Sarries crowds down on average

By Jason Harris
May 15 2002

Saracens were the only club in the Zurich Premiership to see a drop in average attendance during the 2001-02 season. However, the Men in Black are still the fourth-largest crowd-pullers in the league.

Overall, the teams in the ZP posted a 21% increase, or 150,000 extra bums on seats on 2000-01.

Sarries averaged a 4th-best 8,388, down 834 on the previous saeason, still outselling more successful sides Harlequins (6,690) Wasps (5,861) and London Irish (7,254). Way out in front, of course, were champions Leicester Tigers with 15,384.

CEO Peter Deaking will hope that the arrival of new coach Buck Shelford, in a three-year deal announced on Sunday, will galvanise the squad into one that will challenge for trophies next season and with that, bring in more punters to nudge the average back in the the five-figure domain.