You have to say that both Leeds and the RFL seem to be sitting back from a position where expansion and marketing don't seem to be on the agenda, that makes sense for Leeds as the last thing you want for next season is a new influx of customers banging on the door and unable to get in, pointless spending money on marketing when actually next year you don't have the room for them and all your forecasts are made on lower numbers anyway.

I can't understand the lack of Challenge Cup marketing from the RFL though, its like they've all shrugged their shoulders and settled for the fact that they'll be lucky to sell 12000 tickets for a semi final and they may as well extract as much money out of those 12k as they can - its a business position but its not exactly Dragons Den is it, can you imagine James Caan's face when he asks you for your three year projections and you tell him it'll probably drop off a bit in year two and then you'll manage in year three with the hangers on.

What Leeds have found from this useful exercise is that they have around 1200 to 1500 prime milkers, the Jersey cows of the herd, the ones who'll be stood in line from 6.30am panicking a little if there are more than a dozen people in front of them, these people would pay £50 a ticket if asked and if the club haven't got their names, addresses and email details then they don't deserve to run a business, these people will buy everything that you put under their noses whatever the quality of the product - the only thing easier would be to sell heroin to addicts.

As for the rest, they might turn up and buy, there are no incentives to turn up and buy, its expensive if there's more than you to take and its on TV and you won't have to go to Doncaster if you don't bother with a ticket, and even worse than you not being bothered whether you go or not, neither are the RFL.

Shall me and you just run the RFL?

I rang the ticket office this morning and ordered two tickets for next Sunday. I even had a choice on where to sit as well.

Just looked on the RFL's eticketing website and the only tickets available are in the Leeds half of the stadium. There are 4 or 5 different blocks with availability.

i think the apathy is disgraceful, not to mention stupid. why the hell wouldn't you go to a semi final?
probably the same people who don't go to play offs because they have to pay.
they pay for a season ticket, watch the ordinary games then miss the big ones

I think they are purely financial decision Tad, especially for those who take more than themselves to a game it can be a very expensive afternoon and frankly there are much better things to spend £50 to £100 on, or not spend it at all.

But for as long as the break-even numbers keep turning up and paying whatever is asked then there needs to be no marketing of the game at all, we just run along in neutral gear and hope that Sky sign up again somewhere down the path.

I heard a comment from a SL coach on the radio last night (it may have been Brian McDermott) about the decision to lose Crusaders from SL and whether RL should concentrate on the M62 again, the comment was that whatever it takes has to be done because we can't hope to match football but we are still way behind Rugby Union when it comes to promoting and developing the game, the attitude does seem to be to retreat behind a wall and stay here until the good times return, whenever that is.

Sadly only memories from now on. From the trailers it looks like Caan has been replaced by an actual dragon for the new series.

Anyone want a ticket in block NSE Row T? Got one sat on my own but can get one with family.

Let me know.

She looks bloody horrifying.

Can't be d. Am doing something next weekend. Won't be going to wembley if we get there either.

Proper armchair fan me.

From Leeds official Twitter page:-

"We have now sold 4264 of our 7000 tickets for semi at close of business on Saturday, back open at 9am Monday"

Is this a sign that people are showing they are fed up with the coaching regime, the Challenge Cup isn't as attractive to supporters as it once was, they are opposed to the venue or just that times are hard and because it's all pay and they prefer to do other things with their hard earned cash?

I'm still, considering the fan base, surprised that Leeds appear to be struggling to sell 7000 tickets. I really did think that Leeds allocation would be virtually sold before they went on general sale. Cas had sold all but 600 by the end of Friday.

Maybe people are predicting a comfortable Leeds win....meaning its not attractive enough for the money.

Not thought of that one

I get the impression that even the club aren't that bothered about this.

Cas have nearly sold their allocation but have been open later at night and were open 9-5 today. We were open 9-12 which seems a very odd decision. Are the online sales still down?

Or is it saving money, not having to pay overtime etc?

Yet more proof it's their cup final.

Quite possibly but then this could be the closest we get to a cup final this year. Castleford are going to put in a very strong performance and I don't think we can be sure of anything.

For me, if the club aren't bothered about this then how can they expect the fans to be?

they have sold more than half the allocation in less than half of the time they are available - they might still sell them all
i hope cas get more tickets than us if they want them

Say, for instance, the Cas fans stole them from the club shop. Would it be known as a six-finger discount.
Just a thought.

As you were.

Jesus your boring

Its not just Leeds though is it...Wigan vs Saints, HUGE derby, perfect venue for location and atmosphere and yet the 13K capacity has not been sold out. That should have sold out within a day or two.

Face it, Northerners are tight.

RhinoNeil likes this.

I know the news hasn't quite reached Cas yet so I'm sorry to break it to you but Jesus is dead.

Are we? In that case can someone remind my misses, I can swing a cat in that bucket