Michael Brown on Venues, Growth & Crowds

[morningstar]

RLWC 2017 chief executive Michael Brown has given an interview with news....

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...papua-new-guinea/story-fn2mcuj6-1227562395236

SYDNEY’s century-long stranglehold on rugby league is slowly but surely loosening.
Just days after an all-Queensland NRL grand final, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that rugby league outposts Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin have begun top-level negotiations to host 2017 World Cup games.

Three World Cup Tests were allocated to Port Moresby in PNG, while 11 provinces in New Zealand have also expressed a desire for matches.

RLWC 2017 chief executive Michael Brown revealed the enormous interest from three countries for the looming event.

Brown, CEO of the 2015 Asian Cup soccer tournament, an ex-general manager of Cricket Australia and former Hawthorn Football Club CEO, said: “We have been approached by every state and territory in Australia. Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania, Melbourne, ACT and Darwin, they want to have a chat — everyone is interested.

“We have to sift through those. We only have 28 games to allocate but if it is truly a national sport, we have to hear those messages and make sure we get games out there to the people.

“On Tuesday, we addressed the 11 councils, State Governments and Central Governments in New Zealand. Interest in the game is significant.



“There will be a process where we work out who is interested, what can they do, what do they want to do, does it conflict with other events.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the enthusiasm to host what will be biggest sporting event in 2017. We saw the success of the cricket World Cup across each side on ‘The Ditch’.”

“We need to lift the profile of the event. The event needs to grow, the event needs to get bigger and compete on the stage of the rugby World Cup, cricket World Cup, the FIFA World Cup. We’ve got to think beyond our borders. The Asian Cup, which I was involved with, was broadcast to over one billion people across the world. We saw record crowds.”

Perhaps Brown’s biggest test will be attracting crowds. Certainly Australian NRL fans tend to focus on summer sports once the grand final concludes.

Asked how he would ensure strong crowd numbers, Brown said: “A number of ways, people will come to watch international sport, so making sure that the athletes are playing on the best pitches and the best facilities.

“For me, the key to any event is that you’ve got to engage communities. It will be about engagement, consultation and making sure this is a celebration of sport. If this is the Greatest Game of All, we have to make it that and celebrate that. We will see packed-out houses.”

Brown said he immediately accepted his new role in rugby league.

“It’s a game that I am very passionate about,” he said. “What I saw on Sunday night (NRL grand final) was a remarkable sporting event.”

The 2017 World Cup will be played among 14 nations between October and December.

 

[ucantseeme]

The 2008 RLWC was a success so a repeat dose should do fine. The only worry with crowds will be Sydney for any games not involving AUS v NZ/ENG but otherwise should be a winner.

IMHO 14 teams is too many, 10 or 12 better.

 

[adamkungl]

So Groups A and B will have 6 games each, groups B and C 3 games each, plus 3 inter-group-C-D games. Then 7 finals.

I'd expect/hope we see something like this.

Group A played in NZ:
Group A featuring NZ and Samoa. NZ's 2 higher ranked games played in Auckland and Wellington, the other 4 games played in regional cities.

Group B played in Aus major cities.
Group B featuring Aus and England.
Aus 2 highest ranked games played in Sydney SFS and Brisbane Suncorp.
Aus 3rd game played in Melbourne.
Eng remaining 2 games played in Perth.
Final game played in Adelaide.

Group C and D
9 games. Likely to feature PNG, Scotland, USA, Tonga, Italy, Lebanon.
3 games in PNG.
1 game in Darwin and 2 in North QLD.
1 at Penrith, 1 at Parra, 1 at Central Coast.

Finals:
QF1: A1 v D - (likely to feature NZ) Auckland
QF2: B1 v C - (likely to feature Aus) Perth
QF3: A3 v B2 - Sydney
QF4: A2 v B3 - Brisbane


SF1: QF1 v QF4 (likely to feature NZ) Melbourne
SF2: QF2 v QF3 (likely to feature AUS) Brisbane

GF: Sydney

So not incl the final...
Kangaroos (likely) play in Brisbane twice, and Sydney Melbourne and Perth once each.
Kiwis play 2 in Auckland 1 in Wellington 1 regional NZ and 1 Melbourne.
England are mostly based in Perth, PNG in Port Moresby

 

[adamkungl]

Clearer example of the above, results based on the seedings ive given them (boring, I know, but for examples sake)

A - NZ
NZ v Samoa -Auckland
Ireland v France -Dunedin
NZ v Fra -Wellington
Sam v Ire -Hamilton
NZ v Ire -Christchurch
Sam v Fra -Whangerei

B - Aus
Aus v Eng -Sydney SFS
Fiji v Wales -Adelaide
Aus v Fiji -Bris Suncorp
Eng v Wales -Perth
Eng v Fiji -Perth
Aus v Wales -Melbourne AAMI

C - PNG D - Aus
PNG v USA -Port Moresby
Tonga v Lebanon -Penrith
Scotland v Italy -Central Coast
PNG v Tonga -Port Moresby
USA v Italy -Cairns
Scotland v Lebanon -Parra
PNG v Scotland -Port Moresby
USA v Tonga -Darwin
Italy v Lebanon -Penrith

Finals
A1 v D NZ v Scotland in Auckland
B1 v C Aus v PNG in Perth
B2 v A3 England v France in Sydney
A2 v B3 Samoa v Fiji in Brisbane

NZ v Samoa in Melbourne
Aus v Eng in Brisbane

Aus v NZ in Sydney

 

[Burns]

I like that you've split the three groups into playing out '3 areas'. Whilst I see the attraction of having England play out of Perth, it would be a real financial burden on the number of fans who travel from UK if they have to fly to either Melb/Bris/Syd.

