Attendances rise by 1.1%

Great news for the Aviva premiership, the attendances have risen 1.1% from last year see the below article.

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP Rugby is booming, with the news that England's top clubs recorded a rise in attendances this season.

With a year on year drop expected, due to the Rugby World Cup, Premiership Rugby is delighted to confirm that attendances have in fact risen.
* Total attendance: 1,697,177
* Average Attendance in 2011-12: 12,572
* Number of Sell outs: 28
* Attendance rise: 1.1%
During the last World Cup season - in 2007-08 - Premiership attendances were down 6%.
"In the context of this year this is a remarkable result for Aviva Premiership Rugby," said Premiership Rugby Chief Executive, Mark McCafferty, who confirmed that crowds across Aviva Premiership Rugby, including the semi-finals and final were up 1.1% year on year.
"It is due to the support of our loyal fans and the hardwork put in by each and every one of our 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs."
The figures, which confirm an average attendance across Aviva Premiership Rugby of 12,572, compared to 12,433 in 2010-11, also showed a remarkable rise in the last 12 years.
Back in the 1999-2000 season the average Premiership attendance was 5,476, so in that time they have grown 130%.
"Facilities are the key to this rise. Compare our stadiums now to the way they were 12 years ago and many clubs are unrecognisable.
"We've also managed to increase the number of sell outs, year on year, from 22 to 28 and it was only two months ago that Saracens and Harlequins set a new world record for a club game when 83,761 came to Wembley to watch their Aviva Premiership Rugby match.
"Last Saturday's Aviva Premiership Rugby Final was a triumph as well with 81,779 packed into Twickenham. Everyone involved in Aviva Premiership Rugby, and all our partners,should be very proud."

Pleasently surprised!
Good stats find wrfc!

Thats quite impressive considering it was a world cup year and that English rugby has taken a kicking in the media and the HC.
Attendances have gradually been creeping in the right direction. Although the clubs are still loosing money at a rapid rate that has started to improve too.

Interesting to note the statement about facilities in light of the LW situation.

Seems there's good news all round - RABO

You'd have to take out the 'big games' at larger grounds to get a true picture. Having fewer people at most games but more at the one off games isn't progress.

HammerofThunor wrote:You'd have to take out the 'big games' at larger grounds to get a true picture. Having fewer people at most games but more at the one off games isn't progress.

Really? If a side could pack 80,000 into a stadium in Oxford despite having to shift the game because of a soccer match I think everyone would be happy.

I think it is good to see the rise. Sometimes you feel like it might be aat its peak and then it goes up a bit more.

I find the climb over 12 years as the biggest suprise. sometimes you forget that club games in england were getting out so little.

Big one off games are great for getting in more people to regular games. You make more money from one off people too as they tend to spend more on their day out