Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:20 pm  

Clubb starts again too WTF

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:29 pm  

Cbr1000rr wrote:

Clubb starts again too WTF

I saw that and decided my temper wasn’t worth losing. The Hundred for me tonight

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:28 pm  

Rather watch BFUT

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:16 am  

5,500 attendance?

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:50 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

5,500 attendance?

Appalling for a club like Wigan, but what else can you expect when many supporters see a squad which is not up to the standard they expect to see at the club and continual rule changes which in many ways has made the game have less variety in play, especially the dropping of scrums which is part and parcel of Rugby.

And the getting rid of the clubs traditional badge and non cherry and white shirts has not helped the situation in the eye of many supporters!

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:52 am  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

Appalling for a club like Wigan, but what else can you expect when many supporters see a squad which is not up to the standard they expect to see at the club and continual rule changes which in many ways has made the game have less variety in play, especially the dropping of scrums which is part and parcel of Rugby.

And the getting rid of the clubs traditional badge and non cherry and white shirts has not helped the situation in the eye of many supporters!

Pretty sure all of that has very little to do with the low crowd - Covid is no doubt the main reason. High case rates, lack of confidence, changed habits and an ageing fan base. Those who declined season tickets this year due to the uncertainty likely won't buy match tickets.

IF the country has a better grip on Covid in the off season we will have to hope that many will be willing to come back. My guess is we'll end up with something like 25-30% less than our usual average.

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:18 am  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

Appalling for a club like Wigan, but what else can you expect when many supporters see a squad which is not up to the standard they expect to see at the club and continual rule changes which in many ways has made the game have less variety in play, especially the dropping of scrums which is part and parcel of Rugby.

And the getting rid of the clubs traditional badge and non cherry and white shirts has not helped the situation in the eye of many supporters!

I’ll take your first paragraph. In all honesty I agree fully.

But the badge? Really? If fans are staying away for the badge then they aren’t fans. What a ridiculous excuse.

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:07 am  

Nowt to do with the badge.

A large % of our supporters are aged over 60 years old. It's this section of support that will be most nervous about milling around the concourses of a stadium. Covid cases are getting higher by the week and it must feel risky for then despite Boris feeding us with his 'Freedom Day'.

Also traditionally our attendances took a dip during kids school holidays. Granted not many going abroad these days but most will be having UK trips/campsites.

Things won't improve till next season (I hope assuming things improve) when the club advertise season tickets.

We have bigger issues though and that's bringing in younger support through. But that's always been the case.

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:27 am  

Pre-covid, we had over a decade where the attendance for a regular season league fixture never dipped below 10K.

Now, its highly likely the attendances will only top 10K when Saints & Wire come to town.

I fear that we have now lost a generation of supporters, and not all of them have been lost due to Covid - many will have decided that watching a Wigan side which is, at best, only competitive with the likes of Wakefield & Huddersfield, whilst getting drubbed by Saints & Wire is not the best way to spend £30.

Re: Wigan squad to face Wakefield on Friday : Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:05 am  

It’s a combination of a few things but it’s a huge worry. Covid is the main issue but not just from the point of people being nervous to come back, it’s also on the fact there was no certainty around selling season tickets. It’s tough for people to commit when you don’t know how many games you’re likely to be allowed to go to and people will only give up their money to the club in certain circumstances where you don’t see it coming. I also think people will have got out of the habit of going and that will take time to turn round. We then come to the real elephant in the room-the rugby is dire and has been in all the time Lam has been here but it’s gone to a whole new level this season. Even last night we played a bit better but it was a one man show really and without that individual brilliance from Hastings, I’m not sure where the points come from. We look devoid of ideas and totally at a loss of how we can break teams down.

The club really need to out in some hard yards to get people back. If we look at this season, we have 6 home fixtures left. Why haven’t we pushed half season tickets? Why not offer the 6 games for £100? I’d be in for that after not getting a season ticket this season. Further down the line they really need to try and create a buzz going in to 2022. I’m not holding my breath though as it feels a bit like Lenagan has given up trying to turn it around.