'Call me god' I'd like to call you out on somethings my friend. Why do you insist on calling places 'pit villages' and no doubt 'holes' you seem to be so dismissive of the culture rugby league was built on. If you're the sort of fan expansion breeds then we can bugger off back to 'the good old days' One word: Muppet

Was built on, not anymore. A different kettle of fish these days. You can't sustain something that is dying. Kids from those areas are not interested in RL as much as previous generations, hence why the game must move on.
My take on it anyway.

You don't have a clue about kids from 'those areas' you clown. How do you see rugby league going then? As I'm sure you've got an interesting view

Wembley is awful. Sanitised dull atmosphere. I'm sure that puts off a lot of neutrals who traditionally attended. I'd expect 50,000 this year. Problem is, that's just over half full. Get the final up North, or maybe Millennium until big sponsors start paying interest in the Cup again

Rubbish. There will be no less than 70,000 and possibly more than 80,000. Many neutrals are excited by the performance of Catalans, and will go to Wembley because they want to see an exciting and closely fought final.

not a freaking chance! and I'm a wire fan. There wasn't 80,000 there when we played Hull or Leeds

Theyll be 40,000 there officially. But they'll bump it up to at least 50k

Must every thread and nearly ever reply on this forum be between an idiot from Leigh vs an idiot pretending to be not from the north?

If anything, that would be aptly described as "A Disaster!"

well, looking at the challenge cup tickets page, they're selling reasonably well in the warrington end, and only just going on general sale this morning.

I don't know where the free tickets are that the rfl are giving to lower league and community clubs, but the catalans end looks a little weird at the moment.

Elton is washing his too but is still going to the game. He'll pick it up on the way home!

I very much doubt it will have any bearing on the neutral supporters turning up, we go every year and book our trip months in advance. Am I anymore excited with it been Catalan? Not at all, but equally I am not dissapointed that it is Catalan opposed to a Leeds or Saints.

The problem for the attendance is that most other SL clubs would take 20k+ and realistically Catalan might take a few thousand,not a dig at the Catalan club, that is just the way it is with the costs and hassle of getting over to London... As already mentioned it would be great for the Catalan club to supplement a trip for them, if they can throw hundreds of thousands bringing over a waste of a shirt like Dave Taylor then they surely can put something towards there loyal fan base who have stuck by them this season! Whatever the attendance is I expect them to add 10k.

When is it that you think that "big sponsors" will start paying again ??

We wont attract any big sponsors if we play the game along the M62, with the showpiece final somewhere along the M62.

The main issue with the Challenge Cup final is that it's no longer the end of season "showpiece" event that is always was.
The Grand Final is now set up as THE big event in the RL calendar and this, and the Challenge Cup finale being played mid season, the final has lost some of its appeal.
It's a real shame and as a neutral, I'd take Wembley over the Grand Final every time.

I can't see there being more than 70k this year, road and railway works, bank holiday weekend its getting more difficult to get to London these days. Also as already mentioned the new Wembley has lost its charm, if you are high up in the stands you lose the atmosphere and you start thinking there is a game of rugby league way down there.

As for the game itself hope its a good advert for our sport and the winning score towards the latter part of the game.

There were 68000 there for Hull v Wigan and 76000 there for Wire v Hull the year before. There will not be 70000 there this year and will only 80000 there once a decade if that.