Exactly, they couldnt book grounds in advance because you wouldnt know up until 2 weeks before who was in it.

Mentioned this the other day but imo the format of the comp has to change so that the semis fall june/early july and then if we get one of these glamour ties that could potentaially bring in a big crowd then there's more chance of using one of the football/shared grounds because there would be atleast a month/6 weeks before the start of the football season.

DW!!!!
Why not?

Galpharm, Blackpool, Bolton, Anfield, Goodison, Blackburn, Burnley, Preston need I go on

But not all those will allow us to use.

but you dont need all of them to agree.
I dont think that was the issue really the RFL just want to show off a full stadium. Which as its merits and I have know doubt we will have a cracking atmosphere. But what about all those people who want a ticket, probably should be able to have a ticket but can't. Just a poor decisin for me.
I would sooner have gone Reebok and had 18k on and have a few empty seats. Wouldnt have had all that panic buying yesterday and everyone who wanted to go watch could go watch.

Jeeessss we're not still arguing about the venue surely???

I wasn't happy about the choice but I've got tickets now so balls to it

Fwiw I think everyone who is desperate for a ticket will get one. Basically that means anyone who is willing to try and get one by close of business tomorrow.

Regards venue

The only people who are to blame for this are the rugby community as a whole, in recent seasons it has been obvious to most that bar the final and the odd semi here and there that most people have simply not bothered with it, if they haven't been able to fill what you'd class as a small stadium then why book a big stadium have it half full and waste the rentally money when you have a stadium on your doorstep that will probably sell out meaning no wasted money, yeah they may miss out on some tickets but they make sure that they are definitely not losing anything.

This may even sound daft but making people disappointed might actually improve ticket sales in future cup games, they could even have a preferential ticketing scheme in that if you produce your stubs for the previous game you get 1st preference.

It isn't just the capacity that needs to be taken into account.

For those who don't drive, there's the choice of a bus from Wigan (I think) or St.Helens to Warrington, as well as trains.

It complicates things for fans going to Blackburn, or Burnley for instance, and as such would put people off going.

Why should that be a factor, its only an hour or so drive over the pennines besides theres loads of stadiums in the midlands if you want to factor london into this! the simple fact is this. Every other major sport will have the potential venues they need pre booked so they can choose which to use.

Ermmmmmmm youre arguing about moving the game to a bigger venue BUT we havent sold the HJ out yet........

I agree and have said it about the game as a whole from international through to Championship if RL fans dont want to watch the game cup or not then big stadiums arent going to be used and the nuetral isnt going to attend.

However the flip side is the staging of the rounds! 4/5 Bundled together then a big gap then quarters, semi's and finals all bundles together again!!
Asking fans to pay potentially 3 games extra within a month or so is asking alot especially when your charging £22 for the semi! If the semi was £12/14 it would be sold out now I think. Giving only 1 and a half week to market the semi doesnt help. If the games were spread out the semi especially will be better supported.