I would have Newcastle over the Central Coast for anything. Dubious about how decent Darwin or Cairns would be. NZ should host at least a semi, if not the final as well.

 

[ucantseeme]

I think they will do the SUPER POOL with AUS, NZ, ENG in the same pool with some unlucky punching bag nation that can field professional players (e.g Samoa) and the top 3 progress to the finals and also have a NOT-SO-SUPER POOL with all the others fighting for 1 spot in the finals.

So after the pool stages you go into the semi-final:

AUS vs PNG?
NZ vs ENG

Final: AUS vs NZ

The goal being to avoid blowout scores and thus affect tournament credibility like the 2000 RLWC.

 

[adamkungl]

The format will be identical to 2013, 2 super-ish pools where 3 progress and 2 other pools where the winner progresses. It would be fairly insane to change such a good format.

To maximise early crowds I'd strongly suspect Aus and England will be in one and NZ and Samoa in the other.

 

[adamkungl]

I like that you've split the three groups into playing out '3 areas'. Whilst I see the attraction of having England play out of Perth, it would be a real financial burden on the number of fans who travel from UK if they have to fly to either Melb/Bris/Syd.

I would have Newcastle over the Central Coast for anything. Dubious about how decent Darwin or Cairns would be. NZ should host at least a semi, if not the final as well.

Newcastle is probably more likely over Central Coast yeah. Don't take anything I've said super specifically, it's an example with the main ideas in place.

Adelaide I could take it or leave it too tbh

Australia's a big place, if English fans want to come over they should be prepared for a bit of travel But it could be scheduled so England's first 2 games are in Perth, then over to Sydney for game 3 and finals.

 

[Burns]

Its exciting that we are starting to get firm information about where games could possibly be.

The best step with venues would be how 2013 was run and let town/cities bid for the games. Ensures that the local gov/community will be willing to promote and attend games.

That said I think we can draw from the recent Cricket World Cup and Asian Cup. The Asian Cup was run along the entire East coast, whilst Cricket darted around the Aus capitals and around NZ. We can leave out regionals in Aus (except Canberra/Newcastle, whoever bids better) and place our games in Perth/Melb/Bris/Syd.

 

[Last Week]

It would be cool to see Fiji in Pool D and be able to host their matches in Fiji as well. Would be a strain on another team in both Pools C and D as they would play a game in each nation.

 

[morningstar]

Assuming all the favourites make it through the qualifiers I'd like to see the Pools looking like this.

Pool A
Australia
England - The old enemy, given.
France - Legitimate team full of French born players. Hard for the Aussie press to deride, might backfire if France disappoint on the big stage again.
Lebanon - Plucky underdogs with a groundswell of ex pat support in Australia. Unlike the 2000 world cup team they have the domestic comp in Lebanon to legitimise the team as well. An Australia v Lebanon game at ANZ has the potential to be huge.

Pool B
New Zealand
Samoa - 4N qualifiers so should be in a super pool. NZ v Samoa rivalry sells itself to the pacific island community in NZ.
Tonga - Again with the pacific island community in NZ this should be an easy sell.
Scotland - 4N qualifiers so should be in a super pool. Plucky underdogs so should resonate with NZers with Scottish heritage. Would do well in Christchurch, Dunedin or Invercargill.

Pool C
Papua New Guinea
Ireland - Won't have much travelling support so makes sense to stick them in PNG and a guaranteed sell out.
USA - Again not much travelling support so sticking them with PNG will negate that. Could have the Ireland v USA game in Townsville....there is a US base army base around there no?

Pool D - Had trouble with this pool but with the heritage and expat communities from Fiji and Italy in Australia they should be able to get some decent crowds.
Fiji
Italy
Wales

Again assuming all goes to plan we should end up with a quarter finals comprising:-

Australia v Tonga
New Zealand v France
England v PNG
Samoa v Fiji

 

[Last Week]

Clearer example of the above, results based on the seedings ive given them (boring, I know, but for examples sake)

A - NZ
NZ v Samoa -Auckland
Ireland v France -Dunedin
NZ v Fra -Wellington
Sam v Ire -Hamilton
NZ v Ire -Christchurch
Sam v Fra -Whangerei

