This from Gledhill tweets yesterday:
"Good to learn clubs have finally received their IMG/RFL handbooks which shows clubs the thresholds of where will be assessed against to gain points from the five key strategic pillars. I’m just going through the handbook now and will provide an update later this evening.
For example on Attendances:
Average attendance of 7,500 over three years = 2.5 points.
Average attendance of 3,000 over three years = 2 points
Average attendance of 1,500 over three years = 1.5 points.
Average attendance under 1,500 over three years = 0.75 points.
The Bradford Bulls would score 2 points based on their average attendance over the past three seasons. That’s the same as Huddersfield, Castleford, Leigh, Toulouse, Wakefield, Widnes and Salford."
Massive gap from 3K+ to 7.5K+ for an extra 0.5pts. Based PURELY on that, the rebrand has made no difference to attendance.
Personally, Friday evening kick-offs at LSV have knocked a big hole in Bongser's attendance rate. Many others, both on this forum and others, have said that they'd prefer 3pm Sunday as an ideal. Should broadcasters want to shift a particular game to a Thurs/Friday, fine - it is what it is. Sundays for most allow an early lunch, a trawl round the pubs in Leigh where one can talk blox with other fans and a no sweat stroll to LSV in plenty of time for KO.
Is it the rugby and the fantastic results at the top table that have increased the gate, or is it the pre-match entertainment? Regarding the latter; were Bongser in a local band and not a rugby fan, he'd persuade his band to play a stadium like LSV on a matchday/night for expenses only (if that). Much better to get the exposure and, if well received, better paid pub & club gigs thereafter. Barring the whopper and/or televised matches, prefer and promote those bands and take the money saved off the stroll-up entrance fees. A lot of families are struggling and if dad 'n' lad go to the odd "treat" game it's two more bums on seats for those games. There are lots of missus 'n' lasses as well - all grist to the mill.
The difference will still be hard to make up after three years of increased attendances. This goes again to show that IMG's remit is to keep an Elite and a "Rest" (if, indeed, The Rest, survive!!)
