Has moving the cup to a later summer finish damaged it?

i dont think moving it back in the season is a problem
but the length of time between the quarters and the semi final means the competition loses all momentum, move the fourth round further back and make all the gaps between rounds three or four weeks

Leeds first qualified for the Northern Union Cup Final (as it was called back then) during the 1909/10 season. They played a 1st round, a 2nd round, a Quarter Final and a Semi Final to get to the Final. Other than the 1st and 2nd rounds now being called the 4th and 5th rounds (as the Challenge Cup has been opened up over the years to include the amateurs) the number of games played by the elite sides basically remains unchanged.

=#FF0000In your defence though there was introduced a preliminary round in the mid 80's to early 90's to allow the top amateur sides to take part. IIRC it was a random draw and as a top side you were unlucky to get drawn in an extra fixture. Leeds got drawn in 6 of these over the course of 8 seasons, playing some of the minnows along the way such as (in order) Bridgend, Swinton, Kells, Hunslet, Bradford and Bramley.

Good thread this now.

I dont think there is a problem with the structure of the CC, or when the Final is. There is an issue over the time between each round and I think that it needs much snappier, for example play the CC every other week (SL rounds in between).
The biggest reason why crowds have dropped is, in my opinion, the trend towards clubs having a higher proportion of season ticket holders compared to people who pay on the gate. As evidenced by the fact that playoff games usually get significantly lower crowds than regular season games against the same opposition. People seem to be more inclined to go to a game if its included on their season ticket rather than paying for it seperately.
The obvious answer then being that CC home games should be included on your season ticket. Although season ticket prices presumably would have to rise and would probably present issues with regard to the division of gate money to the away team.

I would of loved to go to the Game on Saturday but like so many people have mentioned it is Bank Holiday and I am down to London for the Weekend with the missus.

Alot of the regular's I stand with are also away with it being a BH.

I am quite shocked at the low level of Ticket sales to be fair but with current times as they are it's understandable.
Just hope we don't get out numbered by the 'Pie-Eaters'...Can't see it myself.

Here's to a good game and some good weather for the people who are going

Come on Leeds...!

Indeed
we gave them 2500 tickets, they havnt sold them all
we have 3000 left out of 7500
its the maths of the marketing team not the real world

It is indeed.

As someone else has pointed out the distance between games makes it "the forgotten competition"

IMO the games should be scheduled for every two weeks and with a maximum of one month between the semi final and final.
Sadly as with most things t.v. has final say as there are clashes with other televised sports.

I would also agree with the semi finals being double headers.

How about the quarter finals being done in a sort of MM way?

Not so sure if Leeds win the GF.IIRC prize money is £370,000 add then another lucrative game against the Aussie champions. I don't think there will be a lot in it.

so no "home" support to boost the attendance?
i wouldnt support double headers but the semis at the same venue on different days was a good idea, all semis at the galpharm would be great

Add the extra ££ in merchandise sales and corporate interest etc i'd say it would be very close or that if anything the GF win pips it.

I was speaking to someone at the Wigan club (admin) recently and we were talking about the financial advantages of the two competitions. He stated that the revenue from getting to a Challenge Cup final was a LOT higher than for winning Superleague, particularly when you factor in the merchandise side of things.

Not sure there will be a lot in it in Leeds case with the revenue from the expected high crowd at the WCC.

That is an RFL event though, what percentage do Leeds get?

so would any more people attend the Millenium Magic weekend/day if the ticket was included in the price of a season ticket?

Not me.
I was all set to go up to Murrayfield for a weekend last year but ££ situation caused a re-think and this event will always be a low priority imo.

He’s just making excuses for why Wigan are crap these days. Of course selling Merchandise of your ancient challenge cup wins earn more than your one super league grand final win

I have spoken to a Leeds official who said that by far the biggest money spinner was the WCC. It's a one off, large attendance, not shared with other clubs, decent sponsorship and decent prize money. As a WCC comes on the back of a GF win then that combined I'd say the GF is worth more thabn the CC.

Of course, I can understand a current Wigan official not knowing much about the mathematics of a GF win.

So why come out with this?

Was it too good an opportunity for you to stick the boot in to Leeds?

Ironically, the Leeds of that era probbaly deserved it unlike the current Leeds team that you often seem to relish complaning about.

I like what you did there , with that list of minnows

No one gives a flying f-ck.

Sadly 10 pages of response says otherwise

Looks like wigans the home side in this tie from what ive seen on this thread

If I'd have added a

would that have helped?

Clearly you've seen something no one else has.

I see no mention of this game being moved to Widnes...