If it was "purely financial" people wouldn't spend hundreds on season tickets in the numbers they do.

But they would, as they can plan that into their year's finances.

If its a choice between getting a season ticket which covers all the years regular season games, or not getting a season ticket and just choosing the odd game to go to and then the playoffs, wouldn't you then turn around and call them part-time supporters?

People view any game based on who we are playing, that's why Saints league games (for example) have the most home fans, and the lower opponents the least. There were 17k+ home fans v Saints in June (+ about 3k away fans), but they clearly don't come to every game.

I'm not entirely sure finances are such a big reason, either - the CC4 games are usually poorly attended, despite all the ST holders with free tickets. The last time we were at home in Round 4, we got about 4000 on, IIRC.

If people were planning you'd expect them to budget for play-offs games as well surely?

No I wouldn't call them part-time supporters. I don't have a season ticket myself and can't make every game. My point all along is that we have a basic core support of around 12k who will go to the Catalans and Salford games, even accounting for when people can't make it due to other commitment. However this fell by 4k on Friday and fell by around 3k from the week before against Leeds.

Because by the time they come around mate some people might just not have the money to hand, and the fact its certain to be on tv makes it very easy to sit at home and watch it there.

Its a fact of the playoffs, attendances are going to be reduced until the semi's. Stumping up for a season ticket is different than having to buy one for the week ahead.

Agree with all that. I'd say last Friday was a considerably biggest game than the Leeds game simply because our season was on the line.

Compare it to the NRL, their crowds go up substantially come play-off time as they can see what the games means. Some people say it should be part of a season tickets, but would they be prepared to pay proportionately more for a ST to cover it, especially if their team don't make the play-offs but have essentially still paid for it.

I said that it will be a financial issue for some, but I don't believe that accounts for the substantial drop off we've seen.

cheers

I reckon our crowds would be a lot better if more people turned up to watch the game.

Do you reckon the RFL have consider this yet?

Edited for accuracy!



Not being funny Andy but it's quite obvious to me.

10,000 Season ticket holders buy their tickets in advance at the start of the year, that's a hell of a start on reaching 14k/15k home supporters on average.

How many kids get their £26 season tickets and when it comes Play off time they and/or their parent scan't pay it as Each ticket costs say £12?
Last 2 weeks I've paid £50 for each of the games plus game day costs etc.

I'm very fortunate, others are not!

Family of 4 pay say £360 last year for a Season ticket to 13 home league games, a CC game, Kids get all their away games free plus all the other benefits.

And then

They have to pay £40 for 1 game when it's live on SKY etc

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Final word Andy and my Original grievance with your post.

Call the support shocking, but it's not just Wigan!
All teams have gone down pro-rata the same as ours, so if you mean the Attendances for all the teams in the Play offs is shocking then fair enough, teh RL need to do something about it, but it's not just Wigan!

I don't disagree with the majority of what you wrote (need to lie down

) and I've said elsewhere it not just a Wigan problem. But for me that doesn't explain the big drop after we lost to Leeds. Some of our supporters are extremely fickle - there I've said it.

Told you I'd talk you round!

PS

Some of EVERY TEAMS SUPPORTERS are fickle!
Then I'll partially agree with you!

We have more fickle supporter (because we have more supporters in the first place)

Not sure where you get that from Geoff tbh

Garbage! The drop was because it wasn't as appealing a game, and because it was an EXTRA game that many could not afford to attend, NOTHING to do with fickle fans, if that was the case we would have had far less fans the year we struggled and were nearly relegated but the fanbase increased.

I think its massively disrespectful that you assume fans would just not attend because we lost a game!

This isn't just a Wigan problem, it's every league that the playoffs suffer when they should be the prestige games. Maybe the RFL or SLE should wake up and offer half price entry to all playoffs games and kids get in for a quid. Every team, every league. Reward the fans for the clubs success.

HOW MANY TIMES do you need to be told that we were always playing two home games in the play-offs? We have plenty of fickle fans and Friday night proved it. It's not disrespectful, as for too many fans it's the truth.

However it would seem that as other club's have fickle fans as well, that makes it alright.

I Don't need telling AT ALL that we were always playing twice at home but we weren't always going to be playing 3 play off games!!! therefore EXTRA COST!! and the least attractive of the games would mean a smaller crowd FOR ALL TEAMS

Wire had 8k on against hudds, if that was against Saints it would have been a bigger gate as it was a more attractive fixture

So basically what you are saying is that those who didn't bother on Friday are those who will be going to Leeds - both you and I know that is not the case. The hard core who go to away games will be the ones who follow the team no matter what.

So because the Dire have fickle fans as well that's ok then.

It is disrespectful to assume that fans who did not attend on Friday was because they are fickle! you are suggesting that we only had a smaller crowd on Friday because we lost the week before and that fans are fickle!

No I'm not saying it is ONLY because we have fickle fans. I suggest you go back and actually read what I've written instead of continually generalising.

Interesting piece in today's Express (think it was that paper) about the concern with attendances in Rugby Union. London Irish down to 8K and Mick Hogan complaining that crowds of 6000 at Sale are not sustainable.