What needs to be done to get the crowds up? : Sun May 25, 2014 5:53 pm  

Great team, 5 wins on the trot. What does the club need to do to entice more people in the area to try an afternoon out at the Cougars?

Re: What needs to be done to get the crowds up? : Sun May 25, 2014 7:06 pm  

The problem is when the team is wining they need to pay wining pay each week.
It would be nice if they could let everyone in the ground one week free of charge and count how many people take up the offer.
If there is only a crowd of say 1200 or so there fighting a loosing battle.
Another idea would be get quite a few volunteers asking the general public in the shopping centre a questionnaire on why they don't come to the ground, have they ever been to watch a match and what if anything would get them to a rugby match at the Cougars.
Discounted tickets for the amateur rugby clubs in the area and maybe handed out to local cricket and football clubs. With the football season finishing maybe a discount mid season ticket that takes in matches up till the start of there new season.
The Asian areas of the town would be the biggest bonus if they could be attracted but how the club would go about that I don't know.
Its just hard to convince someone who isn't really into rugby and maybe doesn't understand the game to part with £15.
If the club was a football club and doing as well as we are at the moment they would be turning fans away never mind trying to get people down to the ground.

Re: What needs to be done to get the crowds up? : Mon May 26, 2014 10:43 am  

This really baffles me, I just can't understand how we can't seem to get even a few extra people down, especially now when we are doing quite well. What on earth do Keighley people do on a Sunday afternoon? I might be a little biased but the entertainment on offer at Cougar Park is, in my opinion, first rate and is quite reasonably priced. Yes, I'm already a rugby league fan and I feel a strong connection to my home town, even more since I moved away (been away over 20 years now), so I don't get why Keighley people, with the club right on their doorstep, seem so apathetic and reluctant to get behind it. We've done it before - Cougarmania came after that real low period in the 80s - so it can be done.

Re: What needs to be done to get the crowds up? : Mon May 26, 2014 3:54 pm  

1) The team/club has something MEANINGFUL to play for.
2) The team has a realistic chance of winning something.
3) The demographic of the area has changed considerably during my lifetime of watching the Cougars and they probably need become involved.
4) A straw poll around the Keighley environment, say Bingley to Skipton, asking whether there is professional sporting club in the area would provide interesting results.
5) The number of amateur teams, and player involvement has slowly decreased over the years.
6) Manufacturing industry in this whole area has declined. In fact who is the major employer in the Airedale district?
7) Most money into RL comes via TV. Quite a lot pay for SKY but that is quite "expensive" but 2 games for £21 per month isn't bad, however £9.99 per month for 6 or more live games plus the others delayed, SOO, Anzac Test, 4 nations matches, City v Country is an absolute bargain. Compare that to 1 home admittance.

These are things the club has to contend with, but it is not impossible to fight against them. The key ,IMO, is develop Brand Loyalty. Not easy but not impossible.

Re: What needs to be done to get the crowds up? : Mon May 26, 2014 5:48 pm  

Cougarmania was formed around a unique set of circumstances, in a sport crying out for change, by people with the drive, will and ability to make that change happen.

IMO we have different circumstances now and need fresh ideas, and that's not to say that some of the old ideas won't work.

We need the help of a talented ideas man/woman.

Re: What needs to be done to get the crowds up? : Tue May 27, 2014 7:19 am  

Attendances of the Swinton and Barrow game were up versus last year. The Barrow game was on a Bank Holiday weekend this year as well. I think it will take time for the buzz to spread again, but it's heading slowly in the right direction.