[Winslade's Offload]

Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:49 am  

I am interested to hear why we are getting such poor attendance at matches, so if you would like to express your views, vote away

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:14 am  

I'd say it's probably because it's not included in the season ticket, even though the playoffs are part of 'the season'.

I think fans feel like they're being ripped off.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:14 am  

1. Last nights game essentially didn't mean that much. I mean obviously it did since we've all whined like bitches about losing but we were always going to have another playoff game.

2. The prospect of having to shell out for tickets 4 weeks in a row. Obviously people will choose to skip last nights game and next weekends game as they're expecting a win and saving for us hopefully being in the other big two games. This applies especially to people who have season tickets and don't usally pay game by game.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:55 am  

Round one of the play-offs doesn't mean anything. It's no more important than an early round Challenge Cup game.

If you're a 1-4 team and you lose, it doesn't matter at all as you don't go out of the competition and the job of "win three games to lift the trophy" still stands.

If you're a 5-8 team and you lose, it doesn't matter at all as you will think "well we weren't going to win it anyway".

If you're a 1-4 team and you win, you'll more than likely play the team you played in Round 1 again. Hence why Wigan got 7000 on Friday, for example.

People don't have a lot of money.

People have only just come back from their Summer holidays.

And so on...

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:06 am  

There's nothing to play for in Week 1 as far as a fan is concerned for teams in 1st to 4th. We might end up paying 4 lots of £20ish in a month (if we manage to get that far). For some people, especially ones with a family, that's a large amount of money.

Playoffs need a re-jig, and although I think it should be top 5/6, the season for the vast majority of teams is over with roughly 10 weeks to go. For example, Wakey's this year.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:30 am  

This top eight format hasn't helped us as a club the last two years. Historically the GF has been 1v2 more often than not, because in the top six format either first or second HAD to get there in the 1v2, winner straight to Old Trafford match, and the loser of that match was at home the following week with their second chance. Basically finishing top two guaranteed you two chances to make it with at least one chance at home.

We've been unfortunate that we've reached positions 1 and 2 with that no longer the case.

Personally though I don't know exactly what the perfect format is, but I would prefer one where every game is a knock out with no second chances, and season tickets should include one play off home game if your team has one with all clubs agreeing that at the start of the season.

[Winslade's Offload]

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:50 pm  

Yed, SEB, Mr Fantastic, could someone kindly 'sticky' this please ?

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:54 pm  

Strictly dancing and Thex Factor on telly, didn't see many females as I normally do last night.
Not that I notice females ( just in case the wife's watching)

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:53 pm  

Is the question why we didn't go or why we think other people didn't go? The question presumes that games are badly attended, but in comparison to what?

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:58 pm  

Thinking about it I'd like this format (top six):

Week 1:

3v6
4v5

Week 2:

1 V Lowest ranked team left
2 V Remaining team

Week two winners to Old Trafford.

No repeat fixtures, no losers carrying on, no team plays more than two games - and only one at home - before the final which should improve attendances.

Fewer teams and matches mean Sky might not like it though.