Well someone had to kick off the 2015 edition of one of RL's favourite topics!


9269 at Widnes tonight, a lot higher than 6,223 for the same fixture last season, promising start!

From what I heard on the Radio, their best attendance for 10 years....

But lets not get over excited. The first game of a new structure and all that. Maybe in 10 games time we can start to see improvements.

You're in for it now. One night in July when one team has recorded a serious drop in comparison to last year's fixture then William will be on here at 10pm on a Friday night asking why UllFC isn't posting with such vigour as you've done tonight.

Also begs the question why William didn't show up and post at 00:01am on 01/02/2015 to remind us that the Eng/NZ series still doesn't have venues announced. I can only presume his blow up doll exploded on him and he's in hospital with rubber burns.

Well it took 3 posts but now the invitation to respond is there.

Fantastic start, lets be positive!

I think William is still at the opticians after mistaking thousands of people for empty seats at Wembley.

I'm all for being positive as you all know, but there are limits.

The previous crowd was 6,000+, tonight was 9,000+ and Eddie mentioned they gave 3,000 free tickets away to people trying to break a world record for the most people doing a workout at the same time tonight. You do the maths.

I enjoyed the game considering the game should have been over after half an hour.

Don't see any team really dominating things.

Spot on.

Widnes Vikings' attendance for Rd1 in 2014 - 5,327
Widnes Vikings' attendance for Rd1 in 2015 - 9,286

Not like you to put down attendances, did you log in under the wrong username?

Over 9,000 when the corresponding game last year got 6,200. On one of the most bitterly cold nights so far this year. On a Thursday.

That's pretty damn good, free tickets or not.

A majority of Professional and semi professional clubs in my opinion could do more to get bigger crowds. Its called match day awareness.

I have no issue with free or discounted tickets as long as they aren't used all the time, hopefully the 3k freebie fans saw that Widnes are a decent team in a competitive league and turn up again.

This is why free tickets is a good idea some times. Most of those tickets will have been given to people who don't normally go down to games so if even 500 of those 3000 decide to go again, that is a decent increase for Widnes. Plus the free tickets bump up match day attendances as well, that 9000 will help bring Widnes' average up at the end of the season, especially if they got even just a couple more of those which I think is doable if they have done it once.

Is it really? Do you see football teams offering 3,000 free tickets on the first day of the season?
Widnes still could've got 9,000 without the free tickets, but we'll never know.

Regardless of the freebies, that's a decent attendance. More importantly, any newbies amongst the alleged 3k bludgers got to see an entertaining game.

Gutterfax mode on****
'
3000 free tickets that is rubbish what a poor sport. The 6 nations will have 80,000
free tickets. They will be to well connected to rich people in blue chip companies. RFl a joke.

Gutterfax mode off *****

Rovers have sold 11,500 tickets, heading for a sell out at CP.

No problem with free tickets.....uts how too follow up that's important. These 3k recipients need to be contacted fir feedback and invited back at a discounted rate....attendance is a habit.....it needs encouragement to get folk used to going to games.
As I say, well done widnes. Regardless if why they were there, that's a very good crowd

www.hullkr.co.uk/club/news/artic ... ar-running

www.hullkr.co.uk/club/news/artic ... ar-running

Comparing apples and oranges there.

I'd rather see 9,000 watching RL than 6,000. If any of those 3,000 extra were first-timers, then it has to be a good thing.

Well thats twice in the same week I'm agreeing with GF, if free tickets gets bums on seats, then so be it. The follow up is crucial, turning the kid who turned up for a freebie into a "FAN", also lets not forget it a) looks more appealing to advertisers and sponsors when their aren't so many empty spaces and also looks better on the tele' doing the overall image good and so it goes on, empty stadia just LOOKS bad!

I don't get the gripe with giving away free tickets. I attended my first RL game using a free ticket, and I've had a season ticket for over 20 years now.