Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:08 am  

christopher wrote:

I believe the thread was started because bill eve was trying to make some kind of point about Nigel Wood making a statement last year that crowds were up, which they clearly were as seen by this thread, bills point was and still is utterly ridiculous, I think he thinks the RFL should put out negative press releases or something. Anyway what we have learned is that apart from last year which as Nigel wood said was a big increase in crowds, this seasons crowds are pretty much on a par with other seasons.

Interesting take on the 10% drop in attendances..... it's OK to see a loss of over 1,000 fans per game over the course of the season as you added them the previous year.
The drop in interest in the game across the board (SKY weren't too bothered not to get the RLWC) and the reluctance of fans to pay full price for what they got discounted last year points to fans becoming disengaged with the sport and not interested in paying to see the pointless dross of a regular season that means little when it comes to the play-offs......HKR, who lost more games than they won in 2013 could technically win the competition

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:20 am  

gutterfax wrote:

Interesting take on the 10% drop in attendances..... it's OK to see a loss of over 1,000 fans per game over the course of the season as you added them the previous year.
The drop in interest in the game across the board (SKY weren't too bothered not to get the RLWC) and the reluctance of fans to pay full price for what they got discounted last year points to fans becoming disengaged with the sport and not interested in paying to see the pointless dross of a regular season that means little when it comes to the play-offs......HKR, who lost more games than they won in 2013 could technically win the competition

It may be a 10% drop on last year but as proven with this thread last year was an anomaly other wise crowds are pretty consistent.

You're obviously a cynical man who looks at everything from a negative angle.

The game has its issues and problems and is now looking at ways to fix these by changing the format.

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:22 am  

The thing is that Bradford, Salford & London are responsible for around 80,000 drop. A figure that would've seen the '09 - '11 all bettered.

So these results don't show us that SL on the whole is on the slide, it shows that clubs that have been/are being run quite badly just recently will be punished for it in terms of fans through the door.

Some peoples conclusion is that the drops are because Leeds winning from 5th has shown the regular rounds to lack meaning......well the yardstick Mr Eve used for attendances was 2012, a year that followed Leeds also winning the title from 5th, where the 8th placed team could have a shot at Old Trafford and where P/R didn't exist, so I don't think that conclusion holds much weight even if "you've got one mate who says he doesn't go for that reason".

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:47 am  

Whilst the percentages are interesting. Surely the biggest factor in the drops are down to Saints and Bradford.

The massive % drops at Salford, look bad and they are for that club, but in terms of overall effect on the competition Bradford and Saints drop has a massive weighting on that.

At Saints we expected a drop due to last year being the first year in a new ground, although as fans we did not expect quite such a drop. But that was possible due to the style of rugby we churned out to get us out of a hole last year.

The Bradford drop I'd assume would be to do with fans turning up in greater numbers last year, buying extra ghost tickets to support the club during it's financial meltdown.

All in all it's a drop which is a disappointment but seems to be in line with the averages previously seen.

There may well be an increase next year if the new stand at Hull KR draws in extra punters.

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:55 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

Whilst the percentages are interesting. Surely the biggest factor in the drops are down to Saints and Bradford.

The massive % drops at Salford, look bad and they are for that club, but in terms of overall effect on the competition Bradford and Saints drop has a massive weighting on that.

At Saints we expected a drop due to last year being the first year in a new ground, although as fans we did not expect quite such a drop. But that was possible due to the style of rugby we churned out to get us out of a hole last year.

The Bradford drop I'd assume would be to do with fans turning up in greater numbers last year, buying extra ghost tickets to support the club during it's financial meltdown.

All in all it's a drop which is a disappointment but seems to be in line with the averages previously seen.

There may well be an increase next year if the new stand at Hull KR draws in extra punters.

It should draw in the punters. It's looking very good and most of it will be for away supporters.

