why not be happy that now you are the towns big club (although as stated, both sides get around about the same home attendance)
Where has this been stated?
I reckon:
Latics average 18,500, rugby average 14,500
Average away support at Latics is 3,500 (from the programme)
So even allowing for no away support at rugby, Latics still get more
There are probably 2,000 away fans on average at rugby games (when you consider Saints bring 7-8,000) so there home support is around 12,000 versus 14 v 15k of ours.
And their number includes around 1,500 a game who don’t actually turn up but they count anyway.
Latics only count those in attendance, the rugby count the number of tickets they’ve sold, or more often given away – a whole stand in the case of one game last year
You need to decide which side your on as if you’re going to come out with drivel like that then it’s clearly not ours. I’ve not seen anyone sticking up for Latics amongst the hatred filled liars and bullshitters over at RLfans.com.[/quote]
I meant as stated by me in a previous post, and as someone who does indeed watch both clubs (and has since 1994) it isn’t as far from accurate as you say.
Wigans last home game saw them face Warrington. Recently knocked out the cup by the same club and on Sky – the crowd was 13452 with approx 1600 Wire fans (given by the ticket office)
Latics first game of the season, Bobby back, and after a massive win at Villa got 16661 with 4500 Wolves fans (maybe more) So yes there were more Latics fans but not many. The ground should have been bouncing.
Wigan v Harlequins (ok they gave tickets to Heinz but they were paid for by Heinz at a discounted rate) attracted a crowd of over 14k with around 25 away fans. The same game last year (with no Heinz tickets) attracted a crowd of 11453 so thats 11400 ish Wigan fans. Look at the lesser Latics games such as Fulham when no away fans come and you’ll see it isn’t THAT different. Yes Latics get a few more but not by massive numbers.
Lets be honest, that ground should be full EVERY week. Yes we have competition from other clubs and allegiances that will never die but the marketing dept should be doing more to fill the ground imo. Afterall RL is a minority sport and so low crowds are to be expected yes?
Oh and you’ll regularly see me defend both Latics and this site on the RL Fans board ;)
