Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:54 pm  

Maybe league fans need to face a harsh truth that "the greatest game" that they complain is so unfairly ignored by the media, is not actually this super unmissable product they claim it is. There is only a relatively small market for league and even amongst the league community it is not valued that highly, its not just playoffs its internationals too, what other sports do they struggle to sell tickets for world cup semi finals? RL is a small niche sport.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:06 pm  

The World Cup Final won't sell out unless England get there. If they don't there will be thousands of empty seats in a ground 70,000 people turned up at to watch Japan u23s V Egypt u23s in football recently.

That says it all about the size of the RL support base.

Sometimes people need to be realistic about what can be expected.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:24 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

Maybe league fans need to face a harsh truth that "the greatest game" that they complain is so unfairly ignored by the media, is not actually this super unmissable product they claim it is. There is only a relatively small market for league and even amongst the league community it is not valued that highly, its not just playoffs its internationals too, what other sports do they struggle to sell tickets for world cup semi finals? RL is a small niche sport.

its not a harsh truth at all for most fans. you've hardly been controversial. I think we all know the only time we get anything remotely close to national coverage is challenge cup final day.

It is however a harsh truth for the RFL who are completely oblivious to the need to hype up our game and raise its profile.

Football has just had more column inches more internet talk and more radio talk over a non happening handshake than our playoff series will ever hope to recieve. they simply dont grasp the way big business works.

Rugby union has just had two broadcaster arguing over substanial TV rights.
and our governing body thought free advertising on a few trucks was a great deal.

The sport itself is not small time its a brutal sport that a lot of non players cant understand.It's hugely entertaining, but the fans in general i'm afraid do have a small time attitude. Hence the constant finger pointing at welsh london and French sides, and the preference for teams a twenty minute drive away.

The RFL needs to bite the bullet and pay a top notch London advertising agency some serious money to launch our sport to another level. Similar to football and the premier league. And We as fans need to lose the apathy we often have to our own sport. It's our last hope.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:48 pm  

You can advertise Rugby League as much as you like, but you will never ever get the game to be much bigger or popular than it is now - Outside of the heartlands, people simply aren't interested.

I watched last night's game in a pub near Chester, and a friend of mine, who is mainly a football fan but also follows other sports with interest, quite seriously asked 'What's the point in Rugby League?'.

We discussed this question for a good while, but it was obvious that however much I tried, he simply viewed RL as a poor substitute to Union, and was convinced that RL is a small time sport, followed by, and played by, not very bright people.

Yes, its a very narrow minded point of view, but unfortunately i think its a view that a good many people share - Changing that sort of thinking would be a huge task and I don't think we have the money, or I'm sad to say, the product to actually change that.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:14 pm  

As it's now do or die I expect a bigger crowd next week.
VERY disappointed about the attendance last night.
Loads of spare seats.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:16 pm  

I think it's a combination of the stupid format and people not wanting to pay for up to 4 extra games. I don't think the prices are too bad tbh, but it's a lot to find in a short space of time, especially for families. If the format is going to kept like this then round 1 fixtures should be included in the price of a season ticket. At least that will keep the attendance somewhere near average for the rest of the season.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:25 pm  

fez1 wrote:

As it's now do or die I expect a bigger crowd next week.
VERY disappointed about the attendance last night.
Loads of spare seats.

I'm pretty sure the week two attendance V Huddersfield in 2010 was lower than last night and that was do or die after a defeat to Saints in week one.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:27 pm  

Advertising won't change this.

How many of the regular SL fans, were unaware that the playoffs were on? They knew it was on they just didn't want to bother.

But of course if you want to hire a top London based advertising agency I am sure they will be happy to take your money.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:55 pm  

Dropkick Murphy wrote:

I'm pretty sure the week two attendance V Huddersfield in 2010 was lower than last night and that was do or die after a defeat to Saints in week one.

Our attendances for week 2 in both 2010 and 2011 were worse than week one. Despite it being a knockout fixture you expect to win against teams from the bottom half of the draw, and again people don't want to shell out on that game as they want to save it for a possible semi and final.

Re: Why are the playoffs poorly attended. Vote : Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:16 pm  

Hudders 2010 was about 8,000 from memory, expecting Saturday to be even less and only spared by a decent away following.