Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 8:22 pm  

puroresu_boy wrote:

Catalan or not if Wembley cannot be filled for a challenge cup final then that's on the sport.

We have two major finals every year and the final of the challenge cup should be selling 70k regardless who is in the final.

That’s nonsense. Is the Europa League Final not being a sell out ‘on the sport’, as you put it?

Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 8:36 pm  

AS108 wrote:

That’s nonsense. Is the Europa League Final not being a sell out ‘on the sport’, as you put it?

I'd say it's to do with the governing body and the decision making. If the Europa league final is in Spain it's a sell out. Simple.

Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 8:42 pm  

marc271841 wrote:

I'd say it's to do with the governing body and the decision making. If the Europa league final is in Spain it's a sell out. Simple.

Agreed but it’s not the sports fault that it’s too expensive for a lot of Catalans fans to travel. Most challenge cup finals have had over 70,000 anyway.

Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 8:44 pm  

Towns88 wrote:

Hull FC had made it to Wembley 3 times in the last 6 years.

If hull beat Catalan at home they could then draw Halifax or Bradford in the semis. That's more than no chance if you ask me.

A saints v Warrington final would be superb for the game. It would be a full house I'm sure.

Indeed, the ideal scenario is Bradford, Warrington, Saints and Hull make it to the semi as you’d imagine it would be a sell out and then 2 of the last 3 make the final. I doubt there’s many people who want to see Catalans in the final again.

Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 8:54 pm  

AS108 wrote:

Agreed but it’s not the sports fault that it’s too expensive for a lot of Catalans fans to travel. Most challenge cup finals have had over 70,000 anyway.

I'm not for a second doubting what you are saying. I wonder of we need to move the venue closer to the heartland so to ensure consistent attendances for the cup final? Would more people attend if the game was played at the Etihad or Elland Road?

Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 9:08 pm  

marc271841 wrote:

I'm not for a second doubting what you are saying. I wonder of we need to move the venue closer to the heartland so to ensure consistent attendances for the cup final? Would more people attend if the game was played at the Etihad or Elland Road?

Elland Road holds 38,000 . Moving the final from Wembley would just about kill it off and it's not far off that now. A final at Wembley is a special occasion particularly for the 2 teams involved but the reality is you ain't gonna get 20k worth of fans from Catalan for it.

The cup comp needs totally revamping. SL clubs entering at the last 16 is lunacy. Last couple of years the rhinos have drawn lower league opposition and in theory had byes to the semi final ! Just totally dilutes the comp and drains any sort or excitement or build up out of it.

Re: GAME ON : Wakefield Trinity v Catalan Dragons - 14:00:00 : Mon May 27, 2019 9:21 pm  

Towns88 wrote:

Elland Road holds 38,000 . Moving the final from Wembley would just about kill it off and it's not far off that now. A final at Wembley is a special occasion particularly for the 2 teams involved but the reality is you ain't gonna get 20k worth of fans from Catalan for it.

The cup comp needs totally revamping. SL clubs entering at the last 16 is lunacy. Last couple of years the rhinos have drawn lower league opposition and in theory had byes to the semi final ! Just totally dilutes the comp and drains any sort or excitement or build up out of it.

Yep. The final HAS to be at Wembley or it’s the beginning of the end. We should be making it a bit of a festival of RL. I’m always a bit disappointed at the lack of stuff around the ground. There needs to be more. There needs to be club and England merchandise, England ticketing, get a bit creative whilst also promoting the national side of the game. Have the women’s final first as a double header.
But we also need to motivate the clubs and amateur clubs to sell tickets. When I played Union my local club had a direct link to Twickers and would apply for tickets for games. The RFL could surely organise discounted travel for people/clubs through certain providers.

Whilst the final needs work, the rest of the comp is dying. Personally I think we need to add it on to the season ticket, even if it’s only up to quarter final stage. Semi’s should be double header which could be advertised and marketed from the start of the season.