I’VE always thought that the best marketing slogan is the phrase ‘Sold Out!’
It’s a phrase that we don’t see often enough in Rugby League.
So far in Super League this season we have had sellout crowds for Hull KR v Castleford in Round 1 and Wakefield v Hull KR in Round 2.
Hull KR have regularly sold out their matches although other clubs have generally failed to do so.
But do any of those other clubs have any real prospect of being able to sell out their home games?
When you bear in mind the current success of the clubs west of the Pennines, I would think there must be the possibility of most of them at some stage reaching their capacity, particularly for derby games against each other.
In 2024 Wigan (stadium capacity 25,133) drew their largest regular-season crowd in July, when 20,152 spectators watched them defeat St Helens. For the biggest club in the game playing against their greatest rivals, being 5,000 short of capacity is a touch disappointing.
St Helens (18,000 capacity) drew their biggest crowd on Good Friday, when 17,980, to all intents and purposes a capacity attendance, saw them defeat Wigan.
Warrington (15,200) drew their biggest crowd when 12,181 people saw them lose to Wigan by a single point on 1st June.
Salford (12,000) drew their biggest crowd of 10,867 for their game against Leigh in the Super League play-offs.
Leigh (12,000) drew their biggest crowd of 10,208 against Wigan on 4th April. It was unfortunate that they were hammered 12-40.
East of the Pennines Hull KR and Wakefield both have lower capacities, which inevitably makes it easier to sell out their matches.
Perhaps the IMG gradings system should be adjusted to give a point to a club that can reach its capacity several times per season.
