Was quite funny reading whoever does RedVee’s Twitter bleating on about the International game days after saying they didn’t care for it at all.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
Because we need to increase the exposure to market the game, catch 22
Continue to play safe taking it to Wigan would get a decent crowd but not bring the sport to new viewers.
I'm not sure the best way to go but we cannot have it both ways, complain when we don't spread the game and complain when we do
Lets be honest the RFL aren't good at promoting things, especially to new audiences. I think the only way to get those who aren't rugby league followers through the Anfield gates on Sunday would be if a few of Liverpool's star players tweeted/posted on instagram about it. I saw NZ were at their training ground yesterday and met a few of the players, maybe putting on a short training session for them to watch could impress a few and they could put something about the game on social media maybe? I bet half that squad haven't even seen rugby league before!
As someone who lives 15 mins walk from Anfield. Grew up in Liverpool and family are liverpool fans, I love the fact we are playing another International RL game at Anfield. Went to the 4 nation's final with NZ and Aus and enjoyed my day out. I take my family with me as well. In the kop end paying a pittance compares to some of the prices I hear getting thrown about for football matches.
Could there be more exposure? Yes of course. But am I worried about how the full stadium at the start of November when it's possibly raining? Nah not really.
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Isn't the ground capacity over 54k and its most likely it will be only half full with rugby fans, the RFL should have offered 10000 complimentary tickets to Liverpool Season Ticket Holders and maybe Everton ones as well. Rugby Union get good international crowds with complementaries so when it comes to big football stadiums it makes sense to fill that crowd capacity the best way you can so that it looks goods and it might generate a good atmosphere from mixed sport fan base.
I understand the reason you say this, but why should I pay for a ticket for the game and others get it for nothing? If you want more to attend reduce the ticket price across the board, not just for those who most likely will never return to a rugby game if they have to pay. I saw a study that was done about free tickets and increased attendances. It was found overall it had no long ter,m impact on making crowds bigger. It worked by getting PR out there and a bit of a feel good factor in the short term but the following season showed no marked improvement. It said that the way to increase attendances was a successful team, a sense of excitement and a feeling of inclusion in the club itself.
When Huddersfield did the free (or heavily reduced) tickets it caused an issue with STH’s and rightly so IMO.
Humans are more concerned with having than being.
I just think there needs to be a big effort from the RFL to get bums on seats for the International Game, thats the shop window to attract sponsors and investors. For me I don't mind paying £40 to watch a game whilst a Merseyside Season Ticket Holder who pays up to £900 a season ticket to get a freebie game in another sport.
From memory way back in 2012 I think the ARL did similar and threw a lot of money subsidy into the Aussie Rules Game to attract new supporters, crowds went up by over 60%, they get huge attendances now compared to the NRL.
I suppose its swings and roundabouts do the RFL spend lots of money promoting the game what it is not very good at or subsidise the one big event towards a very large city catchment fan base.
We were down 5,000 on the last International three years ago in Hull last Saturday, our promotional activity of the sport and our game is abysmal, but what do we really expect from someone who is RFL CEO and worked many years under Woods? we needed new blood like Super League have done, Rimmer keeps saying we are still talking with the Hearn's, the problem as I see it Ralph wants to hold on to his power! and just wants to give the Hearn's bits of pieces, but can you blame them if they want to do a complete job! if they take on small parts they don't want to be blamed if it all goes wrong.
17,600 last weekend was a disgrace, and ticket offers were there, now they are doing it for Anfield so are they getting desperate again, pity help is if it is not at least 25,000 plus in such a big stadium!
I just think it's full stop a bad idea.
Even Liverpool season ticket holders don't even know that the game is being played there this Sunday.
I doubt they'd even go if there was a free ticket, they just aren't interested.
If you put darts on in St Helens, I wouldn't go because I'm not bothered about it.
What they should have done is made it a tenner for adults, a fiver for kids & senior citizens across 3 tests. Played one in Yorkshire, one in Lancashire & one down in London (the first test) as there are a lot of Kiwis living down there.
The world cup semi final against New Zealand (2013) had about 50k to 60k there (I think). Just a pity Wembley is 90k. The atmosphere was tremendous, the game was tremendous with a dramatic ending & the ticket prices certainly weren't as cheap as a fiver or a tenner.
What about Arsenal's ground? Bet loads haven't been there & it's fairly easy to get to. I'd certainly enjoy a trip there to watch International rugby league. Only a few stops up from Euston
Trouble is there is no marketing of the game to give it any exposure! If you're not going to promote the product, it doesn't matter where you sell it, if no one knows about it. If you're not going to promote it to a new audience, then may as well swell the games coffers playing it at Saints. The RFL are falling between two stools, not marketing to enable the sport to reach its potential or playing the matches in the heartlands at stadia that would benefit the sport with the injection of cash created.
Thing is the first game was played at a rugby league ground , as such.
It wouldn't be bringing much money into the game if it was played at Saints.
The promoting of this game has been dire. We are going directly up against the Autumn Internationals which the casual fan (this is who the game needs to be directed at) know are happening. Why, because they happen every year. Every November England Union play 2 or 3 test matches.
England RL don't, it's need to start. Hopefully this will be just that. There's a load of schools by Anfield and Goodison where the RFL could have went in and promoted the game. Had players gone into the schools and done coaching afternoons.
Liverpool may not have a rugby league team, but they do have an idea of it . Promote it and they will come.
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They do, the problem is , it's an older generation of people. They remember it on grand stand. The younger population are not so up to date I give you that.
It should have been better promoted. There is nothing in the city for it. Which is shocking.
What doesn't help is that it has had 2 Kick Off changes.
I put the last two reason for a half empty stadium down to the RFL.
Speculate to Accumulate
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