It was pretty obvious who was going to win (no disrespect to Hull) judging by the relative strength of the two squads and the fact that TS would have fired up the team after the Saints match, so people are saving their cash for next week and hopefully the GF. Fair play really.

We are such a strong side now that there is unlikely to be the same passion of bygone days; people know that we can just turn up to 80% of our games and win (like against Hull), whereas next week will be a challenging fixture, so those who may have stayed away this week will be clamouring for a ticket.

I said this last week.

Include 1/2 playoff games in your ST price. If your team doesn't make the cut or only plays one playoff game, you can then use it as discount in your club store off jerseys, next years ST, etc.
EDIT - Forgot to mention this would increase your ST price by £40 for example so the kitty which is split at the end of the playoffs is not affected financially.

This way we'd more or less have sellouts in each round with ST holders for both home and away support only having to pay for travel.

Interesting Topic. Apologies for the long post..

[uMy situation[/u

My name is Ian 77 Redux; and I didn't go the PlayOff game.

My wife works shifts and started work at 6am on the day. I looked after our little boy all day and she returned from work around 4pm. It didn't seem fair to ask her to take over baby duties at that time, particularly as that's the "busy" part of the day, so, on the basis that it was a) a bit harsh to shoot off the second she arrived b) essentially a Quarter Final and c) it was on TV, I didn't go.

For the avoidance of doubt:-

1 - I absolutely could have gone. It wasn't about money, or not liking the PlayOff format, I simply exercised my right to choose.
2 - I don't feel ashamed at not having gone. Of course I don't.
3 - If (and it's a rather large one) we get to the GF, then I will be going although I probably will watch Saturday's game on TV as well.

There, I've said it. *feels cleansed*

[uCrap Crowds[/u

As for the solution to crap crowds, it's a sympton of the way the sport is set up. Using us as an example, about 75% of our home games are ST holders (as am I). They pay their money up front and and then don't have to fork out for another season for home SL games. People aren't geared to paying for one off home matches, especially when they can catch the game on TV.

Not sure including the price of a PO game in ST would help really because, if memory serves, the competing PO teams split the revenue. You might get better crowds but it would cannibalise sales and clubs might get less money as a result. Dirty little secret is - our game is financially stretched, we need to do whatever breathes cash into clubs, even if, peversely, it puts less bums on seats come PO time.

[uOur club[/u

Discounts and mega cheap tickets have been mentioned. Our club is ran well enough that, if this made any financial sense at all, we'd be doing it. If the club thought they could get the same £ with a 10,000 crowd paying less than a 7,000 they'd be doing it.

One suggestion that might work, and again, they know more about running a professional sports team than I do so they've probably thought it through and discarded it, but, having finished top 2, and with 2 guaranteed home PO games, I wonder if some sort of package along those lines would have helped? Then again, I suppose it's hard to do when you don't know which week you'll be playing.

I just couldn't be bothered going.

If that's true, then don't moan if one day there isn't a club to support.
No offence personally but that attitude will kill off our game and we'd be the much poorer for it.

Does this mean i dont get to wear a t-shirt saying number 1 supporter on it?

Wasn't it the discounting of tickets that put Bradford on a slippery slope ?

I don't know but if it was it was season tickets. We're essentially talking about discounting for a maximum of 2 games.

Tickets shouldn't be discounted in my opinion, it's meant to be the pinnacle of the season, and what all those cheap games that went beforehand have been leading up to.

I know it's hard for a lot of people financially, but are a lot of RL fans just inherently tight compared to those of other sports? And is there the same passion amongst most supporters compared to say football fans for instance?

I'm not sure about the answers to these questions, would be interested to see what others think.

Personally i see ir as season ticktet holders want it all there way.correct me if im wrong but do you get 13 games for price of 10 plus first challenge cup game free and a load of vouchers for discounts for various things.?? Do season ticket holders see themselves above all others?? As you can guess im not a seadon ticket holder for simple fact i work shifts ive often had to use holidays to go to games.my aim in the orignal posting was not to aim it at anyone in paticular but when we have 8000 sth and we have roughly 5000 fans at the game i rest my case.

The fact is people are not going through the turnstiles to this so called pinnacle of the season. Therefore something needs changing. If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got.

You sound really bitter about ST holders.

Although the numbers through the turnstiles are significantly down on their league games attendance, how do you know if of that 5000, they are all ST holders, none are ST holders or 50/50? Fact is we don't. It's probably a combination of your walk up fan who attends when they can and ST holders who have chosen to.

It's more a reflection on the playoffs aren't generating the interest on the fans whether they be "die-hards" or one who attends frequently and picks and chooses their games. Don't forget a one week turn around as well for some people may not be ideal and may already have other commitments.

Hence my call to increase ST prices to include the first 2 playoff games. People will still buy ST's, you're not asking fans to splash out at the business end apart from meaningful games and we'll have more or less full stadia. Add to that, the prize pool will be increased through more sales and the playoffs might just generate the atmosphere that these games deserve. Teams who don't make the playoffs or only play one game get a discount at their club shop. Win win situation in my eyes.
Just an example... Saints would have their 10/11K ST holders through the doors, it would be the 1st game our ST holders have to part with cash almost guaranteeing a full house.