Whilst it is obvious the club have a history of getting it wrong when it comes to marketing and building a fanbase I am not sure their immediate neighbors, eg the expensive houses a mile around the ground would bring in anything more than the odd curious old bloke on a freebie.
What they are doing, and I personally feel is the best way, is targeting school age kids through various programmes where the kids are at an impressionable age and make take an interest in RL and convince a parent to take them along. It is a slow burner and may take years to see crowds get anywhere near 4000/5000 however IF at the same time the club continue to stop wasting money and start becoming self sufficient then it has to be a positive thing.

We both know exactly what Toronto are doing and you've made an excellent job of posting about it on other forums even when people are trying to stick up for them. LB are only doing what we have both suggested Toronto should have done. Produce their own kids, build a fan base without freebies and get the fundementals right such as getting your gear out for christmas, making hospitality enjoyable, fan events etc.

It will take time, and maybe too long for some of the older fans to see the benefits, but this is a dying game and the Broncos are in an area with very little interest in RL.

This ^^^^

Well I guess it might work if little Jimmy or Jenny gets a parent to bring them along but if you don't have a winning product, they probably wont come back. If we are going to develop our own youngsters, we need at 17/18 to be signing them on long contracts to avoid them being poached by other teams otherwise you just become a feeder club.

As you say, RL is a dying sport & i'm not sure whether it wouldn't be kinder to put the poor thing down, rather than watch it slowly bleed to death.

The thought that "locals" are the answer has always been an interesting one. The catchment area for LB is massive, that's why it's not the easiest thing to promote.
Not sure where RL is dying comes from though, it might be in a lull but overall bums on seats for SL games have been worse. Championship probably not significantly changed in years.
As for numbers of folk playing the game reckon it's pretty stable not sure how it shows a dying sport

It's dying because there are almost two dozen clubs on a life support machine called central funding which in itself is reliant on SKY paying the same money or more in the new deal. Unlikely.

It's dying because participation in the heartlands is down year on year to the point where leagues like the hull junior league now has only a handful of teams and the senior league has 4 clubs. It once had two divisions of 12 with other senior sides playing in Yorkshire leagues.

It's dying because clubs embarrass themselves on a weekly basis with two bit social media output.

Crowds are down at many of those heartland clubs. And what are we doing? Ottawa, New York, Valencia. For goodness sake Valencia play a friendly in a few weeks and have not got a coach or any players. We agreed a kit deal with them which i had to terminate within a couple of weeks because it was a mess and won't get past the first hurdle. My mistake on that one. 80% of clubs are not paying their bills on time or at all. We are owed thousands across the league's, so are other kit suppliers and so are many other businesses. People are reluctant to touch the sport. Do you think ISC have walked away for a laugh? Do you think Toronto changing supplier every single season is a coincidence?

You tell me how Rugby League recovers from the above, especially when several of the money men are trying to get out without hurting their clubs.

phew....that was close. I typed an OPUS in regards to marketing before realising this is a thread about friendlies......needless to say, we are crap at marketing, targetting schools was done before at the stoop and delivered kids who played before KO who were then whisked away by their parents. Let's hope it works this time. Also, the comment about the rich/expensive houses...I was referring to the neighbours across the railway tracks......and explore beer festivals!

Anybody going to the Coventry game on Friday?
I think I will not bother, mainly because it is a Friday night and the traveling will I expect, be rubbish. I cannot see a very strong team being put out anyway so I am out.
Good luck to those that do go though.

It is a reserves game!

I expect some will go despite what you say.

Obviously not you tho bosty!
All I said was it's a reserves game, how many folk go to under 19s or academy away games during the actual season?
Of more interest to most would be sunday not fri tbh

A few might go.
Not sure I will bother with the St Helens game either.
I have booked the train for the York and Widnes games. I plan to drive to Dewsbury. Not sure about Halifax. That is my least favourite away game.

For any completists there is a downloadable programme on the Coventry website for tonights game.

Did anyone on here go up to cov? If so any feedback, stand out players to watch out for in the future

More important, anyone going to Hull?
21 man squad looks as good as we can field this season so far

I wonder if we will play in are away kit tomorrow.

New away kit being launched (played in) today, available to buy from Tue my Twitter is telling me

Not going too well currently

Doesn't look a bad run out. 20/6

0-0 second half

Away shirt looks ok

losing 28-6 part way through second half at Saints