BBC Sport are in Salford, not Manchester.

Good point Terry on your Greater Manchester knowledge but it's hardly 'Tipperary' I think that they had offices in Trafford previously, a short walk across the bridge from Media City which didn't seem to offer any traction

I think that the game as had a few plugs on the Beeb to be fair and I'm not going to stress about the attendance as long as we are well represented and get behind the team I do think that a change in date would help teams with SL play off ambitions and attracting neutrals

It's the date that is wrong, not the venue.

Totally agree, the only justification I can think off is that it's midway ish between Magic and the GF other than that there's not much to commend it

The 2007 final, Saints vs Catalans, was played on this weekend (25/8/2007) and attracted 84,241.

The reason the attendance is going to be low, in my opinion, is because the sport is losing it's appeal for a variety of reasons. This is why attendances are falling at club grounds too.

That's an official attendance not the actual attendance.
These 16.5K? Club Wembley empty seating allocation included in that. So it was nearer 68k.

I was there in there in the gods that day....you could have sat wherever you wanted up there.

Quote: rubber duckie "That's an official attendance not the actual attendance. These 16.5K? Club Wembley empty seating allocation included in that. So it was nearer 68k. I was there in there in the gods that day....you could have sat wherever you wanted up there.'" Looks pretty full to me www.catalansdragons.com/en/artic ... -histoire/

Quote: rubber duckie "That's an official attendance not the actual attendance. These 16.5K? Club Wembley empty seating allocation included in that. So it was nearer 68k. I was there in there in the gods that day....you could have sat wherever you wanted up there.'" Looks pretty full to me www.catalansdragons.com/en/artic ... -histoire/

Hello Warrington fans . The Catalan Area was more heavily patronised than I expected when I bought my ticket . Holiday flights for tourists have made it very difficult for Dragons fans to get here.
I understand on the other hand that bogus competitions are enabling English fans to get what are in effect free tickets .

The thing that is really annoying me is the uslessness of French carriage systems .I bought my replica shirt 2 weeks ago and it still has not arrived.

As to the match may the better team win .

So, assuming no-one sat in Club Wembley seats on that day, we will only be the 18K down on this event 11 years ago. No cause for concern for the game?

I expect less than 50,000 and a muted atmosphere.

this game even if Catalan Win and the great achievement that will be, will do irreparable damage to the Challenge Cup.

the RFL have been nothing short of disgraceful in their inability to do anything!!!!

short turnaround from semi to final....a Bank Holiday weekend, School summer Holidays, peak Holiday weeks, continual travel disruptions (well since I've been going since 2009).
declining attendances, pitiful media work, pitiful salesmanship. just an absolute crime to watch the mismanagement of the sport to an extent people will soon start to discuss if the Challenge cup should a) be scrapped or B) be moved to a smaller northern venue like the Etihad.


RIP the Challenge cup....

anyway try and enjoy the day....!!!

They must have been virtual & not real people.

We all enjoyed watching the Dragons play so well to beat Saints. You deserve to be in the final, and it's a great effort for even a few thousand of your supporters to get to Wembley considering the cost and the August holiday season in France. Sorry your shirt hasn't arrived, just wear something red and yellow, sang et or!

Tous le monde a aimé regarder les Dragons jouer si bien pour battre les Saints. Vous méritez d'être en finale, et c'est un grand effort pour quelques milliers de vos supporters de se rendre à Wembley, compte tenu des coûts et de la periode des fêtes d'août en France. Désolé votre chemise n'est pas arrivée, je suggère que vous portiez simplement quelque chose de rouge et jaune, sang et or!

I would love to know what the marketing strategy is. I know the RFL send me a few emails in the year but is that it?

For a final in a world city with a population of 8.8M with 250,000 French nationals living there to have to close the top tier it is a monumental failure.

bon post et bon chance