: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:24 am
dally messenger wrote:
its got nothing to do with getting english fans tribalistic for the game.
as i said before, we got 8000 with zero marketing for the game in LA.
as other sports can sell out wembley (life NFL) why not origin.
people would go to watch to see the best quality RL on the planet
Once you've explained to 95% of the population of England that there are, in fact, two types of Rugby - the one with lineouts, pile-ons and lots of kicking, and the one where they run a lot and get up and roll the ball behind them - you then have to get them interested enough to buy a ticket.
Origin would maybe sell out at the Galpharm, KC, JJB (...sorry, DW) - maybe even Elland Road or City Stadium. But anywhere away from the heartlands, you don't have a chance.
Everyone in the UK has heard of American Football. I never cease to be amazed at the number who have never heard of Rugby League - even in Manchester. Rugby, to huge numbers, consists of the Six Nations and every so often, the Union World Cup. And that's it. Oh, in their sub-conscience they remember hearing 'Wigan' a lot on Grandstand many years ago, and they've heard of Ellery Hanley and Martin Offiah, but you'd be astounded just how many have never put two and two together and realised they didn't play the rugby they know.