I recall the averages in the latter Central Park days being really poor. The beauty of a mainly terraced stadium though is that a poor crowd doesn’t look as obvious as an all seater venue does. If we had 10k on at Central Park, that would look ok but 10k at the DW can look pretty poor on TV.

It’s going in to a whole new debate but our current average attendances at a stadium like the HJ or at Saints would look great and feel far more atmospheric. I think the sheer size of our stadium now just highlights the importance of doing absolutely everything you can not only to try and grow the crowds but to make sure you set it up in a way that makes it look as good as it can on TV and so that the Atmosphere is better in the stadium. I would really like them to look at away fans being house in the first couple of blocks of the east Stand but down towards the South end for one. Latics cut around 8-10 rows off at the bottom of the east stand by covering them in banners/advertisements and that pushes the crowd closer together and again improves things. We certainly need to do more of that where possible IMO.

Its about perception. Nothing looks worse than a game on TV whereby the stand that faces the camera is half empty especially if say the game is on terrestial TV (C4) and the sport is trying to gain a new audience.

Offering the renewal price to everyone might help, especially the lapsed season ticket holders, getting the average attendance up by 1k would make a world of difference to the finances especially if people start spending a few bob in the fan zone at RP

its a difficult one for the club to be honest, and i am one in that boat who had lapsed as a full time attending fan. I wont pay full price as i know i wont make it to all the games again this year (approx 50 per game for the ones i know i can attend) because i already have things i am committed to, but at the same time if the price was right would probably take up a season ticket. However, the club needs to be mindful of existing season ticket holders and not upsetting the apple cart too much on that front as they have been paying good money for the 3-4 seasons i havent attended

Early bird renewal (not the dead early price) would be good, but would still work out around 40 per match for me but worth it if i get Saints, Wire, Leeds in the games i'm going to be able to go to

From a club perspective as apollo says, 1000 extra ST holders at the reduced price equates to approx 300k in the coffers before spend at the match / merchandise etc, so may well be worth the short term pain / noise that may get created if they did come up with some form of offer to get fans back

That's wat's wrong with the original post as well Brian
Comparing Apples and Oranges
Wigan's pricing like for like with the 3 other clubs I've chosen to compare them with in the past (Saints/Wire/Leeds) is still IMO the best.

There is a point to be made about the take up of a New ST's and Lapsed ST Holders, but it also has to be linked in with conversations about the renewal being the price it is to reward loyalty, and if lapsed ST holders could come back at anytime on cheaper prices then people will lapse them more regularly.

What I do agree with, is that 20/21/22 are out of the Norm exception Years due to COVID

And I do believe that anyone who lapsed in those years "Could" have been given an opportunity to reinstate at renewal prices.
And I agree there maybe should be some other alternative to just starting on the top prices for lapsed ST Holders from say 5 or 10 years ago - Let's say a mid way point between the 2 prices if previous ST held in the last say 5 or 10 years

But, and I know people think I'm always defending the club, the OP is very slanted to make the clubs ticket prices look bad when in effect like for like (As I have on previous threads shown with direct comparisons of ours and other clubs prices) ours are very good, especially auto renewal and renewal prices

Nothing wrong with defending our club as others including some of our supporters love to look at the down side first.

In 2000 and 2001 it was 10 pounds in the South stand and 12 pounds in the East and 14 pounds in the West. Now it it 25 pounds in the South and 28 Pounds in the East and West NO wonder crowds have been down in the last 10 seasons on average

You do realise that was 20 years ago and inflation/vat etc happens.

I could argue you're doing exactly what you're suggesting the original post does in comparing apples and oranges. The post is discussing full adult ST prices, not renewals. It was prompted by an article comparing full adult ST prices. It's slightly lazy critique to say a post discussing X is slanted because it hasn't mentioned Y.

I haven't done research on SL renewal prices - Il happily take your word for it that Wigan match up very well against other clubs in that area. Hopefully that means our existing core attendance is secure (not a given because of increased financial pressures but let's hope so). I also made the point that the club are doing a lot of good work off the field. Can't we also consider what the club could do differently to help improve things further? I understand the point that the price of renewals and new STs are linked to a degree - I'm not suggesting that loyalty shouldn't be rewarded. But from the perspective of new or lapsed fans, the relative cheapness of ST renewals isn't going to influence their decision to re-engage.

The post considered some potential reasons why crowds have declined over the last decade and what might help bring some numbers back (which would help the sustainability of the club and improve matchday atmosphere). What do you think about some of the other suggestions to re-engage / attract new and lapsed fans to the stadium? Or would you advocate a strategy of blaming customers for not buying the product? What's the path to increasing attendances and engaging/re-engaging new and lapsed fans?

Another point I was discussing with someone the other day is that as much as we all may have affection for the town of Wigan and obviously the rugby club, I think it's fair to say there are more glamorous and attractive places for young people to aspire to live in. I like the vast majority of my peers from school or college moved on to other places for university or jobs and settled there. What you don't want is for the pricing of new STs, match tickets and flexi tickets to be unaffordable when people return permanently or for visits. The same would be true for people who have disengaged due to Covid, poor entertainment value under Lam or any other reason.

The comparisons with pricing isnt always going to be straightforwards

i have quickly looked on Saints website as a benchmark (not to slate either club)

Saints have Gold, Silver and Bronze in the 2 main stands (380, 350 and 315) where as Wigan is 350 all across for an adult purchasing for the 1st time, so there are pro's and cons with both. My old seat in the East is 30 cheaper at Wigan than at Saints for the season, however if i chose to sit in the end block it would be 35 more expensive

Wigans renewals at 235 and 295 compare well v 301 for Saints (so if you renew early you are getting a massive benefit)

Saints clearly have the benefit of being able to offer a standing season ticket too (280 full price / 226 for renewal), so for less than 17.50 per match you can watch the champions play at home which is clearly very good value for money)

It is a good discussion to be having.One of the things i commented on a few years ago was ticket pricing. Its difficult as we want to watch a professional sport, but not be paying for. There is a tipping point where i thought that over 20 (going back about 5-6 years when i made the comment) was a point where i felt that fans would start to think about it. Some prices are closer to 30, even standing at poor grounds away from home (Cas, Wakey). At the end of the day we are predominantly a Northern working class sport, so prices need to reflect that, but equally we cant have it all ways and then complain about standards if we arent prepared to pay for it