Superstition dictates that I only enjoy a game if the number of spectators is an even number. I don't know if I enjoyed Wigan v Wire yet because someone came in at half time and it hasn't been decided whether or not he counts.

Depends how big your starting number is.
I'd sat 14,000 and 15,000 are pretty close.
However, 2,000 and 3,000 is a pretty big difference.

obviously you enjoyed the first half but not the second

Whats your opinion of 979 ?

It is for Saints. And for most of the season we were second highest average, just nudging behind Wigan.

Yeah it is. If you say Saints got a 7% lower crowd than Leeds then I think most people would say thats pretty close. Although I would expect Saints crowds to be down this season.

There was a game on? I was counting heads, the buggers kept moving, thank Christ no-one swaps ends at half-time anymore.

[uRound 3[/u

Leeds V Salford in 2013 = 12,558
Leeds V Salford in 2012 = 15,081
Percentage drop in attendance = -16.73%

St Helens V Hull in 2013 = 11,257
St Helens V Hull in 2012 = 14,875
Percentage drop in attendance = -24.32%

Warrington V Catalan in 2013 = 10,015
Warrington V Catalan in 2012 = 10,570
Percentage drop in attendance = -5.25%

Huddersfield V Wigan in 2013 = 8,023
Huddersfield V Wigan in 2012 = 10,123
Percentage drop in attendance = -20.74%

Bradford V Castleford in 2013 = 7,724
Bradford V Castleford in 2012 = 10,906
Percentage drop in attendance = -29.18%

Huddersfield lost 2k due to the change in kick off time, simple as that

thats a shocker at bradford,are they finally charging full whack.

Dear me you're a silly little fellow - so be it the end of the world is here.

Its not pretty reading. Still a little too early to be sure but any drop over the season of 10 percent or more is a cause for serious concern. Nowt wrong with posting these figures - if it smooths out closer to last year over a few more games, good, if not, maybe people will wake up to the problems instead of shouting down those that question things as being 'anti-RL'. The people worrying about attendances are worried about the game, and are probably some of the biggest fans out there.

Bull plop they are

They think they are, but they don't actually say anything constructive, or make valid suggestions to cause and correction - they just whine and moan

I'm sure I heard on TV the Bradford announcer said 10,724? Maybe I misheard.

Oh dear, still at it after all these years?

Round 3 attendance figures, 2012

Bradford Bulls 16-54 Wigan Warriors 12909
Hull Kingston Rovers 36-36 St. Helens 7610
Widnes Vikings 18-38 Salford City Reds 5053
Hull FC 22-14 London Broncos 10096
Widnes Vikings 18-38 Salford City Reds 5053
Catalan Dragons 28-20 Castleford Tigers 7488
Huddersfield Giants 22-32 Warrington Wolves 8184
Bradford Bulls 16-54 Wigan Warriors 12909
Leeds Rhinos 44-40 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 12272

2012 Round 3 average = 9063.78
2013 Round 3 average (prior to Sunday's games) = 9915.4

That can't be right surely, it's almost 10% higher in 2013.

So if you're worried about attendances, you're not an RL fan?

I thought I heard that too.

As you've done for every round, you've utterly ignored context. And, almost certainly, spent more time on this than actually watching any rugby.

He's just printed the numbers. You can add your own thoughts about context. I'm sure if the numbers were the other way round you wouldn't be complaining about context.
Readers aren't morons, we know that games at different times of year etc will show variation. I stand by my guess, and that's all it is, that all in, we'll see about a 10% drop this year. That will be an awful result, but it might not happen. The only good thing about a big drop is that it might just get rid of Wood. Sadly, I think we'd need to be down to single figures before that shameless lot admit they're anything other than leading candidates for governing body of the year.

I hope to see a weekly round up of attendances and comparisons to previous season though rd by rd rather than opponents would be better.

I originally provided comparative weekly round attendance stats but many complained claiming it was a flawed exercise because it wasn't a comparison between the same fixtures. *Please note that the weekly round attendance comparisons would have received no criticism had they instead conveyed a positive message and evidence of increased attendances.

Round 1 attendances in SL this year = 64387
Round 1 attendances in SL last year = 73720
% fall in attendances = -12.66%

Round 2 attendances in SL this year = 69809
Round 2 attendances in SL last year = 74948
% fall in attendances = -6.86%

Round 3 attendances in SL this year yet to be determined but they'll also more than likely produce another weekly round % fall compared to last year.

You terrible man. Don't you know that posting anything showing a fall in attendances without a full explanation of possible mitigating factors is simply anti-RL pessimism! Get a grip. Or better still, get some advice from Nigel Wood on the best way to dress up these figures. If we start to lose faith in our leader where would that leave us? Before we know it we'll need to find someone else, and with only a six figure salary on offer, where, in this economic boom, could we possibly find a man or woman with so much talent?

Those stats actually have some sort of point to them though

But like all statistics they still need context
You know like when on the news they say "this months retail figures are down but the high street says the bad weather is to blame"

Who knew weather could make people stay indoors

London attendance 1,886 - have fun, William

[uSL Round 3 attendances - comparison to same fixtures last year[/u

Leeds V Salford in 2013 = 12,558
Leeds V Salford in 2012 = 15,081
Percentage drop in attendance = -16.73%

St Helens V Hull in 2013 = 11,257
St Helens V Hull in 2012 = 14,875
Percentage drop in attendance = -24.32%

Warrington V Catalan in 2013 = 10,015
Warrington V Catalan in 2012 = 10,570
Percentage drop in attendance = -5.25%

Huddersfield V Wigan in 2013 = 8,023
Huddersfield V Wigan in 2012 = 10,123
Percentage drop in attendance = -20.74%

Bradford V Castleford in 2013 = 7,724
Bradford V Castleford in 2012 = 10,906
Percentage drop in attendance = -29.18%

Hull KR V Widnes in 2013 = 7,247
Hull KR V Widnes in 2012 = 7,423
Percentage drop in attendance = -2.37%

London V Wakefield in 2013 = 1,887
London V Wakefield in 2012 = 2,268
Percentage drop in attendance = -16.80%

Total Attendance in SL Round 3 = 58,711
Total Attendance same fixtures last year = 71,246
Percentage drop in attendance = -17.59%

Every SL fixture in Round 3 this year has shown a decrease in attendance compared to the corresponding SL fixtures last year.

**********************

Out of 21 SL fixtures played thus far in 2013, 6 out of 21 have shown an increase in attendance compared to the corresponding SL fixture last year. 15 fixtures have shown a decrease in attendance compared to the corresponding SL fixture last year.

**********************

[uComparative attendances by SL Round[/u

Round 1 Attendance in SL 2013 = 64,387
Round 1 Attendance in SL 2012 = 73,720
Percentage drop in attendance = -12.66%

Round 2 Attendance in SL 2013 = 69,809
Round 2 Attendance in SL 2012 = 74,948
Percentage drop in attendance = -6.86%

Round 3 Attendance in SL 2013 = 58,711
Round 3 Attendance in SL 2012 = 63,612
Percentage drop in attendance = -7.70%