Comparing the Play Off attendances against the equivalent SL fixtures.

Warrington V Huddersfield - 10006 v 10283 (-2.7%)

Disappointing considering that we were collecting the LL Shield.


Catalans V Hull KR - 8413 v 8252 (+1.9%)

Good effort especially as there would have been far fewer HKR fans at last nights game.


Wigan V Saints - 12893 v 24057 (-46.4%)

Is the fact that they could play each other again the main reason for a much lower turnout?


Leeds V Hull - 9075 v 14809 (-38.7%)

Overall (-29.6%)
So a bit of a mixed bag really. Had ticket prices been much more affordable (Especially for families) then could we have seen an overall increase? Are Wigan and Saints fans 'derbied out'? Why didn't Warrington fans fill the HJ to see their team collect their biggest (Or hardest to win if some people consider the CC to be a more prestigious trophy) trophy for donkeys years?

With the possible exception of Saints v Warrington last year, I've noticed that the first games between the top 4 in the play-offs seem to lack the usual play-off intensity and have really poor crowds. I think this is down to it being not deemed so important, considering if you lose, you're still in the play-offs. The worst case was the first year of the top 8 play-offs where Huddersfield and Hull KR finished 3rd and 4th, they seemed as though they expected to lose the first game anyway so didn't bother. The first round just doesn't seem to matter so much, I'm sure crowds will be healthier over the next two weeks... I hope!

Personally I am pretty pleased with the way the crowds have held up for this first round of playoffs. It's a round that the fans haven't particularly bought into, and it's all-pay, but 10k, 8.5k, expected 15k and whatever Leeds v Hull draws should be seen as positive tbh.

Once it all becomes knockout from next week we should see okay crowds too.

Compare to some of the Challenge Cup games, these are good, I know it was a neutral ground, but Wigan v Saints in the semi final only had 12k odd.

Ticket prices are just the same as league matches. The problems with ticketing must have had an effect on Friday, and there will be some season ticket holders who simply won't pay to watch the extra games.

Whilst that is technically true, the majority of supporters at every ground during the SL season are seaon ticket holders. This means that they pay less than these prices, and kids can pay as little as £2 per game. There is no way of getting tickets this cheap, so technically the prices for these games are not the same, and to expect kids to pay a minimum of £12 is too high IMHO.

If the Wigan/Saints game was knockout i'd imagine a bigger crowd, Leeds/Hull is an eliminator both teams have a big following i would imagine them getting a similar if not slightly bigger crowd than their SL fixture.

Top 8 thought is what needs to be looked at, it's too many, it rewards mediocrity, top 4 or 5 should be the threshold or if you stick with 8 straight knockout.

A few things to take into consideration;
1/ Attendances for play-off games are generally lower than regular league games
2/ The games involving Wire and Wigan, do not inspire the travelling supporter to attend because of the ludicrous " 2nd bite" set-up.
3/ All the games are shown live on tv.
4/ Fans have a natural aversion to forking out extra money, after paying for their season ticket. Except for the really big play-off game, ie, Bulls v Wire a few years back, where the attraction of free transport swelled our following to some 5000+.
5/ Recession.


Take the Challenge cup, for a few years now, I have suggested scrapping the comp, on the grounds of pathetic attendances in the games leading upto the final. even this years Wigan/Leeds final was disappointingly attended, it was some 7000 down on the previous year ( which was the biggest Wembley gate since Wigan/ Fax in 8icon_cool.gif, you'd have thought that the crowd would have at least equalled the previous seasons. Though, this I could put down to Leeds fans apathy at the time and again, the recession.

I've not seen any predictions for today's attendances, but due to Leeds current improvement, the usual large number of travelling Hull fc fans and the later KO time, I'd expect, from an attendance/stadium point of view, that Headingly would be more pleasing on the eye with fewer spaces.

The lack of family tickets at Warrington must also have an impact. Pre-day tickets for 2 adults and 2 children would cost £66 in the East stand and an eye watering £86 in the North stand. All this is before any transport and refreshment costs.

What was Wigans today, missed it on comentary

12,000 and something i think,Eh and they take the perverbial out of us ..

Wasn't the Wigan v Saints attendance just over 12k today?

They should put the playoffs in with the season tickets IMO. Playoff games should be massive events, the biggest games of the season, but they are as expensive to attend as the Grand Final at Old Trafford at many clubs and more expensive than the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

They need to look at it. Either by cutting prices (After all the income is pooled anyway), including it in the ST price, or by reducing the amount of games and making it knock out all the way.

And to think, there was post after post relating to our relatively low attendance on Friday night, on the Wigan board.

Like I've said before, Wigan fans have really never understood irony, have they?

We should stop playing games, then we'd never get low crowds.

The attendances have been fine and at worst he equivalent of play-off games in previous seasons. The actual revenue put into the game this weekend will be much greater than usual due to everyone paying.

I agree that it needs looking at. It's a combination of games not being considered 'important' as even a loss means they get another go and the costs involved, especialy for teams coming off the back of a Wembley appearance and ones expecting to go all the way to the GF. Personally I think the CC final happens too late in the season but that's another topic.

I think a 50% discount on tickets for ST holders would be a good idea.