ummm, wrote:

sea_point wrote: Actually Ummmm

Here's a "I thought we got rid of him stat": We have a Pro12 average of 4550. Bradley at Edinburgh has an average of .... 4550!

Not to mention the identical RaboDirect records 4-1-13. Eerie.

sea_point wrote: Actually Ummmm

I know it wasn't always bad, but I was making reference to the first year specifically, and the 550 that turn up to watch us against Neath and the 455 that were enthralled by the visit of Caerphilly.


Here's a "I thought we got rid of him stat": We have a Pro12 average of 4550. Bradley at Edinburgh has an average of .... 4550!


Leinster 19303
Munster 14479
Scarlets 8365
Ulster 7802
Blues 1762
Ospreys 6951
Dragons 5947
Edinburgh 4550
Connacht 4550
Glasgow 3993
Treviso 3870
Aironi 2267

The first 2 years of the Celtic/Magners/Rabo league can't be compared to the others, it's not like with like. Besides, which was the true figure? Year 1 - average ~900 over just 3 games, Year 2 - average ~2800 over the same number. Our attendances from 2003 to last year pretty much fell and rose in accordance with our home performances (number of home matches we were "competitive" in i.e. won, drew, LBP).

Nonetheless we were (at best) standing still when the other teams were taking off, but that's to be expected - how do you show ambition when you're officially designated a lesser (development) team?

Incidentally, while Ulster's capacity has dropped from 13500 to 12300, I don't think that explains the drop in attendances, which began before construction and have continued after it in a slow but consistent fashion. They're not even selling out the Interpros.

Season Attendance % change
2003/2004 6,850 n/a
2004/2005 6,692 -2
2005/2006 9,182 +37
2006/2007 10,206 +11
2007/2008 9,661 -5
2008/2009 9,085 -6
2009/2010 8,863 -2
2010/2011 8,485 -4
2011/2012 7,802 -8*

*incomplete

Attendences are continuing to fall even though they've a more than decent team the last few years. Their corporate facilities will most likely stop us ever challenging them for "3rd province" status, but even if they stabilise at current figures they'll be rattling round the new 18,000 capacity Ravenhill like some Welsh region.

Ulster's situation is different to the rest, there was capacity/planning issues with Ravenhill becasue of the proximity of houses. The intial planning permission was based on a smaller capacity simply becasue Ulster realised the needed Corportate Facilities as a priority and the extra cashbeing generated from this (depsite a smaller ground capacity currently) has bankrolled greater investment in playing resources. Once the remainder of Ravers is done they will be able to compete with Leinster & Munster on a much more even financial playing field.

I only used the three ML seasons as an example, but if you dig back further into previous seasons we actually were getting bigger attendences than 2003-04 so the slide for Connacht was pretty dramatic during that period when the other provinces attendences were taking off.

I make the numbers slightly different (Leinster were never below us in attendance) but SeaPoint's point is absolutely valid. We've been treading water for years.

Interestingly, Ulsters attendances have been on the slide for years, and Munster's don't look great lately either (though they're not quite as bad as they look - this years are not complete and don't include full houses for Leinster and Ulster)

Actually Ummmm

ML crowds started strong in Connacht and then dropped away after two or three seasons, the 6.30 Kick Offs then absolutely killed off attendences as non-Galwegians had no hope of getting to games, it was absolute folly. Getting the later kickoffs for Friday night has been a great boost...

The Big seasons in terms of Crowds were 2003 - 2006, our crowds went backwards in a big way.

In 2003-04 we had bigger average crowds (2,444) than Leinster (2,363) in the Magners, and were only seriously behind Ulster in terms of crowds (they average 6800, Munster 4500), a year later Leinster were getting Double our average (1,935 compared to 3,409)

Gerry Kelly will be remembered most likely for the Clan Terrace and HEC Cup arriving in Galway (the latter which he had absolutely no input or control over), but he frankly should have been sacked in the period without a shadow of a doubt. His stewardship set us back years during that period.

rossie wrote: all those of you out there who havent used their free tickets please do for the aironi game to ensure a large attendance. A big win to finish season off would be great.

Just called the branch and they can be posted out or picked up on the gate on the night of the match but either way they must be booked with the office at least three days before the match.

i think pro12 ave of 5000 is out of reach alright. Even if they bring in 10000 over the last two games which would be impressive that still leaves ave at 4635.
Thats well over double last seasons ave tho as far as i no so well done to everyone. It will be more difficult to grow it next season but the ave of 5000 should be the minimum target set.
all those of you out there who havent used their free tickets please do for the aironi game to ensure a large attendance. A big win to finish season off would be great.

Packie wrote:
Brings average to 5050 If I have it right

That's what I make it too. We need 9399 between the last 2 games to make avg. 5000/total 70000 for the season.

Given that last season (including the Samoa match) we had avg/total of 2098/31464 that's a hell of a gain.

BTW, if like me you're a season ticket holder who hasn't claimed their 2 free tickets you can now only do so for the Aironi game - don't forget to drag someone along they'll probably thank you for it.

Packie wrote:

FACECUTTR wrote: What is the average with the H cup games included ??

Toulouse 9120
Glouscester 5115
Harlquins 5420

Brings average to 5050 If I have it right

Yep indeed, over 60K in the Sportsground so far this season, Glaws & Quins HEC games drew dissapointingly low crowds really (just over 5K each). But bumper Toulouse crowd kept HEC average over 6.5K.

HEC Total	19,655
HEC Average	6,552

Total	60,603
Average	5,050

A far cry from the 455 that turned up in the first season of the Celtic League!

FACECUTTR wrote: What is the average with the H cup games included ??

Toulouse 9120
Glouscester 5115
Harlquins 5420

Brings average to 5050 If I have it right

What is the average with the H cup games included ??

rossie wrote: it would be great to get the pro12 average attendance up and over the 5000 mark for the season. With the Munster game almost sold out(according to branch), ulster to come next and if people turn up in numbers, freebies or otherwise, for last game of season it is very achievable!

Munster game put the average above 4500, but we need a couple more 6000+ games to drag us over 5K per game. OUtside chance with the Ulster game but Aironi is always a hard sell. If we can get a result against Ulster then you never know....

Sat 10 Sep	15:15	Connacht 13 - 11 Scarlets	Sportsground	3,408
Fri 23 Sep	19:30	Connacht 17 - 13 Dragons	Sportsground	3,706
Sat 29 Oct	18:00	Connacht 20 - 26 Blues	Sportsground	3,996
Sat 26 Nov	18:30	Connacht 6 - 17 Ospreys	Sportsground	4,107
Fri 2 Dec	19:30	Connacht 13 - 15 Treviso	Sportsground	3,614
Sun 1 Jan	17:00	Connacht 13 - 15 Leinster	Sportsground	6,582
Sat 18 Feb	17:30	Connacht 13 - 13 Warriors	Sportsground	4,189
Fri 24 Feb	19:30	Connacht 26 - 13 Edinburgh	Sportsground	4,324
Sat 24 Mar	19:45	Connacht 16 - 20 Munster	Sportsground	7,022

Total	40,948
Average	4,550

it would be great to get the pro12 average attendance up and over the 5000 mark for the season. With the Munster game almost sold out(according to branch), ulster to come next and if people turn up in numbers, freebies or otherwise, for last game of season it is very achievable!

I think its only the non-interpro league games which is a sensible decision by the Branch so Aironi is the only chance left but hopefully it'll be well promoted ahead of Aironi and get everyone to drag along a few people and finish the season on a high attendance wise.

Haven't used mine yet so will have to have a look at that in the weeks ahead.