Hello everyone, this is my first time so please be gentle.
Having watched our team for many years and even been part of the lowest ever crowd to watch Fartown you could say that i am a long and loyal supporter so i thought i would give my own view and indeed that of some of my friends who support the Giants in regard to the band.
For goodness sake NO!
We are not Leeds Rhinos!
I have spoken to many people and they think the same as me and some have said that they will stop going to games because they find any band at sporting games so annoying so already thats a backward step if we are putting fans off from going to games.
The atmosphere at some of the away games is fantastic when there is a big crowd and most of our rivals do not have a band just the singing and cheering of the crowds for their teams. On Friday i listened to the game at Wigan on the radio and heard our fans singing and chanting for the team (in the first half) and they sounded great without the need for a band.
I agree that there is not much atmosphere at the stadium with small crowds, however to help generate that atmosphere we obviously need the support to grow and for that to start happening then the team need to (A) win a trophy, (B) stop playing suicide rugby in vital games when possible new supporters come to watch.
As for upcoming Leeds game if there is going to be a Giants band there is it going to be battle of the bands with Leeds south stand band? God help us.
NO TO ANY ANNOYING BAND LETS JUST ENJOY WATCHING OUR RUGBY AND CHEERING ON THE TEAM WITHOUT THE SOUND TRACK.
Just one supporters point of view. Cheers.

Would say again that we need to give this a good go and for it to succeed the band and singers must work together to get the right balance and not battle against each other. Much as I hate to admit it the atmosphere built at Leeds is just brill and must definitely help them to attract and retain new and young fans.
Old gits like me are not the future so to those other 50yr old + fans - get over it - just support the team in your own way!
Looking forward even more to the Rhinos game now - battle of the bands could be fun
Finally have to say well done to whoever has organised this - got to be worth a try - and welcome to our new friends from the Giants band. Good luck!!!!

If you don't like it don't sit by it?
If it puts some off- it might attract others.
Each to their own is what I say- if some like it lets have it, if others don't -do your own thing, everyone catered for is the way forward!

We are trying to improve the atmosphere... What else matters at the moment.
We've had 1 home game and to my judgment the band played better than the team.

Nothing to complain about yet.

I've been supporting Huddersfield since the days that the Lockwood band used to march round the old Fartown ground,(1949-50) I enjoyed the music then and I welcome anything that will help create a better atmosphere.Carry on lads maybe even compose a rousing team song that we all can relate to.

It might work. It might not work. Won't know until we try it and give it a chance to succeed.

def think it needs to be given a go

think it could attract new younger fans too and get the vocal support growing!

Well the club are saying its to be given a go so those who said they wouldn't come..i guess now they're loyalty will be tested, i hope they said what they did in jest or it could be an own goal from the club.

And Jools, i don't think when there is a brass band tooting and parping in a stadium it's not as easy as saying 'dont sit by it' as the noise will still be there.
I'm not a lover of bands and trumpets etc in sports grounds but i have agreed to liase with them at the request of the club so we will see what comes !!

Thanks for the feedback (positive and negative) everyone - As I've said before we don't want to p*** anyone off but also know that we wont be everyone's cup of tea.

The band are happy to liaise with the supporters and the club and will take all (reasonable) suggestions/requests on board.

Most importantly we are looking forward to helping you make a helluva noise at Leeds next week.

The fanzine is happy to help in any way if it is required!

I'm a doubter as already stated, but I'll certainly give it a go. The open approach that you've taken on here is a great start. Welcome aboard.

Really think the club are trying to make a concerted effort to improve atmosphere at home this year, and have been open to suggestions and appear to be trying to engage with the fans, which is very positive.

Plenty of alternative stands people could sit in.

but people might not want to have to move stands because someone decided they were sticking a band next to where they've sat for 20 years...hardly a fair suggestion but i can see both sides of the argument hence why i've agreed to speak with them.

Indeed they may not want to- but that's the suggestion re the singers also isn't it!
I've been to a few ice hockey games in the rugby off season in recent years- it's a similar family atmosphere in the stands to rugby. They all seem to have bands or drummers and it makes for a good atmosphere- my kids always ask to sit next to them as its "more fun".
I find it difficult to believe people will stop coming just because a band is playing-they would probably have found another reason to do so anyway.

The club cannot afford to lose fans whatever the reason, if say half a dozen people who pay £500 + a year in to the club where to leave citing the band as a reason i'm fairly sure the loss of £3,000 + would make the club think is it worth it. Especially since the band are not Giants fans and have been assembled for the sole purpose of parping and banging to the crowd by the club.

If it works out and the band help the atmosphere i'm all for it, what i don't want, and i've told the club, is a band that plays simply for their own pleasure, what they want, when they want but it sounds like that is not their intention at all and i am happy to give it a try for now.