wiganwarriors.com/news/2017-07-1 ... nouncement Most RL clubs would be envious of the marketing activity the club produces, all down to Simon Collinson. Met him a few times and is a decent guy. Wish him luck in his new role. It is probably the right time to bring in some fresh ideas though, so looking forward to what comes through next season and beyond.

wiganwarriors.com/news/2017-07-1 ... nouncement Most RL clubs would be envious of the marketing activity the club produces, all down to Simon Collinson. Met him a few times and is a decent guy. Wish him luck in his new role. It is probably the right time to bring in some fresh ideas though, so looking forward to what comes through next season and beyond.

Any time I have had to contact the club for varying reasons, he has always been very quick to reply and extremely helpful.

Wish him the best of luck for the future and he leaves the club in a far better state than he found it (off the field at least

)

He's been a great asset to the club and a very helpful and friendly guy too. Will be missed, but wish him every success in his new position.

I've never met him and don't know what his day to day role entailed. However, our dwindling home attendances are a big worry. People will comment on playing style, finances etc as reasons for not attending but I'd imagine most other clubs attendances would increase if they had the success that we've had over the last few years.

I'm not sure how much of a priority the gate receipts are compared to off field marketing such as replica jerseys and so on but I'd expect our marketing team to be doing all they can to get the gates up.

As I say, I'm not sure what his day to day activities entail but as head of the department it's surely his responsibility to get bums on seats? We have a 25,000 seat stadium and the club could give 5000 tickets a week away to schools etc. It wouldn't increase revenue by much but they'd bring an adult and the school kids would be the next generation of ST holders!

Off my soapbox now and good luck to him.

Giving away masses of tickets to non regulars kills the atmosphere stone dead. I found that out at the World club Challenge v Cronulla, there were loads of school kids and their parents and the area around me was quiet.

I understand wanting to get fans through the door and trying to get the kids in so that they'll grow up to be massive Wigan fans when they're older, we just need to make sure we don't make the atmosphere worse than what it is.

He's done well but I think he's run his course, the big ones were a great success. It's time for a new challenge for him and a new course of action for us.

To get more fans I'd be looking at making the stadium a pioneer in the football league for safe standing, that'll get bums on seats......erm.....you know what I mean.

I think there is a few lower league football clubs looking into 'safe terracing'.
Celtic installed theirs last year.

By converting the North & South stands to even 50% would improve the atmosphere at the DW by far. Whether it will happen, who knows! But it's like a churchyard at times these days!

IL said some months ago, on one of his Wigan tv interviews, that they are looking into it.

I was only using that as an example to be honest and I agree they might be quiet at first but they'd soon get into it. The atmosphere is poor anyway so it wouldn't make it any worse, just serve to prosper from it in years to come.

The crowds have gone down since 2013 because people dont want to pay lots to watch local kids

Not true.

It's a tough gig at the moment and the on field displays have to take their toll on things as despite the SL title they have been at times dire, and consistently dull.

Like most events generating an atmosphere of like minded people getting excited/interested in an event tends to increase the enjoyment for everyone. Whilst the team really are not doing their bit I feel there are several gimmicks we could incorporate to get the place buzzing or at least slightly more atmospheric. Still can't believe we never cashed in on the Icelandic Clap that has now been picked up on by the Canberra Raiders to welcome the team on the field. It goes with the Warriors branding and really gets fans on their feet at every event I have been to.

Back to the original point however, people have to make a decision on how to spend their disposable income. The market is increasingly competitive, and paring with cash to watch 80 minutes of 1 out dull rugby is a hell of a tough sell despite the titles we currently hold.

Strange that it's Tommy L, FPN, Gelling that are getting a lot of criticism (Along with Sam T - Who could be classed as a Big name buy?) yet the same people are some of those who say they don't want to pay to watch Local Kids.

Back on Topic

Simon Collinson = Great Bloke.

When the "Flag Group" were getting things under way Simon was absolutely fantastic in organising and supporting us in everything we did.
There are so many stories I could tell you about him speaking to the RFL, other clubs and BBC/SKY to assist us.
He also organised Free WCC Tickets and Season Tickets (Forgot who won that

) for us to raffle and put towards new flags/displays etc.
He once told me around 2010/11 about the marketing ideas they had used from American Football etc. and a lot of the reasons why things are done in the way they are done which made a lot of sense to me as Joe Public.

Always gives a straight answer to a straight question and as far as I'm concerned will be a big loss to Wigan RLFC.

Good Luck Simon & hope you and the family have a Great Future!

Agree on all points.
The season ticket raffle winner, what a guy, gave it back to raffle again

He only gave it back as he gets a free one when he turned 100.

That'll be this season then.