because its looks better on TV.

Play both the Semi's at Wembley one after another.. I'm getting used to that place.

Of course it would reduce attendances quite a few would say why travel over to Yorkshire when i can watch it on the TV. Now if its over this side at a decent to get to venue the same ones would say i will go to that one. With 8 weeks of ticket sales and marketed right this fixture could easily sell 20,000 tickets. The RFL have loads of time to do a really good marketing drive with both cup semi's.

I don't subscribe to that view at all. Small grounds look rubbish on TV. Full or not.

If you want to fill a small ground, play it at Belle Vue, or Edge Hall Road. A big ground will attract big crowds, casual supporters will make the effort, and tickets are freely available, so people won't put off buying them.

It's a SEMI FINAL FFS - A big ground with a big crowd and a few empty seats, in a place like Manchester is far better for our sport's profile than a tiny ground in a nowhere place like f*cking Widnes.

really wanted to go to this game but i get married on the friday and theres no way im spending my first day/two days as a married man in widnes!!!

I knew that TBH, was just trying to stir it up a bit!!!!!!

If we choose a venue that is limited to it's capacity then I believe the allocation SHOULD be done pro rata on Season tickets. I know it won't but I believe it should.

Imagine Salford (Or a 2nd div club) v Wire in Semis and they take it to LSV - You both get 4500 when Wire may have 6500 Season Ticket holders and Salford 2000!
An even bigger extreme maybe Leeds/Wakey (Or a 2nd div club maybe??) - Hold it at Doncaster with 10 k capacity and Both clubs get 4500 when Leeds Have 10K season ticket holders and Waley 2000!

If they pick a large enough venue (20k plus) then fair enough but when restricted it should be pro rata IMHO!

I think a capacity of 14,000 will be enough for this game. Wigan's support is waning a little as is Warrington's, and the credit cruch won't be over by then. Warrington hardly took any fans to Hull KR at the weekend, and didn't they get heavily subsidised travel from the club as well? Wigan's support at home to Salford would have been about 7500 and it wasn't even televised on a glorious Friday evening against a club who were on a good run at the time. I think the lure of the cup is waning, unless we a talking about the final.

The only way the capacity will be a problem is if both clubs go on an undefeated run, and let's face it, the probability of that from Wigan isn't that great. Don't forget that a lot of Wigan fans are fed up of being let down by absolutely dire performances which happen more frequently than they should, and won't want to risk a show similar to the one against the Catalans a couple of years ago. It's also in the middle of the holiday period with a lot of fans likely to be on a beach somewhere.

Much beter, IMO, to have a full house shown on TV with a few people missing out on tickets than huger empty spaces as seen at Huddersfield yesterday.


I'm planning to be there though, along with all the other die hards, if I can get hold of a ticket

i completely agree, i was just giving the reason that the RFL use to justify playing at smaller venues...it is better to have a sell out on TV for PR purposes, than it is to have swathes of empty seats. I would play both at COM stadium as a double header, make it cheap and get plenty of neutrals in.

now that is a great idea! or even anfield

There's an old joke in there somewhere......

My wife said kiss me where it smells..... I said there's no way I'm going to widnes at this time of night!

Good luck with the wedding!

cheers bud

Iv just read all 18 pages on this topic of the semi and what ever venue the RFL choose people will say widnes is too small etc.. I dont think this ground has been mentioned so il throw them into the ring what about PNE deepdale holds around 24000 ideal fopr both sets of supporters and one or two watering holes nearby.

I hope it is Widnes, since it is a 'home' venue and IL may give us all a free coach ride there again

I think Deepdale was mentioned somewhere along the line again easy place to get to by road and rail not sure how much parking there is close to the ground but i would be happier with that than Widnes