What factors explain the reduction in SL play-off attendances (not including Grand Finals) since the introduction of the Top 8 play-off format?

[uTop 5 play-off system (1998 to 2001)[/u
248,342 attended 20 play-off fixtures at an average of 12,417

[uTop 6 play-off system (2002 to 200icon_cool.gif[/u
468,499 attended 35 play-off fixtures at an average of 13,386

[uTop 8 play-off system (2009 to 2013)[/u
348,304 attended 37 play-off fixtures at an average of 9,414

SL play-off attendances under the Top 8 format have fallen by almost 30% in comparison to the Top 6 format era and they've fallen by over 24% in comparison to the Top 5 format era.

Quote ="William Eve"What factors explain the reduction in SL play-off attendances (not including Grand Finals) since the introduction of the Top 8 play-off format? [uTop 5 play-off system (1998 to 2001)[/u 248,342 attended 20 play-off fixtures at an average of 12,417 [uTop 6 play-off system (2002 to 200icon_cool.gif[/u 468,499 attended 35 play-off fixtures at an average of 13,386 [uTop 8 play-off system (2009 to 2013)[/u 348,304 attended 37 play-off fixtures at an average of 9,414 SL play-off attendances under the Top 8 format have fallen by almost 30% in comparison to the Top 6 format era and they've fallen by over 24% in comparison to the Top 5 format era.'" Here's another graph that might explain things: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8242825.stm

Quote ="William Eve"What factors explain the reduction in SL play-off attendances (not including Grand Finals) since the introduction of the Top 8 play-off format? [uTop 5 play-off system (1998 to 2001)[/u 248,342 attended 20 play-off fixtures at an average of 12,417 [uTop 6 play-off system (2002 to 200icon_cool.gif[/u 468,499 attended 35 play-off fixtures at an average of 13,386 [uTop 8 play-off system (2009 to 2013)[/u 348,304 attended 37 play-off fixtures at an average of 9,414 SL play-off attendances under the Top 8 format have fallen by almost 30% in comparison to the Top 6 format era and they've fallen by over 24% in comparison to the Top 5 format era.'" Here's another graph that might explain things: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8242825.stm

Quote ="craigizzard"Here's another graph that might explain things: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8242825.stm'" Not really, though it could be one contributing factor among many others. It is to be hoped those in positions of power and influence in the game aren't simplistically blaming the economy in it's entirety.

Quote ="craigizzard"Here's another graph that might explain things: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8242825.stm'" Not really, though it could be one contributing factor among many others. It is to be hoped those in positions of power and influence in the game aren't simplistically blaming the economy in it's entirety.

How much is a student ticket on the gate tonight?

[url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/tickets/information.php#.UjxPd4asiSo£13 standing, £16-£22 seated[/url

I agree William.And have stated on many threads what i think of the current 8 team format, and really hope we go back to top 5.

It has to be said though that these attendance figures could be skewed by the fact that less well supported clubs have feature in the 8 team format.Cats don't have an away following.Bradford had a big following when they featured regular in the 5/6 team format.And it was always pretty much the bigger clubs that met in the early days who have a decent following i.e Bradford,Saints,Leeds,Wigan,Warrington and Hull.So them teams playing each other is bound to lift the average.

Personally i think the interest in the games leading up to the final has always been pretty much the same whatever the system, a groundbreaking solution needs to be found.I dont have it i am afraid.

Ah nice one! Thank you.

Kinda depressing stats william lad.

Why do you think the playoffs are attended so poorly in comparison to regular season? You've done numerous other comparisons elsewhere and playoff attendances come up short. I've read your musings on how super league has spawned a generation of fans only interested in season tickets and less so in paying extra for an individual game (unless of course it's a final).

I'm sure theres other factors at play though.

I agree with the gist of what you're saying above, Re: bigger clubs meeting, bigger followings, potential for skewed attendances as a result.

So let's look at play-off fixtures between the same teams and the attendances under different formats.

[uLeeds V Wigan[/u
=#FF00002010: 13,693 (Top 8 format)
2008: 13,112 (Top 6 format)
2007: 16,112 (Top 6 format)
2004: 20,119 (Top 6 format)
2003: 17,264 (Top 6 format)

[uWigan V Leeds[/u
=#FF00002012: 8,235 (Top 8 format)
2010: 9,987 (Top 8 format)
2002: 13,157 (Top 6 format)
1998: 12,941 (Top 5 format)

[uLeeds V Hull[/u
=#FF00002012: 9,075 (Top 8 format)
2002: 12,123 (Top 6 format)

[uWigan V Castleford[/u
=#FF00002009: 8,689 (Top 8 format)
1999: 13,374 (Top 5 format)

[uWigan V St Helens[/u
=#FF00002011: 12,893 (Top 8 format)
2004: 20,052 (Top 6 format)
2003: 21,790 (Top 6 format)
2001: 19,260 (Top 5 format)

[uSt Helens V Wigan[/u
=#FF00002011: 9,421 (Top 8 format)
2009: 13,087 (Top 8 format)
2002: 15,100 (Top 6 format)

[uWarrington V Hull[/u
=#FF00002012: 7,323 (Top 8 format)
2005: 12,243 (Top 6 format)

[uHull V Huddersfield[/u
=#FF00002012: 8,662 (Top 8 format)
2007: 12,140 (Top 6 format)

What do we make of these comparative play-off attendances played under different formats?

Solution as follows:

- Add the maximum number of playoff games to the season ticket price. Say for example 3 x £20.

- Club ends up with one home playoff game that season.

- Discount next years season ticket purchase by £40.

Fan isn't short changed and is more likely to buy next years season ticket.

