: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:42 pm  

Dave T wrote:

If the RFL felt they could not shift the tickets, they would have just given them to Widnes and taken the easy option. Comparing to previous finals is irrelevant, as the fact they don;t usually sell out is surely the reason why the RFL have tried to attract neutrals with the 9's tournament.

If Barrow end up sending some back, there is a chance you will get an allocation of those.

You are right about the semi not being a fair comparison, as Widnes' stadium is not big enough to cater for all the regrlar fans of Wigan and Warrington, whereas Blackpool's is easily big enough for all of Barrow's and Widnes'.

Your guess of a couple of hundred for the 9's tournament is just that, a guess. If the RFL have commited to give each club a hundred tickets each for example, they cannot now back out of that. I'm sure they will free them up if clubs return them, but they cannot just change plans for Widnes fans who are usually sat at home when Widnes are playing!!!

If they have they have vastly overestimated

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:46 pm  

Dave T wrote:

If the RFL felt they could not shift the tickets, they would have just given them to Widnes and taken the easy option. Comparing to previous finals is irrelevant, as the fact they don;t usually sell out is surely the reason why the RFL have tried to attract neutrals with the 9's tournament.

If Barrow end up sending some back, there is a chance you will get an allocation of those.

You are right about the semi not being a fair comparison, as Widnes' stadium is not big enough to cater for all the regrlar fans of Wigan and Warrington, whereas Blackpool's is easily big enough for all of Barrow's and Widnes'.

Your guess of a couple of hundred for the 9's tournament is just that, a guess. If the RFL have commited to give each club a hundred tickets each for example, they cannot now back out of that. I'm sure they will free them up if clubs return them, but they cannot just change plans for Widnes f[b]ans who are usually sat at home when Widnes are playing!!![/b]

Which are exactly the kind of fans we want to attract back into watching the game.

Last time Wire and Wigan played a semi here you didn't sell it out. Obviously quite a lot of fans that sat that one out are now going to this one.

Yes, I did guess at the likely figue for the 9's. But I know the general enthusiasm for this competition and it's not high on the agenda, particularly as it's a two day event. I just don't see it as possibly making much difference to the attendance. Most clubs don't give a shiny sh*te about it, and the bigger clubs' fans want to see their sides field weakened teams to avoid injury to their best players.

It's just a complete load of b0ll0x that was always likely to backfire.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:49 pm  

Pepe wrote:

Which are exactly the kind of fans we want to attract back into watching the game.

Last time Wire and Wigan played a semi here you didn't sell it out. Obviously quite a lot of fans that sat that one out are now going to this one.

Yes, I did guess at the likely figue for the 9's. But I know the general enthusiasm for this competition and it's not high on the agenda, particularly as it's a two day event. I just don't see it as possibly making much difference to the attendance. Most clubs don't give a shiny sh*te about it, and the bigger clubs' fans want to see their sides field weakened teams to avoid injury to their best players.

It's just a complete load of b0ll0x that was always likely to backfire.

It will be interesting to see what sort of squads the likes of Leigh,Batley,Sheffield and Gateshead put out considering we are all in a relegation battle

Also Fax as they have to travel to Toulouse the following week , but the French club get a free weekend

Basically a competition no one is interested in and one that many clubs dont really want to play in

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:52 pm  

Starbug wrote:

It will be interesting to see what sort of squads the likes of Leigh,Batley,Sheffield and Gateshead put out considering we are all in a relegation battle

Exactly. Imagine if Leigh played their best players and several were injured for the rest of the season playing a totally pointless tournament no c*nt's interested in, and you then end up relegated because of it?

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:59 pm  

Pepe wrote:

Which are exactly the kind of fans we want to attract back into watching the game.

Last time Wire and Wigan played a semi here you didn't sell it out. Obviously quite a lot of fans that sat that one out are now going to this one.

Yes, I did guess at the likely figue for the 9's. But I know the general enthusiasm for this competition and it's not high on the agenda, particularly as it's a two day event. I just don't see it as possibly making much difference to the attendance. Most clubs don't give a shiny sh*te about it, and the bigger clubs' fans want to see their sides field weakened teams to avoid injury to their best players.

