I’ve been asked by someone heavily involved in the club to gauge fan opinion on some ideas that has been put to the club and which are being looked at as a possibility to improve atmosphere at the games.
The idea is to compress the various stand to make the crowds more compact and therefore hopefully aiding the vocal backing to the boys on the pitch as well as hoping to save the club some money.

The suggestions were:
The Britannia Rescue stand to be compressed to close off the 1st 3 sections at the ropewalk end of the ground and to close the back few rows of the stand to bring the crowd closer together rather than spread out across the stand, this would be a gradual thing ie a few rows at a time to see what people thought.

To close the lower tier of the fantastic media stand as there isn’t enough people in this area to justify it being opened and costing extra stewarding/catering staff/overheads.

To compress the direct golf stand lower tier to the 2 blocks at either side of the tunnel.

To close the John Smiths stand for visiting supporters for clubs with a smaller support – again to save costs on stewarding overheads etc and house them in the end 2 blocks of the BR stand.

Basically we don’t need all 4 stands open anymore on our current crowd sizes, this was done previously as crowds were on the increase (both home and away supporters), unfortunately these have now decreased.

So, if you would be one of those fans who would be affected by any of the suggested changes what would be your thoughts on them ?
Also, if anyone has any other serious suggestions or thoughts on this matter feel free to message me about them and I will pass them on.
Cheers !

I suggested this three years ago. No wonder I get demoralised about the club management.

Britannia yes but maybe better to close the end sections at both ends so people can sit in the middle. I wonder why the singers will say about being forced down te stand !!!

Direct golf yes.

John Smiths don't we do this already iie Catalans. They will have to spend a fortune on stewarding putting Salford fans in with ours.

Fantastic media probably best to close it altogether.

When I suggested setting aside blocks for singers everyone said people won't want to move their seats. Looks like they will have no option now. My view is that it will save money but create a better atmosphere and will help the singers as they will be right amongst the fans.

A good move imho

Most of the 'singers' i've spoke to are quite happy to give it a try !

and this isn't an order by the club, it is acting on suggestions, yours included it seems, to see what the fans think before they go ahead and implement anything.

I would prefer to keep things as they are, apart from behind the sticks (home) support.
It would make the crowd look smaller than it is, all huddled into a smaller area with vast empty seats.
Besides that the team might be successful next season, and win some key games. In the past we do quite well and then bottle key matches and let the fans down, this impacts on support. If we had done better in play-off games and got to a couple of Grand Finals it would probably make all the difference to season ticket sales.
Anyway I don`t fancy been completely surrounded by other supporters, I like a bit of wiggle room.

Yes all for it if done properly, which means using large covers like used in the John Smith stand, not simply taping off. Done well could be good, done badly would not work

britannia rescue stand... yes could be compressed so people sit in the middle, dont think shutting off the seats at the back will help as some people have had season tickets for seats up their for years and quite happy, no need for that if the sides are chopped off anyway.

fantastic stand - this is where some cheaper tickets are sold?? some like to sit behind the goal posts too, maybe close the sides off on that too to compress.

gold stand - giving the opposing fans side on seats will give their team a lift and shouts of forrrrrward passes , we already get enough pens against us!! keep them behind the posts. only catalans we shut that stand for.

if all the changes were made though id have no complaints, just if the back rows of seats were closed off, would cause problems with season tickets holders who would move down abit but those seats are already taken too

and yes use proper covers, maybe a sponsor could take advantage

Yes please !!!!!!!!!!

How many sections does that leave in Brittania Rescue stand for Giants supporters? Wouldn't this naturally populate up to the top of the stand? And do season ticket holders keep same seats or is it a start again job or all unreserved seating?
In theory the idea of condensing is good and should generate more atmosphere but needs to be done right. Although " not an order" I guess it will happen and can't blame the club for looking at it.

It won't happen if the fans are not happy with it, that's why i need to gauge an opinion on what the majority want without the minority being too unhappy.

Have they maybe tried to grow the crowds?

Just a thought.


Nah, let's just go for managed decline.

For all my cynicism, I think this is a good idea.

Looking at the attendances this season we are -as expected- down on last year.
Interestingly we have a better attendance figure than both Wakey and Widnes- yet noone has a go at them for their crowds!!!!

The proposals make sense, if and when we "grow" the crowds the seating areas can be expanded.

Big yes from me. As others, cover the cordoned off areas with proper banners. Several nrl clubs cover swathes of empty seats in decent looking banners, it does make a difference visually. Although I've struggled to get to loads of games this season, when I do go, I'm at the back of the Brit, and I'd have no issue being moved down a few rows.

Overall approach of compacting crowds is definitely worth trying.

Think this is a must to build atmosphere but would prefer to compress to middle on both sides and close home section behind goals as too few there anyway.
Don't agree with moving away fans - personally hate going away when located anywhere near opposing fans and even worse when mixed side on. Too many idiots from most clubs.
Our support does seem to have developed a culture of spreading out across the available area at most away games and of course this is most noticeable at Magic.
Always feels a better atmosphere when crowd is compressed so agree it should be tried.

A bit off topic and will probably get slated for this but do think that as much as I admire the singers at the back so to speak as they do defo do a good job to lead the chants etc. .. and build support. Of course here is the but - we have a large section of our fans who dis-associate from them. Reasons I feel being that they perhaps do not fully realise the responsibility they have as "cheer leaders". Suggest not singing other teams songs back at them for instance - sing our own. We don't all hate Leeds, we are not the Giants marching in, and Wire is not Wan##ey. No one has a shed as big as that, and we mostly respect all RL players however much they play well or not against us. Just saying but for this compressed support to work I think it important that all our fans engage together. To be clear I repeat again that I appreciate most that the singers do - and sometimes can be very funny - TV Tony and we came on the train (our taxi broke down) for instance. With that comes a big responsibility though. I love to sing and chant for the Giants but will not engage in anything but our own songs. Many who sit near me at home games I am sure feel the same and do join in with the Giants or Fartown chants but nothing else.
Bit of a rant - sorry
One other suggestion for the club - please stop the music being played when tries are scored. All it does is drown out the singers, put timing of any crowd chants out of sync etc... Not against music as such but if must be played then play something that the fans can sing along to in unison not something to compete against. Why not try no music for a home game trys for a game. Fans manage better at away games with celebration chants with no music so why not at home too? Oh yes one last thing - as the players enter and that Liquidator song is playing we should be chanting GIANTS (like the Chelsea chant) - that would get the atmosphere going.