In pre-season, I watched Ian Lenegan's presentation at the fans' forum, during which he stated that our turnover was down and quite a bit of this could be accounted for due to a drop in our average home attendance. He went on to say he wasn't worried by this because the new structure will mean more competitive games and, in turn, an increased attendance at home games.
Since then, we have played two SL games at the DW. The Hudds game drew a crowd of 12,488 - our lowest against them since 2009. Last night's 11,718 was our lowest home attendance against Hull FC since 2003. This obviously isn't a great start to growing our home averages, which have steadily been on the decline since 2012 and Lenegan's statement at the fans' forum seems naive to say the least. To emphasise just how the crowds have been falling, in 2011 we had only one SL game with less than 13,000 in attendance whereas in 2014 we had 8 (including 5 under 12,000 and 1 under 11,000). In that time the average dropped from just over 16k to just over 14k.
Is there anything the club can do to get the 2000 or so regular fans who seem to have turned their back on attending week-in, week-out? There are numerous reasons why the attendances are tumbling (e.g. Thursday games, lack of a "superstar" such as Sam, no free parking on site anymore, overall standard of SL, ticket prices etc) and whilst I agree with the sentiment behind Lenegan's presentation (the new structure is better than the previous one), have they really done enough to get more bums on seats? I've seen a lot of people complaining about the atmosphere but it's no surprise it's so poor with such a low crowd.
Don't forget to add into the mix that over the last 8 years or so, income has fallen or flat-lined in the NW, and that by most measures we're still (along with the NE & Wales) among the poorest regions in the country. There are obviously blips (apparently Bury's average income has actually increased more rapidly recently than neighbouring areas), but job insecurity and lack of disposable income has to play a part.
I don't think the drip-drip decline of the last few years will be reversed dramatically within the next 5 years. Those who made food & rent a priority won't be back any time soon and the new format will have to spectacularly work before the cynics will put down the Sky remote & trot up to the gate.
Big Steve wrote: The Internet has provided some wonderful creativity, opportunities and knowledge sharing but it has also given a worldwide forum for people you would leave a full pint behind in the pub to avoid having to listen to them.
aboveusonlypie... If you don't bother to go to the game when you live in the locality then you are not really a fan and therefore your views are invalid. It's simple.
Big Steve wrote: The Internet has provided some wonderful creativity, opportunities and knowledge sharing but it has also given a worldwide forum for people you would leave a full pint behind in the pub to avoid having to listen to them.
aboveusonlypie... If you don't bother to go to the game when you live in the locality then you are not really a fan and therefore your views are invalid. It's simple.
Personally, I've not been to a home game since 2012 due to my inability to get home via train after the game. Managed to get to the odd away game and to Magic weekend/finals, but that's it. One of the reasons I'm looking at graduate jobs in Manchester is that i'll be able to attend home matches again.
Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.
The_Enforcer wrote:
Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.
UK has 9/10 poorest regions in Europe, Lancashire is one.
You're thinking of Northern Europe. The UK doesn't have any of the 20 poorest regions in Europe. They are all in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Poland.
Big Steve wrote: The Internet has provided some wonderful creativity, opportunities and knowledge sharing but it has also given a worldwide forum for people you would leave a full pint behind in the pub to avoid having to listen to them.
aboveusonlypie... If you don't bother to go to the game when you live in the locality then you are not really a fan and therefore your views are invalid. It's simple.
You're thinking of Northern Europe. The UK doesn't have any of the 20 poorest regions in Europe. They are all in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Poland.
Not being funny, but, as an outsider, Wigan doesn't *look* to me like a particularly poor area. And my son, who lives in London, made the same comment. Certainly it appears a bit more prosperous than where I live (Dumpsville, Wiltshire).
I daresay "off the back of two desperately disappointing performances" is a factor, though.
Anyway, I'll be back up for the Saints game, if not before, so that will boost the attendance by another one.
Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.
The_Enforcer wrote:
Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.