I think what Wigan are doing right is having a history and culture steeped in the game and being Super League Champions and Cup Holders! It ain't rocket science!!!!

Indeed, and having pots of money to sell their club. I get sick and tired of reading about the marketing geniuses at Wigan. They have an absolutely massive budget and selling Rugby League in Wigan must be the easiest job in the world.

No argument about that, but just look back on the attendances over the Super League period with Wigan and now last weekend they can attract 19,100, why have St Helens not increased in the same way? in fact perhaps they have even been more successful, I would put it down to Total Lack of Marketing. When they appointed their current Chief Executive from Gillette who had worked on the account with the RFL, I thought Wow! and what did they produce in 2010 11,190 compared to Wigan 15,723. This season Saints could not get more than 7,000 to travel 3 miles down the road to Widnes! yes I accept it was bad timing the selling of Knowsley Road and the new stadium being ready in December this year, but I think it knocks the idea of "rocket science" being simply success, history and culture only! 2002, the average attendance at Wigan was 14,000 this season 16,125, nothing like the attendances at Central Park in the glory days.





Average attendances this past season out of interest.



Pos. Team Att.

1 Wigan Warriors 16,125

2 Leeds Rhinos 15,099

3 Bradford Bulls 13,967

4 Hull FC 12,431

5 Warrington Wolves 11,166

6 Catalans Dragons 8,385

7 Hull Kingston Rovers 8,320

8 St. Helens 7,863

9 Castleford Tigers 7,156

10 Huddersfield Giants 7,091

11 Wakefield Wildcats 6,552

11 Salford City Reds 4,754

13 Crusaders 3,377

14 Harlequins 3,132



Dave may think it is easy in Wigan it is not a massive town and they have a Premiership Club playing at the same stadium, Leeds is a City and a lot larger population.



Wigan Dave have never rested on their laurels, some may think why spend money when you have their success, but you have to if you are going to compete with other sports and see year on year atttrendance increases which they want.

Lobbygobbler 1 has said at least 6 people he knows have stayed away because of the Union tie in, so add those to Rupe1 and stormingbronco and there will be a whole 8 more fans





Seriously, the fans base has been pretty static since 1996...........it did drop (again) last year, but only a bit and let's face it, the team for the last 2 and half years have been rubbish.



The whole point of the re-re-re-launch and re-re-re-re-re-branding is to attempt to get new momentum for a marketing push. Problem is, whilst most Media outlets along the M62 have a dedicated RL body, us cockernees are left with the junior media guy who deals with "other sports" like curling, speedway and darts.

Don't knock darts GF thats probably been the best marketed (re branded) sport in recent times- There are lessons to be learnt from them I'm sure

There's probably more money in darts than there is in Rugby League at the moment.

Some fans have been picked up since the move. Hopefully some fans will return.



Big problem for London RLFC is that (unlike Wigan) it is in an area which is not at all supportive of RL

I don't think there is any doubt about that.

....no thanks.



Not unless you want TW2 packed with pi55ed up Essex Chavs with home-made signs just in case their dear old mums get to see them on TV.



I have always thought that the only reason people watch Darts is because we all have a chance of hitting 180 now and again.....it really is the peoples sport. Very few people will ever score the winner in the FA cup final or kick the last minute winning conversion in the Challenge Cup or pip Bolt to the line in the olympic 100 meters final, but I have achieved a 9 dart check-out on more than one occasion.......that and the fact it's a game associated with drinking.





RL needs to be marketed to the locals as a family game, with family values, something Darts isn't!

You have hit a 9 darter?!





You're in the wrong profession if you are being serious.

One obvious reason Wigan get bigger attendances is than St Helens, is that Wigan is simply a substantially bigger borough. Granted Wigan Borough does contain Leigh, but it's still a bigger catchment area before you bring into the equation the state of Knowsley Road and the move to Widnes. Widnes is only a few miles away, but it is obviously not embedded in the town of St Helens, and it's not as simple to get to for many fans based in St Helens. There are other reasons I could bring up, but the real test for St Helens will be any improvement once the new ground opens.

Maybe he was playing 301