Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 12:55 pm  

Rugby Raider wrote:

In addition, having a single Triple Header event, with at different sets of supporters coming from different towns/cities, creates the RFL’s very own Covid Super Spreader Event.

Exactly. There must be a reason for this but I sure can't work it out. Elland Road or Etihad (if available) on separate days would surely make much more sense.

I wonder if it's to do with the cost of hiring the stadiums.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 1:09 pm  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

Exactly. There must be a reason for this but I sure can't work it out. Elland Road or Etihad (if available) on separate days would surely make much more sense.

I wonder if it's to do with the cost of hiring the stadiums.

Very possibly.
Historically the venue took 10% of the gate, but I bet these days with SMC’s etc, there would be a fixed fee.

With the 25% capacity seating cap, it vastly reduces all capacity options, meaning ticket demand will exceed supply regardless of where it is played. Therefore, based upon what’s gone on since the initial lockdown, perhaps they will stick with Headingley. It has hosted double and triple headers and is an RFL only ground therefore the fee may be cheaper than a football ground.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 1:26 pm  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

Exactly. There must be a reason for this but I sure can't work it out. Elland Road or Etihad (if available) on separate days would surely make much more sense.

I wonder if it's to do with the cost of hiring the stadiums.

If they’re so set on the triple header, which they obviously are, then Elland Road or the Etihad wouldn’t be too bad I suppose given how they’d be allowed around 10,000 fans in. At least then, each club would get around 2,500 tickets give or take depending on other commitments to tickets. Far better than 6,000 at Bolton or Huddersfield.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 1:50 pm  

Why can’t we play at Donnie in our semi.

Headingley or Huddersfield used for the other.

The challenge cup semi finals are unfortunately not very well attended, I think around 7500 for the last Hull v Wigan cup semi at Doncaster.

Who makes these crackpot decisions, triple headers, in covid world.

And the last time they dragged us to Bolton, another hair-brained decision, ninety five percent of the crowd disappeared after we got beat.

[Chris71]

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 2:16 pm  

Riderofthepalehorse wrote:

Why can’t we play at Donnie in our semi.

Headingley or Huddersfield used for the other.

The challenge cup semi finals are unfortunately not very well attended, I think around 7500 for the last Hull v Wigan cup semi at Doncaster.

Who makes these crackpot decisions, triple headers, in covid world.

And the last time they dragged us to Bolton, another hair-brained decision, ninety five percent of the crowd disappeared after we got beat.

I think Headingley is probably the best and most cost conscious venue for the RFL and it is already set up and ready for use during the pandemic for both SKY and BBC and infairness to most central venue for all Semi Finalists.

What I think is daft is making it a triple header as it would surely be far more beneficial for the game as a whole to have the semis on two separate days like they used to i.e. one on a Saturday afternoon and one on a Sunday. It also gives more fans the chance to attend and in doing so increases the much needed income stream in terms of ticket sales.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 10:26 pm  

Riderofthepalehorse wrote:

Why can’t we play at Donnie in our semi.

Headingley or Huddersfield used for the other.

The challenge cup semi finals are unfortunately not very well attended, I think around 7500 for the last Hull v Wigan cup semi at Doncaster.

Who makes these crackpot decisions, triple headers, in covid world.

And the last time they dragged us to Bolton, another hair-brained decision, ninety five percent of the crowd disappeared after we got beat.

This is exactly what will happen this time around too. Whoever loses the first game will all bugger off home, as will probably most of the winning set of supporters too, leaving even less people in the ground when thousands of fans of the teams in the second game won’t be able to get in to watch their team.

As you say, a crackpot decision. One that perfectly sums up the RFL.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Mon May 10, 2021 11:12 pm  

DAG wrote:

This is exactly what will happen this time around too. Whoever loses the first game will all bugger off home, as will probably most of the winning set of supporters too, leaving even less people in the ground when thousands of fans of the teams in the second game won’t be able to get in to watch their team.

As you say, a crackpot decision. One that perfectly sums up the RFL.

Don’t get me wrong DAG, in an ideal world it would be great to while away another three hours of rugby, especially if you’ve been beat, then get stuck in the back woods of Bolton for another two and half hours getting home through the traffic. Two semi finals, two different days, same venue if necessary.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Tue May 11, 2021 7:19 am  

Why not play them both at the same ground but 3 hours apart. That way the first crowd will have dispersed before the second game. More fans will get to see their team in action and the revenue will be twice what it would have been.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Tue May 11, 2021 7:47 am  

Riderofthepalehorse wrote:

Don’t get me wrong DAG, in an ideal world it would be great to while away another three hours of rugby, especially if you’ve been beat, then get stuck in the back woods of Bolton for another two and half hours getting home through the traffic. Two semi finals, two different days, same venue if necessary.

Wasn’t a criticism of anyone who only chooses to only watch one game. The last couple of semis at Bolton we’ve done exactly the same and we won both times, so there’d be absolutely no chance of us watching a second game had we lost ours.

Was just further highlighting what a ridiculous idea this triple header is given ticket allocations will already be low and many will already miss out on seeing their team.

They should be maximising peoples chances of going under the circumstances, not decreasing it.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Tue May 11, 2021 7:52 am  

Hessle Roader wrote:

Why not play them both at the same ground but 3 hours apart. That way the first crowd will have dispersed before the second game. More fans will get to see their team in action and the revenue will be twice what it would have been.

That did cross my mind too, but how feasible is that given the current situation?

Then you’ve got to make sure the grows has been completely emptied and there’s no stragglers and then avoid over crowding outside the ground.

It’d sort the ticket allocation issue out though, that’s for sure. I just can’t see beyond the fact that if you get a ticket, you’ll get to see three games regardless of how many fans from each club it’ll affect.