Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 07, 2012 5:08 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

There have been 26 games so far this year in the Premiership played at home grounds (i.e. not Twickenham or Wembley) which had the same fixture last year. 22 have attracted lower crowds than the same fixtures last year and 4 higher. Every team bar Leicester and Harlequins are averaging less than last year in like for like fixtures

And after two gates above 6k, the new team, London Welsh, have had less than 5k in their last two home games at Oxford which is less than Newcastle averaged last year

This would suggest it is more than just the north which is struggling

It's pretty incredible isn't it? I bet Welsh will see their crowds tail off- the people of Oxford don't seem interested and anyone else trying to get their by any means bar car will probably get fed up of negotiating the dire public transport connections to the stadium and/or wandering through Blackbird Leys.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 07, 2012 5:50 pm  

Urmston Wire wrote:

It's pretty incredible isn't it? I bet Welsh will see their crowds tail off- the people of Oxford don't seem interested and anyone else trying to get their by any means bar car will probably get fed up of negotiating the dire public transport connections to the stadium and/or wandering through Blackbird Leys.

Welsh only had 1 crowd above 6,000 (Leicester game), and the other was actually around 4,500 as announced on BBC website yet Welsh for some reason announced it as something stupid like 6,000. Something funny going on there, as I saw the game today against Saracens, there looked about 2,000 people there at most (including the stand behind the cameras), yet it's been announced at about 4,500. Not a chance in hell.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:47 pm  

It's been a long time since we heard anything of our old chums, Manchester. And by the looks of it, things are still not going well for them: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mancheste ... 11558.html Being battered by Alty Kersal. Blimey.

It's been a long time since we heard anything of our old chums, Manchester. And by the looks of it, things are still not going well for them: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mancheste ... 11558.html Being battered by Alty Kersal. Blimey.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Wed Oct 10, 2012 9:51 pm  

JonB95 wrote:

Welsh only had 1 crowd above 6,000 (Leicester game), and the other was actually around 4,500 as announced on BBC website yet Welsh for some reason announced it as something stupid like 6,000. Something funny going on there, as I saw the game today against Saracens, there looked about 2,000 people there at most (including the stand behind the cameras), yet it's been announced at about 4,500. Not a chance in hell.

London Welsh were averaging about 600 fans a game a couple of years ago.......by the sounds of it, they have increased this by 500%.
The Fulhamcrsaderbroncoquinsbroncos RL are plodding along on a 2,807 average, down 44% over 7 years......given the choice of an increase of 500% or a reduction by 44%, I'd think the board and owners of the cottage burners would be a tad happier........
...but keep up the crowd counting

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Oct 11, 2012 12:45 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

London Welsh were averaging about 600 fans a game a couple of years ago.......by the sounds of it, they have increased this by 500%.
The Fulhamcrsaderbroncoquinsbroncos RL are plodding along on a 2,807 average, down 44% over 7 years......given the choice of an increase of 500% or a reduction by 44%, I'd think the board and owners of the cottage burners would be a tad happier........
...but keep up the crowd counting

By what percentage do you think the costs of London Welsh have increased over the same period? I would think 500% would be very conservative. The owners and board of Welsh will no doubt be loving their time in the Premiership from a profile and success perspective but I don’t think the balance sheet would make very pretty reading

As for the crowds themselves, I would be interested on your take on the fall off in attendances in the Premiership overall. This time last year, we were all debating whether the World Cup in NZ was having an impact on the Union crowds but they are falling away dramatically this year without any particular influencer?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:53 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

London Welsh were averaging about 600 fans a game a couple of years ago.......by the sounds of it, they have increased this by 500%.
The Fulhamcrsaderbroncoquinsbroncos RL are plodding along on a 2,807 average, down 44% over 7 years......given the choice of an increase of 500% or a reduction by 44%, I'd think the board and owners of the cottage burners would be a tad happier........
...but keep up the crowd counting

How on earth is London Broncos relevant to this conversation in any way?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:50 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

By what percentage do you think the costs of London Welsh have increased over the same period? I would think 500% would be very conservative. The owners and board of Welsh will no doubt be loving their time in the Premiership from a profile and success perspective but I don’t think the balance sheet would make very pretty reading

London Welsh have increased their crowds and no doubt their spend (probably by more)........but they have increased their crowds, which is what was under debate.

Dunbar wrote:

As for the crowds themselves, I would be interested on your take on the fall off in attendances in the Premiership overall. This time last year, we were all debating whether the World Cup in NZ was having an impact on the Union crowds but they are falling away dramatically this year without any particular influencer?

It'll be rolled out as "it's the olympics fault" or something like that, but in reality, they'll be scratching their heads wondering why. I would say they have yet to understand their place on the pecking order of club sport........which is below soccers 3rd tier and that they need to sort out their pricing structures. To a certain extent, they need to stop believing their own hype.....just because the RFU can fill twickenham, doesn't mean that Exeter v London Welsh will create the same interest. When I was home last week I noticed that tickets for England v FIJI were on offerfor 40 notes each.....even the internationals will start to struggle.

JonB95 wrote:

How on earth is London Broncos relevant to this conversation in any way?

You were debating the crowds at a union club....I simply pointed out that fans in glass houses should ease off with the stone throwing. I am a die hard Broncos fan, but even I admit that London Welsh have crowds we would kill for.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:21 pm  

Very rarely watch Union but do watch the All Blacks. Tuned into the Australia v All Blacks game today and switched it off at HT. Thought it was very boring!

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:05 pm  

Went to London Irish v Mont de Marsan today with a union-loving friend. One-sided anyway, but amazing that even when there's a match full of tries, it's so inferior to League. And the schlock, cod Irishness of the thing was insane- like being trapped in a semi-open O'Neills in Basingstoke.