I'd absolutely love to be able to go to Wembley on Saturday, but unfortunately at this time over the year my financial priorities lie else where, it would easily cost me £200+ on Saturday, and that is the cheapest option of driving for at least 7 hours. This along with the rest of the WC games attended and the cost of next week, its a firm no, that is the reason why Wembley is not sold out.

I am off with a car full, but we decided not to stopover due to hotel prices and not to go on the train as £600+ was a rip off from the north west
Similar problems to Cardiff so we drove there and back in the day
We need a huge last minute push in London over the next two days, £5 a ticket kids free as there will be little last minute rush from up here- that could get 20000 back packers in the ground

I booked the train a few months ago return from Wire including a London travel card for only £28.

Would encourage anyone who regularly travels by rail using advance tickets to always keep an eye out for the £10 vouchers which Red Spotted Hankey release every so often!

I think comparing it to the NFL is a little unfair. The NFL has a lot of support over here and they play 1 or 2 games a year at Wembley which are big events with teams who are famous worldwide in some respect.

We've had a number of games already, big attendances at all the England games and a close to sell out final. I've had to book a day off work to go to the final. It was the choice between either going to the final or the semi final. I'm sure the choice between matches is a predicament a lot of people will face due to cost. Add in the cost of getting to wembley, food and accommodation it's an expensive do, when you also consider people have already been to a number of games in the last month and will be going to old trafford a week later.

Cheap tickets are fine if you are local but without adding on cheaper transport it's a waste of time.

Either way getting 65,000 into Wembley was beyond a lot of peoples expectations a few weeks ago, Mostly people expected it to be a similar turnout to the last double header, which has been blown out of the water. It just goes to show how successful this tournament has been that we are now seeing people unhappy with 65,000 in wembley.

When test rugby league returned to Wembley two years ago many were pessimistic, myself included. I decided not to go then with about a week to go decided to try and find transport, by which point it was too late. I was gutted not to be there as I watched on telly, so when the fixture was announced I was determined to get there. No doubt others will have been the same. Hopefully Wembley will now become a regular test venue and within a few years it will be selling out and highly regarded.

Can't agree with that TBH, the cheap tickets make the day cheaper for everybody (near and far) surely? Hardly a waste of time.

The fixtures were announced in July I think, so plenty of time to get advance train tickets for people who want to attend on a budget.

I sympathise with cost being an issue and of course it is, but it's a bit irritating when people cite cost of beer and food in Wembley as a deterrent (nobody is forcing you to buy overpriced fare inside the stadium) and overnight accommodation (it's easily feasible to get there and back in a day).

I've just looked and a train from Wigan (for example) is 2 hours into Euston, then about another half an hour on the tube to Wembley Park - hardly a marathon journey for such a big event - I've previously had work commutes of 2 hours which I've done every day!

Bring a load of food with you on the train for lunch, then have your dinner on the train on the way back - done.

If anybody on here can afford it, get it booked!



(None of the above is aimed specifically at you Robbo by the way)

I live roughly 4 miles from Wembley, I regularly drive to Warrington on the same day and drive same day back ( not always but I have loads of times) I've also done away games too in which I've drove up and back same day.

It really is no big deal.

Yep during my numerous disappointing trips to Wembley (thanks to you lot and those Wigan b*stards

) I've always either driven or gone on the train. I reckon I've been to Wembley 11 times and not once had the need to book accommodation, it's easy to drive back or get the train on the same day.

The travel does add extra costs that people often don't think about when they see a £15 or £20 match ticket, but there's no need for accommodation or excessive food & drink costs.

If we'd spent as much as NFL has to develop American football in London then the figure would be a lot more disappointing. Things like sponsoring the regent street Christmas lights would cost a lot more than the entire budget for the rlwc and whilst yes it has a massive effect on how many people consider going, the money has been better spent elsewhere.

American football also has the commodity factor of being something new and shiny that people would be interested in trying out as a 1 off where as rugby league is a lot more established.

The numbers for this World Cup have been great, the semi is the first game I can get to see and I can't wait, there's no need to be negative about not selling out or comparing to other sports!

Saying cheap tickets are a waste of time is a bit ott but I still think that transport costs is something that a lot of people take into consideration when it comes to going to somewhere like wembley.