Looking forward to the game tonight, nothing like sudden death rugby, hopefully we play similar to two weeks ago and give Saints a hiding

I think all it goes to show is how pish poor the standard of rugby is now compared to how it was several years ago.
That added to the apathy of many supporters how the game is been run and we no longer get to see marquee players from Australia and NZ has clearly had a down turn on attendances.

Bit of an eye opener TBH some of the bigger end attendances there which we havn't seen replicated throughout the 8 team system.What do you make of it?

Do you think if we go back to top 5/6 format we will get crowds anywhere close to the 20,000 at Headingley for Leeds v Wigan or the circa 20,000 regular att. at Wigan for the Wigan v Saints games in the early 00's?

Very much doubt it myself unless something is brought in to include play off games for ST holders.

It's an interesting approach but I'd consider that to be applying a bandage to a wound without actually determining what caused the wound in the first place and what the consequences might be if that bandage is just left on without further attention or consideration.

The problem as I see it is that fans do not currently hold the SL product in a very high regard. If the product was as good as is often claimed then fans wouldn't need to be encouraged into attending SL games via cheap season ticket deals, nor would they need to be encouraged to attend SL play-off fixtures by effectively coercing them into attending via the inclusion of potential play-off fixtures as part of the season ticket. The £10 and £15 cheap deals for this years play-offs thus far haven't worked either.

On the topic of the economy being to blame for everything (how convenient), it's probably a factor but there are other factors at play. I believe that clubs know deep down the SL product, the structure of the regular season and the play-offs don't provide enough interest these days to entice people into attending 13 home games unless you offer them a ticket for each game offering substantial savings in comparison to the matchday walk-up price. I also believe the policy of encouraging and maintaining a season-ticketed customer base via the one-off payment method for everything has spawned a generation of fans who aren't used to paying for individual games.

Sadly, i have to agree.

How much of this is down to the franchise points format, in which regular season attendance counts as a big tick, leading to discounted season-tickets to bump up the numbers but a devaluation of the "value point" of a game as spectators become accustomed to paying less.

£10-£20 should be a bargain for even a mid-sized sporting event even in a recession (though it would still obviously exclude some spectators), but if your ST is £100 it doesn't seem that way.

Couldn't agree more. Sport sells itself a lot easier and creates a lot more interest and excitement when it's has easily identifiable star players to market. Super League doesn't have any... well, it has one... Sam Tomkins... and he'll be gone soon anyway.

What about reigning golden boot winner kevin sinfield? Or worlds best winger ryan hall?

Not sure what to make of it, and I'm uncertain as to what the solutions are.

Leeds require an attendance tonight in excess of 13,233 (that was the attendance between Leeds & St Helens in the 1998 play-offs) in order to buck the trend of comparative poor play-off attendances under the Top 8 format.

Everything works in cycles. It's hardwired into the universe, and rugby league attendences are not immune.

I think we need to look back at our game and realise that there have been fundamental changes at regular intervals - summer rugby was the last nearly 20 years ago now. Before that we had the simultaneous re-imagining of the scrum rules and lifting of the international ban in 83/84 which radically changed the way the game was played (you could also argue that the professionalising of the game in the 90's was just as important). Before that it was the introduction of the limited tackle rule and then the changes up to 6 tackles coincided with the introduction of 2 divisions.
All these changes were done for reasons not disimilar to the ones we are considering now. I believe the product needs refreshing every so often to counter the growth of apathy towards sport and the natural cycles. It may be that the product now needs refreshing again.

All I know is that hammering the perceived quality of the game is purely subjective and ignores the obvious that people get bored with things if they stay the same. We've had this issue in our game since I can remember - and generally the powers that be do something about it.

The game is not "broken" because Hull got hammered by Huddersfield, just like it wasn't broken any of the other times a team got slaughtered.

I'm sure that has to be a relevant factor WRT poor play-off attendances. The fans do not value the SL product at £20 a game or more, and at some SL clubs the fans don't value the product at £10.


When the business model involves maintaining a customer base of loyal season ticket holders paying between £50 and £150 for an adult season ticket, it's difficult if not impossible to turn the tide. Once they get used to paying at Poundland, they won't be keen on paying Waitrose prices for what is still a Poundland product, particularly when the play-offs are then seen as perhaps a one-off and unnecessary impulse purchase that they can well do without.

I ought to attend tonight. After all, it's one of those rare meaningful games where the winner is a mere 80 minute performance away from a Grand Final appearance whilst the loser has their season terminated. Additionally, it's a game which could go either way, though I still think it's around two-thirds in Leeds winning favour in probability terms.

Unfortunately, I'm in the habit of not attending and habits are difficult to break. If only there were some genuine star player attractions that could tempt me... alas...

So you criticise attendances all over the forum, yet don't attend.

Good one!

Shame you missed a cracker for your team. Was played in the correct manner, intense, some great play, some forced errors and all down to a drop goal in the end. Maybe next year you will buy a ticket, but then next year maybe you won't win. So opportunity missed.

So I decided to take on the nightmare that is the m1 on a Friday and go to the game. The thought of a knock out pay off excited me. For me the factors are
Play off format
Weaker teams uncompetitive
Last minute arrangements
Economy

Personally I think the format is most to blame. Top 8 is just not feasible. The gap in quality is to big. Hull vs catalans just doesn't excite. The format is stupid and clubcall is a gimmick that adds nothing. Only a certain grip of teams could win it and that is the top 5. The other clubs are just filler.

Think that the games are not died until 5 days before doesn't help. It's not enough time for people to be as free as they are when they buy regular season games.

Money is tight for some, and a payoff game at shortnotice is not to priority for some, especially when the game is on sky