It's strange, but the quality of atmosphere has waxed and waned over the years, not always in line with the performances on the field. Sometimes, quite the opposite. I was a regular up till 2013 when I moved down south, so I can't comment on the last few years, but for me there were a few "peaks" in the atmosphere at home games, from when I started in 1989/90:

- My very first memories, in late 1989 when we beat Widnes just after they had won the WCC and won the Lancashire Cup. Also the run to Wembley that season.
- The Jonathan Davies era, 1993 to 1995.
- The later DVDV era, 1999 to 2001. We were inconsistent as heck but pulled off some big wins over top teams at home and the atmosphere on those games especially evening games on Sky, was buzzing.
- The early Cullen era: last year at Wilderspool and first year or two at the HJ, similar to the later DVDV era with some cracking individual wins over big clubs or Widnes, Nat Wood to the fore.
- The turnaround in fortunes in 2009 from the point TS took over to winning at Wembley. This also continued in to 2010 which was the first time we'd had a season where we could look forward to home games expecting to win most weeks.

One thing I had noticed starting to affect the atmosphere most weeks from 2011 onwards, was a change in mindset that only the playoffs really count. Before we were really contenders, every week mattered more. We didn't expect to win trophies and so winning derbies or turning over top teams in league games meant a lot more back then. That cliche of "beating a big club is their cup final" is used in a derogatory way, but it really boosts the atmosphere for supporters of less successful clubs, at league games.

Drums. Just leave them to Phil Collins, Chester Thompson, Neil Peart etc.

Other musical instruments. Seriously. WTF? Just go away.

Someone previously mentioned THAT Leeds song. God, I'm envious. I know it's the height of 70's kitsch, but it's FANTASTIC. Whenever I hear it on Sky, I'm almost singing it myself.

Times change, so do team's locations. We're never going to recreate the Fletcher End. Those days are gone, as now our fan base has moved from a hugely predominant young to old male base, to a more family based support. Imagine someone striking up "Oh Warrington, is wonderful. It's full of......"nowadays. There'd be be 6 heartattacks, and a string of Millennials crying "you can't sing that" into their iced lattes.

Again, someone mentioned a forced atmosphere. Don't get me started on that Godawfull 5 second bugle call, after every time we score/need motivating.

Play decent, attractive rugby, which excites the crowd, and the atmosphere will return. It wasn't exactly a library, under Smith's open rugby years.

Taking each paragraph on, sally
1. That night against Widnes, is amongst the best ever. Our peak (for atmosphere) was probably the early Boyd years. Cold Sunday afternoons, coupled with the stench of pie and peas and Greenall's Bitter farts, seemed to bring the best out of the crowds. No wonder opposition players used to call it The Zoo

2. The Monday night game (when the floodlights failed) v Fax, and (one of the several) Davies wonder tries.

That Saturday afternoon at Knowsley Rd 93 on Grandstand in the Regal Trophy, at the Kop end, was SENSATIONAL. I had perfect strangers coming up to me in the Time Square that night, after getting my ugly mug on the telly, a couple of times.

Oh, and the Brian Johnson's Barmy Army chant for 80 mins, v Sheffield in 94

Which leads onto 3, and where I believe the problem lies.
Expectation
We now expect to win most games, so most people don't have the motivation to cheer/shout etc as much. Its almost as if we're lazy. When we were the [iplucky underdog, [/ithe crowd raised their game. Since a few CCs and LLSs, there's been an air of apathy.

My missus is a Salford fan and I've been to a few games at the AJ Bell.

Trust me, it could be a lot worse . . .

Spectators would be nice, let alone an atmosphere

You get served really quickly though.

Swings and roundabouts.

You're always going to be on to a lose with the atmosphere when you can't hear yourself think because of the loud music before the game and at half time.

This was mentioned to the club when we we first got to the play offs on a regular basis. They turned the music off for the Leeds game (I think) and it worked. God knows why they reverted back.

Salford have the bet atmosphere in ratio to numbers in the league IMO. They have some decent drumless songs.

True, they can make a racket when they have numbers.

And yeah, their songs are better than ours, I'll give them that.

Best atmosphere was the famous 80+20 minute 'Barmy Army-Barmy Army' chant at Wigan in defeat of our top 5 play off finish it think it might have been.
It was unreal.

Wasnt there but agree about the Joey John's match. Seĺ out and bouncing from minute 1.

Things have definitely changed if the teenage/20s age group Wire fan today is the iced latte "easily offended" brigade. Even back when I was a regular 6 or 7 years ago they were still the kind of scally you see hanging outside Spar swigging cider from the bottle.