Quite pleased I'm in a category!!

at the end of the day, we are through to the next round of the play offs. next seasons' season ticket "perks" seem pretty good and hopefully i'll be getting mine again before the year is out. i'm actually thankfull we are still in the play offs, it appears some folk would prefer quality rugby all the time over any remote chance of success

i'm not d about having the worlds greatest coach sign for us for next season, as long as its someone who the players want to work for and respect they can appoint my dad if they want. look at saints, they have mick potter - regarded as a great coach especially after his work at catalans - yet the rumours abound about player unrest i.e. graham. i'd much rather have team unity than a money grabbing idiot who demands success because of the name of the team on the shirts.

the players certainly are doing themselves no favours - we would have easily put that game to bed last week - but at least we are through. it can't beperfect rugby all year round.

i'm sure the sky tv scheduling had a lot to do with why the game was at 7pm, not IL. he couldn't possibly have rearranged or influenced the game time, especially coming up against football on sky.

having said that there was surely more than 8K at the game

cas must have brought around 2k-ish so to have an equivalent looking south stand attendance along with a pretty good east stand, i'd say around 10k at least.

Really? Thats funny, ive seen you at more than 5!

You must be the only poster on here that claims to go to less games than you actually DO

Folks Thanks for all the feedback. You are right in thinking that both the RFL and clubs are concerned about the attendances at the weekend. I believe that it is a combination of kick off time, price, short notice, game being live on TV and some fans not understanding or supporting the new playoff system. We will now be pressing the RFL to instigate some research into why a large proportion of our fan base did not attend (the playoffs are a central event with all monies going into the central pot so its only right the RFL do the asking). It's ok the clubs/RFL thinking they have the answers but nothing beats good quantative research. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that they would like to share with the club then either post them here or email me direct via m.hogan@wiganwarriors.com. Regards Mick Hogan CEO

Folks Thanks for all the feedback. You are right in thinking that both the RFL and clubs are concerned about the attendances at the weekend. I believe that it is a combination of kick off time, price, short notice, game being live on TV and some fans not understanding or supporting the new playoff system. We will now be pressing the RFL to instigate some research into why a large proportion of our fan base did not attend (the playoffs are a central event with all monies going into the central pot so its only right the RFL do the asking). It's ok the clubs/RFL thinking they have the answers but nothing beats good quantative research. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that they would like to share with the club then either post them here or email me direct via m.hogan@wiganwarriors.com. Regards Mick Hogan CEO

Quote: Mick Hogan "Folks Thanks for all the feedback. You are right in thinking that both the RFL and clubs are concerned about the attendances at the weekend. I believe that it is a combination of kick off time, price, short notice, game being live on TV and some fans not understanding or supporting the new playoff system. We will now be pressing the RFL to instigate some research into why a large proportion of our fan base did not attend (the playoffs are a central event with all monies going into the central pot so its only right the RFL do the asking). It's ok the clubs/RFL thinking they have the answers but nothing beats good quantative research. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that they would like to share with the club then either post them here or email me direct via

Quote: Mick Hogan "Folks Thanks for all the feedback. You are right in thinking that both the RFL and clubs are concerned about the attendances at the weekend. I believe that it is a combination of kick off time, price, short notice, game being live on TV and some fans not understanding or supporting the new playoff system. We will now be pressing the RFL to instigate some research into why a large proportion of our fan base did not attend (the playoffs are a central event with all monies going into the central pot so its only right the RFL do the asking). It's ok the clubs/RFL thinking they have the answers but nothing beats good quantative research. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that they would like to share with the club then either post them here or email me direct via

Mr Hogan,

I believe that the things you listed are the root causes.

The RFL only announced the structure the week before, it doesnt leave people much time to sort things out.

I dont think play offs should be included in a season ticket, as it dilutes the central pot and doesnt do anything to encourage walk up support.

The RFL simpily need to impliment a set pricing policy of £10 adults, £5 kids and £25 for family's of 4. Make it cheap enough and people will attend.

That or scrap the farcical top 8 system we have, either return to the top 6 or impliment the NRL system, none of these "clubcall" ideas that won't actually get us any press beyond our exsisting means.