B - Aus
Aus v Eng -Sydney SFS
Fiji v Wales -Adelaide
Aus v Fiji -Bris Suncorp
Eng v Wales -Perth
Eng v Fiji -Perth
Aus v Wales -Melbourne AAMI

C - PNG D - Aus
PNG v USA -Port Moresby
Tonga v Lebanon -Penrith
Scotland v Italy -Central Coast
PNG v Tonga -Port Moresby
USA v Italy -Cairns
Scotland v Lebanon -Parra
PNG v Scotland -Port Moresby
USA v Tonga -Darwin
Italy v Lebanon -Penrith

Finals
A1 v D NZ v Scotland in Auckland
B1 v C Aus v PNG in Perth
A2 v B3 Samoa v Fiji in Brisbane
B2 v A3 England v France in Sydney

NZ v England in Melbourne
Aus v Samoa in Brisbane

Aus v NZ in Sydney

I like it. Changes I would be tempted to do is;
A - I would put England in the pool with NZ, as the opening match. The matches have been fantastic between the two. The winner of this pool is also likely to get the easier semi final. And frankly, I'm sick of England vs NZ as the semi. 3 WC's in a row that's been the case and the last 2 WC's have had Aus vs Fiji as the other semi. Getting repetitive.

B - Pool Lebanon with Australia should they make it and have that match in Sydney. Taking advantage of the Lebanese population in Sydney. But I think they will put Australia with England. Ensures 2 good opening crowds with Aus vs Eng and NZ vs Samoa.

C & D will sort itself out with PNG hosting their matches. I would really like to see Fiji host their matches aswell but logistically this could be a nightmare.

I liked what the ICC did with the Cricket WC. Australia and NZ were guaranteed to host their matches in the quarter and semi finals, and that's how I think it should be here. Should Australia and NZ make it, they host their matches unless they play each other.
2 of the quarter finals played in NZ (one of which featuring NZ) and 2 in Aus (one of which featuring Australia). NZ and Australia both hosting a semi final each. Unless they play each other, home nation plays at home.

I'd say Eden Park is the favorite for the final, followed by Suncorp and Etihad. I wouldn't be too shocked to see Homebush as a smokey.

 

[Burns]

Suncorp or Eden for final easy. Not keen on Etihad simply due to the way the ground is. Homebush would require a mammoth amount of work to achieve a sell out, but if Old Tradford can, anything is possible.

 

[Last Week]

Suncorp or Eden for final easy. Not keen on Etihad simply due to the way the ground is. Homebush would require a mammoth amount of work to achieve a sell out, but if Old Tradford can, anything is possible.

Thats what I thought too. I'd worry about the apathy of Sydney siders. I wouldn't think we'd be able to fill ANZ.

A shame that the new Parra stadium won't be ready by then. It would be perfect for a few matches.

 

[adamkungl]

I like it. Changes I would be tempted to do is;
A - I would put England in the pool with NZ, as the opening match. The matches have been fantastic between the two. The winner of this pool is also likely to get the easier semi final. And frankly, I'm sick of England vs NZ as the semi. 3 WC's in a row that's been the case and the last 2 WC's have had Aus vs Fiji as the other semi. Getting repetitive.

B - Pool Lebanon with Australia should they make it and have that match in Sydney. Taking advantage of the Lebanese population in Sydney. But I think they will put Australia with England. Ensures 2 good opening crowds with Aus vs Eng and NZ vs Samoa.

C & D will sort itself out with PNG hosting their matches. I would really like to see Fiji host their matches aswell but logistically this could be a nightmare.

I liked what the ICC did with the Cricket WC. Australia and NZ were guaranteed to host their matches in the quarter and semi finals, and that's how I think it should be here. Should Australia and NZ make it, they host their matches unless they play each other.
2 of the quarter finals played in NZ (one of which featuring NZ) and 2 in Aus (one of which featuring Australia). NZ and Australia both hosting a semi final each. Unless they play each other, home nation plays at home.

I'd say Eden Park is the favorite for the final, followed by Suncorp and Etihad. I wouldn't be too shocked to see Homebush as a smokey.

I've actually got the finals the wrong way round there...

Will edit.

Semi finals if all results play out according to rank should be 1 v 4 2 v 3, which at current rankings are NZ v Samoa and Aus v Eng

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Sydney wouldnt fill the sfs never mind anz. And there would need to be about 40% kiwis there to even crack 40,000.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Seems to me there needs to be more games in Brisbane but Suncorp is too big. What are the options here not including the Gold Coast?

 

[paulmac]

Seems to me there needs to be more games in Brisbane but Suncorp is too big. What are the options here not including the Gold Coast?

The only alternative to Lang Park is Ballymore or at a stretch Dolphin Oval.

 

[Scubby]

Would the MCG be in with a shout for the final? Melbourne public pretty much turns out for anything. A big international event with a 2-year build up could get 90k.

 

[paulmac]

Would the MCG be in with a shout for the final? Melbourne public pretty much turns out for anything. A big international event with a 2-year build up could get 90k.

I would guess the MCG would be unavailable due to Cricket that time of year.