Friday night RL at the stadium needs to stop and go to Sundays, I've got 2 people coming for the first time for the Bradford game but in getting those two to attend another 10 people said they can't make Fridays and that's the same for most of their family's and friends too, they either work continental shifts and can't commit or finish work too late to make the games. I said asked what time he finished work and he told me 6:30 by the time he gets home it's 7:00 so he only has an hour to get some tea get ready get his kids ready and get down to the stadium he said its just to much of a rush. Another work collegue told me Fridays are a lot of people's night out on the town and this too is a deterrent for coming to games. This is a big problem/reason/excuse for lots of stay away fans I believe, we went to Fridays on the back of advice given to JAW by Karl Harrison on the basis of getting an advantage with the extra days rest, I believe this didn't work and we must make the decision and revert back to sunday afternoons, a time when everybody is off work not usually busy and on a day that most people usually waste doing nothing.

And the last word on this, what day was our record SL attendance against Catalan played on? SUNDAY!

Wasn't the argument once that we generate more money from corporate/hospitality on Fridays?

Agree wholeheartedly with Red League. Few Corporates nowadays and we need to emphasise a shift to the Salford Public where wives and families could attend.

I disagree fridays the crowds were going up until this season, playing on Friday gives the weekend for family or anything else, the whole match day experience is snappy and doesn't drag,we dont clash with United or city which effects our attendances, there is more chance of us filling the hospitality on a friday as people will come straight from work, Sunday travelling to the gsme will be a nightmare if anyone has been to the Trafford centre 2pm on a Sunday it will be hell unless we would be happy to kick off at 12 or 2 like sale have done a few times on a Sunday im guessing the Sunday brigade will want traditional 3pm ko

People will make alsorts of excuses not to go Friday suits me now may not have done 10 years ago i finish work at 6:30 and still have a good hour prematch to enjoy the entertainment.

Yes Friday suits you but not the majority, not everyone lives in Eccles like you and not everyone goes to the match with the lads having a beer and making a night out of it. Most people want to go to the match (with family) and go straight home after, it's passed a lot of kids bed times so parents with young kids opt out of going, like I said most people work shifts nower days and can't go. Sunday is the only free day for families and working people.

I've been having this debate on Facebook.

Friday's might well be great if you live locally and go to the game with your other male friends. But if you work past five, don't live locally or wish to make it a family event they suck.

I've given up taking my son now as it's a rush and frankly isn't an enjoyable experience for either of us.

Fridays seriously limit the away support we can attract and make it very hard for kids and families.

Look around the ground and you'll see that there are very few kids/families.

Fridays might well suit the predominantly male 20/30 something demographic of the south stand (although their numbers are diminishing rapidly) but are no good for many others.

My only problem with Sunday is that it excludes those involved with junior RL and risks constant clashes with the football. My preference would be a concerted push to promote Saturday evening rugby as it allows for the best of both worlds. The club did a great job with the pre-match stuff this week and really needs to win back kids and families.

I am a parent of 2 young children and take them with no problems. I work till 5:30, get them home from the child minders and sort out our teas, get changed and then head out. I still make it to Liverpool road where I park up and walk down and am still in the ground in plenty of time (well that is if the smc are not making it difficult to get in).

Sunday's would actually be a lot worse for me as both play rugby so when one of them playing away with an 11:30 kick off, you are looking at 2pm before back home from all that or it is then a rush to head direct with no proper dinner.

Whichever way you look at it, some will perfer Sunday and others Friday. Get the product right on the pitch and continue with pushing the other stuff like they had at the club on Saturday for kids and the crowds will rise regardless.

I infact live in sale and being finished I dont have a beer with the lads anymore and knowing them they probably haven't stop whooping with delight the last 3 years or so



I do have a young child and he is in bed @ 7:30 so he wouldnt be awake for it, im lucky or unlucky that my better half never really got bit by the Salford bug so she can take it or leave it these days I blame myself reaily too much too soon not going to make the same mistake with my son.

