It's woeful, and disappointing. I'm from Hull, live out of town, and came back into the City for the match. Plenty of West Yorkshire accents all around me, so I'd say the drop off was from locals. Here's why:
- Hull is not an affluent area, the pricing strategy was wrong for this game - £50 for a half way line ticket is just ridiculous.
- It appears that there no co-ordination on marketing with either of the clubs. It's a myth that Rovers fans won't go to KCOM - for Derby matches they regularly take 3k. Here's an idea: why didn't the RFL give Rovers a 'section' (or the South Stand) to sell to season ticket holders for a small discount to insensitive the club to promote the match. People might disagree with the idea of creating a Rovers colony within the ground for an international match, but I reckon it would've at least shifted some tickets. Bigger question - why aren't all (at least Yorkshire) clubs given an allocation of tickets to try shift?
- There was almost an 'anti-campaign' from the clubs if you think about it: in the last few weeks (where I suspect the RFL imagined they'd sell most of their tickets given their 'marketing (or press releases sent to the Hull Daily Mail) kicked), both clubs have released their 2019 shirts. In fact, Rovers have released 2 shirts. How do they think people will have spare cash to buy tickets for the match when they're spending £50-100 at least on a shirt(s). Surely the RFL could've got the clubs to hold back their shirt releases until after the match, or perhaps do something innovative whereby if you bought a ticket for the match you got £X off one of the new shirts?
- There was no effort to make it feel like a big match. No pre-match / half time entertainment announcements, no fan park, no City Centre activity to create buzz. It was like: ''pay yer £50 for a ticket for 80 mins rugby in the cold and rain and be happy with it'.

It's been the first time I've been back to KCOM in a few years and I was quite surprised that it's starting to get a bit shabby, especially in the concourse area. I didn't feel as 'new' as it used to. It seems like the management company are not investing in upkeep beyond the pitch, and it distinctly feel's like Hull City's stadium with all their signage (can't believe the RFL didn't cover the Hull City sign above the tunnel).

Overall, it feels like the RFL did the whole thing on the cheap.

Or as one poster would put it
2012 - 11k + club Wembley empty seats
2013 -12k + club Wembley empty seats
2014 - 12k + club Wembley empty seats
2015 - 9k + club Wembley empty seats
2016 - 13k + club Wembley empty seats
2017 - 22k empty seats
2018 - 39k empty seats

This. Well said. I’d be considering the following grounds for the likely series against Australia in 2020 (England’s next games). Elland Road, City of Manchester Stadium, Old Trafford, Anfield, London Olympic Stadium and Wembley

look forward to those 30000 plus empty seats at these bigger stadia!

I called Ruune a troll because of his comments after the first test match about how it was rubbish and him "thanking god for England v South Africa at Union, which was better".....not because I disagree with him.......because he was trolling!

As for Sir Kevin. He has a track record of slagging off both Wakefield and Leigh in the hope of getting a nibble....given he is a Leeds fans, who has fewer than 4% of his posts on the Leeds boards, it's pretty fair to assume that if it walks like a duck and quacks like one, then it's probably what it walks and talks like.....he started this thread and felt the need to include the attendance at an England B fixture because it was having a pop at leigh.....ask Leigh fans if he's a troll!

I didn't call you a troll, I just pointed out the hypocrisy of slagging off Hull with 25% unsold seats whilst applauding Anfield with 50% unsold.......

5,700 unsold seats at Elland Road. A stadium spitting distance from SL sides Leeds, Castleford, Wakefield and Huddersfield as well as Championship heavyweights Bradford and Halifax....hardly awe inspiring.

76,069 over 3 games, down from 92,660 3 years ago......I'd say that rather than slag off the venues, the people responsible for marketing this vastly reduced gate(18%) should be taken to task. You don't have to agree with my stance and if you don't, it won't make you a troll, just someone happy to lay blame where it isn't deserved.