Quote: Odem "I couldn't agree with this more. But the RFL should be putting together a strategy for the league to increase attendances at all levels which would include focussing on the target markets you have mentioned.
Some clubs have very limited resources and the RFL could assist them with communications, marketing materials etc. along with a 'league wide' strategy like they have in the NRL.
The RFL can certainly help put things in place to increase memberships at all levels, it is working in the NRL and in other sports.'"
I thought Wigan were getting it about right around 2010-2012 but it's gone a bit awry of the last couple of seasons. We got up to about 11k ST holders and managed to settle on an average of about 16k. This was helped by initatives such as the Big One, Heritage Day and St George's Day (admittedly all of which involved free/discounted tickets), alongside our big draws such as Saints, Warrington and Leeds. Since then ST holder numbers have dropped, our average has dropped by about 1500-2000 and the marketing initiatives seem a little less prominent.
There is a growing apathy amongst fans to the current league system, and I think a lot more fans are picking and choosing games rather than getting a ST. Moving games to first Mondays and now Thursdays for Sky won't have helped (the most recent one Wigan have had announced is HKR away which will likely see less than half that would have travelled for Sunday afternoon).
I hope both the RFL and the clubs are just going through the motions this year ready for a big push when the new structure kicks in (not holding my breath). For starters I think the clubs need to offer STs that cover both before and after the split (think I've read somewhere that Leeds are doing this, hopefully the rest follow suit). Hopefully with more to play for, a greater emphasis on finishing higher up the table and more games between the better sides there will be a natural increase in attendances anyway.