Are match times anything to do with the poor attendances?

Just a thought.

When was a the last time (if ever) that the Ospreys played at 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon?

For the last couple of years at least it has been between 7-8pm on a Friday evening or 6-8pm on Saturday evening with the occasional late Sunday afternoon fixture chucked in for good measure.

It would be really interesting to see if the majority of Celtic league fixtures were moved to a Saturday afternoon if they would increase attendances significantly.

You could still have 1 match on BBC2 and 1 match on S4C etc.. but I guess the TV viewing figures would be divided then.

It is clear to see that fixtures are arranged to satisfy the TV networks, but are contributing to this problem of poor attendances.

Going back to the old fashioned clubs would be a disaster now as there is a generation of young kids and a fan base that have grown up on and only know of the regions. They weren't around during the days of Neath v Llanelli or Ponty v Cardiff. It may take a few more years for regional rugby to establish itself at the stadiums, but it will happen.

I would think that moving the games to Saturday would be worse. Ulster play most of their games on Friday night as generally people who would watch them on Friday would then play on a Saturday.
I think the regions have to play at times which suit them the majority of fans the most. I would say that's a Friday night.

The whole Region Vs Club situation will probably never be sorted out. One step I think the WRU should take is to restore the Premiership to its level of prestige before the regions joined. Like what New Zealand do with the NPC. The biggest prize in domestic rugby. Sounds good.

The Os share their stadium with a football club don't they?

Does that influence the timing of their home games too?

Possibly, but the Ospreys could play home when the Swans are away?

For everyone who isnt a season ticket holder on this forum, why not ask yourselves why they dont go.

I spoke to my cousin about it the other day and he had plenty of reasons, money, time, warmer in the house, much better view on the tv, the travelling involved in going to a region. A lot of fans live locally to a stadium, few would want to drive for 20 minutes to go and see a game.

In his opinion he can be warmer, drink cheaper alcohol, have a better view and save a fortune by simply watching rugby on the tv.

Almost every Welsh game will be shown on tv, and a lot of Welsh rugby fans don't have passion for against any region, they like them all in a lot of cases and want them all to do well.
The only Ospreys game this season which hasn't been shown on tv was the home game against Connacht and that was because the game was moved at the last minute to accomodate the Swansea / Stoke game because Stoke needed a 3 day rest from playing in Europe of something, most supporters are now stay at home supporters.

Alyn, you know some of the same people as me I am sure, passionate rugby folk, even if they are from a cape obsessed with football. But it is economic reasons they don't go to the games more often more than anything else...!

maestegmafia wrote:Alyn, you know some of the same people as me I am sure, passionate rugby folk, even if they are from a cape obsessed with football. But it is economic reasons they don't go to the games more often more than anything else...!

I don't criticise anyone for not going to games, each to his own. To me it's a habbit, once you start going you don't consider not going.

I must admit though a massive contributing factor to the lack of attendance at the Liberty last night was that there were barely 50 Saracens fans making the trip to Swansea.

There were a great deal more Ospreys fans at Wembley last week.

maestegmafia wrote:Alyn, you know some of the same people as me I am sure, passionate rugby folk, even if they are from a cape obsessed with football. But it is economic reasons they don't go to the games more often more than anything else...!

46,365 Leinster v Bath
20,020 Leicester v Clermont

and Leicester have nearly 13000 season ticket holders.
Can we stop blaming the Welsh economy for urine poor attendances? Thanks.

I guess that the economic situation in Cardiff must be different to the valleys surrounding Swansea mate....!

maestegmafia wrote:I guess that the economic situation in Cardiff must be different to the valleys surrounding Swansea mate....!

No it probably isn't and i'm suffering like many others. I don't live in Cardiff either, mate.

Mate, I talk to my friends. That is the reason they dont go...! if the region were winning everything and certain to win the HEC they still could not afford to go.

It is a bloody fact...!

KO times do have some affect, I know friends down in H'West who find it physically impossible to get to PYS for a Friday night game and also some friends whose chose to support the O's instead of teh Dragons can't get to the Liberty from Tredegar or Ebbw etc.

That said the Regions are happy to take the TV revenue generated so its double edge sword, also some have said lets revert back to the more customary 3 O'clock KO but that would affect fans who actually still play the game on saturdays.

Dublin does have a million people remember. All easily able to get to the Aviva or RDS quite cheaply.

Swansea has a population of 250,000. Most of them are Swans fans. Neath has 40,000/50,000. Port Talbot has around 30,000 people.

In the immediate area to the Liberty there isn't a massive population and not many of them are die hard rugby fans.