Well I think we are missing the most important point here. The 1500 average home fans are the ones who will go whichever day we play - (give or take a small percentage who can't go on one or two of the days).

Shouldn't we be trying to find the ones who don't go to games because we play Sunday. If we do a survey at the turnstyles on a Sunday isn't the numbers going to be a little bit lobsided as those who can only go Fri or Sat won't be included.

For anyone who's interested, here are the results of the 2012 survey. fluidab3.miniserver.com/~global/ ... 071112.pdf

For anyone who's interested, here are the results of the 2012 survey. fluidab3.miniserver.com/~global/ ... 071112.pdf

About 5 seasons ago Fev were averaging a lot less than they average now.

Their gates have increased significantly since then and they primarily play on Sundays.

Why have their attendances increased ? Well it is a rhetorical question' it is because they have been successfull on the pitch and play attractive RL and win a lot more than they lose.

My preference is for Saturday evening but the fact is' get a winning attractive playing side and bringing back the possibility of promotion to the the top league will increase gates.

Oh and to get 100 back straight away point out that Wigan will be playing a reserve side next season.

I don't really care when we play and honestly think it is all down to our lads playing good stuff and rarely losing for more folk to attend.

The event days outside the LSV on matchdays are a great idea too and when food stalls are added that will also promote the match day experience.

Re food stalls at the matchday experience, for Sunday afternoon games fans will probably have dinner and then go to the LSV therefore food would not be a big seller. Play Saturday evening (6.30KO) and fans may attend in the afternoon and need a bite to eat before the game.
I think it would be a much better atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon building up to an evening KO. It would also have fans in town wearing the replica shirts all afternoon having a beer etc when there are lots of people around which can only be good for advertising the game.
The last Saturday evening game against Toulouse was a great success so whats the problem?

Why not look at tying the afternoon into either Miners or East home games as well?.....and a 'curtain raiser' (one of the East/Miners kids teams or our u20's) before the main event?

We could make each alternate Saturday afternoon/evening a real 'event'!!

Hardly a fault of this 'administration' though is it they haven't been here two minutes as yet, when the same suggestion has been made over the years it has largely been ignored so at least they have been taking suggestions on board, and as for the repeat customer base aren't they the same people who are largely aware of when matches are taking place and the majority turn up as and when anyway
There is no easy answer to getting the public in or even getting them to take part ion a survey as the majority of people in any rugby playing town appear to be apathetic to Rugby League, the only short term answer is getting the local amateurs into the fold as at least they are interested in the sport, but even talking to them they hold grudges from years ago which they cant or wont let go even though those grudges were levelled at people who have not been at the pro club for years, but such is the nature of 'the beast'.

The thing is Alan, these idea's are standard practice in running a business, but it seems that for as long as I can remember and were involved and then not involved the club is seen as a hobby, well time to start being a business, that involves employing people to do these things, before you go blowing 90% of your budget on RL players

To do a proper gathering of information does require a ' Gate ' Census IMO, although a large proportion can be done beforehand as regards ST holders, and once you have done the 1 st one, the following years it becomes much simpler, just requiring possibly nothing more than requesting a postcode

Once again, this is not just about matchday preference, once you have everybodys details you can ask them anything simply by either e mailing them or texting them ,both forms of communication cost very little, and it gives you an indication of how you are performing

But that still doesnt give you everybodies e mail address, mobile no, address, age and beer preference does it frank?

Once you have done a gate Census on a particular day, there is nothing to stop you then using the local press, this website, club website asking for others who cannot attend that particular day to contact the club with their details

Also bearing in mind if you had already done a Census and obtained this information you could ask people for name and postcode when purchasing a ticket which would tell you who had stopped attending and you could ask them why

Not suggesting it is their fault Fred, just worried they will take the easy option as many have done before

As far as the local amatuers are concerned, personally I dont think it works, playing and watching ( especially not top tier ) dont neccessarily go in hand, when at HP, I witnessed many curtain raisers where once their game was over, coaches, players and parents were in a rush to get out of the ground so as not to miss the kick off at Wigan,Saints and Warrington

Leigh Centurions it seemed where not deemed good enough to be watched by our local juniors

'Super League' and 'Rugby League'

I have touched on this before and both of the above conjure up conflicting conceptions of our sport.

Agreed. You can also tell them things, which is the other side of the communication equation.

Yes it is, which is also the idea behind getting large numbers of new fans into the stadium by hook or crook for 1 game, you retain their details, and then are able to supply them with offers that might entice them to attend again

Information ( potential new fans ) is the key to the clubs future

It just needs that leap of faith to obtain it

So its seems Friday night is the only NO NO

But is it just down to them playing well and winning frank?

Or is it down to long term plans instigated when they were relegated ? , which have pushed their business forward in many facets ?