Quote Kelvin's Ferret="Kelvin's Ferret"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.'"
Yes the real proof is next season for St Helens, no one is claiming Wigan to be perfect in everything they do but they do use marketing at least and do it quite well, your defence of St Helens, does not defend they do not work on marketing like Wigan or run advertising campaigns. I went to training in Widnes three times a week and travelled from St Helens so I know what a simple journey it is, St Helens offered a subsidised travel plan but you had to purchase a full season in advance which on top of a season ticket was not cheap, but they should have timed it much better with building and closing of Knowsley Road and there is no defence for that. I do not go for the size of the two borough's, Leigh has it's own RL team, St Helens with Billinge, Rainford, Haydock, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown and Whiston do not have a RL Team.
No way am I comparing the challenge we have in London to the likes of Wigan and St Helens, but you have to do marketing and it has to be done professionally to succeed.
It may be going back a long time but back in 1988 the radio station I have worked 21 years for were offered an extra date at the end of the successful Michael Jackson Bad Tour. I still remember the board meeting when there was concern how much cost the concert was being offered to us for, and then all the staging expenses. Some round the table worried that we would need to sell 80,000 tickets to break even or cover costs, Aintree Racecourse was the only venue we could stage such an event. We could have sold tickets just via the radio station and the advertising that could deliver, but no we did marketing, press, posters and yes TV and we broke the records for that tour 125,000 tickets sold. Okay MJ was a completely different entity than rugby league in London, but you have to speculate at times but it has to be done right, you do not pour money down the drain or so little that it will not work.
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