Final attendance : Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:49 pm  

Well with out last home game the numbers are in and after all the talk about our attendances we have some basic facts to actually work with.

So just countng the 13 home games this year compared to last year.

Our average attendance for 2011 is 7867
Our average for the last year at KR 2010 was 11,191

So we had some drop off but that was to be expected, for all the snide jibs about it only being x miles away from St helens that does not reflect the reality that when you move a team you move it away from walk ups. We would have gained very few walk ups in Widnes. Where as walk ups in St Helens could be numerous.

So over the year we had 70% of our previous years crowd. I don't see this as a failure at all. I would have estimated between 55 - 65% of normal attendances, and with last year being inflated due to the final year and the cas game getting a larger than normal attendance for the final ever game.

This year the fans have done the Club proud. With reduced running cost (hence the reason to move) and increased ticket prices, it maybe that the club overall has not suffered as badly as the 30% reduction in sales.

Given the first 3 or 4 games this year, injuries, new coach and temporary stadia (not universally liked). Not to mention the loss of King Cunningham.

A 70% retention of attendance, 3rd in the table with a semi final in the CC and who knows in the playoffs, it's not been as bad as some may have predicted.


(FIGURES BASED ON THE FIGURES FROM THIS SITE)

Re: Final attendance : Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:18 pm  

Saints average attendance at Widnes has been better than many anticipated when it was first mooted about playing at Widnes.

While it obviously represents a drop from the last couple of years at KR, its still as good as some of our average SL attendances in years gone by.
t will also be interesting to see if Widnes can average this level of support next year when in SL themselves.

I expect the club will be relieved that the attendances didnt take as big a hit as could of occurred.
The most pessimistic views i heard were that only 4k would turn up, many seemed to think that 5k-6k was a realistic ambition, and if we could get 8-9k to Widnes that would be awesome.

It will be interesting to see what our home playoff attendance will be, because a number of people last night around me were intimating that the Salford match was their final visit to Widnes, and that its roll on next season.
I think this is because season tickets dont count in the playoffs, and many fans bought season tickets for Widnes to guarantee a good spec in the new stadium.
Those fans are now either forking out hundreds of pounds to renew their season ticket (and consequently have no spare cash to go to playoff RL), or in the case of some of those with 5 year deals, just wanting to put an end to this season and get on with the following one.

Re: Final attendance : Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:35 pm  

Our playoff turnouts have been naff for a few years now though so I wouldn't be surprised if they are naff this year as well. There is only one more match at Widnes isn't there? I can't remember if the semis are played at a neutral venue or home/away? I can't see us getting to the semis like but hey, miracles do happen I'm told!

Re: Final attendance : Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:44 pm  

I think it's acceptable, 70% of last seasons attendance. Before the start of the season I know a lot of fans mentioned they was going to pick their games this season and the monies saved was going for a season ticket 2012.

So the missing 30% could be attributed to the following:

10% reduction due to finances as tickets on the day are expensive.
10% not wanting to attend a neutral venue, travelling, and take a season out
10% are fickle fans who don,t see any glory with this seasons injury crisis.

For 2012 I,m expecting a minimum of 12000 fans and with the correct marketing on promoting a pure rugby league stadium maybe a few more away fans turning up. A 14000/15000 average would be fantastic.

What needs to be established very quickly 2012 is an intimidating atmosphere for the opposition to build a fortress environment.

Re: Final attendance : Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:23 pm  

Better than i expecting tbh

Re: Final attendance : Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:54 am  

It is just so unfortunate that planning could not have allowed the final season at Knowsley Road and then next season to the new stadium, this years attendances must be a disaster for finances as I can see management having projected such a severe drop in number thinking it is only a few miles down the road.

Re: Final attendance : Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:22 am  

For the club the biggest problem with this year's attendance will be the fact that everyone who took out the 5 year season ticket deal effectively got this season for free. So there may have been seven thousand and odd but how many of them were actually "paying" customers? The three of us weren't.

Re: Final attendance : Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:51 pm  

Harry Pinner wrote:

For the club the biggest problem with this year's attendance will be the fact that everyone who took out the 5 year season ticket deal effectively got this season for free. So there may have been seven thousand and odd but how many of them were actually "paying" customers? The three of us weren't.

Am sure Mr McManus is hoping for a better attendance figures for next season, especially with you moving to the new stadium.

Re: Final attendance : Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:09 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

Well with out last home game the numbers are in and after all the talk about our attendances we have some basic facts to actually work with.

So just countng the 13 home games this year compared to last year.

Our average attendance for 2011 is 7867
Our average for the last year at KR 2010 was 11,191

So we had some drop off but that was to be expected, for all the snide jibs about it only being x miles away from St helens that does not reflect the reality that when you move a team you move it away from walk ups. We would have gained very few walk ups in Widnes. Where as walk ups in St Helens could be numerous.

So over the year we had 70% of our previous years crowd. I don't see this as a failure at all. I would have estimated between 55 - 65% of normal attendances, and with last year being inflated due to the final year and the cas game getting a larger than normal attendance for the final ever game.

This year the fans have done the Club proud. With reduced running cost (hence the reason to move) and increased ticket prices, it maybe that the club overall has not suffered as badly as the 30% reduction in sales.

Given the first 3 or 4 games this year, injuries, new coach and temporary stadia (not universally liked). Not to mention the loss of King Cunningham.

A 70% retention of attendance, 3rd in the table with a semi final in the CC and who knows in the playoffs, it's not been as bad as some may have predicted.


(FIGURES BASED ON THE FIGURES FROM THIS SITE)

Sh*t thats going to cost around £0.75M just in lost ticket sales compared to last year plus no share of the food and drink sales and without any apparent reduction in our costs.
Ouch thats going to hurt for Eamonn and Co - we should all ensure we repay his and all the stakeholder's commitment and get everyone we know to get season tickets for the new stadium.

Re: Final attendance : Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:33 pm  

saint at wire wrote:

Sh*t thats going to cost around £0.75M just in lost ticket sales compared to last year plus no share of the food and drink sales and without any apparent reduction in our costs.
Ouch thats going to hurt for Eamonn and Co - we should all ensure we repay his and all the stakeholder's commitment and get everyone we know to get season tickets for the new stadium.

Did you factor in the increased ticket prices on last year?

Also why no reduced costs? Thought Hiring was supposed to be cheaper than maintaining?