Wigan to play at HOME Sunday 18th June .https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/05/23/challenge-cup-quarters-fixture-confirmation/

Wigan to play at HOME Sunday 18th June .https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/05/23/challenge-cup-quarters-fixture-confirmation/

Well done to the club for sorting out the dates so we could play at home in the C Cup.

No doubt the club have spoken to the experts (groundsmen), in sure they would have but just hope the pitch is physically okay by the time the game is played.

Don't get me wrong - it's good that the two clubs have been able to work together to make the stadium available (although I wonder whether the work may have been postponed due to the situation at Latics). It also saves us the inevitable barrage around renting a stadium etc.

But...these are the types of games that end up causing embarrassment in front of a national audience. The stadium won't be half full (we'd probably do well to get close to that) and the club looks ridiculous as a result. At least at stadiums half the size like Leigh or Warrington the optics are a little better. The other thing is that you end up losing most of the 'home advantage'. Whether its playoff games or cup games it seems to only be the hardcore supporters who buy tickets (i.e. the ones who attend home and away games). You then end up with games where the away fans outnumber the home fans (or come close to doing so).

Nobody says that when the Sydney Roosters play in a massive and largely deserted SCG, or similar. TV viewers are watching the game on the pitch, not the crowed.

The game in Oz doesn't need to try and promote itself and look for sponsorship etc etc. Over here we do, and big crowds for big games are a huge part of that.

So you'd rather have 60000 crowd in a 10,000 stadium rather than say 10,000 in a 25,000 stadium ?

How would having the game anywhere else other than at the DW increase the crowd???

We have people worried about "Optics", worrying whether the pitch will be ready in time (when the club will have undoubtedly scoped that I to their decision).

I'm just concentrating on, and hope the club is to, winning

We've had this discussion a million times

I didn't mention where the game is played, was just answering the comment about poor crowds in Oz. Apples and oranges that one in terms of where the two sports are at marketing/sponsorship/financial wise.

Some of the seats are cramped enough as it is at some grounds without 6 people in every one.

Difficult one really.

Realistically, getting 15k & that being a sell-out each week would make it a better atmosphere. I know the accountants will disagree, but I look at the Leigh (A) game earlier this year. As a fan, I'd prefer a ground felt full like that & the benefits of the atmosphere it tends to generate.

The club are doing loads and I genuinely tip my hat to them. The quickest way to raising attendances however would be to make it game night a must for any Wigan fan, causal or not. Atmosphere plays a huge part in that imo.