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2026 Crowd Watch

M

Mother Nature's Son

Juniors
Messages
1,926
i0Nic said:
Updated Round 1 predictions:

Knights vs Cowboys - 40k
Bulldogs vs Cowboys - 40k
Storm vs Eels - 24k
Wahs vs Roosters - 24k
Broncos vs Panthers - 47k
Sharks vs Titans - 12k
Manly vs Raiders - 17k
Dolpins vs Rabbitohs - 25k

Could be the biggest round ever if the rain doesn't continue in the weekend
Click to expand...
Bloody Sharks, that`s embarrassing for a near billion-dollar sport.
 
W

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
48,837
Mother Nature's Son said:
Will sure get a boost if the Fins can start to be premiership contenders, they`ll be as big as the Bronx, there`s obviously demand for top-level League teams in Brisbane.
Click to expand...
Broncs maybe 45k plus

Dolphins go from mid 20s to mid 30s would be good

Once they are pushing 40k then Ipswich will be right for team 21

Brisbane derbies will be epic

The Caxton and the beetson values will go through the roof. Shame nrl didn’t buy Caxton instead of uncle Nick
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
7,329
i0Nic said:
Ill believe it when I see it
Click to expand...
They did announce 14,320 against Souths and 13,727 against Warriors, so at least at the start of the year it was capable of holding more. For whatever reason the Week 1 Final was capped out at 12,842.
 
nko11

nko11

Juniors
Messages
935
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...ced-as-stadium-repairs-close-stands-top-tier/

Knights fans displaced as stadium roof repairs close stand's upper level​

Unsafe sections of an ageing grandstand at McDonald Jones Stadium will be shut for the entire NRL season, forcing the Knights to relocate members into new areas.​

The top tier of the Andrew Johns Stand on the eastern side of the ground will be closed from March until October while safety works are undertaken.

Capacity will be reduced at McDonald Jones Stadium and fans displaced while works are undertaken on the Andrew Johns Stand.

Venues NSW is working with the Newcastle Knights to relocate fans who would normally sit in that section for the NRL and NRLW seasons.

The Newcastle Herald understands it will take around 1200 seats out of action, reducing the ground's capacity of 30,000.

The works could also impact the remainder of the Newcastle Jets' A-League season.
Crowd numbers have swelled at Jets' home games this campaign with Newcastle unbeaten in eight outings to sit top of the A-League ladder.

If the Jets keep up the momentum, they could be in line to host the A-League grand final.
A crowd of 29,410 turned out for the A-League grand final, which the Jets controversially lost to Melbourne Victory in 2018, at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Last Sunday, 14,035 were in the stands as the Jets beat Macarthur 1-0.

Venue manager Dean Mantle said the temporary closure was required to ensure the eastern grandstand remained safe and operational for long-term use.

"We apologise to members and fans who will be relocated from the upper tier of the eastern grandstand this season," Mantle said.

"The entire roof and supports must be removed and replaced, including coating works to the structure.
"The partial closure will allow the works to be completed as quickly as possible and, once complete, we'll have a more accessible upper tier for all patrons."

The roof works are an addition to the upgrades required for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup, during which the Newcastle venue will play host to four pool matches.

The lower deck of the Andrew Johns Stand, which was opened in 2003, will remain open throughout the roof works.
The Knights launch their NRL season against the North Queensland Cowboys in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Newcastle's first home game comes in round three against the New Zealand Warriors on March 21.
"These upgrades represent a significant investment in the future of our club and our town, ensuring that McDonald Jones Stadium continues to be a place our members, players, and the broader Newcastle community can be proud of for generations to come," Knights chief Peter Parr said.

"This project is a major step forward for Newcastle and reflects the strength, growth, and ambition of our region."
The full house sign has gone up for Origin matches at McDonald Jones Stadium in the past two years.
The works will include a secondary lift, improving accessibility to the grandstand, and are part of part of Venues NSW's $25 million in fan-focused investments at McDonald Jones Stadium over the past two years.

---------------------------------
May effect some games - If Knights go well, will impact most games.
 
M

mccarthyj367

Juniors
Messages
72
nko11 said:
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...ced-as-stadium-repairs-close-stands-top-tier/

Knights fans displaced as stadium roof repairs close stand's upper level​

Unsafe sections of an ageing grandstand at McDonald Jones Stadium will be shut for the entire NRL season, forcing the Knights to relocate members into new areas.​

The top tier of the Andrew Johns Stand on the eastern side of the ground will be closed from March until October while safety works are undertaken.

Capacity will be reduced at McDonald Jones Stadium and fans displaced while works are undertaken on the Andrew Johns Stand.

Venues NSW is working with the Newcastle Knights to relocate fans who would normally sit in that section for the NRL and NRLW seasons.

