Bored at work so just had a look at the league table and the crowds and personally i was pleasantly suprised!


1 Featherstone Rovers 1,752
2 Leigh Centurions 2,113
3 Halifax R.L.F.C. 2,364
4 Barrow Raiders 1,859
5 Widnes Vikings 3,072
6 Toulouse Olympique XIII 1,350
7 Batley Bulldogs 1,661
8 Whitehaven 1,284
9 Sheffield Eagles 1,597
10 Dewsbury Rams 1,172
11 Keighley Cougars RLFC 1,126

Quins would fit in well on that list



Seriously though, i'm interested by which of those clubs we think have the potential to (at least) double their attendances if a SL licence was granted? Widnes?

I'm a huge Leigh fan and I think Widnes have the potential to average over 10k, we havn't. I'd say 6-7k at best for us.

Widnes even in the days of Offiah and Davies didnt get over 10,000

I reckon Halifax and Widnes might be able to reach 5-7 thousand when doing well in Super League

We would only average 10k if we had a winning team in SL. I think we hit it a couple of times in SL to Wire and Saints.

We'd be pleased averaging around 7-8k which I think we'd do.

Considering a lot of clubs would grow in terms of their own fanbase I reckon most of those clubs would double their current attendances in SL. Some would even triple or quadruple them.

I think widnes would easy average 8. They have one thing a lot of clubs want and that's a backer. Also on the point of crowds in the champ, i think a lot of it is to do with the stadiums we go to. I love Batley and Keighley in particular in summer time.

None of them are Super League clubs. The only ones with ANY potential are Toulouse, Widnes and Halifax. The later two have already been Super League sides and thoroughly made a mess of it so are hardly prime candidates.

There has to be a few millionaires around who aren't at the level needed for Premiership football but who would like a UK plaything?

I don't think the new set-up at Widnes can be under-estimated. Our chairman is not only a wealthy man, but a genuine one who has vowed to make something of the club.

Re: fans. Widnes averaged 7k in our last Super League season IIRC. Given that we were gash then, that's a realistic target to begin with. If, over time, we improved to the point of reaching the top eight, I could see us hitting 10k quite a few times a season.

That said, our gates are down by around 7-800 this season, thus far. Over the course of the year, it should improve with big games to come, but I worry that interest in the Championship is dwindling.

It would be interesting to compare those crowds with the averages of previous seasons.

Funny, I asked if Widnes' attendances had dropped since the creation of Crusaders just down the road and was told 'no'. You'd disagree?

Hudds have a backer, with reduced prices as well they are already in SL with a good ground a good team and their attendances are nothing to shout about. I dont think its a forgone conclusion that if Widnes get in SL that attendances will rise dramatically especially with Wire doing so well and Saints being on the doorstep.

better than your though

Crowds would rise dramatically. You're crazy if you think the Wire have any effect on Widnes' attendances. Last time we were in SL when the average attendance was lower than it is now we always averaged over 6k and it would have been 7k had we not been relegated with a few games left. When we were last in the National Leagues our attendances were almost identical to what they are now.

With a decent side we would average 8k.

And I don't think Crusaders being down the road is making any difference to Widnes' crowds. Championship crowds are down slightly anyway due to the fact we've got not alot to play for!

Typical flatcapper, you low life non SL clubs have the possibility of 'getting promoted in a few years if the big boys like you' to play for. Just be glad of the few crumbs you get thrown and stop whinging, peasants.

hi new to the forum! Thought the crowd at Sheffield was good on sunday. I know they usually get around 800-900 so to get nearly 3000 was a great achievement for them.

Just wondering how many boxes they would tick in terms of a SL licence?
their stadium, location etc is good but im just wondering in terms of youth development etc? I think it would be good for SL, not now but perhaps in 4-5 years time when the eagles have had time to become more established.

And before anyone has a go for being biased towards Sheffield i'm from St Helens and a saint through and through just live in Sheff for uni.

I'm amazed no one has mentioned York?

York has a lovely old Church.

3000 crowds in the championship = at least 6000 in SL.

crowds of 3000 in the championship indicate a club which is good enough for SL

widnes clearly are that

potentially fax and leigh as well

the RFL would like to see as many clubs as possible ready to go into SL to put more pressure on SL sides.

next time maybe 2 sl clubs will go out, instead of one ive been assuming

York, Barrow, South Wales Gateshead and Sheffield. The teams with the Biggest potential outside SL.

So you also share the RFL's lack of imagination and positivity of our sport , the answer to improving SL is simple , improve what is below it , All of it , yes all those clubs have potential , as do Hunslet,Batley,Rochdale and Bramley , they all require finance , but more important than that is the will and foresight to make those clubs stronger , not having them being a money pit , but genuinely stronger financially , ' real ' earned income