@cumbria-viking I'll explain this for you as simply as I can
1. Let's say we have 2000 ST holders and on a matchday, we sell an additional 400 tickets. The club will announce the attendance as 2400, as that is how many tickets they have sold. However, 150 people don't attend.
Domestic emergencies, summer holidays, illness or travel issues lead them to not coming the game, so the real attendance is 2250. This is the figure the club by law has to inform the HSE of, no ifs no buts.
2. In the Reimagining RL proposals points breakdown you receive points for your average attendance. Your average attendance is based on "people who attend the games in person". That is what the criteria states.
Thus, it is the actual number of people in the ground and not the number of tickets sold that is the figure that counts. That is a number that no administration in their right mind would falsify due to the severe legal repercussions of doing so.
Hope that explains it.
What is the source of this info?
This came up on a NEBOSH course I did a few years ago, they also said the local authority who issues the safety certificate for the stadium will get figure too.
Interesting that Rowley and Salford are unhappy with the IMG table.
Iirc they stayed operational on an almost annual 'architect's impression' of what their new grounds would look like, along with Wakefield!!!!
@sandgroper They would have scored better on this new IMG criteria if still at the Willows, a stadium similar to Cas and Wakefield.
The only SL side in Manchester, city status with a massive population catchment area. Modern stadium, play off place in the SL table but 12th and only just stayed ahead of Toulouse. On the downside no rich benefactor to add to the balance sheet, small crowds and not the primary tenants (Sale Sharks are) The 4th placed team in the league 0.5 points and 1 place from relegation.
Am I imagining this, but it seems that you lost a point with IMG because your car park isn't big enough? What a ridiculous decision and I feel for you lot. As EVERYONE says, what is wrong firstly in rating clubs on say their last 4 or 5 years performances, recruitment processes etc. This IMG farce WILL pass when the RFL come across another crutch to lean on.
Or Sky will back out and the RFL will appeal to supporters to buy the game back and support the teams!!!!!!!
The RFL officials will, of course, taken their £200k retirement payout before the trouble starts!!!
@sandgroper Salford, since the departure of the Doctor is what we should aspire to be. A club mainly run by a local group who punch above their weight and have good coaching and player recruitment.
@widnes77 we had the opportunity to be just like that until James Rule came in and ripped the club apart
Just a thought but, if we have lost £22,000 due to errors in the IMG scores, shouldn't we demanding the money back and not have to wait until next year for the scores to be corrected? Did we actually get any increased funding for finishing in the top 6?
I understand that IMG are being paid over £400,000 a year on a 10 year contract with the RFL, to oversee a reduction in the Sky money and produce a flawed spreadsheet. Is that value for money and how an earth did clubs outside the SL circle vote for this? IMG are defending their position by saying the they only make recommendations for RFL to consider and make decisions.
It is clear that this grading system is aimed at benefitting only those so called "big" clubs in SL, whose owners are getting worried at the amount they are having to put in each year to bail those clubs out.
There is no chance that those "big" clubs in SL will agree to increase the number of clubs in SL until after the current deal with Sky ends in 2026 (?) and only then, if there is a substantial increase in the money from Sky to meet the demands of those clubs. There will be little or no increase in the central funding for clubs outside SL. Maybe fans of those clubs outside SL should show some solidarity, by opting out of watching SL on Sky next season, to highlight that the game does exist outside the so called SL.
Personally, clubs like Widnes should simply aim to provide a winning team and play decent rugby to entertain their fans in the Championship and League 1; and lay aside any SL ambitions for the time being, or until teams can be promoted or relegated by way of performance on the pitch. They should all opt out of the grading system and tell the RFL where they can stick their spreadsheet.
Why should any club spend money they can ill afford, to build a bigger car park that will not be needed; or provide extra seating for journalists who don't come to games anyway; or provide electronic advertising boards that will not be used; or go to lengths to fiddle the figures on attendances and on-line hits (?) just to get a few more points on a dodgy spreadsheet; or spend money on a smaller ground just to improve a few points on attendances (without actually increasing attendances!!); or rely on a well heeled supporter to bail them out each year on ever increasing losses; or arrange some short-term loans to fiddle an improvement on the balance sheet, to earn a better score on financial sustainability?
The idea to encourage clubs to improve facilities and engage with their local fan base, whilst being financially viable, is good and all clubs should be aiming for this. It did not need the RFL to pay £400,000 a year to a marketing company to come up with this idea or maybe even a long-term plan to improve the game as a whole and not just SL.
Widnes seem to be planning well for next season, whilst also balancing the books, and hopefully can build on this season's improvement and look for further success in 2025. Let's forget SL ambitions for now and just enjoy watching our team in 2025 and beyond.
The big clubs in SL aren't going to be "big" for much longer anyway. Most are losing millions each year, they won't be able to do that for too long.
I read all this IMG nonsense and it just makes me shake my head in dis-belief.
The sport has continued to believe its own propaganda for far too long. It is the Emperor's New Clothes, and this pulling the wool over peoples eyes has just got to stop or the game really is doomed.
How on earth did rugby league manage to get itself into such a pickle?!!
And does anyone have a clue about what is going on?
The game stumbles from one crisis to another and must now be the laughing stock of the sporting world, if it isn't already.
The only saving grace, is that RL is such small beer (its strength not its weakness by the way), that the sports short-comings are now generally missed (or ignored) by the media and almost everyone else meaning there is at least some damage limitation, but oh what a mess the game is in!
Is it too much to ask for a return to first principles with some honesty and what happens on the pitch rather vthan off it being the main criteria, rather that this sideshow of nonsense that currently exists and which is bringing the game to its knees.
Maybe we need to borrow a 'Donald Trump'ism' from across the pond?
How about "Make Rugby League Great Again" ?!!!!
It could catch on!!
The Board should just concentrate now on what goes on on the pitch. The IMG ratings don't affect the game below SL, unless you are knocking on the 15pts mark. We are miles below this, and it looks to be unachievable until at least 2031. I predict by this time, IMG will be a distant memory, as come next June, 6 clubs or so will have their 'cues on the rack' waiting, jeopardy free, to safely 'go again' in 2026. SL crowds will drop, the usual suspects will sweep up the trophies on offer, and the big wheel of RL will start turning again. Before you know it, the Middle 8s will be back, with a million pound game (probably only worth half that now).
WVRLFC should just spend what they can on the squad, progress as best as they can, hopefully putting more bums on seats. Forget big screens etc, get up that league and let the Bradford's & York's worry about chasing the not-so-holy grail of SL. Getting to a Championship GF or another 1895 Wembley gig will do for me.
#UpTheChemicalVikings
Paulie xx
uThe Board should just concentrate now on what goes on on the pitch. The IMG ratings don't affect the game below SL, unless you are knocking on the 15pts mark. We are miles below this, and it looks to be unachievable until at least 2031. I predict by this time, IMG will be a distant memory, as come next June, 6 clubs or so will have their 'cues on the rack' waiting, jeopardy free, to safely 'go again' in 2026. SL crowds will drop, the usual suspects will sweep up the trophies on offer, and the big wheel of RL will start turning again. Before you know it, the Middle 8s will be back, with a million pound game (probably only worth half that now).
WVRLFC should just spend what they can on the squad, progress as best as they can, hopefully putting more bums on seats. Forget big screens etc, get up that league and let the Bradford's & York's worry about chasing the not-so-holy grail of SL. Getting to a Championship GF or another 1895 Wembley gig will do for me.
#UpTheChemicalVikings
Paulie xx
Top post I fully agree with you. Just to see a winning team and I also think this IMG bullshit will go in a few years time.