[PopTart]

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:53 pm  

Although we have far bigger issues, I'm pleased we still get people through the gate. The last game for Wakefield against Cas should have been another 3,000 more if we hadn't had the issues but that's how it is.
Although the cheap tickets have caused us a problem, the principleo f getting people to attend will help us in the long run as we have the interest to be able to take the club forward.
Good thread William Eve
I'm looking forward to next years.....

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:24 pm  

This years NRL averages. Overall down on last year




01 | Broncos 30,479
02 | Rabbitohs 22,261
03 | Bulldogs 19,590
04 | Roosters 19,368
05 | Knights 18,821
06 | Storm 16,302
07 | Warriors 16,197
08 | Cowboys 14,112
09 | Titans 14,028
10 | Sea Eagles 13,522
11 | Sharks 13,471
12 | Eels 12,456
13 | Dragons 12,423
14 | Tigers 11,452
15 | Panthers 10,337
16 | Raiders 10,227

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 6:42 pm  

christopher wrote:

You're obviously a cynical man who looks at everything from a negative angle.

Nope....I am a realist.
12 of the 14 saw a drop in fans. 6 of these were 10% or more and 3 of these were top 8 sides including the hub cap winners.
As for last year being an anomaly and "normal service being resumed", are you saying that between 8,500 and 8,900 is the best the sport can hope for? Wow...and you call me a pessimist

The RFL are happy to "big themselves" up and are masters at covering their arses with smoke and mirrors. The recent statement regarding the cache of sponsors delivering more revenue than previous years made no mention of Engage. If Foxy bingo et al were delivering 1.7 million a year we'd have been told about it. The total lack of anything concrete in regards to RLWC ticket sales and comparison to an event 13 years ago smack of spin. The RFL are in the self preservation business.....National Brands wont touch them with a barge pole and the reduction of SL to 12 is a defeatist attitude that panders to a couple of chairmen. What happens when the average stays at 8,500....when HRK still cost 500k to run and St Helens have 1/3 of their stadium empty in another 3 years....do we reduce it to 10?

Local businessmen should not be allowed run a NATIONAL sport.

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:32 pm  

Further food for thought is that in the past the playoffs were seen as a must see event and tickets were sold at full price.

By introducing the ridiculed top 8 format, fans have lost interest and now the clubs via rfl are having to put on special ticket offers in order to attract fans for what should be the biggest games of the season.

When you think about it, its quite pathetic that Huddersfield v Wigan eg League leaders versus challenge cup winners is a match that no longer sells itself, and so tickets need to be given away for a tenner in order to generate a crowd.

Great for the paying fans, but it sends out a message that the game is basically having to throw tickets at people to get them to bother to attend.

A few more years of this and the game will be finished as a professional sport in this country and will be just a semi pro/ amateur pastime played by a few northerners in ex mining towns.

I personally think the forthcoming world cup is looking like it may be the games last throw of the dice.
If it fails to make money and incurs losses as the last world cup in this country did, it will bankrupt the game.
Last time the clubs were able to bail the RFL out. This time with most clubs on their knees and unable to fund themselves never mind offer any salvation to the governing body, then the RFL will collapse and with it the sport in the UK.

I just hope therefore that the world cup is a big success on and off the field.

Re: Opening SL weekend sees attendances tumbling by 12.66% : Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:36 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

Nope....I am a realist.
12 of the 14 saw a drop in fans. 6 of these were 10% or more and 3 of these were top 8 sides including the hub cap winners.
As for last year being an anomaly and "normal service being resumed", are you saying that between 8,500 and 8,900 is the best the sport can hope for? Wow...and you call me a pessimist

.

No, of course the sport should look to improve in all areas, but when looking at attendances you have to take a broader look than just comparing this year with last you need to look at a longer period to get a true reflection of how the crowds are going and this year is very much on a par with crowds for the last ten years, that doesn't suggest a sport in decline.

The RFL are looking to change the format to try and increase gates and move the sport forward but I'm sure you'll just be happy to moan anyway.