franchising is more than just those 3 clubs but its a start.

get the worst clubs to improve their standard and then hopefully put pressure on clubs higher up

and the turnaround at widnes is also because of franchising

rather than wasting all their money on winning the champ final clubs now realize they have to do much more to get a SL spot

Don't you think Bradford's crowds would have dropped at a new stadium if they were poor on the pitch?

+ when Bradford played at an all-seater stadium (Valley Parade) IIRC the crowds were either the same or slightly lower then at Odsal.

there were perceptions by bulls fans of being 2nd class citizens to a 2nd class soccer team, and problems with stewarding

i think if the bulls had a modern ground the drop off in crowds would be far less.

its hard getting fans to be loyal when the amenities are poor.

and take out all the maintance the bulls are spending on odsal and put that in a better first team and the crowds wouldve been better.

Crowds fell at Valley Parade. Towards the end, pretty significantly.

The Bulls' falling crowds were not primarily because of the ground.

The Bulls' Family Stand holds 5,300, is relatively modern and there are plenty of facilities - apart from integral bars etc it is little different to stands at "new" stadia. Yet of late it has been less than half full.

The Bulls' Coral Stand seats around 800, and is on a par with the corporate facilities at most "modern" stadia.

That is 6,100 covered seats and reasonable facilities.

Bulls spent the salary cap every year apart from last year (strange, but true...) - sorry Dally, but your argument ther is bollox again. Its not the playing staff that extra funds are needed for, its the coaching and support staff and marketing and everything else that you usually need a rich owner to bankroll.

Odsal is far from great; but its far from being the principal reason for the serious decline in Bulls' crowds.

I agree - Odsal is unique and a ground I always look forward to visiting. If the facilities were the primary cause of falling attendances, surely that decline would be most evident in the away teams' support as it's them (us) who suffer most?

www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 396&type=1 Wigan sold over 8000 Season Tickets in four weeks.

www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 396&type=1 Wigan sold over 8000 Season Tickets in four weeks.

I understand where you're coming from, however the 8,000 mentioned are all renewals, therefore had season tickets last year before they were Champions.

Are you sure? I'm aware that this announcement has been made just after the renewal deadline but I think it includes the total number bought by both new buyers and renewalsThe figure comes after Friday's Renewal Deadline and represents a 1,500 increase on the equivalent date in 2009 as both existing season ticket holders and new Warriors fans have been snapping up their tickets to watch the Champions in action throughout Twenty11.

'"

That 8,000 figure is the total amount sold for both new and existing season ticket holders

more money on maintenance = less money for other things like marketing, and less on support staff does impact the playing side of things

odsal has been a big thorn in the clubs side, esp. with the maintenance

as more clubs get their grounds updated odsal is going to hold the bulls back

Have you been to the back of the family stand at odsal, toilets in a shabby old condition burger vans out to the elements

if thats true fair enough but from what ive read the maintenance costs were a big issue and from that i concluded any rent from a new ground would be less than that.

honestly though 10 years down the track something has to happen with odsal.

if every other club gets a new ground the bulls will get left behind