I'm not saying you can't do it in just a day btw, I've done it myself many a times. Accommodation is something more of an optional extra but the transport is still expensive, Unless you know that you are going straight from the off and lucky enough to get a £12 train ticket 3 months in advance. For people who can't plan that far in advance and want to go on the spur of the moment unless you can drive it becomes a more expensive. Especially for people travelling as a family for instance it soon adds up if travelling by coach or train.

Are you Jamie Oliver?

The problem is the price of the train, just checked and the train you quoted is £ 77.90 return add on the tube and match ticket and you are over £ 100 per person. East Coast rail tickets are even more expensive, no returns that work on the day for under £ 100, meaning that it would cost myself and the good lady about £ 250. If I drive it would be cheaper, probably half the price but still not cheap.

We have been to 3 other games, including a trip up to Workington and have the final next week so it is not like we are not supporting the tournament. I have also recently shelled out £ 400 for next seasons STs so over the last month or so I will have spent between £ 600 and £ 700 on RL and travel to RL. Sadly Wembley is too close to the final, which is a 2 hour journey from me in North Yorkshire, so about £ 100 for tickets petrol and parking. I am sure there are many folk like me out there who would love to go and have supported the tournament but cannot justify the expense. We could have gone to Wembley but that would have mean't missing earlier games.

For all those that are going, you are lucky, enjoy the day.

Aye, fair enough - and my post was not meant as a dig at those not attending; more encouragement to those who may think it is more difficult/expensive than it actually is.

The main problem is booking a train ticket only a week/few days before you go is pretty close to 100 quid ( I can fly back from Tenerife for cheaper) brings the day trip out to half a weeks wages for most people, and that's only if your going alone.

that's not the RFL fault, its the stupid pricing structure of the national rail (that made Richard Branson tear his hair out trying to change) charging full whack for empty trains going up and down the country.

The funny thing is, London can be done on a budget even if last minute.

Okay - you may not be able to take your missus on a Megabus and turf her into a hostel for the night - but it's hardly the worst thing for a group of lads is it?

I always take the megabus, but its sill gonna be 30 quid and you've got a hell of a journey time: 6:20am to get to london in time to and from victoria to wembely then last bus is 7pm back for 11:30pm

I think 10 hours on public transport is a little too much haha

Sell out would be great, but what is the reason for playing the game at Wembley?

90,000 fans travelling down on the megabus or in camper vans from Hull, Widnes, Featherstone, Whitehaven, Swinton etc etc etc

or

65,000 with a healthy percentage being from outside the heartlands whether they be avid followers of the games or new to the sport.

Ive attended games at Rochdale, Warrington, Leigh & Salford. I could financially afford to attend on Saturday but it would go down like a lead balloon with her in doors! Finances is not the only reason for non attendance there are many factors.

Personally I don't care. The numbers are great.

People seem to be comparing outside of international RL. But in the context of international RL, it's a great number.

One thing I certainly hope we don't do is the freebie last minute give away.

It would be the worst outcome economically. It will tell all those who have purchased tickets not to bother next time as when it gets closer to the game, the prices will drop.

By all means give discounts, but last minute freebies will hurt the game long term. There will be plenty of Londoners already at this event. If they get there on the day only to see fellow Londoners wandering in with freebies it's going to really hurt the next time we want a game at Wembley and those buyers become waiters.

The top tier is always a "hard sell" as far as I'm concerned. My experience is that I wouldn't bother buying a seat up there (regardless of how cheap), you're just too far from the action.

I'm just glad we have got international rugby back at Wembley...it looked great with only 45k inside couple of years back

rather have an international game back on a proper stage with empty seats, than a full house in Warrington or Hull.

IMO every test match vs Aus/NZ should be always be @ wembley

Wembley top tier is the only top tier stadium with a 'close' feeling. I like it up there, it's a really well designed stadium for the fan.

We have only had 1 crowd in over 50 years of World Cups in excess of 70k. With one last push we will get 2 70k plus crowds in consecutive weeks, with many people having to choose between them.
What's the quesion again?

I don't think it being a good crowd and this thread are mutually exclusive - I am pleased with the crowd but we should always want more for our game.

Agreed. Of course I want more. But I was just pointing out that in wanting more we're wanting more than levels which our game has never achieved before.

We could all get the ticket link now share them on twitter and FB lets all help with one last push