Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 12:26 pm  

BarnsleyGull wrote:

That maybe a real struggle unless they are "successful."
I have been to games in the National League and there are teams that don't get 1500 fans per match.

Although Wakefield AFC does have the advantage of representing a city that has no other football representation. Ossett represents Ossett, so anyone outside Ossett won't feel any real affinity. Same with Emley.

As Vasty says, you could be a Wakefield person who is a Leeds diehard but still support your own city club.

I'd imagine the goal would be to something more akin to Chester. Most people there would follow Liverpool or Everton, but enough people turn out for Chester games to make it a good afternoon. I was there myself last season, for the epic Chester-v-Chorley clash. About a tenner to get in, and beer and pies (the beer ban doesn't apply that low down the leagues). Fun afternoon when there's nothing else to do.

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 12:48 pm  

Prince Buster wrote:

Many of you may think I am an old stick in the mud but personally I don't give two hoots about Wakefield FC. If they grow and develop their crowds and prove to be good tenants which brings a financial benefit to our club all well and good. However let them worry about how they achieve that, it's their issue to deal with. Its growing our crowds that matters to me, not theirs. Some are talking about attracting new customers to Belle Vue, I want them to come along and watch rugby League, not football. If we could fill our ground for most games which is an achievable target, we wouldn't need them anyway.

Tin hat time

No tin hat required.

I think people are getting carried away. If WAFC become eligible for major football grant money I seriously doubt they would hand it over to develop a stadium they don't own a blade of grass. Should they ever be serious contenders I suspect they will be long gone from BV by then.

It's also worth noting that football fans are even more fickle than RL fans. WAFC have a very small window of opportunity to attract a serious fan base. I'd guess at about 3 years

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:02 pm  

Prince Buster wrote:

Many of you may think I am an old stick in the mud but personally I don't give two hoots about Wakefield FC. If they grow and develop their crowds and prove to be good tenants which brings a financial benefit to our club all well and good. However let them worry about how they achieve that, it's their issue to deal with. Its growing our crowds that matters to me, not theirs. Some are talking about attracting new customers to Belle Vue, I want them to come along and watch rugby League, not football. If we could fill our ground for most games which is an achievable target, we wouldn't need them anyway.

Tin hat time

Although if growing their crowds increases revenue for us, then we get better players, which increases our crowds, etc. I wouldn't be bothered about Wakefield AFC if they were playing somewhere else, but for as along as there is some benefit to us, I hope they do well. If they have improved massively during the current tenancy, then no doubt the rent will increase. Again, good for the landlord.

I just can't see a negative, but there is a positive for the rugby in success in the football, so I do care how they do.

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:53 pm  

There is no doubt in the short term, this may be a good move to attract some extra funds which we are desperate for right now. However I would much prefer us to grow and not them. We are the only show in town right now, I'd like to keep it that way. It's going to be hard enough to grow our fan base, so who needs alternative attractions for people to spend their sporting pound on. Our priority should be to grow support to above MC's 6.5K threshold which is an achievable target, in fact we should be aiming even higher crowds to the levels of HKR and Cas. We do that, then who needs them.

[PopTart]

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:58 pm  

Prince Buster wrote:

Many of you may think I am an old stick in the mud but personally I don't give two hoots about Wakefield FC. If they grow and develop their crowds and prove to be good tenants which brings a financial benefit to our club all well and good. However let them worry about how they achieve that, it's their issue to deal with. Its growing our crowds that matters to me, not theirs. Some are talking about attracting new customers to Belle Vue, I want them to come along and watch rugby League, not football. If we could fill our ground for most games which is an achievable target, we wouldn't need them anyway.

Tin hat time

Yer. You old stick the mud!

I've no loyalty to a football team playing at Belle Vue. It's just about the rent for me.
Though i might go watch sometime, if I suddenly find some time, I'll probably be watching the juniors, reserves or ladies.

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:51 pm  

vastman wrote:

No tin hat required.

I think people are getting carried away. If WAFC become eligible for major football grant money I seriously doubt they would hand it over to develop a stadium they don't own a blade of grass. Should they ever be serious contenders I suspect they will be long gone from BV by then.

It's also worth noting that football fans are even more fickle than RL fans. WAFC have a very small window of opportunity to attract a serious fan base. I'd guess at about 3 years

I find it the other way, you don’t get more fickle than RL fans you only need to look at this forum for that. Onto WAFC I think they’ll do ok from what I’m hearing. Non league football is doing well at the moment. They need to start moving up the leagues to grow but being at Belle Vue will help them rather than been out of the City in Fev, it’s a win win for both clubs. Hope they do well and I’m looking forward to watching some football at Belle Vue.

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:56 pm  

Apparently the league in which Wakefield AFC will be playing (NE Counties) effectively Division Ten in the EFL.

Re: Wakefield AFC : Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:39 pm  

As I understand.. their attendances are currently topping out at around 500. If that can be elevated over 23/24/25 to around a thousand, I think that would be seen as very successful.

Certainly the ownership group is very media savvy and has positively affected the fortunes of the club beyond measure.

Re: Wakefield AFC : Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:59 pm  

From today total RL https://www.totalrl.com/new-football-cl ... d-trinity/

From today total RL https://www.totalrl.com/new-football-cl ... d-trinity/