And there we have it in a nutshell.
Are we"
A/ The greatest Game? If so, why aren't sponsors, TV executives and Global Billionaires kicking the door down and financing us?
B/ A small parochial sport that punches well above it's weight in terms of TV revenue in the UK, but which can't find the courage to break free of it's history and strike out for expansion at the expense of smaller clubs, because it's too king hearted to do so?
C/ Doomed to be the slave of whichever TV company pays the most?

Yes thats right if you want to be up in the gods. The vast majority of people don't though.

I was on Row 1 of the upper tier. My ticket wasn't for there, but there was thousands of empty seats so it wasn't hard to move. I've been to the new Wembley 15 times for RL, football and NFL so I know from experience the view I had was far better than behind the sticks in the lower tier. I wouldn't call it "the gods".

I'm sure you were and I'm sure you have. I'm just saying that the vast majority of fans are put off by buying upper tier tickets as they don't think they'll be able to enjoy watching it from that height. I myself have sat in each end, side, corner and elevation at Wembley and the best views I ha was the halfway line half way up the upper tier.

My point is, In a sport where our supposedly working class fan base turn their nose up and grumble at the cost of things making the tickets cheaper and selling more is surely good business sense.

for a family of 4 to go to Wembley behind the sticks this year could cost circa £330. £130 on tickets, £100 on travel and up to £100 on food and drink easy.

£130 on tickets
£60 on fuel
£20 on parking
4x Packed lunch. (£20 if you go to M&S Foodhall)
£30 McDonalds just off M1 below Leicester Forest services

Just saved you £80 there pal.

The problem is they are sold off cheap enough reducing it further won't attract new fans. Or significant add to it on its own.

The challenge Cup could be a domestic 9s tournament all played over a 4 day Bank Holiday with teams from the super league and championship.

Create more of a festival about it over the one weekend loads of different shirts hustle n bustle around Wembley over the weekend social media boosts to attract younger rugby fans in the London area add value for money by one ticket admits to all games. Lots to do outside fans areas have the games played on big screens around London.

It also reduces the number of games played a little which I think helps maybe we could have some kind of origin series yorks v lancs again or just give the players a rest?

Nice idea but, who would want to fork out the cost of a Wembley trip to watch a "nothing" nines competition, when most clubs would send "reserve" sides, to protect their main squad for more important fixtures.

Personally, I'm not sure that 9's has anything like enough "pull" to draw anything close to fill (or half fill) Wembley.

Nor does the full 13 a side with first team players. We wouldn't be having these discussions if it was near capacity.

I'm just thinking out if the box as the one thing most agree with us somthing needs to change but aside from reducing price of tickets no real idea match day entertainment should be a given but what changes are we talking to refresh it?

Alternative ideas play semi n final over the weekend, take the final to Australia.

Isn't the Challenge cup just dead now?

I know it's full of tradition but maybe fans just don't care about it that much these days.

Maybe it's time for something new.

I certainly don't think it's just about ticket prices. If the competition has lost its appeal then cutting the ticket prices won't really make much difference.

It’s just a Mickey Mouse cup now. Just like all other sports domestic cup comps.

However. It gives teams who have no chance of winning super league an opportunity to win something

Correct, I'm always at least interested in going to the CC final and have been loads of times. Wouldn't be bothered in the slightest about a 9s tournament unless for some reason I was already in London and could get a very cheap ticket. Winning it holds no prestige like the CC does and like you say, guaranteed it would be reserves too. Not sure I'd even watch on TV to be honest, not that BBC would give airtime to a full tournament like that anyway.

you would say that having been well beaten in the last couple of years