2007 Crowd Watch

[T to the T]

Upgraded Stadiums
Both English soccer and AFL realised that with modern stadiums they could attract a bigger crowd. AFL put $30m into building Telstra Dome for this reason and have some 4 teams playing home games there. They have the MCG. Swans and Brisbane have quality stadiums.

League hasnt done this yet. Newcastle has but Campbelltown, Leichardt, Manly, Kogarah, Cronulla havent. Ie, Melbournes Olympic Park is very run down and so struggles to get big crowds. Look what happened to Melbourne Victory, took games to the Dome and got an avg of 30,000. Also many of these reach capacity so an increase in crowds is limited by capacity constraints Manly cant increase their avg crowd by much as they have no more room.

I agree that some grounds need upgrading but I do feel that the AFL have severely hurt themselves in Melbourne with 9 (10 including some of Geelong's games at the Telstra Dome) clubs playing out of just 2, albeit world class, centralised stadiums. Just 2 stadiums for around 60% of the League, with only 6 stadiums being the home of the entire AFL! It's just a sad state of affairs. They have packed up shop and sold their soul IMO and a number of clubs are in a very vulnerable situation without their own ground to fall back on. If the NRL clubs could all develope their own quait 25-30K suburban grounds (Including Redfearn and Belmore) with Telstra Stadium being used for the blockbuster games, our sport will be doing very well... These suburban grounds create an identity and are a fortress for the home side!

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313370&highlight=no+suburban+grounds

^^^^^
Some opinions on the closure of one of the suburban grounds in the AFL

I agree with all your other opinions though!

 

[ouwet]

T to the T i don't agree with you... RL cannot keep playing at grounds that hold only 20000 with a large hill area! Maybe 20 years ago but time for RL to come with the times, we SHOULD NO LONGER BE A SURBURBAN competition... It's a National competition and should be played at centralised, modern stadiums!!! This will Increase away support as well!

 

[aarondoyle]

I agree that some grounds need upgrading but I do feel that the AFL have severely hurt themselves in Melbourne with 9 (10 including some of Geelong's games at the Telstra Dome) clubs playing out of just 2, albeit world class, centralised stadiums.

I agree that the clubs should stay where they are. THey seriously need to upgrade though, and most importantly work with the government/council to get easy and free public transport to all games.

I wish the NRL crowds were 'hurt' as badly as the AFL ones (30,000 average).

 

[bobmar28]

Just for people to have some facts

AFL crowds have for the first three rounds have increased by 22% according to Demetriou. I checked this and it is correct. So then i thought id check the NRL figures for its first 5 rounds.

2006 - Total = 617,995 Avg = 17,657

2007 - Total = 740,591 Avg = 18,514 Increase of 4.9%

Although so far crowds for NRL are up by 18.7% on 2006's avg for the season.

2006 - 15,601

2007 - 18,513

This is not supposed to be an NRL v AFL thing. Just thought some people would be interested.

Teams up on last years season avg;
Brisbane
Canberra
Cronulla
Manly
Melbourne
New Zealand
North Queensland
Penrith
Souths
Sydney

Teams struggling compared to last year
Canterbury-Bankstown
Newcastle
Parramatta
St-George
Wests

Thanks for the stats but can you use team nicknames

 

[Timmah]

Rivalry round concept works in some respects, not some others:

Souths v Roosters
Cowboys v Broncos
Raiders v Tigers
Penrith v Parramatta
Cronulla v St Geo Illa
Manly v Newcastle
Warriors v Storm

That leaves Bulldogs v Titans, which is hardly a rivalry... :?

I'm sure someone could come up with better, that's my best guess tbh

 

[ByRd]

And i dont thin the dogs are struggling. We averaged 18,000 last year and after 2 games this year we are just over 17,000. We have a big game against the tigers in 2 weeks times and a few blockbusters later on, our crowds will be fine.

 

[The Preacher]

Rivalry round concept works in some respects, not some others:

Souths v Roosters
Cowboys v Broncos
Raiders v Tigers
Penrith v Parramatta
Cronulla v St Geo Illa
Manly v Newcastle
Warriors v Storm

That leaves Bulldogs v Titans, which is hardly a rivalry... :?

