According to a thread on the Wigan forum our attendances are 12% down on last year.

Should GH start to worry or is it simply a statistical blip because we've been visited by Celtic, Catalan and harlequins and have the likes of Bradford, Saints and the Hull s?

Personally I think its' the latter but 3 home defeats on the bounce must be a bit of a worry for the bean counters at HQ.

I tend to think the majority of the reason is more down to the latter, but I'd also say our like for like attendances would be down as well.

Catalans had over 9,000 while the Bulls only manged over 7,000

Credit Crunch blah blah blah also will come in to it.

Is the recession hitting Leeds more deeply now perhaps?

People might be keeping their cash in their pockets... if they have any.

Mind you, go to any retail park on a weekend and you'd think there was a permanent 50% sale on because you can't move for people, and it always makes me think, "Recession! What recession?"

Given the number of season ticket holders the club has, I don't think that'll have that much effect, this season. It might stop a few people attending, more likely away fans given the extra expense, but I don't think it accounts for much at this point.

Next season might be a different scenario mind.

2008

Harlequins - 14,557
Salford - NA
Catalans - 14,083
Wigan - 18,769
Wakey - 9,863 & 17, 647
Celtic - NA

Avg from these games = 14,983

2009

Harlequins - 13,912
Salford - 14,381
Catalans - 13,425
Wigan - 17,677
Wakey - 15,643
Celtic - 14,827

Avg from these games = 14,978

Surprisingly close, although 2008s figures will be dragged down by the very low crowd in 1st game against Wakey

Thinking about this a bit more, I may have some evidence as to why, although anecdotal, which might shed some light on this; my Sister and Brother-in-law are both season ticket holders of a number of years (many). They went up to the Magic weekend, but didn't attend any games. Asking my Brother-in-law as to why, he simply said he didn't want to spend his hard earned watching the game with the way he "expected" Leeds to play at the moment, instead preferring to spend a nice weekend in Edinburgh.

This is the same chap who has followed Leeds since long before I have known him; 20+ years. He's no stranger to an under achieving Leeds, and I would not call him fickle. I don't think it's the winning or losing that's necessarily important to him, but the way they play. I hope this makes sense.

The 9,863 crowd v Wildcats was at Belle Vue!!! Average 2008 home crowd therefore = 16,264. This year's home crowd average is therefore 8% less than last year from equivalent games.

If it's figures produced by 'Bilko' you might wish to treat them with caution. As I discovered [url=http://viewtopic.php?t=407344&highlight=on this thread[/url where his own teams win, draw, loss record doesn't even tally with their total games played let alone another clubs attendances.

That said the average at Leeds is down by 12% at this stage.

Last year average (13 games) - this year's average (6 games) -12%
First six home fixtures 2008 - First six fixtures 2009 -12%

By opponent (slightly better at -7%): None to compare to Celtic and Salford.

Wakefield -11%
Les Catalans -5%
Wigan -6%
Harlequins -4%

The introduction of Celtic and Salford this year will likely as not bring the average down without taking any other factors into account.

apart from warrington weve had well shoddy away crowds very dissapointing where was the usual turn out at cas bradford etc

You can't rely on away crowds though to boost your attendances, you need to (and Leeds are generally very good at it) build your own fan base not rely on those who will only visit the ground once a season.

But all clubs go through highs and lows with attendances, and often for no apparent reason, but the current economic climate is probably going to be having an effect on clubs attendances and understandably so.

Am I wrong to presume in this case he is referring to the Leeds fans travelling where numbers (in his view) have fallen away?

And this year they brought more than any other year before them!

On a slightly different angle, for some reason, Leeds isn't a trip they want to make in France! Wigan, Bradford and Saints they like, along with (obviously) The Magic Weekend, but not Leeds, wonder why that is!

They hate Rhinos? At least that's what they were saying in Edinburgh

Yes I think you are right actually - but the same applies in a way.

A lot of this depends on what other teams attendences have been like this year. If they are generally down you can look at wider factors (e.g. credit crunch) but if Leeds are down and other teams arn't we need to look 'in house'.

Also with so few games to go off there are probably some freak factors in there also. Like the Celtic game where there had been heavy snow, probably gonna put some people off.

They have a chance against those inferior sides, they don't against us?

I heard it was mascot related.

So G1 was right, I think we should get those 5 people on the phone and ask them to explain themselves

That all depends if the figures are accurate and as they include an attendance from Belle Vue the computer says NO.

Salford and Harlequins didn't have a chance at Headingley either

HTH

Think an arguement bout Leeds attendances is total nonsense. First time I ever watched Leeds we were trounced by Warrington and the entire ground calling for peter fox's head. Fast forward to the CC cup win in 99 and we were all still there. Don't think our Yorkshire cup win v cas would have captivated everyone that long. Leeds are and always will be a well supported team, if we're mugs so be it!

The Warrington game you are referring to (lost 16-54) was on the 16th November 1986 and 6,993 turned up. The following home game was against Hull KR and 5,853 were there to see Leeds trounce the Robins 42-7, ten days later Peter Fox was history at Headingley but that's beside the point.

You wouldn't be concerned to see Leeds return to those sort of attendances?

I bet Paul Caddick and Gary Hetherington would be.

Fair enough, when your 10 it seems like a lot more. All I'm saying is we've been let down a hell of a lot more in years gone by than we are now.

No offence intended. You only have to witness the slide in attendances over at our near neighbours to realise that a supporter base cannot be fed BS indefinately.