The Newcastle Herald understands it will take around 1200 seats out of action, reducing the ground's capacity of 30,000.

The works could also impact the remainder of the Newcastle Jets' A-League season.
Crowd numbers have swelled at Jets' home games this campaign with Newcastle unbeaten in eight outings to sit top of the A-League ladder.

If the Jets keep up the momentum, they could be in line to host the A-League grand final.
A crowd of 29,410 turned out for the A-League grand final, which the Jets controversially lost to Melbourne Victory in 2018, at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Last Sunday, 14,035 were in the stands as the Jets beat Macarthur 1-0.

Venue manager Dean Mantle said the temporary closure was required to ensure the eastern grandstand remained safe and operational for long-term use.

"We apologise to members and fans who will be relocated from the upper tier of the eastern grandstand this season," Mantle said.

"The entire roof and supports must be removed and replaced, including coating works to the structure.
"The partial closure will allow the works to be completed as quickly as possible and, once complete, we'll have a more accessible upper tier for all patrons."

The roof works are an addition to the upgrades required for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup, during which the Newcastle venue will play host to four pool matches.

The lower deck of the Andrew Johns Stand, which was opened in 2003, will remain open throughout the roof works.
The Knights launch their NRL season against the North Queensland Cowboys in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Newcastle's first home game comes in round three against the New Zealand Warriors on March 21.
"These upgrades represent a significant investment in the future of our club and our town, ensuring that McDonald Jones Stadium continues to be a place our members, players, and the broader Newcastle community can be proud of for generations to come," Knights chief Peter Parr said.

"This project is a major step forward for Newcastle and reflects the strength, growth, and ambition of our region."
The full house sign has gone up for Origin matches at McDonald Jones Stadium in the past two years.
The works will include a secondary lift, improving accessibility to the grandstand, and are part of part of Venues NSW's $25 million in fan-focused investments at McDonald Jones Stadium over the past two years.

---------------------------------
May effect some games - If Knights go well, will impact most games.
Click to expand...
Says 1200 seats impacted. So capacity is still 28,500+. I'm sure the Knight will be fine.
 
D

drcmuch

Juniors
Messages
316
nko11 said:
May effect some games - If Knights go well, will impact most games.
Click to expand...
Taking 2023 when Knights finished 5th as a guide, a 28k ceiling would have impacted 2 late season games and a home final. Total of 4,000 fewer bums on seats (2,441 reg season, 1,548 final).
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
7,329
Daily Telegraph reporting that 34,000 are flying in for Vegas

On Sunday, the number of travelling fans will swell even further, setting new attendee records for Australia (20,000), the UK (10,000) and other non-US nations (4000)

Last two years there has been between 10K-16K locals attend. Assuming there isn't a huge drop off, we should be above 40K and likely closet to 45K.
 
G

Gobsmacked

First Grade
Messages
5,917
yakstorm said:
Daily Telegraph reporting that 34,000 are flying in for Vegas

On Sunday, the number of travelling fans will swell even further, setting new attendee records for Australia (20,000), the UK (10,000) and other non-US nations (4000)

Last two years there has been between 10K-16K locals attend. Assuming there isn't a huge drop off, we should be above 40K and likely closet to 45K.
Click to expand...
I'm predicting between 48 and 49k.
They'll make sure it beats last year, even if it means giveaway. All marketing is.. bigger every year.
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
7,329
Mother Nature's Son said:
Nah no chance @iONic is still predicting we might just scrape 35k.
Click to expand...
The lower two levels hold 40K on their own and there is less than 800 seats left on sale, plus we've been selling into every bay on Level 3. Add to that the NRL putting out that there will be 34,000 international attendees at the event, there's no way we're only getting to 35K tomorrow.
 
i0Nic

i0Nic

Juniors
Messages
1,432
PVL mentioned a couple days ago he’s confident it will be the biggest crowd yet. Based on that, the current sales map, the 34-36k reported international travellers, and probably a few hundred more sales leading up to the games … I’d estimate 48k attendance tomorrow.

Hopefully we actually see the vast majority of these in the stands come the bulldogs v dragons tv game and more atmosphere.

Last years long day of 4 games plus the momentum killing women’s blowout resulted in a lot of empty seats where tickets had been sold, hopefully won’t be the case this time around.
 
I

insert.pause

First Grade
Messages
7,010
Doesn’t look like too many aussies have turned up to watch the poms play, hopefully the poms don’t leave after their game.
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
7,329
insert.pause said:
Doesn’t look like too many aussies have turned up to watch the poms play, hopefully the poms don’t leave after their game.
Click to expand...
Knights v Cowboys game will possibly enjoy the largest crowd of the day. Similar to Magic Round, most people will stick around to watch 2 games.
 
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