tonight's attendance

[Josie's friend]

Since people are now confessing to not attending I'll have to speak up :eusa1:
I was in Bulgaria, there I said it. Booked the holiday in January and thought I had the fixtures covered.

[The booze hound]

I don't understand the majority of this thread.

If you want to go to watch the game, go.

If you don't, stay.

Each to their own.

At last, some common sense.

[No straw damn us]

I wish you would stop posting nonsense but hey that would mean not posting! Lack of effort. You really have NO IDEA about me or anybody else so it is far better you keep quiet! Safe to say I only watched the first half later as I only got back with a young child asleep after collecting my wife from work so HOW the F do you expect me to make it to Doncaster!! on a FRIDAY. Hey as an 18-21 year old making every game was EASY as it is for somebody retired now

You are a gobshite!

The latter comment sums up the kind of person you are!

Anyone who stands up to you about your 'expert' opinions on all things Rugby League or swiping at Wane results in sarcasm and personal abuse.

Why don't you just simply admit that you do not go to away games, most of which are on a Friday night with a trip to Doncaster being no different than a Super League fixture at Hull or Hull KR.

WW, you really are a better supporter than most. What does that get you?
For the record I watched last nights match on the telly with the Mrs and a takeaway. What did that get me? ????

A 69 with fried rice.

[DaveO]

There have always been a hard core of fans, usually the ones who buy season tickets who will walk on hot coals to attend matches come what may even if the Wigan team on show resembles a bunch of donkey's.

It's a big part of their life as a hobby and good for them but they currently represent about 3K or 4K of fans at most, the ones who watch Wigan away regularly.

But as in any sport the fans who make the stadiums look full aren't the hard core. They are the "extras" who watch the team when it is successful and playing well.

Whenever we go to Wembley of Old Trafford we take more fans than can fit in the DW. So what? Would people rather these people were banned and 9K or so of Wigan season ticket holding support were the only ones allowed in?

I am really surprised people are shocked at the attendance at the semi-final.

The factors to me are obvious:

1. Like it or not choice of venue will have been an issue. Some will have seen it as the RFL taking the mick and will have taken issue with that, others the fact it was on a Friday night with the travel over the M62 involved.

2. It was a Friday night. Why play a semi-final on Friday night? Stupid idea. Many people simply cannot drop a shift or leave work early even if you can.

3. CC has been devalued. Like the playoffs which are also poorly attended many see the only game worth watching in person as the actual final itself if the club gets there. There is nothing "special" about the CC rounds including the semi final as there used to be. The rounds including the semi-final are not seen as must-attend fixtures anymore.

When I first started watching Wigan the CC rounds would see bigger crowds than the league games. Now it's the opposite. Be interesting to know when that switch was made. I bet it coincided with the moves to the playoffs and the RFL's desperate attempt to make the GF the premier competition by deliberately devaluing the league and cup. If the sport tells you it's a second rate competition why is anyone surprised the fans treat it as such?

4. The teams form is poor. You can't get away from the fact the result was as expected (and I don't just mean the final score but the way the team played). There was nothing leading up to this game that suggested NOT being there was something a fan would live to regret. The opposite in fact. Expectations were low (and met!) and so fans will have thought, why travel to see this?

If you want big attendances which requires the "extras" to get into gear the club needs to entice them in by being successful. It is not doing it. These fans are not die hards. Fair weather fans they may be to some but you will never persuade them to travel if the club is playing badly.

5. Cost. It never ceases to amaze me in life generally how people always view the world through their own eyes. Just because you can afford it, even if this means not affording some other leisure activity doesn't mean everyone else can.

6. Circumstance. The same applies to this. Trying to impose your circumstances on others doesn't work. Just because it seems logical to you someone with a similar family to yours ought to be able to make it doesn't mean you know everything about their circumstances.

7. Finally, (and this is related to 4) even some die hard fans have had enough. They invest a lot of money in season tickets, shirts and merchandise and are fed up with the way things are going.

[Wintergreen]

There have always been a hard core of fans, usually the ones who buy season tickets who will walk on hot coals to attend matches come what may even if the Wigan team on show resembles a bunch of donkey's.

It's a big part of their life as a hobby and good for them but they currently represent about 3K or 4K of fans at most, the ones who watch Wigan away regularly.

But as in any sport the fans who make the stadiums look full aren't the hard core. They are the "extras" who watch the team when it is successful and playing well.

Whenever we go to Wembley of Old Trafford we take more fans than can fit in the DW. So what? Would people rather these people were banned and 9K or so of Wigan season ticket holding support were the only ones allowed in?

