Been around the London area for about the past three years and watched Quins in that time, getting a season ticket both this year and last (though I was initally not going to renew this year after the pain of last season- a factor that I think may have had an impact on today's crowd).

As an ex-pat Northerner, I love Rugby League and I love having a team I can watch (nearly) on my door step. I've met other ex-pat northerners and curious RU fans (who suprisingly don't all wear top hats and quaff Champagne- and often either have a high level of respect for League or simply apathy/disinterest). I don't know why more people turn up- it's an endless debate that has no easy answer. The only tangible way crowds would increase was if the club had a major backer (like they did with Virgin) who could pay for a top flight team and proper marketing.

With the rise and rise of Union since it went professional, and the media presence of both their National game and the Guiness Premiership, I don't think that's going to happen. If the RFL put money into marketing the club to the South you might see results- but then again, I'm sure that won't make them very popular with the type of people who post on here.

To all those complaining- the current chairman will only keep us afloat for the next three/four years (from the current lot of liscences to the next one), so its ultimately do or die for the club over the next three years. We actually have a core home fanbase of around 1500-2000, which, let's face it, isn't that much lower than a team like Salford (who will obviously attract more away fans). If the team fail to achieve anything and still attract crowds around the 3000 av. level, it's doubtful that we would find new backers and the club would probably fold to the delight of the flatcappers. The sport would go back to being an M62 curiousity that once attempted to be viewed as a national game, but gave up the ghost.

For us, it potentially does....


We play Leeds not on sky, we get 11,000 +.

We play Leeds on sky, its been around the 8,000 mark the last 2/3 years.

So it contributes yes. Just one example though.

Add into that Catalans played on a Tuesday

First two home games on Sky - Warrington and KR - both teams travel well.

Bradford played at 11:30am.

Bradford on the Same day as England V's Germany World Cup knock out, the previous year, we got 9000 for, down to 6000 ish right?

knew i wasnt talking utter tripe, for a change

Castleford have had 4 attendances over 11k this millennium. And not one since prior to their 2nd relegation. and since then only one over 10k, which was against Wakefield and not Leeds. This is indicative of the attendances as a whole falling (as are the averages) rather than an unfortunate coincidence with Sky and Leeds.

Leeds - 2006 - 11,016. Incidentally, the last time it WASNT played on TV.

Nice one Fully


Smokey

As I said

what part of that was your post in response to?

We both know, Leeds not on Sky, crowd = 10+. Trivial argument I know, principle still stands though, imo.

you have had 1 crowd of 10k+ in 5 years which was against Wakefield. Thats nothing to do with Sky.

You have had 4 crowds of 11k this since the year 2000.

To pretend it is Sky's scheduling which prevents Cas getting 10k/11k crowds in nonsense. They very rarely do so. Less than once every 2 seasons over the past 10 years.

I'm not pretending anything I'm just stating a fact.

When we play Leeds for example, we will get crowds of 10/11,000 when its not on sky.

Our biggest attendances the last 2 season have come against Wakefield, both games NOT on sky. That's all i'm stating. Not pretending anything.