From memory the upper tier of the east stand was closed for the 2008, 2009 & 2010 WCC. This knocked 6-7000 off the capacity and availability of cheaper tickets and tickets with a better view.

East Stand Upper was [url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/tier_is_re_opened_to_meet_demand_1_2171648[ure-opened in 2008 in order to meet demand[/u[/url.

Attendance was still almost 4K less than for the Canterbury game.

When was that?

The economics of of WCC are a bonanza for the competing clubs. I think the prize money is shared by the players but do some math on gate money alone and I reckon it amounted to £450k to £500k. Add in sponsorship, advertising and concessions.

Now, remember that the reported highest offer of sponsorship for the whole league was £750k from Betfair which would be shared between 14 teams over a whole year then you begin to understand why this one game is a very important fixture. Leeds will have been set up nicely by last night's match.

GH had promised to double last nights prize fund if Leeds won so he'll be an extra £50K down on whatever profit he did make on last nights game.

how does the prize money in the players pot stand as far as the cap goes? is it included or are we doing as a certain club does regarding cash payments?

This was discussed on here a year or two back and someone linked the RFLs rules that say it's excluded.

The prize money provided by the RFL will certainly be excluded from the cap. Not that it specifies this in the rules but I'd have thought the extra Hetherington wants to give to the players will probably have to go on the cap.

That would be my understanding and highlights the apparent availability of spare capacity within it despite plenty of renegotiated contract announcements already this year.

Hopefully by the end of the year Mr Hetherington will have made good on his 'spending the full cap allowance again' claim.

Quote Him="Him"The prize money provided by the RFL will certainly be excluded from the cap. Not that it specifies this in the rules but I'd have thought the extra Hetherington wants to give to the players will probably have to go on the cap.'" There you go. In all it's glory. rfllive.dyndns.org/~rflmedia/doc ... on%20E.pdf

Quote Him="Him"The prize money provided by the RFL will certainly be excluded from the cap. Not that it specifies this in the rules but I'd have thought the extra Hetherington wants to give to the players will probably have to go on the cap.'" There you go. In all it's glory. rfllive.dyndns.org/~rflmedia/doc ... on%20E.pdf

5.7(c). If Hetherington gave the players an additional bonus over and above the prize money (doesn't sound like Hetherington) that additional bonus would be included, The prize money wouldn't.