As a modern day fan of Sooper Dooper League and Sky Sports (no, really), I shall be taking my cues from Sky's level of commitment and interest in the Challenge Cup this round which amounts to approximately ZERO.

Moreover, the fact that Sky purchased and currently own the rights to televise a Challenge Cup game this weekend but choose not to do so tells me all I need to know regarding the future of this once-prestigious competition, once they get their hands on all of it in 2018.

In true modern day t fan of Sooper Dooper League stylee, may I take this opportunity to place the entire blame for the piecemeal destruction of the Challenge Cup on the BBC. How dare those b@stards display commitment and interest in televising a cup tie this weekend?

Is Wakefield's capacity still cut to 5k?

I dont think crowds have ever been too great for early rounds of the challenge cup.Granted they have certainly fallen away since pre SL days but even going back over 20 years to the 1990/91 cup, we played Bradford at home and pulled just 9,076 fans to the game, whilst Saints at home to Wakey drew a paltry 4,586.the following season we played Saints at Headingley and got just a tad more at 9,610.

That said, the Semi finals attendances have dropped markedly in recent years.pre- SL you would be looking at a guaranteed 15 to 30k Semi finals (maybe some quarters too) whoever was playing, these days yo are lucky to see 5 figures even if the big boys meet.

The Final has pretty much held up in its attendance figures, but im not so sure how much longer that will continue if it disapears from mainstream TV, and as a result, out of the minds of the 'once a year for the big event' attenders consciousness forever.

Currently capacity is 5k however there is work going on daily at ckub to increase capacity and the club are hopeful of a increase prior to sunday.

It won't be required.

Regards,

Billy Eve.

They had such big attendences that they had to use huge International sporting venues such as Swinton to accomodate the masses.

Is it still All Ticket?

I may make a late decision depending on how hungover I am Sunday morning.

You'll probably be able to pay on gate.

It's foolish in the extreme if you can't.

forget odsal, that was THE wembley of the North!

It is worrying though.Just to compare the 10 years leading up to SL and the last 5 years since the top 8 was brought in:

1984/85 - 19,272 , 20,982
1985/86 - 12,430 , 23,866 (Replay - 32,485)
1986/87 - 13,105 , 16,064
1987/88 - 20,783 , 20,534
1988/89 - 26,629 , 17,119
1989/90 - 26,489 , 15,631
1990/91 - 19,057 , 16,109
1991/92 - 14,636 , 18,027
1992/93 - 20,085 , 13,823
1993/94 - 20,771 , 17,049
1994/95 - 12,742 , 21,485

2009 - 12,975 , 10,683
2010 - 15,267 , 12,265
2011 - 13,158 , 12,713
2012 - 12,860 , 9,473
2013 - 6,274 , 10,621

Nothing worrying about it really. Pre Super League the Challenge Cup was the premier cup as the League was just a first past the post race.

Since Super League, the Challenge cup Is nothing more than an hindrance, and an opportunity for the minnows of super league to have their day.

I am not surprised interest dwindled. Personally, I have absolutely zero interest in this cup competition. Would rather have the Yorkshire/Lancashire cups brought back than this, and have a double header final.

But of course this same debate comes up every year.