Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Wed May 12, 2021 7:07 pm  

I guess it depends whether you believe this statement...

We are grateful to Leigh Sports Village and the four Semi-Finalists for the way that they have worked with us to get to this stage and to the BBC for their live coverage of all 3 games meaning that those fans who are unable to attend in person at the stadium can still watch the game live on TV.

Worked with. Not necessarily accepted...

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Wed May 12, 2021 7:49 pm  

Crazy how people are moaning about venue size / allocation of tickets. We haven't been to a game of live rugby for over a year, be thankful 600 from each team are able to go, the games less than a month away and there are still restrictions in place, have some perspective.

Unless you know about the availability and cost of each individual venue and the demands from the BBC I'd say everything else is just pure speculation based on little more than frustration that you might not get a ticket.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Wed May 12, 2021 9:38 pm  

The Dentist Wilf wrote:

It buggers belief if that a sports governing body can say that the venue is, ' geographically located somewhere accessible for the fans' when Saints and Warrington fans can go on their bikes whilst we have to do a 206 mile round trip. No wonder Super league wanted to break away from this lot what a farce. But is anyone surprised?

I agree, zero imagination by the RFL.

At least Huddersfield and Headingley are both central, better capacities and both steeped in the history of the game. Neutral fans watching in, could at least see that the semi finals was being played in decent stadiums. The BBC could even do a feature on some of the memorable semi finals over the years from those grounds.

There’s been no problem hosting countless games at Headingley during Lockdown. In fact, we’ve played just as many home games there this season as we have at the KC. Leigh has never been used once as a Covid venue, so why is it now the logical place? Is it further compensation for promoting them into the Super League?

I’ve nothing against Leigh as a club, but the RFL shouldn’t try and justify it at as a fair location. If so, let’s move the semi finals to Rovers and see if the other clubs think that’s a fair location?

At times like these, you have to think, what would Eddie Hearn do? ‘Hey Anthony, hey Tyson, forget Saudi, Wembley or Vegas, I’ve booked Leigh!’

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Wed May 12, 2021 10:28 pm  

An absolute farce of a decision. But given the RFL don’t do logic, I’d say it was very predictable they’d choose a venue that first of all didn’t suit all four teams involved and secondly didn’t make the most of the chance to get as many supporters in as possible.

Castleford are getting more fans into the Jungle than we’re going to have for a Challenge Cup semi final at Leigh. What’s the rationale behind that?

The lucky fans who are able to get a ticket will get the chance to watch two matches I assume, one of which doesn’t even involve the team they support. All this while there’ll be hundreds, or even thousands more fans, unable to get in to see their team.

Think of a venue they could’ve picked, geographically and one where they could’ve maximised fan attendance and I think you’ll be hard pushed to find a more bizarre choice.

Absolutely bonkers the people are running our game. No wonder we’ve developed into a tin pot sport.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Wed May 12, 2021 11:36 pm  

Airlie Street wrote:

Crazy how people are moaning about venue size / allocation of tickets. We haven't been to a game of live rugby for over a year, be thankful 600 from each team are able to go, the games less than a month away and there are still restrictions in place, have some perspective.

Unless you know about the availability and cost of each individual venue and the demands from the BBC I'd say everything else is just pure speculation based on little more than frustration that you might not get a ticket.

Well Headingley must have been fairly cheap as they used it for most matches

The reason people are moaning is they've waited 15 months to go to a game and now vast majority of pass holders won't be able to go due to a joke of a allocation, that's the thanks the fans get who paid they're pass money for nothing

3,000 capacity is OK.....? For a semi final between 4 teams You having a laugh

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Wed May 12, 2021 11:42 pm  

I agree our ground is too small when it's 10k or 25% of the capacity. But surely it should be 1200 fans from each club, then after the 1st S/F all fans must leave. it just doesn't make sense. I guess if the pitch at Wigan Athletics ground wasn't being relaid, the semi's would have been held there. And they have 2 trains stations, we have none.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Thu May 13, 2021 6:16 am  

I would say the reason Headingley is not considered, is because Yorkshire have a CC fixture there on that weekend. As for other Football stadia, perhaps pitch maintenance is a factor.

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Thu May 13, 2021 6:27 am  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Well Headingley must have been fairly cheap as they used it for most matches

The reason people are moaning is they've waited 15 months to go to a game and now vast majority of pass holders won't be able to go due to a joke of a allocation, that's the thanks the fans get who paid they're pass money for nothing

3,000 capacity is OK.....? For a semi final between 4 teams You having a laugh

And what if Headingley wasn't available, have you considered that?

Your pass pays for home Super League games and not Challenge Cup Semi-Finals, so that has no relevance here.

[Chris71]

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Thu May 13, 2021 7:51 am  

Airlie Street wrote:

Crazy how people are moaning about venue size / allocation of tickets. We haven't been to a game of live rugby for over a year, be thankful 600 from each team are able to go, the games less than a month away and there are still restrictions in place, have some perspective.

Unless you know about the availability and cost of each individual venue and the demands from the BBC I'd say everything else is just pure speculation based on little more than frustration that you might not get a ticket.

Airlie Street wrote:

Thetalentboy wrote:

Well Headingley must have been fairly cheap as they used it for most matches

The reason people are moaning is they've waited 15 months to go to a game and now vast majority of pass holders won't be able to go due to a joke of a allocation, that's the thanks the fans get who paid they're pass money for nothing

3,000 capacity is OK.....? For a semi final between 4 teams You having a laugh

And what if Headingley wasn't available, have you considered that?

Your pass pays for home Super League games and not Challenge Cup Semi-Finals, so that has no relevance here.

It is simply a very poor decision by the RFL to hold the semi finals at Leigh and its decisions like this and these thought processes that think it would be OK that hold the sport back.

If the press release is to be believed and the semi finals had been scheduled for this date over 6 months ago then surely someone somewhere within the RFL would have come up with 2 options with respect of possible lockdown scenario's.

The first option being if there were still strict restrictions in the place and the second option being if the restrictions had been eased to allow fans to attend.

The other issue I have with the RFL statement such as 'Several stadiums were considered based on being a neutral venue for the 4 Semi Finalists, being available on June 5, being able to host Rugby League, being geographically located somewhere accessible for the fans who would want to attend', hell fire Southampton is geographically located somewhere that's accessible, its even got a train station unlike Leigh. You would think they would look for somewhere more central rather than a stadium a stones throw from 3 teams who had a very real chance of reaching the semi's in Wigan, St's & Warrington.

As for the idea of a triple header for me the jury's out on this as to why they feel it was such a good idea or to suggest this to the BBC for the coverage. The football season is over when the Semi finals take place and feel the RFL once again have missed the chance by a country mile to really promote the sport to a new audience.

But even ignoring the above the biggest thing for me looking at it is, this is the sports prestigious competition at the Semi Final stage and the RFL seem to think a fitting venue to hold such an event is the Leigh Sports Village!!! That for me just sums up why the game is falling on its backside.

Can you ever imagine the FA holding the FA Cup Semi Finals at Blackpools Bloomfield Road or Oxfords Kassam Stadium for example? Not even the League Two Play-Offs would be held at venues like that as the FA regard their product highly and as such for prestige events they select venues fitting of the occasion..

Re: 2021 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw : Thu May 13, 2021 8:08 am  

If it wasn’t for fans individual love of their clubs, I think many would walk away from the game.

Triple header at a small stadium, and 100 miles away from one of the clubs?
Okay then

Never mind. The RFL have arranged pizza, and an advert on a Stobart truck for the games as well.