Im led to believe our tickets havent been great but Leeds fans are reporting that well outnumber them by 5-1! I know the challenge cup doesn't have the appeal of times gone by but if we can't attract a crowd of more than 10k for a semi it's time to wrap up.

I'd have thought the Leeds fans will still show up. I'd guess about 12k attendance, which I think is roughly comparable to typical semi-final attendances.

If that's the case, then the RFL needs to start looking for different venues for semi-finals, i.e. smaller ones.

Double header at Bramhall Lane. Easy to get to via public transport, good size.

instead of smaller venues how about the RFL give 2000 tickets each to schools in the competing teams areas, as we all know the kids will have to bring along some adults as well.

It's very poor if this doesn't hit at least 15k. Both teams average that at home! The tickets are reasonably priced, I'm not sure what the RFL can do tbh. Some RL fans just don't like paying out again after they've bought their season ticket, I can see why the playoffs are poorly supported with the current ridiculous format, but this is the semi-final of the cup for god's sake. It should be seen as one of the biggest games of the season and their should be a mad scramble to get hold of tickets. Unfortunately this isn't going to be the case, there are going to be plenty of empty seats at the Galpharm and by the sounds of it Wire and Hudds aren't going to sell out Salford either!

The stand under the camera isn't even open

Only today I remarked that it didn't feel like Cup semi week and if I wasn't an avid RL fan I probably wouldn't know they where on.

This week should be massive.
The town should be buzzing at the prospect of qualifying for Wembley.

Some semi-final attendance stats:

2011:

Wigan v Saints 12,713 (@Warrington)
Cas V Leeds 13,158 (@ Doncaster)

2010:

Saints v Leeds 15,267 (@ Hudds)
Wire v Catalan 12,265 (@Widnes)

2009:

Wigan v Wire 12,975 (@Widnes)
Saints v Hudds 10,638 (@ Warrington)

How much is on the gate on Saturday ??? Finish work at 4 so hoping to make it

Us and saints couldn't even sell out the HJ so we shouldn't be suprised

What's so different between now and 2010? Surely we should be at least matching that Sts Leeds attendance at Hudds.

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According to the Leeds site we are out numbering them by 5-1

Clearly Cas v Whino's is the biggest supporting derby in recent Challenge Cup semi-finals, Shame on you pie and stains fans

The optimism of the Leeds fans? I'd guess we'll take roughly as many as Saints did to that one...

Would've loved a double header Wigan and Hudds fans on one side Leeds and Wire on the other, played in say Bolton or Sheffield, could have even helped out Bradford and played it there.

Said all along, should have been a double header at the Reebok. Makes two games into one big event.

The semis shouldn't need to be a double header to get people through the doors. You wouldn't get 25,000 sitting through both games anyway so they crowd would probably look just as bad if not worse than what the 2 games this weekend will.

The cup is dead.

I can't believe that the crowds for this weekend's semi finals are going to be so bad.

Also, I don't buy into the view that it's due to fans being reluctant to part with more money on top of their season tickets. After all, 20+ years ago we had more competitions during the season - Lancs' & Yorks' cup, John Player/Regal trophy - and in those days semi finals had been held at grounds such as Old Trafford, Maine Road and Elland Road. Ok, they didn't sell out (I don't think so anyway) but there was always a decent turn out.

I'm buzzing for this Saturday, can't wait for the game...hope there are many more at both ends of the ground who feel the same and a decent sized crowd turns up.

If we get to the final each season ticket holder gets 2 final tickets.

So that's approx 20,000 tickets.

Why don't the club allow fans who are not ST holders who have attended the semi or quarter final to get 1 ticket each? Would that help or make no difference?

Would make no difference, there's never a problem getting Wembley tickets.

So what offer will entice both sets of fans who turn up to produce average gates of 15,000 to turn up for a semi?

I just do not get it.

Why the 15k who turn up to home games don't - to a man - desperately want to be at a Semi final, beats me.

Well there are at least twenty of us going, the same number that went to wembley last year.The Challenge cup should be our games showpiece tournament,we shouldnt let it go the same way of the FA cup.