People sometimes raise the question, "why are RL fans so obsessed with attendances?", or words to that effect. It is often pointed out that club RU doesn't do dramatically better, and county cricket attendances are appalling.

Here's why it's so much more important to our game: Domestic attendances are critically important to RL, because both the above sports are driven by the international game, whereas ours is not. If attendances at RU internationals were problematic, RU would have a problem. Likewise with Test Matches in cricket. For us, our main source of ticket revenue by a mile is the club game. Moreover, it's also only only major source of media profile. That's why it matters, and why we can't ignore it.

You and dboy do remember that Wakefield only drew a 2,000+ attendance at your last home game,don't you ?
The criteria drawn up by the RFL for the initial licensing was 12,000 seater stadia,if I recall correctly.
The new owner at Salford has the priority of having the coaching team assembled;then the recruitment of players and then some way down the line the matter of increasing attendances will be addressed.
Just as at Wakefield the walk-up price is a couple of quid more than pre-booked.
Season ticket sales have been a problem with the late takeover and with the game being televised the attendance was low.
It is history now.I can safely predict that the attendance for the next home game v Bradford Bulls will see an improvement.
Panic over...
I expect a huge contingent of Wakefield fans at the next televised home game at Salford on Monday 10th June...ko.7.45pm...No excuses !

The 10k wasn’t a figure that was picked out of the air, it is the figure which when a clubs expected costs are calculated, a 10k average ‘should’ allow a club to pay the SC and be sustainable.

That figure isn’t going to change even if some clubs aren’t reaching it.

IIRC the 10K figure was used as part of the grading criteria and failure to hit the average counted against clubs when the licences were handed out.
We all know that the previous licence system needs changing in the future, but the benchmark is still there, even if it is not attainable by most clubs in SL.

I'm not so sure.
Last time we played (at Leigh), there were 1800 - 1900 Wakey fans out of a crowd of 2300.
If it's anything like that, even Dr K, will be pleased with the revenue

The country is entirely irrelevant. Whether you like to accept it or not, Nobby got the new version of the Crusaders to the play offs when they had been in administration the season before and the finance guy (who I believe is English but went to live in Australia) turned around a club in Australia which was on the verge of bankruptcy when he joined it. So really, in the two most important areas, Salford now have two individuals who have experience in turning things around for the better from pretty desperate beginnings.

I hope Salford really do well out of this. Once the momentum starts to pick up - and maybe the club and it's most loyal fans will have to wait until there is a more experienced team for the momentum to really start going - then assuming the marketing is directed appropriately, the spectator numbers should start increasing.

How do you know what the situation is like outside the M62?

I remember going to the double header at Wembley for the Four Nations in 2011 and I've never heard so many southern English accents (and a few other European accents too) at a rugby league match. They were everywhere. And according to the RLWC2013 office, some 60% of tickets sold so far have gone to postcodes not already on the RFL database. In addition, the sport sold its largest ever block booking of tickets last week: 1000 to amateur clubs in London and 500 to St Albans Centurians amateur club.

I think there are a lot of rugby league fans who are desperate for our game to fail. It's a weird mentality but it appears to be a prevelant one among the fanbase.

Well you've been quiet for the last few pages. Still breathless from the effort and excitement served up by your team yesterday no doubt.

Pretty sure that is the basis of Koukash's entire business plan as well. Excellent point, well made.

It wasn't my suggestion, it was SeaDivers.

The point is factually robust either way.

I'd made my point. Were you expecting a song and dance routine?

Sorry that it offends you so, but it was still a poor game. The quality of other games (and fwiw, there was plenty of commitment from both sides yesterday) doesn't alter the quality of the one under discussion.