Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:34 pm  

But you might get a lot of people coming back because the games mean something. Wakey fans have been waiting for the Middle 8's (although there is admittedly an irony in waiting for the part of the season that determines whether you stay in a league you won't bother watching, because the important bit is waiting for the part of the season that determines whether you stay in the league that you won't bother watching, etc).

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:39 am  

Widnes v Leigh will be a cracker. Wonder if the Leigh Pig will come out of the tunnel on his motorbike to the rapturous 2k Leythers in the away end...like the good old days of the NFP. I must say, Challenge Cup aside, I've not been more excited about Widnes' leagues games since they were first promoted to Super League in 2002
'

[Dick Jones]

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:19 pm  

That's great planning Leigh v KR first game at LSV

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:36 pm  

I'd imagine attendances will end up over all.

Last year the rest of SL only had 2 more matches against London with no away following and Bradford with limited away following.

So the top 8 should improve their averages and the middle 8's should at least start interesting. The question like always is can the clubs market themselves or are they just relying on the same people to turn up just because the system has changed.

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:34 pm  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

But you might get a lot of people coming back because the games mean something. Wakey fans have been waiting for the Middle 8's (although there is admittedly an irony in waiting for the part of the season that determines whether you stay in a league you won't bother watching, because the important bit is waiting for the part of the season that determines whether you stay in the league that you won't bother watching, etc).

Really Slugger? You won't bother watching if we go down? Are you sure? If so, goodbye and shut the door!

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:08 pm  

alleycat wrote:

Really Slugger? You won't bother watching if we go down? Are you sure? If so, goodbye and shut the door!

You misunderstand me (or maybe I didn't make my point well enough).

I was alluding to the fact that crowds have dropped off as it became apparent that the only thing that mattered this year is the middle 8's. So the irony is that we will get all excited about the part of the season that determines whether we will stay in Super League, but then we won't bother watching the Super League we are all excited about staying in, because the middle 8's is the important bit for us, ad infinitum. If you get my drift.

There's an argument that the Championship would be more exciting, as every week is about trying to get into something, where every result counts. For us at the moment, the likeliest thing for a few years is that we settle for the middle 8's every time and twiddle our thumbs until August.

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:53 am  

Him wrote:

The SL clubs are unlikely to achieve their 2015 average since their average is boosted by games against "bigger" clubs.

Leigh will probably get some crowds in excess of their average but I doubt games against Widnes and Salford are going to hugely increase Bradfords crowds and I don't think Fax or Sheffield are capable of increasing their average that much

Just can't agree with that..

Both Leigh & Bradford travel in considerable numbers & will take 3 > 4,000 to most away venues.
Bradford will double Wakefields home average on their visit, Leigh will double Salfords home average & increase on Widnes home average.
Halifax will blow their home averages to bits in all their home fixtures & have a smaller increase in travelling numbers.

This only leaves Sheffield who really do not have many fans at all, they will see a smaller marginal increase to home gates but hardly contribute at all on away days.

I think it is fair to say that we might see some 10k + crowds at both Leigh & Bradford who together make every other club *with the exception of KR* look insignificant in terms of fan base.

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:32 pm  

Ste100Centurions wrote:

Just can't agree with that..

Both Leigh & Bradford travel in considerable numbers & will take 3 > 4,000 to most away venues.
Bradford will double Wakefields home average on their visit, Leigh will double Salfords home average & increase on Widnes home average.
Halifax will blow their home averages to bits in all their home fixtures & have a smaller increase in travelling numbers.

This only leaves Sheffield who really do not have many fans at all, they will see a smaller marginal increase to home gates but hardly contribute at all on away days.

I think it is fair to say that we might see some 10k + crowds at both Leigh & Bradford who together make every other club *with the exception of KR* look insignificant in terms of fan base.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Leigh v Bradford game at the LSV in September was a sell-out, with us filling your away end.

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:25 am  

BullCharge wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised if the Leigh v Bradford game at the LSV in September was a sell-out, with us filling your away end.

I'm pretty sure,you filled our away end in the first game this season.And yes I would say a sell out is on the cards.

Re: The Middle 8. Scheduling is Key! : Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:28 am  

Ste100Centurions wrote:

Him wrote:

The SL clubs are unlikely to achieve their 2015 average since their average is boosted by games against "bigger" clubs.

Leigh will probably get some crowds in excess of their average but I doubt games against Widnes and Salford are going to hugely increase Bradfords crowds and I don't think Fax or Sheffield are capable of increasing their average that much

Just can't agree with that..

Both Leigh & Bradford travel in considerable numbers & will take 3 > 4,000 to most away venues.
Bradford will double Wakefields home average on their visit, Leigh will double Salfords home average & increase on Widnes home average.
Halifax will blow their home averages to bits in all their home fixtures & have a smaller increase in travelling numbers.

This only leaves Sheffield who really do not have many fans at all, they will see a smaller marginal increase to home gates but hardly contribute at all on away days.

I think it is fair to say that we might see some 10k + crowds at both Leigh & Bradford who together make every other club *with the exception of KR* look insignificant in terms of fan base.

Widnes have an insignificant fan base? That is very harsh.

We've had a better home and away attendance than Leigh for as long as I can remember and a lot of that time we were in the same division. Don't get carried away with talk of 10k crowds.