I wouldn't give anything away until the last minute, but, if logistics allow a way to be able to fill seats a few days out if it looks like being a problem, then it might be a consideration. Don't get me wrong, the idea is laden with difficulty including 'why the heck is he getting in for free when I paid?' - that's why, if it has any legs at all, it could only feasibly be a last minute offer to public servants of some type.

If there are empty seats, I don't care who's 'fault' it is, nor am I complaining. I'm saying that *if* there's a prospect of lots of empty seats for a televised match, and there's some feasible solution near the day to help improve the image presented, I'd like to see it. It might not be needed, and it might be an impossibly daft idea. Either way, you need to calm down and realise that nowhere in this thread have I derided the tournament or ignored evidence.

By the way, did you attend the last swimming world championships? I just wondered, because whilst I know absolutely nothing about it, if they had any empty seats, it couldn't [ipossibly [/ibe in any way an issue to be looked at by the people that work in the sport, it could ONLY be the fans fault. Technically that makes it your fault too, because you didn't go. What's that you say? You're not a swimming fan? Oh, right, I thought the idea of world cup was to also attract new fans.

Let's make the consequences of your position clear: None of the bodies involved have ANY responsibility for selling tickets, marketing, or anything else - it is SOLELY the fault of the fans if there are any challenges at all with attendance.

you have said you would. its not completely illogical, it is however pathetic and childish, pointless and counter-productive.

Just jumping into the whole ticket sale conversation. Did anyone hear that the British and Irish Lions sold out the Aus tour in about 15 minutes?

I want to know how the f................k they did that!? According to most I know in Aus union is a non-entity. How did they still out so quickly, even taking into account the wealth of union fans?

I'm convinced they give away tickets recklessly. I know for club rugby that's what they do in England, just straight give away tickets to businesses.

Why not NZ v PNG at headingly, only £15 a ticket, should be a great game.

I'm perfectly calm, you've made numerous negative posts on this thread and now your sole suggestion is an ill-formed idea that you admit isn't very good. In that case why have you made so many negative posts on what was originally a positive thread?

Where did I 'complain'? A poster in this thread pointed out that there would be empty seats at some games. I agreed with that.

Another poster asked what would the critics do differently. I have nowhere in this thread criticized the WC or the ticket sales. You're aware that I don't have much time for the RFL, so you're reading criticism where it isn't there, since you blindly assume every comment has the sole intention of 'being negative'. The problem with that lazy assumption ( as opposed to actual reading ) is that its self-reinforcing.

However, despite rejecting the label of 'critic' in this context, I gave the first thought that entered my head. If I had entered this thread saying "the RFL are doing the WC all wrong" it would be reasonable to demand a good idea from me. Since I didn't, I reserve my right to post half-d ones.

So if you have no criticism of the RFL or the WC preparations up to this point, then why have you made numerous negative posts on a positive thread regarding WC ticket sales? Your initial contribution was that the tournament will be plagued by problems of empty seats, to the extent where the RFL would have to look at giving away tickets en-masse. If you think the RFL have done all the right things up to this point then what could possibly lead you to this conclusion? Why did you object to my assertion that empty seats would be the fault of the fans, surely if the RFL have done everything in their power and you still expect there to be empty seats then only one party is to blame for that?

You're free to do whatever you want, just don't expect not to be picked up on when you make bizarre, illogical posts, especially when you then claim to be a realist and that other posters are deluded for not agreeing with you.

1) I didn't realise threads were marked from the start as 'positive' or 'negative'. Next time someone starts a 'negative' thread, you'll promise not to post an opinion on it, right?

2) "So if you have no criticism of the RFL or the WC preparations up to this point, then why have you made numerous negative posts on a positive thread regarding WC ticket sales?""Why did you object to my assertion that empty seats would be the fault of the fans, surely if the RFL have done everything in their power and you still expect there to be empty seats then only one party is to blame for that?" False dichotomy. Has it never occurred to you that NOBODY might be to blame? Why are you obsessed with trying to guess who I'm blaming, or for that matter, blaming the fans yourself?. We are where we are - if you must blame someone for the fact that we probably won't sell-out every ground, where do you want to start? Pick anything or anybody starting with the RFU circa 1895.

Not saying that the tickets as they are wont sell, but as you asked....

No double header in Cardiff..........when Wales v Italy on, there will be about 70,000 empty seats on show.
No double header semi-final.....see above Australia v Fiji willbe played out in front of 80,000 emptyseats....

These 2 events offer 165,000 tickets (33% of the tournament total) and will be LIVE on TV.......that's too many PR eggs in one basket IMHO......the casual observer is what we want to attract to become future fans.....emptyseats don'tcreate astampede.....sold out stadiums do!

Wales v Italy at the Gnoll.......England v Australia at Loftus Road or Craven Cottage, a semi at the KC, the other at the John Smiths stadium......

I'd also have Australia v Ireland and PNG V NZ played at the stoop......where you'd get closer to 30k combined there than you will as it stands. And France v PNG in france.......caravan park doesn't sellout for HKA games for christs sake..


as I say, they may sell out as they are.....but I sincerely doubt it.

oh...one more thing.
I am sat in bed watching the WCC on an illegal video feed from the UK........Adverts for soccer, health lottery, fosters, my protien, ladbrooks ap, uncle bens rice..........nothing about the RLWC 2013.

I'd have run a teaser ad for the RLWC........nothing major, just a teaser. There will be a fair few crims watching this game in bars in London......maybe an ad for organised trips to stab city for the Ireland v Aussie game? Maybe a 72 quid Aussie/NZ game pack?

Cracking idea. Maybe they'll do it closer to the time.

Maybe they will....., but todays game represents a better chance of Australian/Kiwi eyeballs actually watching the RL.......it's a Jingoistic ANZAC thing.

Obviously the thread was intended to be a positive one, I don't think that's a difficult concept to grasp. This was a thread about encouraging World Cup ticket pre-sales, I think it's pretty obvious that the intention was not for individuals with agendas to talk about how the competition is doomed from the start. Your first contribution was to agree with a troll who claimed that stadia will be 'embarrassingly half-empty'. You haven't expressed an opinion, you and others have hijacked the thread by posting unsubstantiated garbage.