Quote: PopTart "Don't agree on either point.
Abide With Me is a tradition very worth keeping.
Sung loud and proud around me.
Wembley is the pinnacle. Let's just work on filling it.'"
Quote: PopTart "I think if you aim low you just get lower. Playing semi finals in smaller and smaller stadia in the early 2000s did not boost attendances.
Rugby Union makes its traditions part of its appeal, you don't attract new fans by ripping up your history. It's a bit like the church of England trying to grow its congregations by installing helter skelters.
'"
I've always been opposed to leaving Wembley before, it is the biggest ground in the country and has a status in itself, which I think is important in the status of the Challenge Cup, but at the same time, it does make for an awful experience in comparison to other venues. Maybe moving to July will help, but I'm not convinced. I was chatting to a friend last week (non RL fan) who lives down there and was asking whether it was still a big day out to come down to London, and I just don't think it is in the way it used to be years ago. People travel more, they're more worldly what with the internet and all, a trip down to London isn't exactly a big thing these days, I think that's half the appeal of the final gone. I'd still hold it in London, otherwise the neutral media will totally give up on it, but I think the Emirates in particular could work, the London media is centred around Arsenal, and would embrace it if they could say it is something Arsenal does in a way they won't be fussed about at Wembley. It's a pity that it doesn't hold a bit more than 60k. I think they are looking at changing some things to increase the capacity up to 62-63k. If they get rid of those big seats they have in the lower tiers behind the goals for safe standing, I think it's been said that could push them up to about 68k with the other improvements. It's a pity there isn't a venue that holds about 75k.
RE: Abide With Me. I used to love it, it just felt out of date yesterday. If it is to be kept, at least wait until the players are out on the pitch and the ground isn't half empty. Sing that instead of the national anthem.
Also, let's not to be afraid to make new traditions.