I'm sure someone could come up with better, that's my best guess tbh

Manly v West Tigers looks a rivalry game to me, and Dogs v Auckland has become something of a rivalry with Pricey going there and Dogs taking home games over there.
Work something out with that Dodger, Preacher has faith in you !!;-)

 

[Timmah]

I reckon Titans v Broncos, Cowboys v Warriors, then Dogs v Storm is we're going to work it that way ;-)

 

[Tom Shines]

You could even go:
Souths v Tigers (1909, blah bah blah Broosky)
Bulldogs v Rorters (both cheating merkins allegedly)
Broncos v Cowboys (derby of sorts)
Dragons v Sharks (derby)
Eels v Panthers (derby)
Storm v Raiders (closest teams to each other)
Knights v Eagles (likewise)
Tits v Warriors

 

[Timmah]

2007 HOME CROWD AVERAGES AFTER ROUND 5

Three Games
*Gold Coast - 35,887
*South Sydney - 22,600
Penrith - 16,810
Sydney Roosters - 15,860
Cronulla - 15,345
Warriors - 13,862
Canberra - 12,842
St Geo Illa - 10,523

Two Games
Brisbane - 37,499
North Queensland - 21,637
Newcastle - 19,421
Bulldogs - 17,472
Melbourne - 13,191
Manly - 14,976
Wests Tigers - 16,736
Parramatta - 14,117

Overall
Brisbane - 37,499
*Gold Coast - 35,887
*South Sydney - 22,600
North Queensland - 21,637
Newcastle - 19,421
Bulldogs - 17,472
Penrith - 16,810
Wests Tigers - 16,736
Sydney Roosters - 15,860
Cronulla - 15,345
Manly - 14,976
Parramatta - 14,117
Warriors - 13,862
Melbourne - 13,191
Canberra - 12,842
St Geo Illa - 10,523


* Gold Coast average includes two games played at Suncorp Stadium
* South Sydney average includes one game played at Bluetongue Stadium Gosford.


The figures are the same in the overall column, I just combined the two lists to show who's best and worst.

 

[legend]

Parramatta Stadium needs an upgrade as well to at least 30k seated. It's a great ground but it's over 20 years old now and is in major need of an upgrade.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Any Rivalry round would have to include Parra V Manly , its arguably the biggest behind souths V easts .

Souths V Easts
Parramatta v Manly
Gold coast v Brisbane
North Queensland V Wests tigers
Canterbury V Newcastle
Penrith V Canberra ( see , 90' , 91' grand finals)
Cronulla V St george Illawarra
Warriors V Melbourne

 

[Timmah]

Dogs/Newcastle is a good rivalry but not as strong as some other we have... new v manly is strong lately as is parra v dogs.

 

[t-ba]

"The game seems to be going well, I CBF going, they'll get a good crowd anyway" etc.

Most people aren't tragic RL fans on LU though, and don't give a f*ck about the financials of the club let alone attendance targets.

Bigger crowds generate a bigger buzz which generates bigger attendances.

 

[Timmah]

Hope so

 

[Timmah]

http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/news1508.asp

EELS VS BULLDOGS TICKETS
17 April 2007

Due to the heavy demand, the Parramatta National Rugby League Club wishes to advise that NRL season passes (yellow) and NRL School/Junior passes will not be accepted to gain entry into Parramatta Stadium for Sunday's (22 April) match against the Bulldogs.

This decision has been reached following an examination of the heavy demand for the few tickets that remain on sale.

The only passes that will be recognized by Parramatta Stadium event staff are NRL players and officials passes which are non transferable and NRL accredited media passes.

The Club wishes to urge all fans that do plan to attend Sunday's match to pre purchase their tickets from all Ticketek agencies in order to avoid disappointment.

:crazy:

 

[The Fruit Pickers]

As doglyf said with the Bulldogs crowd, I don’t think the Tigers are struggling either, they have an average of 16,736, they got 17,566 to Campbelltown on the back of a 0-4 start, that’s not struggling.

And on rivalry, always thought Wests Tigers v Bulldogs was a big one for us, always a good game, always a great atmosphere, always a lot to play for and always a bumper crowd, and a great rivalry between the fans and neighbours. Manly v Wests was a Wests Magpies thing, not so much a Wests Tigers rivalry.

 

[nqboy]

Well just thinking about it... Maybe the NRL can have a "Bring your office to the Footy" night (For an all sydney game on friday night at Telstra or SFS)??? Encourage employers and there workers to head out to the footy with cheaper bulk tickets and advertise the F... out of the concept???? Just a thought.

There's your problem right there.

 

[Timmah]

NRL, advertising? :lol:

 

[nqboy]

Its like when a new american show is promoted on the tv. "Over 15million people watched its debut in america!"

To me, that's just a great big flag that tells me I need to be doing something else when it comes on.