Leeds crowds remain strong
Leeds remain the best supported club in Super League with their average attendance dropping less than 1% in 2016.
On the field the Rhinos have struggled, with the 2015 champions destined for the Middle 8s.
But in terms of crowds they remain healthy with an an average attendance of 15,828 for their eleven home games in 2016.
The average is just 85 people down from the 2015 winning campaign,
The aggregate attendance totaled 174,110 with an average of 15,828 making the Rhinos the best supported team in Super League for the fourth successive season.
Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive, Gary Hetherington, said, “We are delighted to have maintained our fan base throughout what has been our most challenging season to date and I would like to thank and pay tribute to the fans themselves who have continued to support the team home and away this season.
“We have also attracted new fans, primarily through our engagement with community based projects and I would like to thank all our staff and our colleagues at Leeds Rhinos Foundation who have done a terrific job.
“We work hard to create a very enjoyable and vibrant match day experience for all fans and this was exemplified by our Armed Forces game last Friday with so much activity on and off the field for fans to enjoy.
“One of the biggest challenges that face all professional sports clubs is maintaining and developing support when results on the field are not going your way.
“In a salary cap sport, it is evitable that a run of injuries can disrupt the best laid plans however our supporters have continued to believe in this group of players and that has been a key factor in turning our season around.
“We still have a major task on our hands in the Super 8s but hopefully the team can continue their good form this Thursday at Hull KR and secure four home games in The Qualifiers.
“We then look forward to welcoming some old friends back to Headingley Carnegie and saying farewell to the South Stand over the coming months.:
Subject to planning permission, the South Stand is set to be demolished this close season having been built in 1930.
During the construction work in 2017, capacity at Headingley Carnegie will be restricted to just over 13,000.