Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:52 pm  

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.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 6:44 pm  

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.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 6:57 pm  

UK has 9/10 poorest regions in Europe, Lancashire is one.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:00 pm  

I don't like saying it but I wouldn't underestimate the impact the Ben Flower incident may have had on crowds.

Plus the fact that both home games this year in SL have come off the back of two desperately disappointing performances.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:09 pm  

Can't see the Ben Flower incident having an impact myself...

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:34 pm  

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.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:43 pm  

Wigan Peer wrote:

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.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:51 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

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.

Yep, sorry, i worded it wrongly...

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:52 pm  

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.

Re: Home Attendances : Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:56 pm  

Wigan Peer wrote:

Yep, sorry, i worded it wrongly...

No worries, thought I would get it in there before 'Britain First' started spreading it with the rest of their tripe