Many have said that Leeds bucked the trend by winning from 5th. Two years in a row means that I would say they might have set a new trend. Attendances may or may not have been affected by this but its not the only reason.

a) Friday night, Monday night games affect attendances
b) Fixtures being changes at short notice (applies to latter end of season) mean plans cannot be altered.
c) Short of spare cash due to the economic position doesnt help
d) Dare I suggest that the increase in use of smart phones and tablets, couple with the availability of dubious websites means people can watch from home without laying out the cost for SKY.
e) Maybe even expected success in the cup means people are (even at this early stage) planning for a family holiday down south in August.
f) and YES......the "it doesnt matter for 27 weeks" DOES affect it as well.

Attendance for last weeks Saints game was 13,381. So after 3 home games our attendances are down by 5.6%.

Is that a like for like comparison against the same teams or from the same number of opening fixtures?

Is that game for game i.e same opponent.
In Wigans case down by 9%
Saints down by 16%

Yes, the figures are like for like against last years opponents at the HJ.

Thanks for the Wigan / Saints figures B.

Given Saints abject form, Wires weakened squad, Friday night commitments, the weather and the apathy of the league format I actually thought Friday's attendance was quite reasonable.

Following this 5.6% fall in attendance I can now accurately predict that in 20 years time our average gate will be 5,000.

League Express articles, 2033;

" I may hang my boots up next year, but I will see how things go and talk with the coach before making any sudden decisions"
Adrian Morley

"After reviewing the budget, we can confidently say that the cladding will definitely be in place next year"
St Helens CEO

" Absolutely shocking. I can not understand why the RFL seem incapable of stamping out punching and fighting, it has no place in RL"
Gareth Hock, Coach Widnes Vikings


[iThe super rich NRL in Oz have started buying up UK SL clubs and are turning them into feeder clubs.[/i

" Yeah, they should be a really good asset for us. We will probably re-name them Headingly Stormlets"
Melbourne CEO

" This is not how partnering was supposed to have developed, it's degrading, and as chairman of 'Save the Rhino's' I am asking for everyones financial support to buy back this great club"
Gary Hetherington

" I really feel for Gary, it's a black day indeed. We will of course help as much as we can (muffled laughter)"
Hunslet Coach

Very good Chaz, although your crystal ball missed the obvious headline, "2033 THE year of the Wolfs"