Quote Donnyman="Donnyman"I agree with that "generalisation" to a point but do "plenty" actually buy the season tickets for say both Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos? Or Wigan and Wigan Athletic?'"
I've really no idea about dual season ticket numbers but that wasn't the point I was directly responding to. Although I did have season tickets for both and the general rule was a 4 game clash put my RL season ticket on a par with pay per game. Additionally your two choices particularly Wigan as examples are interesting as I thought (stands to be corrected) that the rugby and football club's don't mix that well? but that's not the same thing as not following rugby and football
The issue that I had with your post was that you seemed to suggest that there were two types of sports follower, pretty much determined at an early age and that it would be a hard sell to convert one to the other,
I disagree with this proposition as I think that there are large numbers who follow both sports and of that group there are plenty of disillusioned football supporters that our game (yes I've plumped for RL as my primary interest) should target. Not only is it a better game IMO, more action without the histrionics, players haven't lost all sense of 'normal' life or the community they represent.
Our game is accessible in comparison to a trip to Old Trafford or Anfield so perhaps the real issue is getting the football fans out of the pub when a match is on to watch some live sport, although disappointingly the same can be said of RL followers, the amount of times I've been stopped after a game on the pub doorstep "how have the Wire gone on"? is something that I wish we could address and improve upon as I'm sure that this happens elsewhere?
I get the "for £20 I can watch the game in comfort and have X pints" so we as a game we might struggle to convert that cash into club income through a turnstile but it's not a bad place to start or at least shouldn't be overlooked