Just reading today that the club have tied a 'club partner' sponsorship deal with London / Manchester based financial market firm CWM FX

Well of course that's what is all about - money. I can't see any other reason for playing this fixture.

Unfortunately that's what sport is all about these days. Fans are a mere afterthought. This is why we have Thursday night fixtures etc. For the first time in a while I'm not looking forward to the first game of the season, purely because it's on a Thursday night.

I'm going with my son (piemandan). Should be an interesting day.

Just look at the sponsors of this event they are bigger than any companies that ever get involved in rugby league usually

Its important to try and get new sponsors into rugby league, sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture

This may be an opportunity to get some new companies involved

Personally I love the Thursday night games. It means with the Saturday Catalan games being televised as well, that Rugby League is on the box 3 evenings running most weeks. A great start to the week end. I do prefer going to see Wigan on a Friday night but I take the view, what else is there to do on a Thursday (watch the Europa League - anyone?)

I know it is easy to slag the TV companies off. But answer this - could the game exist without Sky? And put yourself in Sky's shoes. When would you show the games? The schedules are crowded at the week end and regular Thursday/Friday nights are a good niche/slot for the sport.

Thursday night games may be fine if

a) You live locally, and

b) You don't want to take young kids to the game on a school night.

Many Wigan fans aren't in those categories. I'm 200 miles south of Wigan. Taking Friday afternoon off and making a weekend of it for a Friday night kick-off is one thing, and doable, but Thursday night? That's not going to happen.

Fair enough and fair play to you on making the Friday games. But surely most of our fans are, like me, locals? By the way, I'm not sure about the school night thing (unless Wigan is stuck in a kind of 1950s time warp - oops, cue the inevitable jokes).

Ditto

Only 200 miles North lol


Regards , EW

Ditto, except only 167 miles south.
We would love to go to the London City game, but unfortunately work won't allow. Andy Farrell has been drafted in to help host it, which I think is a brilliant piece of marketing.
I hope the guests enjoy their day, and get the opportunity to understand what RL is all about.
It is the greatest game, but if they don't get it, we could lose out.

Is the match on Wigan tv? (and are the other friendlies on?).

All the pre-season friendlies are on Wigan TV.

Living in London I am really looking forward to seeing the youngsters playing against Skolars. It's a great opportunity to raise Wigan's profile with some very influential people.

Of course most fans will be local, and I certainly don't expect special treatment cos I happen to live miles away. But I do think the 'school night' thing is an issue; I heard lots of complaints about it from people in the crowds (mostly Mums!) at home games last season.

Anyway, I'll be at the Huddersfield game, all being well, and I hope we do better than we managed last season!