2025 Crowd Watch

[League Unlimited News]

 

[titoelcolombiano]

That's not at all true and we should never wish that not to be possible.
I love that the Broncos get good crowds and to a lesser extent the Dolphins but it's apples and oranges...

What if the Bulldogs were the only team in Sydney for the last 30 years, always successful with a half a dozen premierships .. had the best winter weather, the best stadium for Rugby league in the world located walking distance from central station...

This is literally the Broncos.. it's great! But let's not pretend that all the football gods in the known universe don't smile on them.

So I'll tell you how the Bulldogs average better than the Broncos:
Suncorp stadium gets redeveloped and games are moved to the gabba, the Broncos sit bottom of the table, weather in also unkind along with track work...
Bulldogs win a Premiership and play out of a brand new Accor stadium and benefit from weather being kind.
Broncos average 25k
Bulldogs average 35k

It's not a stretch but hopefully another 60k for the Dogs Eels in 2 weeks!

I want ALL crowds to increase!!!
This us vs them nonsense isn't helpful, let's all get to the games!

Like the past guy you missed the point. I'm not arguing the Broncos don't have an advantage, of course they do.

There were claims the Bulldogs would outdraw the Broncos this year. You only have to go back a few pages after the 65k game to see that. That's clearly not going to happen

 

[eels4lifee]

Wasn't this sold out long time ago?

 

[newc18]

The main pushback from the broadcasters around Origin/Rep weekends was always around ratings, with Channel 9 complaining the most about losing two ratings time slots.

Considering that Women's Origin has now grown into a product that draws more than draws 900K+ (which is more than a standard NRL match), surely the concept can be discussed again?

Could literally be:
Friday: Women's Origin
Saturday: Internationals
Sunday: Men's Origin

What the internationals looks like is up for debate. I personally feel a Tri-Series between NZ, Tonga & Samoa would be a ratings winner. Biggest issue though is eligibility and getting the balance right so Origin & the Pacific national teams aren't too heavily hit.

I like the idea of NZ inviting England over for a game or two during the Origin period.

Would 3 weeks be long enough for them to fly over and get back with enough rest?. You could alternate who hosts each year if you want. Australia gets the benefits of State of Origin but NZ and England get nothing? Its not exactly fair.

 

[Wb1234]

Like the past guy you missed the point. I'm not arguing the Broncos don't have an advantage, of course they do.

There were claims the Bulldogs would outdraw the Broncos this year. You only have to go back a few pages after the 65k game to see that. That's clearly not going to happen

The only person that said it was an idiot journo

Dogs are zero chance of getting an average of 38k or more

 

[League Unlimited News]

Gosford crowd probably not going to be much chop tomorrow with the Central Coast now directly impacted by floods.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Wasn't this sold out long time ago?

Yep, was sold out by March, but a few seats (maybe like 500-800) held back for promotors/sponsors, and packages, were released earlier in the week.

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[SouthsCountry]

With the weather and Origin, better than I expected. Pass.

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Reasonable.

I'm interested to see what kind of crowd Penrith vs Parramatta draws next weekend.

 

[Steel Saints]

I hope that in the next tv deal, the NRL and broadcasters agree on a season reduction. Currently each team plays 24 games. NRL could reduce it to 23 per club. Each team would have eleven home matches and Magic Round is a neutral round.They could possibly afford to wth Perth and PNG coming in.

And in the week leading into Origin, like this week, just schedule three games ( Fri, Sat and Sun). Replicate it on another two occassions where Origin is scheduled. It will equate to nine games overall, a full round where origin players are unavailable.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Not sure how NRLW rates but if it's even slightly ok, men's origin period could be a time to pause the NRL and give the NRLW a bit of clear air.

Having said that, if NRLW ratings are awful then file this idea in the bin.

 

[newc18]

Not sure how NRLW rates but if it's even slightly ok, men's origin period could be a time to pause the NRL and give the NRLW a bit of clear air.

Having said that, if NRLW ratings are awful then file this idea in the bin.

I'm probably not the majority, but I'd much rather watch a round of NRLW over Origin affected rounds like this.

 

[nko11]

Not sure how NRLW rates but if it's even slightly ok, men's origin period could be a time to pause the NRL and give the NRLW a bit of clear air.

Having said that, if NRLW ratings are awful then file this idea in the bin.

Think they average around mid 200k's, so fair bit less than NRL fixtures. But alot of their fixtures are played at midday and they aren't really marketed. If you played them prime time on the 3 origin weekends to kick off the season, I think they would rate pretty well. Would have a flow on effect on the rest of their season as well. The NRL would have to put in some effort to get crowds in for them to make them feel like important fixtures, whether you do a couple of magic rounds maybe?

 

[RedVee]

Think they average around mid 200k's, so fair bit less than NRL fixtures. But alot of their fixtures are played at midday and they aren't really marketed. If you played them prime time on the 3 origin weekends to kick off the season, I think they would rate pretty well. Would have a flow on effect on the rest of their season as well. The NRL would have to put in some effort to get crowds in for them to make them feel like important fixtures, whether you do a couple of magic rounds maybe?

Maybe a good time to start their season, although I expect for a little while they’ll try to align the W Origin games with the Men’s. Especially if they are pausing the NRL at the same time.
The NRLW to start after that.

just guessing.

 

[Burns]

Worth noting for the Warriors game tomorrow, there will be an increased capacity due to the A League final being played. Mt Smart has has seating installed behind the tryline on the Northern Side, as well as up higher on that hill. I think I saw capacity will increase by 2,700 with the temporary seats - with an overall capacity of 29,000.

Now, with those seats behind the tryline - the Warriors don't normally have those as they have food trucks etc set up there. Kinda respect the commitment to having that area of the ground dedicated to overall experience of the ground, rather then increasing capacity given they've already sold out their next match against Penrith.

 

[newc18]

Worth noting for the Warriors game tomorrow, there will be an increased capacity due to the A League final being played. Mt Smart has has seating installed behind the tryline on the Northern Side, as well as up higher on that hill. I think I saw capacity will increase by 2,700 with the temporary seats - with an overall capacity of 29,000.

Now, with those seats behind the tryline - the Warriors don't normally have those as they have food trucks etc set up there. Kinda respect the commitment to having that area of the ground dedicated to overall experience of the ground, rather then increasing capacity given they've already sold out their next match against Penrith.

I'm surprised the Warriors haven't considered moving a game or two to Eden Park. You got to respect the Warriors for not looking for a quick buck.

 

[jim_57]

I'm surprised the Warriors haven't considered moving a game or two to Eden Park. You got to respect the Warriors for not looking for a quick buck.

Yes but they also play a home game in Australia every year for Magic round. Ideally they’d play all their games in NZ.

I’d like to see them play Anzac Day at Eden Park and see if they could sell it out.

 

[RedVee]

Yes but they also play a home game in Australia every year for Magic round. Ideally they’d play all their games in NZ.

I’d like to see them play Anzac Day at Eden Park and see if they could sell it out.

Union don’t play there?

 

[jim_57]

Union don’t play there?

Nothing this year or last at Eden Park.