: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:52 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

Think it was partly a play-off quirk. Wigan only got over 8,000, and there looked to be a couple of thousand Cas fans there. So if you assume that Wigan only had 6,000 of there own there, we didn't do too badly, as there were only 20 Catalan fans there.

The Oakwell debate is a matter of timing alone. We can't move out of Belle Vue until Stanley is a definite. If Stanley falls through and we get a franchise out of Oakwell, then we have to stay there, and there is no longer a rugby club in Wakefield. If Stanley is a definite and work has started, then it might be an option just in case work is behind schedule.

On the other hand, if Stanley is under construction, I would rather see a few more games at the old lady of Belle Vue than go to Barnsley.

Wouldn't we also lose a franchise point as well at Oakwell for not filling 40% of the ground, plus the loss of the community stuff if our base is no longer in Wakefield?

All fair points but in response.

Yes having now seen the other three gates we did not shape that bad but we were lucky it was a very nice mild evening. If it had been raining we may have lost quite a few more from that gate. Rain would not have been such an issue at the other grounds.

Don't see any reason why the community activity should be stopped in Wakefield infact we could increase it by expanding into other areas around the north of Barnsley.

Yes we may loose the 40% crowd point but we would gain the 2 other points by ground being fit for purpose and 12000 capacity.

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:53 am  

Forgive me I just can not see the benefits of moving away from Belle Vue with approx 4-5K home support to then move to an area generally uninterested in RL to lose roughly 1.5K fans on a consistent basis. The one thing that is killing attendances is the price and the recession.

A couple of matches at Barnsley would suit, perhaps one of the big games (Leeds etc) in order to generate interest but you move the club outside of Wakefield for a year then the already limited presence the club has in the city would be lost. The club need more exposure not less.

The play off attendances are notoriously low, the all conquering Leeds only managed 11K with 2K Hull KR support, Saint even worse. Take the Huddersfield following then they would’ve had approx 5K.

A lot of comments about low attendances point to the fact a single person expense at match is roughly £20, for a family you looking at quadrupling that. I would like to see some sort of family ticket where by if mum and dad come along the kids get free tickets if pre-purchased.

The Wakefield support came to see the relegation decider, which fair enough was car crash entertainment, but it was still at Belle Vue. An 8K crowd came to Belle Vue when Diversity were there. The ground, to understate, has seen better days but the value of the ticket to the customer needs to be increased and then the support will come.

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:59 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

...as there were only 20 Catalan fans there.

Must of them sat around us then!!

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:49 am  

newcat wrote:

Must of them sat around us then!!

Maybe I have understated them, because they were a noisy bunch, and good on 'em. They had come a long way and saw their team win.

I think the point about losing the presence in Wakefield for a full year is a good one. The occasional match, yes, as a marketing tool, but not a full season. I just can't see the benefit of moving out if Stanley is making good progress, because if the spade can hit the dirt in time, we could well be ahead of a few other clubs plans (particularly if Cas are still dreaming of their own stadium) and that would surely do us good in the franchise application.

The point about value for money is a good one, and maybe we ought to take some gambles on concessionary and family packages.

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:03 pm  

I know the issue is that our attendances are low but look

League match , Play off match , Down
Leeds v HKR 16192 , 11220 , 35%
Saints v Hudds 8708 , 6157 , 29%
Wiagan v Cas 12079 , 8689 , 28%
Trin v Cats 4807 , 4008 , 17%

This doesn't take away from the fact that our attendances are v poor and the club has to take responsibility for doing something about it but it does put it in to the context of generally lower attendances for the first round of the play offs. As far as other's criticism of our crowd on Sat - these figures show that we actually did quite well!!

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:09 pm  

The club appear to be doing their best with respect to season tickets, the 6 month payment option is a good one and would help to spread the cost at approx £34 a month for the early bird offer. It's a great deal when compared to the £20 individual match fee.

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:19 pm  

THE SEASON TICKETS NEED ADVERTISING

My uncle been telling his friends (he and they are over 60) and many of them have said WOW ill get one at that price bargain at just over £6.40 a game.

Not everyone has computers and certainly not all of the elder generations so this needs to go in wakey express/guardian and other local papers,

We should be making a song and dance over the 5th place finish, academy top of league, home playoff, exciting players coming in. To the young and old £25 juniours, £80 odd quid OAP's and Students. And make adults aware of £20 a game so the season ticket price of £160ish is a bargain too.

Im afraid we have to SELL it to the public of wakefield and having the prices hidden in some long article on the website is not going to do it. !!!!!!

PLEASE FOR GOODNESS SAKE ADVERTISE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:24 pm  

mwildcats wrote:

PLEASE FOR GOODNESS SAKE ADVERTISE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard adverts for the Catalans game on Ridings FM last week, so anything is possible!

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:32 pm  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

The club appear to be doing their best with respect to season tickets, the 6 month payment option is a good one and would help to spread the cost at approx £34 a month for the early bird offer. It's a great deal when compared to the £20 individual match fee.

Season ticket offers will only appeal to committed fans who already attend games - they won't attract new fans.
The club's marketing people (person?) have got to be really creative in getting the club and games in people's faces and giving them offers that are too good to miss. Don't ask me how to do that but events like Diversity (I don't know if it broke even or not) pull people in (possibly for the wrong reasons but we have to keep offering good entertainment packages of which the rugby match is part). Also, how about a sliding scale of ticket prices Leeds, Wigan etc full price, less for the likes of Quins, Cats and Celtic or full price tickets for those games - go to two get the third one free etc. Publicity costs money but a cheap option is to leaflet pubs, clubs, shops etc to make sure that the public knows about these deals. And mwidcats is right - celebrate our successes!!!

: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:53 pm  

Kevs Head wrote:

Season ticket offers will only appeal to committed fans who already attend games - they won't attract new fans.
The club's marketing people (person?) have got to be really creative in getting the club and games in people's faces and giving them offers that are too good to miss. Don't ask me how to do that but events like Diversity (I don't know if it broke even or not) pull people in (possibly for the wrong reasons but we have to keep offering good entertainment packages of which the rugby match is part). Also, how about a sliding scale of ticket prices Leeds, Wigan etc full price, less for the likes of Quins, Cats and Celtic or full price tickets for those games - go to two get the third one free etc. Publicity costs money but a cheap option is to leaflet pubs, clubs, shops etc to make sure that the public knows about these deals. And mwidcats is right - celebrate our successes!!!

Mentioned on another thread that casual support will not be buying a season ticket, so the point you raise I understand.

Perhaps a big presence in the city centre in the run up to every home match with a stall, competitions and prizes (tickets for the match) with Daddy Cool, the Cheerleaders and players. Raise a bit of interest in the busiest place in the city, make it seem like the home game is an event rather then just an RL match and you may have a chance that some of market will make their way down to Belle Vue (and Stanley).

Getting into Wakefield college, Thornes Park, Margaret Street (and the Glasshoughton one!) advertising and selling the concessionary ticket prices to people who perhaps will have more disposable income then most (no matter how much they plead poverty!).

Leafleting residential areas with promotions, offers and fixture lists could be an option but as ever the issue is cost. Getting companies to pay for advertising the leaflets with a promise of said leaflets being distributed to 10K (for example) houses may help towards production but then to distribute it may come unstuck.