The achievement follows some well targeted social media engagement by general manager Sharon Arrow and her team since the announcement of the city hosting the first Super League game outside Europe.

It follows the recent success of her idea to activate the car park at Steelers Club into an outdoor recreational area when the Elton John concert was held at the same venue.

Ms Arrow decided to actively engage with Wigan and Hull fans on social media after hearing about the game coming to Wollongong while attending a Manly vs St George Illawarra game at WIN Stadium on July 30.

“At the back of my mind was there was a real possibility for the Steelers Club to be a little bit more than just the club across the road,” she said.

As momentum grew Ms Arrow thought with the club’s long proud association with Rugby League it would be remiss of her for it not to have an active part in engaging English fans. Then it was just a matter of how to get in touch with them.

“I thought we want to get these people to come into our club not just on game day. We decided we needed to provide a special membership for the travelling contingent. I was browsing around on Facebook one night and typed in “Wigan Hull game” and all of a sudden I saw the Wigan Facebook page”.

After Destination Wollongong’s Mark Sleigh said it was a great way to engage travelling fans they had a brain storm and then asked one staff member, Georgie Brooker, to project manage the special membership offer.

“It is our duty as a club to let our staff blossom in an area they are passionate about. Georgie grabbed the bull by the horns and we have put together a membership pack that includes a stubby holder and a commemorative t-shirt and a card with a tag line saying “the first Pint is on us”. It is free to sign up for those people travelling from overseas. When they arrive they get their pack. And on their card they have $10 credit every day. What we want to do is get them in, shout them their first drink, and then hopefully they will have a meal. We want to show them some appreciation for coming to our little town.”

Ms Arrow thought about putting on some warm beer but then decided it was better to give them the local Aussie experience.

As of Friday 448 Wigan and Hull fans who had signed up in response to a flyer being posted on a Wigan and Hull Facebook page created for the travelling fans. The souvenier shirt has Steelers branding across the bottom.

“We also want the shirts and memorabilia to be something they can wear proudly back in their home towns,” she said.

Ms Arrow said some three Wigan and Hull fans who visited the club during a tour hosted by Destination Wollongong last week had already signed up as temporary members.

When they were at the Steelers the visit just happened to coincide with Ian Millward  and Shaun Timmins having lunch and the Dragons were having a conference upstairs.

“The fans were blown away that they were all so accessible. They had a good chat with them and Paul McGregor was here too,” she said.

Ms Arrow said the staff at Steelers were getting excited about the game now being less than a month away. She is also aware of how many English fans are already rating out clubs and pubs on social media. And she thinks the offer the Steelers Club is preparing to deliver will really impress them.

“Let me tell you I don’t know if there is anywhere in town that is going to sell you a Happy Hour beer between 4.30 and 7.30pm on a Friday for $3.20 or an espresso martini for $6.25,” she said.

Hull fan Julie Harper said during a tour of Wollongong last week that she thought the ground was sensational and a “far better away fixture than a wet windy game at Wigan. We loved Steelers too. Great bar and both sets of fans will love it before the game for a catch up and singalong. We had breakfast at a beach cafe this morning that was excellent. Good view. We are planning a couple of nights maybe more. We will come to watch the players on Wednesday. We are doing the Lunch on Friday as Peter Sterling is a Hull legend from back in the 80’s. I have seen him playing in some great games for us and the lunch is for such a good cause.”

Mrs Harper said Hull and Wigan fans may be rivals on the field but they support each other apart from that and she thinks the game will be a sell out with more than 5000 fans coming from England.

“Wollongong is in for a treat that week by both sets of fans. The town will be painted black and white and cherry and white. And with what Mark Sleigh and his team have put together the real winner will be The Gong,” she said.

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