We are averaging 6,886 at the moment so far this season.

What is Widnes anticipated crowd for SL, is there a buzz around the town about being back in the big time?

Not sure about "the town" but as a neutral observer .....................

First match - 11,000.

Regular gate - i estimate 7,000 to 8,000 at the start. After that it depends on how they go. If they can hold their own and push for top six i see no reason why they can't reach the five figure mark regularly. Steve O'Connor seems pretty shrewd and i'm sure he's going to back his intentions up with a marketing policy to "big up" their status in and around the local catchment area. If they start bad and get bitch slapped like they did yesterday on a regular basis at the beginning then people aren't going to come and watch that - this could hold their gates back to the 5,000 mark.

Long term, with Steve O'Connor at the helm i think they'll make a decent mark on SL - both in results (eventually) and in stature. Would be great to see Widnes and Warrington on a level par.

Great post Rich. Weve set up a membership scheme and the aim is 7000. If we achieve this, with a good away support i can see us passing the 10k barrier once or twice in the first season. We did reach 9,800, 9/900 against Saints and Wire and with the better management we have in place, hopefully we can exceed this. Like you say though, it all comes down now to how we play next season.

wow

i got derided on another RL forum for saying widnes would get 6000 - 7000 in their first season in SL.

good to see

6000 - 7000 in your first season would be good to see.

Hope so.

easily. we were selling out 4-5 home games a year for the first two seasons in superleague. and that was before our friends in warrington had their influx of johnny come latelys in recent years, which will only add to demand for our derbies against them. we all know at least 3 thousand muppets who have gone missing for the past six years will suddenly be 'hardcore fans' again on a regular basis just like last time. and lets not forget, besides leigh, and to a lesser extent Fax and Fev we dont really get any away supporters at our place now.

I am comparing us to Crusaders if you read the post properly

FFS give the guy a chance. He has only been in charge for a couple of months and already the club is run more professionally. The simple fact is we are a more sustainable business without Andrew Glover than quins are without your backer, same as can be said for Crusaders.

No not at all. I want to see my team win and I want to see them win with flair. The RFL told us that we had to improve our youth set up, this in turn has had a detrimental effect on the 1st team. Widnes were fortunate enough to win the NRC in 2009 so it gave us the opportunity to concentrate on off field matters. Halifax and Barrow had the same opportunity a couple of months later but chose not to, especially on the youth side.

I personally think the team that wins the league at the end of the season should be crowned as champions. I am sure you would agree that Fev were the best and most consistent team in the league last season but didnt end up champions as a result of a one off game. At the end of the day the rules have now changed so whether we agree with the situation or not we cannot change it.

By the way its £12 to get in at Widnes (if you buy in advance) and £16 to get in at Leigh so I dont know where you get the £18 from.

i was thinking 600/7000 yr 1
maybe 10,000 by years 3 - 5

if the ground is consistantly full then fill in the corners and push towards 18k cap early days i know but thats how i think

Dare to dream!

I think with the set up and backing that Widnes have got they will follow a similar path to what Warrington have. I hope so as it seems they're almost growing too big for their new stadium now and having to redevelop it again.

agree with all of that

widnes will easily be another warrington in SL, and it wont take long either

looks a very tidy ground on TV, mistook if for the HJ tbh

Utter bollox , your investement in a good youth set up is not your excuse for a poor 1 st team performance over the last 2 years , that is purely down to poor recruitment and coaching , just like any other club