract says there has to be Thursday games, then there has to be Thursday games, but hopefully it is made clear that if Sky want that then they have to pay extra. They get 2 picks so the driver for changing the other 4 better be a good one. From the outside it looks like we have arranged our fixture structure for the TV audience this year, to the detriment of in person crowds, but will get the same money from the main TV contract, so its going to be another tough year at the financial margins of a Super League existence. Sky paid 40% LESS in the current TV deal didn’t they. Can’t see the next deal going anywhere but further down sadly, they have us by the short and curlys…..
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