: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:55 pm  

good idea to have them back-to-back at the same stadium, but there is a significant risk of stretching the RL supporters too thinly. Already we expect people to go to Edinburgh, Wembley, Catalans, Bridgend plus 20-odd other league games.

would neutrals go to watch the semis in cardiff? would part-timers travel all that way? bearing in mind that we can only get 20k for the semis in Huddersfield.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:56 pm  

Dico wrote:

I'd rather have a double header at the city of manchester to be honest. There's enough long haul trips already

Edingburgh - (The Magic Weekend)
London - (CCF)
Catalans
Celtic
Harlequins

I'm sorry, but I don't subscribe to this "there are enough long-haul trips" thing that continuously gets pulled out. The RFL aren't trying to target the same people to go to every event. They're trying to broaden their market. If you can't afford to go, don't go. It's absolutely nothing in comparison to football or even rugby union.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:01 pm  

I think it would be a big flop.

We struggle to fill small capacity stadiums on our doorstep for semi finals and I really couldn't imagine the MS being more than a third full at any point during the day.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:01 pm  

saints35 bulls0 wrote:

would neutrals go to watch the semis in cardiff? would part-timers travel all that way? bearing in mind that we can only get 20k for the semis in Huddersfield.

It could be that people just don't think that Huddersfield is much of an "event". Not many neutrals from Huddersfield go to watch the games there either in my experiences of games there (they already have a team and so do many in the surrounding area). Plus, it is announced only 3-4 weeks before the game where the venue is.

One stadium. One day. One event. It's the only chance people will get to experience RL at that ground that year if it's a different venue so it will be more attractive. And if they announce it early then people can plan for it. The CC is for everyone, not just for the north (or SL clubs).

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:04 pm  

I personally wouldn't be interested in a double header, especially if it was held in Wales.

[Matt_Horton]

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:14 pm  

There is only 3 weeks between the semis and the final. Why, in this financial climate, would they consider a double header in Cardiff?

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:33 pm  

Not a big fan of the idea of a double header at the same ground, in fact I hate the idea. I like the idea of a game on each day of the weekend. The idea of a game at the Millenium Stadium, not a fan of that either. I don't think a cup semi will ever be a big enough event for the Millenium Stadium. Plus, I am a big fan of deciding the venues once the semi-final games are known so the only way the games should be considered to be taken away from the north is if Quins or Celtic reach the semi's.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:20 pm  

The Key wrote:

Not a big fan of the idea of a double header at the same ground, in fact I hate the idea. I like the idea of a game on each day of the weekend. The idea of a game at the Millenium Stadium, not a fan of that either. I don't think a cup semi will ever be a big enough event for the Millenium Stadium. Plus, I am a big fan of deciding the venues once the semi-final games are known so the only way the games should be considered to be taken away from the north is if Quins or Celtic reach the semi's.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't the whole RFL expansion about getting the game out of the M62 corridor? FWIW I'm not keen on the CCSF being held a the MS, I just don't think there would be a big enough crowd.

If the RFL were to do something like this I'd like to see some fan research done, ie. questionnaires asking fans for thier opinions. How far they're willing to travel etc etc. Instead of taking a huge gamble on a CCSF MS double-header.

The CC is the 'Holy Grail' of RL, thus it should be marketed correctly.

I like the idea of the CCSF being held at the MS, but in reality it wouldn't come to fruitition because the stadia would look empty and therefore would make the CC look like a mediocre competition, when in truth it's quite possibly one of the best competition's in the land.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:30 pm  

Yosser Hughes wrote:

I think it would be a big flop.

We struggle to fill small capacity stadiums on our doorstep for semi finals and I really couldn't imagine the MS being more than a third full at any point during the day.

That would be my worry really. Could we fill it?

It would be embarassing for the game if it was half empty.

: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:31 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't the whole RFL expansion about getting the game out of the M62 corridor? FWIW I'm not keen on the CCSF being held a the MS, I just don't think there would be a big enough crowd.

If the RFL were to do something like this I'd like to see some fan research done, ie. questionnaires asking fans for thier opinions. How far they're willing to travel etc etc. Instead of taking a huge gamble on a CCSF MS double-header.

The CC is the 'Holy Grail' of RL, thus it should be marketed correctly.

I like the idea of the CCSF being held at the MS, but in reality it wouldn't come to fruitition because the stadia would look empty and therefore would make the CC look like a mediocre competition, when in truth it's quite possibly one of the best competition's in the land.

I'm all for expansion, in fact I don't think enough is been done at the top level in fact. But I don't think the cup semi-finals are a good tool for expansion, just the same as the cup final, play-offs and SLGF. I'm a fan of Magic weekend and its this type of event that is what the RFL should use