Hi Mick, thanks for respondng. As ever it's good to get the club's view. Can I refer you to the thread on season ticket pricing policy, especially regarding junior prices and ask you for a response please? It seems to me that the biggest issue is why junior prices aren't lower across all stands rather than just the South, especially given the clubs stated aim to try to increase the younger demographic.

Eh? The walk up support was hardly encouraged doing the way it has been done.

The problem is the central pot. If it were not a central pot clubs could price as they wished and give season ticket holders free entry if they wanted but of course if you are the away team you make no money!

How is it done in the CC? Don't season ticket holders get a home game free if there is one? Can't remember. If they do I can't see what's stopping the same thing happening in the playoffs.

Dave

The top 8 system is a disaster.

You know it's bad when even the players are saying it's a bad idea.

And now we have Gary Hetherington saying that he is going to have a say in who Leeds pick to play

rlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME

Also I agree with DaveO that the central pot harms the ability of clubs to offer a discounted entry to season ticket holders.

Couldn't season ticket prices include the prices of a home fixture but if Wigan fail to reach a play off position or fail to get a home tie then either a) allow the ticket to be "exchanged" for a full refund at the ticket office or if that isn't viable then b) reduce the season tickets the season after by the amount charged for tickets.

If we used b then if we got a home tie that year we would get in with our season tickets and the money paid the previous year would cover the cost and if we fail we don't lose anything and the club can put the prices up accordingly the following season.

Or I'm talking gibberish, either way it's an idea

Bring back the Top 5 system for the playoffs. The regular season will be more competitive then also IMO.

Don't let the little clubs drag us all down!!

Quote: Mick Hogan "Folks Thanks for all the feedback. You are right in thinking that both the RFL and clubs are concerned about the attendances at the weekend. I believe that it is a combination of kick off time, price, short notice, game being live on TV and some fans not understanding or supporting the new playoff system. We will now be pressing the RFL to instigate some research into why a large proportion of our fan base did not attend (the playoffs are a central event with all monies going into the central pot so its only right the RFL do the asking). It's ok the clubs/RFL thinking they have the answers but nothing beats good quantative research. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that they would like to share with the club then either post them here or email me direct via Mick, the top 8 does not work, the first two games between the top four were a waste of time , the away team knew they would be at home even if they lost, so did the fans so they saved their money. Our KO time on a Sunday did not help. And for the two of us with petrol, programme , drinks etc it was £50, the RFL should bring down the price of tickets for the play offs to fill the grounds. It will be interesting to see if OT sells out if Wigan and Leeds are not there.

Quote: Mick Hogan "Folks Thanks for all the feedback. You are right in thinking that both the RFL and clubs are concerned about the attendances at the weekend. I believe that it is a combination of kick off time, price, short notice, game being live on TV and some fans not understanding or supporting the new playoff system. We will now be pressing the RFL to instigate some research into why a large proportion of our fan base did not attend (the playoffs are a central event with all monies going into the central pot so its only right the RFL do the asking). It's ok the clubs/RFL thinking they have the answers but nothing beats good quantative research. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that they would like to share with the club then either post them here or email me direct via Mick, the top 8 does not work, the first two games between the top four were a waste of time , the away team knew they would be at home even if they lost, so did the fans so they saved their money. Our KO time on a Sunday did not help. And for the two of us with petrol, programme , drinks etc it was £50, the RFL should bring down the price of tickets for the play offs to fill the grounds. It will be interesting to see if OT sells out if Wigan and Leeds are not there.

Thanks Mick, appreciate the post.

I don't like the top eight.
With the six I could just cope with clubs 1 & 2 getting a 2nd match if they lost. With this top 8 teams 3 & 4 get a 2nd match. That is just awful.

As for the club call, I think once fans see Hetherington making the decision it will be dead in the water. It is also demeaning for the club chosen and they do not deserve that treatment after a full season and the early play off rounds.

Fans have voted with their cash and they are not buying.

What fans are buying into is the full Super League season. Crowds have by and large held up and the games are very popular. So if fans are buying into SL expand to 15 clubs, 2 extra games and drop an early round from the Challenge Cup which again is poorly attended and reduce the play offs, again poorly attended, from four to three weeks which may require us going back to a top five.
Simply give people what they want to buy, not what the RFL thinks they should buy, then don't.