Easy answer, get a job then you work shy sod. Also, you don't have to drink do you. I afford United, Wire and saving for things. All about prioritising things, bet you're on the p*ss most weekends. Why aren't all SL games a tenner then? be great that, full stadiums. Just a poor excuse as to why you don't sell your allocation time and time again.

Easy to get to? It's ten minutes on the train, couldn't be any easier. United and Liverpool take thousands away from home, sure that's more expensive, £40+ at Chelsea.

Then why did you say other costs that had to be incurred included drinks? If you don't drink at games it makes it cheaper still doesn't it?

Of course there are more costs involved than just the ticket, that's the same for every single game of rugby league at every level.
If the semi-final had been placed a hundred miles away I might have sympathy with you, but it's at Warrington. It's 13 miles away. Most people travel further than that just for home league games. As a student you get half price entry plus discounted travel costs either from public transport or club travel. If you go on your club's coach travel then the entire semi-final need cost you only £19.50 including travel.

Is that really too much to expect from people for a Challenge Cup Semi-Final?

Quite a few empty seats at the HJ , maybe this SF should ve been played at a smaller venue?

A Wire fan would have omitted the word 'narrowly.'

At least 2000 empty spots in the stadium today. Saw a woman carrying a baby get elbowed in the face during the post match celebrations. Same old Wigan.

12,713 announced as the crowd, absolutely pathetic from both sets of supporters.

Wigan sold out their allocation. Can't blame us.

Lister that would be very apt for your pathetic crowds...........Jeez Skolars bring more to the game than your clowns.

We sold out allocation.

I am currently trying to get a job, switching from Wigan to Cov makes it hard though.

I don't drink actually. I have not been drunk for a very long time, not even today.

Yeh I agree all games should be cheap, get the fans in.

And yes Liverpoool and United take thousands away but they both average over 40k at home.

We did sell our allocation. Saints didn't.

Fairly sure I saw empty seats in the Pie end as well as the Saints.

No you didn't.

I do hope people try to argue with you Matt!

the problem with playing in a small stadium is that is becomes 'season ticket holders only'

when we played Wakey at the Keepmoat in 2008 it was a case of buy your tickets for yourself or miss out...without inviting any friends, family or workmates with you. A CC semi would be a perfect game to introduce new fans to the game, or turn occasional fans into regulars...but the RFL chooses to play in such small grounds.

Another one obsessed by Harlequins. Nice.

but then again, why take a baby to a rugby league match? seems both daft and pointless to me. the baby doesnt know whats going on, and will only be traumatised by the experience. It needlessly turns a fairly easy thing (walking into a stadium and staying there for a couple of hours) into a misson.
use a baby sitter or if you cant get one then accept the reality of your new found parental situation and watch it at home.
if she wasnt encumbered by the child she may have been able to dodge the offending elbow. perhaps harsh, but true.

For some reason this doesnt work. Hence the empty seats at both matches. I thought that both Cas and Leeds were poor in numbers today.

Different circumstances for Wakefield and Hull I think. There was so much restriction on ticket availability early on that a lot of non season ticket holders a casual fans couldn't be ar5ed. I still think the event was pretty much sold out. No big spaces like today.

As Rugby League is predominantly a "Family Game" having both semi finals scheduled slap bang in the middle of the kids school holidays would always have an effect on attendances. I missed the Wire quarter final as I was abroad with my family on a holiday I had booked six months ago. I managed to get back in time for the semi final less than 24 hours before kick off only because I ordered my ticket online whilst on holiday.

The QF was 13024 sold out, the semi was 12713, where you getting 2000 empty seats from!!?

Cas are averaging around 7,000 to home games which includes probably around 750 - 1000 away fans.

The attendance at Keepmoat was just over 13,000 fairly evenly split between the 2 sides with a modest number of neutrals. So fair to say each side took 6,000 or so supporters.

I consider Cas taking as many fans to an away game as they get to their home SL games on average is a decent effort. Had the other 3 sides playing in the semis done the same then both games would have been sell outs and the 2 venues deemed not big enough....

The entirety of that paragraph is complete and utter cobblers.

I'm not sure why there's all this gnashing of teeth over CC crowds. They've been awful for years (except the final) as it is now clearly the second competition behind SL.

When I first started watching in the early 80s the crowds were the other way round - bigger for the cup than the league. But semi final crowds? I know Leeds vs KR in 84-85 was big (and the replay even bigger), but generally have they really been that big? They used to have semi-finals at the likes of Station Road IIRC - that could never have been a big gate.

1986 mate. I think the 1st game was approx 26,000, the replay was over 30,000. Happy days soaked to the skin