FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

   WWW.RLFANS.COM • View topic - Attendances - Do we need to be worried?
RankPostsTeam
First Team Player125No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Sep 14 20204 years281st
OnlineLast PostLast Page
17th Jan 24 20:0717th Jan 24 20:03LINK
Milestone Posts
100
200
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 12:53 pm  
Since the removal of restrictions we've seen a Friday night gate of 5.5k vs Wakefield and 9.2k (with a sizeable contingent of lobbys) for a Sunday fixture with Leigh.

I could understand this when restrictions were still in place, but i expected crowds to return to usual pre-pandemic levels once lifted, perhaps even above these as I thought there would be a lot of clamor to get back to the rugby. What i didn't expect was that crowds would still be roughly half of what they would be for similar fixtures pre-pandemic levels.

The last two attendances have been the smallest for Wigan RL fixtures in 25+ years, and are probably below even usual latics levels (will be interesting to see how they compare in a few weeks).

But I suppose my big question is, is this because people are still nervous of covid so a lot aren't attending (if so, it seems to contradict what we are seeing day to day life, where most folk are carrying on like covid has disappeared :roll: ), or is it that 18 months away from the rugby has broken routines for many which are difficult to re-establish.

We can probably live with this short term if it is part of nervousness and crowds return proper next year, but if the latter we need to urgently look at how we can bring fans back as current levels are unlikely to be sustainable. At the moment we appear to have lost around 1/2 of our fans

Does anyone know what other SL teams have been pulling. Wire seemed emptier than usual last wednesday,but is everyone else significantly down like wigan are?
bonnie 
RankPostsTeam
Club Coach519No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Apr 21 200420 years295th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
25th Jan 24 11:5422nd Jan 24 19:15LINK
Milestone Posts
500
1000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
A small town in Wakefield
Signature
"we're just a VILLAGE in Wakefield"

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:11 pm  
afootingmiracle21-12 wrote:
Since the removal of restrictions we've seen a Friday night gate of 5.5k vs Wakefield and 9.2k (with a sizeable contingent of lobbys) for a Sunday fixture with Leigh.

I could understand this when restrictions were still in place, but i expected crowds to return to usual pre-pandemic levels once lifted, perhaps even above these as I thought there would be a lot of clamor to get back to the rugby. What i didn't expect was that crowds would still be roughly half of what they would be for similar fixtures pre-pandemic levels.

The last two attendances have been the smallest for Wigan RL fixtures in 25+ years, and are probably below even usual latics levels (will be interesting to see how they compare in a few weeks).

But I suppose my big question is, is this because people are still nervous of covid so a lot aren't attending (if so, it seems to contradict what we are seeing day to day life, where most folk are carrying on like covid has disappeared :roll: ), or is it that 18 months away from the rugby has broken routines for many which are difficult to re-establish.

We can probably live with this short term if it is part of nervousness and crowds return proper next year, but if the latter we need to urgently look at how we can bring fans back as current levels are unlikely to be sustainable. At the moment we appear to have lost around 1/2 of our fans

Does anyone know what other SL teams have been pulling. Wire seemed emptier than usual last wednesday,but is everyone else significantly down like wigan are?

It's not just home fans not attending,Wire fans were lowest i have seen at Headingley .Infact Salford had more when attending Headingley . I kid you not.
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
International Star3834
JoinedServiceReputation
Jan 25 201212 years103rd
OnlineLast PostLast Page
28th Mar 24 21:5526th Mar 24 19:12LINK
Milestone Posts
2500
5000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
In the sky with diamonds
Signature
23 LEAGUE TITLES
20 CHALLENGE CUPS
5 WORLD TITLES
SAYS IT ALL REALLY

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:15 pm  
I still think people have got very used to watching games from the comfort of their own homes.

I went yesterday, but was 50/50 up to leaving that house. I'd have been more than happy to pay and watch it at home tho. I'm sure there's loads who didn't go, who'd have paid to stream the match.
RankPostsTeam
Club Coach15178No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Jan 14 200618 years174th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
28th Mar 24 20:2623rd Mar 24 14:00LINK
Milestone Posts
15000
20000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:18 pm  
Lots of people I know are still not going because of the pandemic.

I still don't think there's an air of normality, and with the news and media reminding us at every opportunity that cases are going up etc, it won't come for quite a while.

Also, the disrupted game times are having a huge impact.

Our regular-as-clockwork Friday evening home fixture now seems a lifetime ago.
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
International Board Member29166
JoinedServiceReputation
Nov 08 200419 years16th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
28th Mar 24 20:4827th Mar 24 12:49LINK
Milestone Posts
25000
30000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
WIGAN

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:36 pm  
Yesterday was a step in the right direction and at the minute it’s probably the best we can hope for. I know a lot of people picked up tickets from local amateur clubs, who had been given kids tickets to sell for a quid (my brother in law brought my two nephews). That inflated the attendance, which is a worry when it’s so low but it’s still good to see the club trying things.

One thing that really would help is a better quality of attacking rugby. I think the drab style of play is hurting us but yesterday was genuinely entertaining. Some great try’s, a good bit of biff (not everyone’s cup of tea I know) and a pretty positive feel about the place for the first time since we’ve been back in the grounds.