Personally I probably wont bring my son till I started going aged 7+ before he doesn't get anything out of it and im to busy making sure he is ok to concentrate on what is going on.
Good friends of mine do take their children to the match and I have ultimate respect for them keeping a toddler amused for 2 + hours is a massive job big hat tip

In 5 years time in theory he could have his tea with his mum id finish at 6:30 like I do now they could meet me at work perhaps a McDonald's or somthing before we meet or I could go get him recon its doable and ill still get to the match for 7:20

Sunday would be easier but I recon a choice between playing football in the park, picnic and then home to watch a bit of tv or watching salford there is only going to be one winner and it wont be salford

I've always been a Sunday supporter but giving Fridays a try was always worth a go. Without going over the same arguments endlessly about the pros and cons of both, should we look at it from the new owner and Farish's perspective?

Both are desperately trying to raise the profile around the local areas with the Dr himself about to give kids free tickets in schools. The aim is obviously to get the kids hooked and get families in. This will only happen with an afternoon kick-off. Be it Saturday or Sunday. Both want to get revenue streams in quick and they have to target the obvious ones first. Increase family presence, increase away support. Both can be done by just changing what day we play.

I can't see Fridays lasting forever.

I agree that the product was right this weekend but I also thought the Saturday tea time kickoff worked a treat too.

Pointing at previous Saturday evening attendances as 'evidence' that it's not worth trying is completely flawed because:

a) these games were poorly promoted and it was an unfamiliar timeslot
b) if you look at the fixtures that sky lumbered us with it was usually the likes of Crusaders, London etc.

The club did a lot right this weekend and if we can package and promote each game as a family event Saturdays could work.

Spot on!

I honestly don't think it matters, if you want to be there you will. Simple. Some people like Sundays, some like Fridays. Playing on a Sunday will make only a minor difference if any at all to the attendances. Either way I'm not fussed.

Quite agree with Wayward Fan about Saturdays. Do a few Saturdays next season, when we improve the squad and hopefully are winning lots of games. the Saturday experience might be the call for Salford

You're right when it concerns existing fans. Existing fans are not enough apparently. Which day its played on will matter for potential new fans.

I think the record attendance against Catalans was more to do with it being the last game at the Willows...

Friday nights are easier for me to get home to Preston on public transport than Saturdays and Sundays, so this "OK if you live in Eccles" stuff is crap. And we get terrible attendance regardless of when we play.

It'll take more than a switch back from Fridays to increase crowds.

I take my two children aged 2 & 6 without a problem and I live 40 miles away. They sit perfectly throughout the game and get fully involved in all the singing and shouting. They love it!! It comes down to introducing them to it very early so they are now used to it whatever the day the game is on. I put them in their PJs in the car, they fall asleep on the journey home and are transferred into bed, no worries.

This debate will always centre around what your own personal preferences are. If it is that important to you, you will go whenever. There will always be some who work on fridays and some on sundays, some who have that kids play on sundays and those that go to do summer things like picnics, clashes with football/ cricket.

It is simply really, win and market it right and they will come. Lose every other week and they will continue to be ambivalent towards the club.

Strange how the lowest crowds at Barton have been afternoon games, despite thousands of families waiting to attend. Even last years family day with a full week of advertising in the MEN saw a pitiful attendance.

Another K/O day / Time topic , closely followed by by a Morley is coming Topic ...
It's Groundhog Day or I must have flipped back 8 years.
Firstly no matter what day , if you don't adequately publicise the club , the fixture dates and make the pricing structure attractive no one will know..

Trish Goldsmith advocated the Friday Evenings at the Willows, as it was the optimum time to attract the Corporate clients ( A jolly out after work on Friday ) , and TBH she did an effective job of it , also with the Variety Centre and Bar going into the coffers it made sense .
Now for the Hospitality to pay Salford have the get 400+ diners ( 40 tables of 10 ) , they currently struggle to get 20+.

Our home games K/O dates have been all over the place
ended last season having to play our last home game at Leigh on a Sat eve , 6.15
since then we've played our home games
1 Friday 3pm - Huddersfield
3 Friday 8pm , Wigan - tickets when on sale 2 days before K/O / London / Warrington
1 Saturday 3pm - Hull FC
1 Saturday 6.15 , Castleford BSB
1 Sunday 6.15, Hull KR BSB

after the Bradford game , our next two games will be Sunday 3pm at the Etihad, and Monday eve 7.45pm BSB

that'll be 4 different days and 4 different K/O times and not even 2/3's through the season. ridiculous !

whatever day , they need to stick to it , & properly promote , well in advance

Agree we need to pick a day and stick with it.