I am really surprised people are shocked at the attendance at the semi-final.

The factors to me are obvious:

1. Like it or not choice of venue will have been an issue. Some will have seen it as the RFL taking the mick and will have taken issue with that, others the fact it was on a Friday night with the travel over the M62 involved.

2. It was a Friday night. Why play a semi-final on Friday night? Stupid idea. Many people simply cannot drop a shift or leave work early even if you can.

3. CC has been devalued. Like the playoffs which are also poorly attended many see the only game worth watching in person as the actual final itself if the club gets there. There is nothing "special" about the CC rounds including the semi final as there used to be. The rounds including the semi-final are not seen as must-attend fixtures anymore.

When I first started watching Wigan the CC rounds would see bigger crowds than the league games. Now it's the opposite. Be interesting to know when that switch was made. I bet it coincided with the moves to the playoffs and the RFL's desperate attempt to make the GF the premier competition by deliberately devaluing the league and cup. If the sport tells you it's a second rate competition why is anyone surprised the fans treat it as such?

4. The teams form is poor. You can't get away from the fact the result was as expected (and I don't just mean the final score but the way the team played). There was nothing leading up to this game that suggested NOT being there was something a fan would live to regret. The opposite in fact. Expectations were low (and met!) and so fans will have thought, why travel to see this?

If you want big attendances which requires the "extras" to get into gear the club needs to entice them in by being successful. It is not doing it. These fans are not die hards. Fair weather fans they may be to some but you will never persuade them to travel if the club is playing badly.

5. Cost. It never ceases to amaze me in life generally how people always view the world through their own eyes. Just because you can afford it, even if this means not affording some other leisure activity doesn't mean everyone else can.

6. Circumstance. The same applies to this. Trying to impose your circumstances on others doesn't work. Just because it seems logical to you someone with a similar family to yours ought to be able to make it doesn't mean you know everything about their circumstances.

7. Finally, (and this is related to 4) even some die hard fans have had enough. They invest a lot of money in season tickets, shirts and merchandise and are fed up with the way things are going.

Very fair post.

I think #3 is spot on and have been saying this for a long time.

[jao711]

Short memories you lot.There have been Superleague clubs surviving on Wigan's travelling support for the last 30 years.I don't know about a deliberate plan but I would like to hear the RFL's reasons for choosing Doncaster on a Friday .Perhaps they haven't used the M62.They certainly took a lot of revenue out of the game.They will probably be crying poverty next.many people have jobs that don't allow time off for matches but I think a lot of Wigan's loyal fans felt they were being used,and were expected to turn up.It wasn't the time that was the problem but the venue,even though it is an excellent facility.Another RFL cock up,Marwan isn't wrong all the time.So if you feel you are a hero for making the trip I would probably agree with you,but don't be so ready to criticise those who chose watch on Television for whatever reason.

[jao711]

Hadn't read Wintergreen's post but we seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

[Southern Softy]

The RFL not conspiracy but cock-up. I appreciate there are problems with dual-use stadia as the football season gets closer but playing it at Doncaster was equivalent to the FA playing a Cup semi-final at Derby or Coventry. They may (or may not) be adequate bit you just wouldn't go there.

I'm sure Elland Road would have been delighted to get a big fee and everyone can name other grounds. The game may be professional but I'm not convinced the RFL is.

Even London on a Sunday with free transport would have been better than a new(ish) shed in South Yorkshire.

10,488 for a CC semi-final - ludicrous.

[josie andrews]

Short memories you lot.There have been Superleague clubs surviving on Wigan's travelling support for the last 30 years.I don't know about a deliberate plan but I would like to hear the RFL's reasons for choosing Doncaster on a Friday .Perhaps they haven't used the M62.They certainly took a lot of revenue out of the game.They will probably be crying poverty next.many people have jobs that don't allow time off for matches but I think a lot of Wigan's loyal fans felt they were being used,and were expected to turn up.It wasn't the time that was the problem but the venue,even though it is an excellent facility.Another RFL cock up,Marwan isn't wrong all the time.So if you feel you are a hero for making the trip I would probably agree with you,but don't be so ready to criticise those who chose watch on Television for whatever reason.

I haven't criticised any one who didn't go, I understand the predicament for some supporters, what I do object to is people complaining & moaning about the fans that did go ????

[Warrior1872]

The people who i object to are the ones who left early and didnt show any appreciation at the end of the game for the effort shown by the players come all that way to leave early :eusa17: