Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:56 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

AM why do you think it will sell out regardless?

Saints didn't sell out their farewell game at KR which I would have thought would had a greater pull.

No but dare did against wakey on their opening game at the HJ - it was well over capacity; they got their hands slapped from the safety boys after that game.
Crowdwise, they have never really looked back even when they were playing w**ky.

Prior to that gates at wilderspool were.... welll....dire!

Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:15 pm  

There will be a significant increase in attendance for the first game compared to the attendance at KR (except for Wigan/Warrington) and I am fairly confident that 95-100% of Saints tickets will sell out for the first league game regardless of who we play but selling 3500+ away tickets is going to be a struggle against more than half of the league even for the first fixture so I tend to agree with those who have suggested Widnes as the first game, they'll want to be out in force back in SL, they've always travelled pretty well to KR too.

So few teams have good travelling support at the moment that over the course of the season I would expect Wigan and Warrington matches to sell out and good crowds against whoever is first, Leeds, Widnes, Hull, and of course Hull KR... the rest I've no idea what to expect, but for Saints to average near to 13,500-14,000 (about 20% up on KR) they are going to have to pull in a base crowd of at least 12,000 against the teams with minimal support.

Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:50 pm  

I'd rather we did not play Widnes, Warrington or Wigan as an opening game. All 3 are capable of selling out on their own. The first match brings it's own draw as it's a first for everyone regardless of who you play. eg if we played Salford for the opening game, we would get more in than Salford 10 games in. Wigan and Warrington will sell out whether first or last game.

So it makes more sense to maximise revenue and play a team like Catalan or Quins where crowds are traditionally lower than other teams and get more people in.

In the end the RFL will decide and not Saints, as it is, it could be a friendly that is the opening game.

Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:56 am  

The very first game WILL be a friendly as the club have to demonstrate safety procedures to get a safety certificate , I am sure i read that they have to do this before the Stadium goes "live" , I am pretty sure that a boxing day game against Widnes was mooted , it would be a nice thank you for playing there all year , also the first full game should be Cas , as that would be a nice follow on from the last game at KR

Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:08 pm  

Saints will have a say to the RFL who they play in the 1st game at the new ground, Wire did knowing they would sell out easiliy regardless, so they picked Wakefield.

Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:10 pm  

Raymond Pennington wrote:

Saints will have a say to the RFL who they play in the 1st game at the new ground, Wire did knowing they would sell out easiliy regardless, so they picked Wakefield.

this is a very very good point, why chose Wire or Wigan when you know that gets number in anyway

Re: Will the stayaway Saints fans return in droves next year : Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:11 pm  

Gruntfuttock wrote:

The very first game WILL be a friendly as the club have to demonstrate safety procedures to get a safety certificate , I am sure i read that they have to do this before the Stadium goes "live" , I am pretty sure that a boxing day game against Widnes was mooted , it would be a nice thank you for playing there all year , also the first full game should be Cas , as that would be a nice follow on from the last game at KR

Given the size of the stadium, you might need more than one ramp-up game. Pretty sure that was the case at the LSV as we held one game at 4,500 capacity then another at 7,000 before being allowed to open to full (12,700) capacity.