It's just a complete load of b0ll0x that was always likely to backfire.

The fact is, the RFL have given you an allocation, which you have sold out. If there are any spare closer to the time, they will release them. The 9's thing is an unknown so they may be playing it safe in terms of holding tickets back, as some clubs may get behind it and sell a couple of hundred each, we'll see.

This game will sell out (or you will be given more tickets).

I also agree about this game being a chance to get new fans in (or old ones back) and have made the same point in discussions about the semi, but ultimately, this isn't the RFL's main concern. They need a full house for all those things you listed, and had Widnes not got there, it would have been very tough for them. Unfortunately for you gys now it makes getting tickets more difficult for those armchair fans, but hey that's life.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:10 pm  

Dave T wrote:

The fact is, the RFL have given you an allocation, which you have sold out. If there are any spare closer to the time, they will release them. The 9's thing is an unknown so they may be playing it safe in terms of holding tickets back, as some clubs may get behind it and sell a couple of hundred each, we'll see.
This game will sell out (or you will be given more tickets).

I also agree about this game being a chance to get new fans in (or old ones back) and have made the same point in discussions about the semi, but ultimately, this isn't the RFL's main concern. They need a full house for all those things you listed, and had Widnes not got there, it would have been very tough for them. Unfortunately for you gys now it makes getting tickets more difficult for those armchair fans, but hey that's life.

It will be interesting to see how many 1 st team players the 6 SL clubs have in their squads for the Carnegie 9 's comp

The NRC 9 's is just an afterthought attempt to give the Championship clubs a second rate ' Magic ' weekend , unlike the MM weekend though it is a worthless badly timed totally unnessesary competition , but the clubs are expected to field full strength squads

Bloody crazy

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:11 pm  

Pepe wrote:

Exactly. Imagine if Leigh played their best players and several were injured for the rest of the season playing a totally pointless tournament no c*nt's interested in, and you then end up relegated because of it?

I agree and i doubt that any clubs will risk playing there big name players as every club has ambitions for the season whether its play offs or avoiding relegation
it would be very funny if a very small attedance figure shows up for the nines as this shows another rfl failure
because lets face it if we hadn't of beat halifax, i personnaly wouldnt have give a toss

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:15 pm  

danavvo wrote:

I agree and i doubt that any clubs will risk playing there big name players as every club has ambitions for the season whether its play offs or avoiding relegation
it would be very funny if a very small attedance figure shows up for the nines as this shows another rfl failure
because lets face it if we hadn't of beat halifax, i personnaly wouldnt have give a toss

The RFL have told all clubs they must field full strength squads , all except Toulouse of course , they get the weekend off

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:18 pm  

danavvo wrote:

I agree and i doubt that any clubs will risk playing there big name players as every club has ambitions for the season whether its play offs or avoiding relegation
it would be very funny if a very small attedance figure shows up for the nines as this shows another rfl failure
because lets face it if we hadn't of beat halifax, i personnaly wouldnt have give a toss

Or perhaps it would be great if it sold out and was a great event that provided all fans with a weekend away in a decent town.
Why on earth would you want something to fail, just so you can thn have a moan at the RFL?

One of the reasons I have followed the ticket sales is because I was interested in attending this event. I was going to go to the 9's and then stay over and go to the final, however I can't get a ticket, and as it turns out we play Saints on the Saturday.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:28 pm  

Dave T wrote:

The 9's thing is an unknown so they may be playing it safe in terms of holding tickets back, as some clubs may get behind it and sell a couple of hundred each, we'll see.

It isn't really.

There is something called market research. Contrary to what the RFL usually does, it involves going out there and asking the fans what they want and what they're prepared to do.

Had they gauged the fans reaction to the 9s they'd know by now it isn't a big deal and wont be a big issue if people miss out on tickets. It's like having a kids tournament before the FA cup final and giving them 20% of the seat allocation because people might want to turn up for it. Not the point even if they could sell that allocation out - its unimportant and should not impact the tickets available for the main event.