I believe all large sports stadia include ST holders and tickets sold in the "official" attendance, rather than how many times a turnstile clicks.

That's the main issue for me. It's difficult for the clubs and it's players but even worse for the fans.

I don't even give it a seconds thought attending the cup final now if Wigan aren't there because I go to every Grand Final regardless of us being in it. I know that the Grand Final day with my ticket and a day session will cost £150+ so I keep my money in my pocket.

It needs to be moved to May/June without any question IMO.

And as for a Spring CCF clashing with Premiership play-offs, FA Cup Final, etc: well, we managed in the past; what's different now?

Don't think it helped the Hull City were hosting Man Utd .

Part of the problem regarding neutral support is that today only Super League clubs are ever going to win it. Consequently a large number of fans have been disenfranchised.
In the past cup rugby was always more intense and brutal than league rugby and the majority of teams had a realistic chance of having a good cup run.

If that's the case, Warrington must have been hosting a combined Barcelona and Real Madrid side, with free entry!

I only ever go when Wigan are playing, but I have noticed that we see a lot less neutral shirts these days, compared to the 80s and 90s.

Was just about to post similar. The Hull following looked very good (although I think they'd have taken even more if it hadn't been for that Hull City game).

I'm all for tradition but does anybody think we should move the final to Cardiff? I think the millennium stadium is a fabulous spot for a big game with it being slap bang in the City.

The capacity of 74,000ish feels a better fit as well. Sometimes you can't always stick to tradition is fit isn't the right thing for the game.

Asked that question elsewhere earlier, I said no, even though Cardiff is much better and nearer for me, and I loved it when the CCF was held there.

And I suppose my main reason, other than the continuity of tradition, was just the media footprint aspect of it. For a London-centric media, a big sporting event at Wembley can't be ignored. A game in Cardiff could be regarded as just another regional matter. Or, worse, be portrayed as some kind of failure of the sport in genera;.

But, I agree the MS is a cracking venue, and the price of a pint more acceptable than in London. Hmm...

Hull have had a good support base for many years and their fans are willing to travel even though their geographical location is far from ideal. I'm not sure why they have such loyal fans but maybe there's something all teams could learn from them.

Those days are not so Long Gone........

2010 Carnegie Challenge Cup
Attendance 85,217
Winners Warrington Wolves
Runners-up Leeds Rhinos

but in all fairness something isn't right the only other 80k plus crowd was the first final at the new Wembley and that involved Catalan so something has to be done to get the neutrals back down there, like they obviously did for that first final.....

NO two clubs will ever fill Wembley with their own fans not Wigan Leeds Bradford Bulls or other Super supported massive clubs.....

on the other hand I wouldn't object to Cardiff in future as a few have suggested but I cant see that happening....