The club simply have to push and push and push some more when it comes to 2022 season tickets. They have to get that base of 8,000-10,000 season ticket holders back.
MattyB 
RankPostsTeam
Club Owner20303
JoinedServiceReputation
Mar 06 200321 years100th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
28th Mar 24 22:2528th Mar 24 12:10LINK
Milestone Posts
20000
25000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Signature
WIGAN RLFC - SL ERA

WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS 2017 & 2024

SUPER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 & 2023

CHALLENGE CUP FINAL WINNERS 2002, 2011, 2013 & 2022

LEAGUE LEADERS CHAMPIONS 2010, 2012, 2020 & 2023

ACADEMY GRAND FINAL WINNERS 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2019

WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL WINNERS 2018

BEST SUPPORTED CLUB OF THE YEAR 2010, 2011 & 2012

CLUB OF THE YEAR 2010 & 2012




Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 2:06 pm  
I wouldn't say the lobbies brought anything decent in numbers, around 300, 400 at most. Previous visits have been well into the thousands and on one occasion more or less filled the North Stand.

I think the jump from 5.5k to 9k was pleasing. It meant there's still have a chance attendances will return to 2019 levels (I won't say 2020 as we hardly played any matches at home).

That said, our attendances have been reducing year on year for a good 3-4 years prior where they dropped from 16k down to c11k.

I feel we will only know next year when season tickets have been sold (and hopefully covid is a thing of the past for many) will we know where we are.

The litmus test is the Saints game I feel, I suppose that depends on what the team looks like on the day and performances from now until then. It's on SKY obviously so easy for many to give it a miss. That goes for Saints fans who normally fill the North.

I think anything under 16k will be seen as a poor show even though we should really be getting 20-22k+
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
International Board Member29166
JoinedServiceReputation
Nov 08 200419 years16th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
28th Mar 24 20:4827th Mar 24 12:49LINK
Milestone Posts
25000
30000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
WIGAN

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 2:23 pm  
Aye, Leigh’s following was poor but understandable given their current position. It’s a gutter for the club though because even if they’d come here bottom but in with a sniff of staying up, I think they’d have brought 1500-2,000 and even more had they been in a good position in the table. That’s an awful lot of lost revenue at the minute.
RankPostsTeam
International Star109No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Mar 13 201410 years269th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
25th Mar 24 21:1723rd Feb 24 22:16LINK
Milestone Posts
100
200
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 2:29 pm  
The last game I attended was in March last year - our last away game pre pandemic at Huddersfield. I haven’t been to the last two games as I am away but, to be honest, I am underwhelmed by the standard of rugby that most Superleague teams are dishing up and it is further aggravated by some of our mind boggling team selections and complete inability to break down good defensive structures. I am unimpressed by any defeat of the basement teams so 50 points against Leigh, whilst welcome, is not going to get me to travel over from my home in Leeds.
RankPostsTeam
International Star811No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
May 25 201212 years282nd
OnlineLast PostLast Page
26th Aug 22 23:0916th Aug 22 15:34LINK
Milestone Posts
500
1000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
smelly warrington unfortunately

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:23 pm  
It probably doesn't help that it's Salford that we're playing on Friday as they aren't doing that brilliant and probably won't bring many unless they want to see Hastings one last time :D
RankPostsTeam
Player Coach7438No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Feb 14 200519 years162nd
OnlineLast PostLast Page
25th Feb 24 13:2825th Feb 24 13:26LINK
Milestone Posts
5000
10000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Attendances - Do we need to be worried? : Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:07 pm  
I genuinely thought we’d be sold out for the first one back. In my mind we could have played Wigan Bulldogs and had a capacity on.

I can’t go as often as I’d like due to work and family life. It used to be gutting but it is what it is. I say used to be because recently with the goings on at the club I’ve had no appetite to either (even if I could). I went to the Leigh game last minute for example despite knowing I could go. I just have no desire to sit and watch drivel and be told afterwards it’s outstanding. There’s sometimes I think Alexander De Pffeffel has spiritually taken over Lam and trying to blind us with his nonsense.

I can’t go for a few weeks now, maybe even months. It may well be I’ve seen my last ‘live’ Warriors game in 2021 but the sad thing is - I’m not really that disappointed. I’m that despondent with the club and with RL in general that I’m not even bothered. It’s a sad state of affairs.
Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Brick with eyes, Google [Bot] and 375 guests

REPLY

Subject: 
Message:
   
Please note using apple style emoji's can result in posting failures.
Use the FULL EDITOR to better format content or upload images, be notified of replies etc...

Return to Wigan Warriors


RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
7m
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
56013
8m
Rd 6 I Cas A
tad rhino
116
9m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34292
18m
TV games not Wire
just_browny
2866
21m
State of the Nation
ComeOnYouUll
226
28m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Hasbag
141
28m
Saints a
Brick with e
24
39m
York - 14th April
Belle Vue
11
Recent
Ky Rodwell
Eastern Wild
110
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
Other Championship Clubs
FOREVERTRIN
98
1m
York - 14th April
Belle Vue
11
1m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
1m
TV games not Wire
just_browny
2866
1m
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
2m
TV Games - Not Hull
Chris71
1385
2m
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
2m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
weaver93
359
3m
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
3m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
Belle Vue
11
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
Brick with e
24
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
149
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
569
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
692
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
591
Warrington Demolish London For..
694
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
746
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
726
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
965
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
931
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1079
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1048
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1117
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1092
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3879
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1209
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist