On the crowd issue, I have been to new Wembley 4 times now (2008, 2013, 2016 & 2017) and I don't think Hull have taken a massively different number to all 4 finals (possibly more in 2008, less in 2013) but what has been noticeable is the decline in neutral fans.

You used to see whole blocks of coach trips, club/pub trips, junior RL teams, this year when Hull score about 75% of the ground cheered, and not just because Wigan are unpopular in RL!

I don't feel the August Bank Holiday is the right date for this game anymore, it is too near the end of the season (Hull now have to face Leeds in a crucial game on Thursday with a short turnaround whilst still having victory parade today)

it is also one of the busiest weekends of the year for other events, there has been Creamfields over in Cheshire, Leeds fest in Yorkshire, a full football programme, the McGregor-Mayweather fight, and whilst driving down we saw several small festivals, events and even a big Christian worship festival in Lincolnshire. Diehard RL fans will attend Wembley regardless, but it only takes a few thousand neutrals to spend their money elsewhere to make the crowd drop and there are a lot of other distractions on August Bank Holiday.

Moving the final to July would be better for the flow of the regular season (could play it just before the Super 8s start) and also be better for media attention, while the Football is off SKY will report on anything to fill the airtime.

I don't think moving from Wembley is the answer, the stadium is a draw in its own right due to its history and finally winning there last year meant more than winning in Cardiff did. The RFL need to up their marketing spend and get the interest back, this year looked very much like it was done on the cheap, no 'famous' singer for the anthems, no choir...when the NFL come to town they go all out, we just do it on the cheap and hope for the best.

IMO the Final unfortunately just isn't a big enough occasion anymore for Wembley, and the RFL have only got themselves to blame. Magic has been part of the death, as well as Catalans inclusion in SL perhaps (how much money exactly do the RFL think the average fan has?!), as well as the increased importance and emphasis over the years of the Grand Final, which easily feels like a bigger and more important match these days.
Finally the timing is ridiculous; imagine being (for example) a Leeds fan in Sept 2015 having to find the money for Old Trafford a matter of weeks after likely shelling out tens if not hundreds for Wembley. The two games are just too close.
Principality Stadium in April or May, that's what I'd do. Last week's attendance in that 74,500 stadium would have looked miles better.

Never mind looked miles better I think it would have been better

Go back to playing early in the season without massive gaps between games. So that the excitement can build for supporters.

Think that's more important than the location.

I remember people at the time calling for the CC Final to be moved from May as early rounds were pretty much beimg treated as preseason warm up games by the full time clubs,and folk said that winning a trophy in May was pointless as it meant nothing come the end of the season. Plus it was competing for TV space with the 6 Nations and football.

So unless those issues are to be addressed somehow, putting it earlier in the calendar is unlikely to improve much.

I don't recall that but there seems to be a shift. Ultimately there won't be any time in the year where there isn't a clash with some sporting event.

I just think with changes to the league structure it could add something to the calendar.

Works in football with the league cup early in the season too.