And where did I say or even imply that?

About 4,000 (or one third) of our basic core support didn't bother last night, which given the game is shocking.

But surely a fair portion of those people would have already had plans on for that match, and another portion which could stump up the money for an extra unexpected match.

You said should we expect the same turnout at the GF next week, when we're talking about the topic of a low attendance at the game on Friday, is that not implying that if someone didn't go to that then they weren't going to go the gf?

Im not denying its a low attendance, but there's reasons for it. Wire's game had an even lower attendance, probably for similar reasons, except surely that match for them would be more expected as they weren't gonna beat Saints.

Given we finished in the top two we were always going to play two home games in the play-off, so playing last night shouldn't have been that much of a shock that a third suddenly couldn't make it.



NO I didn't say we should expect the same attendance - entirely the opposite, hence my point. You gave an excuse that because of only a 6 day turnaround that in some way explains our poor support last night. That same excuse won't be a problem suddenly next week if we win to get the to GF. Sounds to me because you couldn't/wouldn't go you've taken my post somewhat personally.



The reasons being we have an extremely fickle support and thousands of people will bizarrely spend hundreds of pounds to watch the team all year then when the most important games come up don't seem to bother.

wire's support yesterday was embarrassing! 8k lowest this season.

Hull, Wire and Wigan are clubs that are on the rise and the rise is always the most exciting part of watching rugby league. Hence the rise in attendances.

Leeds Rhinos on the other hand have had a steady decline in attendances year after year despite our league leaders success last year and the Old Trafford successes in the last three years.

It’ll be interesting to see the Wigan attendances during your glory days in the late eighties/early nineties when you went on that incredible run!

It's always difficult come play-off time. We have a 200 mile round trip to watch the boys, and we both work so making arrangements with only a few days notice is tricky. We pay our Sky subscription for the luxury of not missing the games we cant get to. The Grand Final, of course, has been planned and the date/venue wont change with only a few days notice so hopefully we'll be going to that.

It's not though is it?
Why make out were different to any other club when were not?

Warrington 3000+ down on their equivalent fixture in the League Vs Hudds
Wigan just over 1k down on their equivalent fixture Vs HKR

Plus many examples from many other Play off games?

So it appears it's not only in Wigan?

Because as I've already pointed out around a third (or 4,000) of our core support went missing on Friday. For the best supported club that's shocking.

Is it any different to Wire/Hull/Saints etc when ity comes to Play off games?

If not then I say it isn't shocking, is as per the norm for the competition.
If your saying that ALL clubs attendances for the play offs are shocking then fair enough, but Wigan's isn't in comaprison/% etc.

Makes no difference wether we are the best supported club in the land, if the figures drop pro rata the same as other clubs then we aren't shocking.

I've no idea how it compares to other teams, however we aren't other teams. I've lost count of the number of people who big up our support, then when the going got a bit tough last week a substantial proportion went missing.

But almost all fans, in all sports, pick and choose their games; why should we be any different? Playoff games, like CC games, are always relatively poorly attended. Even ST holders sometimes miss league games, the difference there being that they still count as part of the attendance even if they don't go.

double post

They do - however not sure if they count or not on the official attendance if they don't show up - I'm sure Leyther Matt will tell us. However my point is that for the biggest game of the season you'd expect people who go all year to carry on? We even dropped about 3,000 supporter from the Whinos to the Hull KR game in 5 days - which was arguably a much bigger game as our season was on the line.

Nah sorry, I don't get that criticism. Its the same with all pay on the day cup / playoff matches and not exclusive to rugby league (FA Cup soccer). Crowds go down in these matches across the board and its understandable that such an effect is greater when many are strapped for cash.

Ideally, something would be done by the RFL to ensure future playoff games aren't affected in the same way but I can understand the point made by Nigel Wood about being reluctant to devalue the product.

I agree there is a real problem generally with play-off crowds, but we lost about 3,000 Wigan fans in 5 days last week, for a much bigger game.

Who said it was a bigger game?? You could argue more important but certainly not bigger. plus it was an EXTRA game that most fans would not have allowed/planned for!

The simple fact is cup and play-off games until the final will not be well supported due to the extra cost incurred, sad but true and certainly not a wigan problem.

If we lost on Friday our season was over - I'd call that a bigger game.

Also we were guaranteed two home play-off games after finishing in the top two, so it shouldn't have come as a major surprise to be playing another home game.

No but it did come as a major surprise to a lot of peoples bank managers!

Bigger game in your opinion, not in mine, a leeds play off game is always going to be a big game, a hull KR game not so in my opinion (no disrespect)

i've said time and time again, whether wigan had been in the play offs or not, all teams should charge half price admission for all play off games apart from the SF's & Final. its an extra game and at the end of the day the RFL and sky sports just want more money out of the game for their own benefits.

half price tickets = stadiums packed, looks good for the sport when after all the main thing about the play offs is making more money out of the sport. also, you may be taking a cut in attendance income but surely the income generated in and around the stadium as well should boom with packed stadiums.

considering may of the fans who go to the play off games are season ticket holders, its a shame to try and make more dosh out of them again. maybe even give a free admission to all season ticket holders if your team gets a home play off tie, etc? (i'm not a ST holder by the way)

so many ways we can make it look better on tv. but otherwise, people can either not afford it, have alternative plans or simply would prefer to watch it on the tv out of principle or detesting the play off system. i don't think anyone can come on here and say our attendance was poor. everyone surely expects it for every game in the play offs.

maybe the two semi-finals will be different matters though.

Like I said we were always going to play two games at home in play-offs so why it was a surprise to anyone is confusing.

If people view play-off games based on who we are playing rather than what it means, it's no wonder the crowds was disappointing. Lets hope we can sell our allocation if we get to the GF and have to play Huddersfield.

Yes, but we weren't always going to play 3 play off games so therefore extra cost and some would avoid the Hull KR game in favour of the Leeds/saints game (Me for one)

People will go to the final regardless of who they are playing, the point I am making is that its not a wigan problem, it is a problem in general but you seem to be getting at the fact that it is down to fickle fans other than anything else. Its mainly financial

But 3 or 4k extra will not be going to Leeds just because they didn't go on Friday. I just don't buy that as a reason why the our support dropped off so much between the matches. While it will be financial for some, I've never understood why some people spend hundreds during the regular season and then don't bother in the play-offs (all fans not just Wigan).

Its expensive, cost us the other week £57 for tickets before we bought food and drinks at the club. Thast was with discount for being a season ticket holder. Now to go to Headingley we are looking at nearly £80 before transport.

Is purely financial as far as I can see as if we offered free tickets we would get a full house.

Precisely