Revealed: Eye watering money Leigh Leopards spend on pre-match entertainment

For the first time since 1986 Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens will not be featuring in the Challenge Cup Final as Leigh Leopards and Hull KR meet at Wembley instead.

Both teams are chasing a fairytale in the Challenge Cup Final but Leigh’s story is particularly amazing.

Derek Beaumont has helped the rise of Leigh throughout the years; and was the major driving force behind the rebrand from the Centurions to the Leopards this season.

This rebrand has not only changed the clubs look on the pitch, with a new Leopard print design on the kits, but it has also come with a change of feel around the club; namely the pre-match entertainment.

The owner has pumped huge sums of money into this aspect of the club. Speaking on the Bench podcast, Beaumont outlined the costs.

He also explained the cost of the new stage at the Leigh Sports Village.

“So obviously we built a stage there first off which you know needed to be, you know, it had to look classy not like the sort of scaffolding operation that you generally see.

“So to build something like that and leave that there, that’s a 50k thing, but it belongs to me. It’s fine, it’s just like stock. The important part of it is the PA system.

“So depending on what level of out you’ve got, so for example in round one that was a 12k set up, just for the PA wrinkle. I’ve got that into a 6k deal annually depending on the band that might be an uplift of a grand or two depending on the destiny so your base platform is like six grand for you for your PA system of the level that we get for a quality concert.

“Then the band I’m telling you someone like Scouting for Girls is 17k plus rider for the 50 minutes slot, Tapau 10k, easy as 12, if you’re going to like, Fratellis, you’re talking 35.”

These costs have born fruit though, which Derek believes has attracted new players to join the club.

In the past two seasons, the club have brought in plenty of exciting talent such as Lachlan Lam, Zak Hardaker and John Asiata. They have now clicked as a group, and find themselves in a Challenge Cup Final and third in Super League. Quite a jump for a newly promoted side.