I spent most of the second half in the North Stand this afternoon, enjoying the excellent atmosphere supplied by the Wigan supporters. What I noticed though was that the apparently inferior East Stand was perhaps 1/3 fuller than the West Stand. This move has been a waste of time IMO. It was a big crowd today, the East Stand would have been rocking if everyone stayed in it, rather than deserting it.

It would have been rocking if it had been witnessing a competitive game. And it would have rocked even more so with three stands occupied. What dampened the atmosphere today was the sense that the game was over prematurely, and it would have been dampened even more if we'd all been in the east stand.There's nothing more guaranteed to kill an atmosphere than watching your team struggle against the background of a vast expanse of empty stand opposite.

glad you have yr opinion listy, i hate the east stand always have, MY game experience win or lose has been improved by them re opening the west stand simple

heard the attendance was 4,423 is that right??

Thats what it was reported as in

I think the atmosphere is much better with three sides open. Everyone who supports any club in any sport has their favourite spot at their home ground. I'm going to The Oval to watch cricket today, and no doubt there will be some people choosing to sit on the farthest boundary, miles away from the wicket, when they could get much closer to the action on the other side of the ground; I've no idea why they do this, it baffles me, but each to their own.

The fullest I've sever seen the East Stand was at the Melbourne game, when it was the only stand open and almost full to capacity, and the atmosphere was totally flat.

You assume that the crowd would have been the same with the west stand closed. It wouldn't.

Exactly! If the West Stand had been closed an extra thousand people would have packed out the "rocking" East Stand, and would have cheered the "Mighty Quins" to a magnificent win!

It's a real shame about the attendances the Quinns have been getting . The "Quinn's Experience" is the best day out in Rugby League by a country mile.
The amount of effort the people at the Stoop put in to make it a great day is fantastic . Thanks to all for a great day. (regardless of the score)

The atmosphere in the east was flat on saturday as well. Completely dead. Wigan fans must have been wondering what on earth was going on

I think we are in a zombie zone at the moment. It is difficult to commit to a concept that will change its name in three months time, and you know that the team is almost certain to lose badly. A lot of support is about belief and it is difficult to believe in Quins RL at the moment, it is more impressive how the hard core keep turning up. We are the church suffering at the moment, and if that is your mindset it is hard to go bananas. Any fool can support a winning side.

You know of people who came to the game solely on the basis that the West Stand was open?

Some of the best atmospheres I have experienced were in the early stages of games, when both teams are in it. We were competitive for most of the first half, yet the East Stand was silent and I only heard one "London, London" chant coming from the West. Nobody getting behind the team, nothing.

With regards to having an empty stand opposite, don't tell that to any of the pro London Broncos @ Griffin Park band of supporters. In fact, I'd actually tend to side with them on that one - there were some fantastic occasions atmosphere-wise with a single packed stand at Griffin Park.