Union is dead : Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:45 am  

I support Crusaders and want them to succeed, but whenever people start discussing their prospects, someone aways sticks his head up and says that union is dying in Wales, and soccer is much more popular in any case.

So just to kill that theory:

Saturday 11th April - Rugby Union
Cardiff Blues v Stade Toulousain Quarter Finals European CUp
attendance 36,728

Sunday 12th April - Soccer
Cardiff City v Burnely Championship promotion race
attendance 19,379

Monday 13th April - Rugby League
Celtic Crusaders v Harlequins Super League
attendance 3,009

I am not being negative about RL - just trying to show that there uis a healthy market for sport in South Wales, and that there is no reason why Crusaders could not get similar crowds. But I think they have to change their marketing a little bit - I have been to a few games, and most of the fans (certainly the louder ones) all seem to be Northern ex-pats. I agree that there are more local accents around the ground this season, but they have not yet made the breakthrough to being a 'local' team - still a bit of an implant.

I think that it will come, but it will take another 1 or 2 seasons but this will not be due to any demise of union - it will be in addition to success by the Blues, Ospreys, Bluebirds & Swans

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:52 am  

yeah thats why union is cutting the number of teams in a country its supposed to be strong in.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:13 am  

Your choice of games as a comparison is hardly very fair though is it?

A European Cup quarter final and a Championship promotion clash as opposed to a regular league fixture against a poorly supported Harlequins side.

I don't think even the most ardent expansion@zi would consider Celtic anything other than Work In Progress at the moment.

Re: Union is dead : Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:26 am  

smwrff wrote:

I support Crusaders and want them to succeed, but whenever people start discussing their prospects, someone aways sticks his head up and says that union is dying in Wales, and soccer is much more popular in any case.

So just to kill that theory:

Saturday 11th April - Rugby Union
Cardiff Blues v Stade Toulousain Quarter Finals European CUp
attendance 36,728
A quarter final, average Magners so far about 8800, with a few derby games so may make 10000


Sunday 12th April - Soccer
Cardiff City v Burnely Championship promotion race
attendance 19,379
This is about their average crowd, and between Cardiff and Swansea, both teams average more than all four RU regions.

Monday 13th April - Rugby League
Celtic Crusaders v Harlequins Super League
attendance 3,009
Although the current average is over 4800

I am not being negative about RL - just trying to show that there uis a healthy market for sport in South Wales, and that there is no reason why Crusaders could not get similar crowds. But I think they have to change their marketing a little bit - I have been to a few games, and most of the fans (certainly the louder ones) all seem to be Northern ex-pats. I agree that there are more local accents around the ground this season, but they have not yet made the breakthrough to being a 'local' team - still a bit of an implant.

I think that it will come, but it will take another 1 or 2 seasons but this will not be due to any demise of union - it will be in addition to success by the Blues, Ospreys, Bluebirds & Swans

I agree with most of your post, but illustrating it by using a one off game instead of league matches, and not the averages is a little disingenuous. The average for Celtic is comparable to Newport who are currently averaging 4900.

[tb]

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:49 am  

Union is an Other Sport. We have an Other Sports forum to discuss Other Sports