Exactly,,,,if you like the odd pint or 3,,,,forget Dublin,,,unless you have got bottomless pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are two ways to look at it.

Do the RFL succumb to Steve McNamara, the England coach, (and the rest of the SL bosses for that matter) and scrap the 27th game of the season. Then, for the first time in only God knows how long, the regular season fixture list will be FAIR. Can't believe they get away with it to be honest. There is a free weekend in the calendar for an international with France, or whoever, and the players remain that little bit fresher.

Or, do the RFL persist with taking it around the UK in search of raising (much-needed) funds. Forget all this spreading the game rubbish, I bet very little of the crowd over the 2 days were unconverted Scots. If the RFL choose this option, it undoubtedly needs revamping.

In my opinion, it would be more appealing if it was to be a Challenge Cup bank holiday. Perhaps the quarter-finals, all on one day, or one on an evening and the other three the following day. This would also solve the fixture list problem and help McCormack's cause as England boss.

I reckon you could convert more people further South than North. Plus, those that have relocated South are more likely to get more mates that are not League fans to come along and enjoy the atmosphere. You only have to look at Crusaders' impact in Wrexham to see the potential rewards. Taking seven Super League games to within closer distance of the Heartlands but still enough to delve into Union territory could provide the impetus. Especially if football fans see just how entertaining and cheaper the game is compared to their prices. 7 games for £25 is a synch and I bet many football fans would take it up.

When did that happen?

McCormack? I dread to think



I think the downfall of the current event is that there are too many teams involved and too many games - it's almost as if we're saying that one or two big games can't take place without being supported by all the other clubs as well.

It's certainly a 'Super League idea' if such a thing existed (even if the majority of clubs don't appear to be in favour of it any more) and I don't want the Challenge Cup to degenerate in to summat that has to be billed as the 'Wacky Races', but I can certainly see the virtues in having the Cup semi finals as a double header. Would mean a slight alteration to the calendar though, bringing them slightly earlier in to the season as the current three week gap between the semi's and the final is far too short IMHO.

It has been widely mentioned that there were only around 20k tickets sold . How come it was announced tonight that there were over 50k attended the games ? Were they counting the clicks on the toilet doors ?

It wouldn't work in many other sports ,particularly football .
Can you imagine the kicking off there would be if you got all the Prem League fans in one location ?
Yes there are always going to be problems between opposing fans of any sport , but our sport's followers do seem to be able to interract on a social level without resorting to violence .

Dunno how much I would trust those reports, even a well known RL writer couldn't come up with a source for his rumours.

One person attending both days equals two on the attendance figures, similar to how season ticket holders are counted as attended at every game they go to rather than just once.

I love the idea.

But I didnt go this year as I could find a semi decent hotel for a semi decent price and this was 6 months before the event. Although looking on late rooms on friday everywhere was full. It doesnt help having this edinburgh run on a sunday morning.

Cardiff I woudl take it back to. But it depends if they wish to hold it there.

But one thing I notice is why do a huge amount of people just turn up for the one game?

In other places to hold it -

no football club want it - If its the same date they might be still playing or wanting to give the pitch a break.

COM - Can't hold it due to the amount of non football events they can have per year.

Dublin - Waste a time. Now it's crazy price time.

This why it probably wouldn't be a good idea to do the CC semi's. If the 4 biggest clubs were all in the semi's then the attendance might not be bad but what happens if a few of the bigger sides get knocked out early? I can't imagine a semi final day would have any attraction to fans of club who are not taking part. I can understand when people say there are too many games, but IMO if you don't appeal to everyone then you're limiting the appeal to existing RL fans. I know the idea of these events is to spread the game and get new fans going but does anyone honestly think many non RL fans go to these events?

The idea of using it as a round of the Challenge Cup would fall down on the TV rights. BBC do the cup and I cant see them giving the event wall to wall coverage.


Are we too obsessed with the size of the crowd.

If the people who go enjoy it and the TV and advertising cover the costs then let it carry on.

My favourite venue is Cardiff, but it could be worth trying Wembley for a couple of years, it still new and so far only five sets of fans have been so may encourage people to give it a go.

It would also be good to take it to the France for a year, Catalan seem to have a lot of enthusiastic home supporters and I'm sure many other French RL fans would turn up for it.

How does the combined attendance compare to a normal week end - I would suspect it is there or there abouts?

I reckon for a normal weekend you could probably get around 70-72K, so in comparison around 20 000 fans have missed out on watching the game this weekend, a proportion of those forced to watch it on SKY. For me who can't afford the expense of going to Murrayfield or a SKY monthly subscription, I'll probably see 2 mins of my team on the Superleague Show.

Nigel Wood however has been quoted as seeing the event of being a total success despite reducing numbers year after year.

It's a great concept for raising the profile of the game. Semi finals
of the cc would not work as the transition of supporters feeling elated down at the result of the first game would mean not many fans watching both games. Also I doubt you would get many neutrals.

First round of the season has merits but the weather would be an issue on the pitch unless at a stadium with a roof, in which case you're tied to Cardiff. Cardiff is a great place but if they're not going to make it financially viable for the league there's no point doing it. I also remember fans complaining about cost of hotels there and I'm not sure it has the infastructure to support the rl fans who tens to stay for the weekend at these flagship events.

Ouchee, of course I didn't mean the Scotland coach. But England's Steve McNamara.

Too many empty seats and poor atmosphere.

I just dont think its working.

Been to all four of these and enjoyed them.
However.
They'd jacked the prices up this year for beer and food.
The ticket office was a shambles; 25 mins queue to spend 30 seconds collecting tickets.
Murrayfield is just too bloody cold at this time of year if you're watching 4 games on the bounce.

Originally this was brought in to provide a weekend away when the CC went back to Wembley. Maybe the idea has had it's time.

Surely no one has an issue with the ticketing costs! Is £20 for 7 matches too much? If it is RL will be dead in 5 years. Pathetic argument.

I've not seen any posts arguing about the ticket costs, have you?

1st page someone suggests discounting season tickets holders as an enticement to attract more.

And yes I have seen it elsewhere in the build up to this weekend

Jesus wept. £30 for the weekend works out at just over £4 a game. Which was the price of a pint!
The season ticket holders did get a discount anyway.

My point exactly. The only problem I had this weekend was the low temperatures. The weekend would be fantastic with another 15,000 fans a day with warm balmy weather.

Hey, it was snowing a few miles north so be thankful it didn't rain

being in a tent when it's 2 degrees is not good!

Being in the ground when it was 2 degrees wasn't much better.