Do you think you started the slow death when you dropped "London" from your name? I don't live in London, but if I did, I can't see how I would be remotely interested in watching a rugby team that seemed to have nothing to do with the city I lived in, other than the fact that it is the nearest geographically. It must make it twice as hard for the marketing department, which is a shame, because it's a good ground that is easy to get to from the north.

We were called London Broncos in 2000 and averaged 3,430 that year. In 2009 we were Harlequins Rugby League and averaged 3,436.....so no, London being removed hasn't caused the attendance problem, the lack of any Marketing over the 1 years has!

It works for cricket ie counties, Rugby Union-Ospreys, Munster etc, Crusaders aren't called Wrexham. Sale have moved from Sale and now play in Stockport with bigger crowds. So no London hasn't made any difference

Fair enough. It was just my perception from 250 miles away.

fwiw the RU lot are actually The Harlequins of london

Are they?

No. The are known as Harlequin Football Club.

Now that we appear to have a marketing dept do you not think a re-branding along the lines of London Harlequins would make publicity / promotion easier? I know you've quoted a few attendance stats, and I don't dispute them but I'm sceptical as to removing London from the name has had as little influence as you suggest (I await being shot down in flames!) It would give us a distinct identity from the RU joke shop boys - it takes a bit of explaining to some folk that we are not Bloodgate FC!

at least you are being asked about it. When we were the London Broncos we were asked if we were an American Football team, so at leasy as Quins he word Rugby will drop into the conversation.
Harlequins Rugby League (or Quins RL) are fine. Apart from a few nutters on here who refuse to have anything to do with Union......because their grand daddy was once ignored by a toff or something like that......we have attracted a fair few double ST holders.
We will sink or swim as Harlequins.....reinventing the wheel (or re-naming it) won't make any difference

Absolutely.

Have you an idea what proportion of our ST holders are dual code ST holders? Just curious really. Suppose some could have been London Broncos and Harlequins RU ST holders.

Speaking personally I don't really have anything to do with union,don't follow a club or even watch the 6nations, I find it really boring compared to RL. My thoughts on any 're-brand' were in the hope it might give the club a bit of a shot in the arm now that some marketing seems to be taking place. Not wishing to have a pop but it kinda looks like we're sinking rather than doing a confident front crawl at the moment (at least on the pitch anyway!)

In 1996, London Broncos average Super League attendance was 5,859 which was more then the likes of Warrington and Cas but in 2009 was 3,436, the lowest in Super League. Why so? Success?

Success could be an answer, the club were competitive in the early 90's and doing well so that could have been a factor. Look at '99 the clubs average attendance was just 2,934 but after the Challenge Cup run and a glimmer of success the average attendance jumped to 3,419. The arrival or return of 500 fans may be down to success or it may just be a coincidence.

The move back to The Stoop and change of name to Harlequins was in 2006 and the club had a healthier average of 4,917 which would have been a lot higher when the better supported teams arrived in London. Why did the club's attendance jump from just over 4,000 to just under 4,900 in the space of a year? Where people in the Twickenham/Richmond area returning to the club after it left there in the late 90's? Or was it down to curious RU fans who bought a season ticket at the league team to see what it was all about only to find moaning fans, poor teams and poor entertainment?

How would I suggest at getting "new" fans in the turnstiles? There's a few issues I'd address. The kids are the future. The London Junior League's are Saturday games so playing on a day that doesn't clash with there fixtures could help.

My main target market would be the Union fans. The Union side has regular attendances of over 10,000 so thats a hell of a market to aim at. Both teams held a double header a couple of years ago when the Union lot weren't in the top flight and that could be a "goer" again. I can't thing of any examples of teams holding two top flight sporting events on the same ground. For example QRL v Salford then QRU v Sale may be a good fixture to use due to the close proximity of Sale & Salford. Another possible idea is waiting to see the Challenge Cup draw. If we got a Championship 1 team then you'd expect a big win so offering all QRU ST holders a £5 ticket (if the RU team were away that weekend) could intice them to see a big score for the pastel colours of Quins and they may come back. Another idea (probably the wildest idea) but why not sign a QRU player on loan? For example, a player who's RU season may have been cut short due to injury (I know, another injured player!) but that might get bums on seats from the RU lot.

Just my opinion, feel free to cut it down and tear into them...

This is just my opinion but if the RU lot haven't come along to watch the RL by now then I don't think they ever will. Mind you the idea of a few of their guys on loan could be interesting. Do they still have David Strettle? I think he's from Warrington and knows his RL a bit. Maybe a few RU players (if they show an aptititude) might entice a few RU fans out of their (so-far) studied indifference.

Dual code Strettle would be an interesting prospect but with international rugby union played throughout much of the year its unlikely to be possible.

Personally think you have to look elsewhere than union for new supporters - It's not that often i meet someone who enjoys both. If Wakey RU had moved in with us and offered me cheap tickets - I wouldn't have gone, because even £5 to watch a game of RU is too much IMO and I know many union fans who love their game but think RL is a waste of time.

But I appreciate that is just my opinion and experience, but I just think it will be harder to win fans over from their first love than "virgin" supporters.