Personally I'd like to stay either with Friday night or say 7pm on Saturdays, think the time for Sunday afternoons has gone as there is now a great deal more things for families to be doing and we run the risk of being a only if there is nothing else on option. At least if we did say opt for the 7pm Saturday option there is the chance we can target and create an on going family atmosphere down at Barton.

I certainly think my children enjoyed it a lot more having the activities outside. We arrived just after 4 and the kids were out on the activities the whole time we were there. This in turn led to myself and other parents I was with to relax in the bar or with a drink in hand with the kids while taking part in the activities.

However I just don’t believe the Saturday tea time kick off would work. A lot of people already have many activities going on during a Saturday and suspect rugby at tea time - unless a hardcore, would not factor. I did also find that by the time we had got back to the car after the game and the kids to bed, they were tired Sunday morning and this impacted on their own matches.

There are a lot of pro's and con's and we seem to cover this subject every couple of months. Salford need to target the kids and getting them involved. Last year there was talk of re-introducing the Junior red devils and I am sure plenty of us who still go, were a part of this scheme in the late eighties and early nineties. I would go to all games at home because it was free and meant my mum only had to pay for herself so not a big hit on the pocket. I know we get the kids cheap still today if you purchase the family season tickets but this won’t attract the new followers to the game and you just don’t get that level of involvement as you use to on the junior reds.

One of the most easy wins the club could do would be to infact get the Junior red devils up and running again but then get every child under the age of 13 in the local amateur teams signed up. If they are a registered player, the club should then give them a free junior red devil membership. This then allows all kids who are involved in the game locally, access to their local professional team. You could further this by then giving parents discounted tickets at the rate you would pay on a season ticket so that this then encourages the parents to attend as the cost for 1 adult and 1 child to come is less than £20. You take a hit in the pocket that is for sure on gates but you are subconsciously gaining the next generation of supporters and with a winning and successful team you are likely to keep a high crowd over the next 15 years. You also get income over the bar and in other areas as alone this week, we spent over £100 in the club shop and over £50 on concessions.

Of the team I coach only possibly 3 or 4 kids are regulars at the games (this is out of 16). They are obviously interested in the game to be playing it at such a young age that they are and I am sure that you could break easily in to double figures who would attend if working on the above idea. I know when my other son's team have played before the match and at half time out on the pitch, the whole team has shown up along with parents to watch the game.

Yes GT but Fridays are best for you because it suits you! I make Fridays fine but I'm talking about potential fans that I have tried to persuade to come along but can't because of number 1 FACT that people work nights or 2/10 shifts that is something that is factual about Fridays you can't just give up your job to watch Salford, 2. Families in the majority with young kids won't make it as its to short a time frame to get all the family home fed washed and ready and to the stadium for 8:00, I know some families do try and honour of their way to make games but your in a small minority, so all those tickets Dr Koukash will be giving out to kids around Salford and MANCHESTER don't for get we're trying to tap into our neighbours to, how many do you think will make Fridays? Not many u would think. Saturdays would be perfect for me too but is that doable with the RFL?

All those who go to games for a up and a night out have to look at the bigger picture its not all about what excising fans want? We're all loyal and will get there some how no matter what but for new supporters its vital that we give them the perfect opportunity to make games.

It's also a pig for the away supporters coming over the penines at half five/six o'clock.

Rugby league is a family sport, and also a summer sport.

Most families I know in summer, on a sunday afternoon go for a drive somewhere or go to the seaside (if the wheather is suitable) or spend time with the grand parents or time with family (you get the picture).

I can't see why when the football season stops start saturday 3 o clocks? I went to the HUll game and felt right to be there on a saturday afternoon, and you tap into the huge football market that is there, who normally on saturday at 3pm are in the pub or at OT or Ethiad will have some spare time.

It is a hard problem to fix in the econimical climate but I think a change in direction next season is seriously needed, and I have full faith the Dr will put the right people in place (if he hasn't already).

We will never appeal to kids and families playing at 8pm on a Friday night. Simple as.

Erm, all I said was that I can get home easier when I live 40-odd miles from the ground. As it is, I attend Saturday and Sunday games as well, regardless of when they're played. There's a difference between providing a differing opinion and saying "I prefer Fridays as it suits me." If you read my post properly you'll notice I'm not saying which I prefer, just providing a few facts to provide a counter-balanced argument. I couldn't give a sh*t when games are played, but all things considered, nothing really points to Saturdays and Sundays attracting better crowds than Friday nights. Not based on current evidence, anyway.