As someone who watches about 5 or 6 games a season at the stoop i'd say it's the soulless nature of the ground that is the only problem for me, when i compare it to a derby match up north the difference is immense. There's not one game in the London calendar in which you think, i can't wait for that game it will be electric.

London's problem i think after seeing all the countless theories is its isolation, if Skolars improved both on the field and financially and a team from Hertfordshire or Kent where also in the mix THEN i think Bronco's fan base would increase even though there would be more competition for attracting RL fans.

I think someone will pull me up on the isolation bit by using Catalan as an example so i'll just say their isolation is different and is actually a uniting factor, France v England, the only French team in the league helps them attract beyond the city walls for those who love both RL and SL.

So apart from the top 4/5 teams over any given decade, the rest might as well pack it in?

You cannot guarantee a winning team, you can to a degree guarantee an attractive team, especially at home, that should be the remit for the coach, play open attacking RL, then market it for all you are worth

Ever so slightly missing the point there, when clubs like Widnes and Castleford were relegated from the Super League, their support stayed in the main loyal to the club, why was that?

A] the thought of handing out some damn fine tonkings in the Championship pre triumphant return to SL?
B] because those clubs were a part and parcel of the communities they played in?

You can market pigs ears till doomsday, but if your not selling in a pigs ears market, you are as they say, stuffed, even if you can prove they will turn into silk purses.

Homer I won't bother about the "pigs ears" comment/quote, even I would have took a load of stick talking about pigs ears! LOL

But lets look at the facts, Widnes were relegated from Super League in the 2005 Season, so compare the average home attendances that last season and then 2011 their last season in The Championship.

2005 average attendance 6,794

2011 average attendance

A loss of 3,500 supporters on average, in any research figures produced it would be really tough to "spin" such a drop as staying mainly loyal! okay still I accept good figures for the championship.

It will be interesting to see the attendance tonight here at Salford, it's still early, but they need 8,000 it is reported just to break even on the rent and costs. Lets just Hope we can get a win!

What did you expect in a thread about attendances????? A recipe for cupcakes?

3 posts is hardly theft BTW.....

And I have had an attendance meter since 2002!

So what are advocating? A relegation would do you good?

As has been pointed out, Widnes's attendances did drop, but you are right they retained a decent core support despite not really performing that well in the Championship

And yes you dont have a historical community link to call upon, and you probably never will, so the option is what? , sit around and moan about it? , thats what us flat cap wearing northerners are constantly accused of isn't it?

Other options have already been proposed on this thread, none of which was "sitting around and moaning". So, if you're interested, read them and comment on them instead of making up your own non-options.

Once again Garry Schofield is taking his attack on us in his weekly boring column in "League Express" asking what London brings to Super League, he loves to remind readers that back in 2007 he wrote a similar article in Rugby League World the monthly magazine (I cancelled my order then & only started again this year) and nothing has happened since, he also glorifies with how predicted that The Crusaders would never work! and how people laughed at him.

Schofield even has the audacity to suggest that young players may be coming through the system in London now, but if London go then they can still play for The London Skolars and then join a Northern club? he is a total Luddite.

Garry claims over 400 he knows travelled from Huddersfield, just like The Huddersfield Examiner claimed that half of the crowd was from Huddersfield, both seem more like the size of the fish story!

The crowd figure this Saturday will be intersting.

You Think

3,590 is the average attendance for Castleford in London....top end 8,067 in 2000 with the free coaches laid on by Jungle.com and a lowest crowd of just 2,112 in 2008.
2011, which I beieve is the marker by which attendances in 2012 are being measured.....4,128 thanks to thousands of freebies in the London Evening Standard!

1.6 K for me 2 poor sides playing on a overcast Sat in March www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635308 6 nations games on the box

1.6 K for me 2 poor sides playing on a overcast Sat in March www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635308 6 nations games on the box

That'll drive a few people out then.

An excuse to drive people in from up north then!

You expecting to bring many?