Good for you. As for promoting the game in London, I would expect Harlequins RL to do that first before I planned a summer festival of RL in the capital. Until last week, they had failed to carry out anything of note in "marketing" since 2005......the reason the club have an average of 3.500 going into their 31st season, or 6th as QRL has SFA to do with Wembley being rebuilt and more to do with the fact that 99% of the population of Richmond and Twickenham not knowing they exist, let alone the greater poulation.
As for the pit village comment...it was off the cuff and uncalled for....but at least I didn'r generalise like the anti-london poster did, otherwise I would have called you all Monkey Hangers

No, they will be removing the top (temporary tier) and making a few other changes to reduce capacity while keeping the track.



Not if Orient have their way.

Cardiff as a venue is perfect. February isn't.

In May, it's far more clement weather (I grew up in winter rugby, so I can do cold, but 4 games on the bounce can be pretty testing even with roof on), and it causes difficulty for the many people who camp rather than do hotels etc.

There's also a bank hol, which means you can have 2 full days of RL and socialising with fellow fans and leave your journey home until you've slept it off.

If they'd have kept it at Cardiff on the May bank hol, I firmly believe the crowds would have grown and grown.

But many were clamering for it to be the season opener to increase participation

I know, and it worked in respect of getting the season off to a good start as a spectacle - but one which I fear will be a TV event rather than making the effort to get there for the reasons I've already mentioned.

Wel considering SKY pay nearly 17 million a year for it , it isn't really surprising is it

Yes that's why the NR 9 s are so well attended at Lytham

My point was, though, that leaving it at the Bank Hol weekend in May would have seen crowds grow rather than fall.

The crowds increased for the second year in Cardiff, the atmosphere ran seamlessly from ground to pubs to hotels and campsites.

On a cold Feb weekend, with a long journey home after the final game on Sunday, it's a less attractive way to spend a weekend IMO.

I don't disagree , a friend of mine commented something similar at the weekend , they had tried to book late but were given a ridiculous quote , and as you said , camping is not really an option , but at the end of the day , it's not like the RFL to constantly change things is it

Free pies and strippers.

I'm in.

Toughie this....but it could be done.
Second May Bank Holiday and either Wembley (maybe a bit too big to start with) or a 40k/50k wendyball stadium.
Late May gives the pitch plenty of time to recover before the ladies start kicking it around again....so no pitch problems there.
There are no shortage of cheaper hotel rooms at the wekends in London. Regardless of where you hold it, people will complain about the cost of a hotel room......you get what you pay for IMO!
Travelling from anywhere along the M62 to London has got to be easier than to Cardiff.
SELL THE BUGGERY OUT OF IT!
I agree with the earlier posters comments about the RFL not knowing how to promote their game properly, but If the Union Lot can fill Twickenham on boxing day or whenever for a single game of union (not a final, Not a double header, just a normal club game) then surely we can fill a 40 or 50k stadium in the capital.
Also, if it were to be played in London, maybe some of the 1,000,000 League fans that the RFL live there might roll up too.......just a thought.
Oh,,and free pies and strippers too