What can the NRL do to improve crowds?
Is it linked to memberships? Sports crowds in Melbourne are.
Here in Melbourne the top AFL clubs have dramatically increased membership and crowds have gone through the roof. Collingwood & Hawthorn both have over 50K members and yesterday played to almost 80K.
A Storm membership is way too expensive compared to an AFL membership (an average reserved seat family package is almost 50p/c more).
As a result myself and many others do not buy a membership but just pick which games to see - therefore due to bad weahter
If the membership was better value, many more would join up and no doubt attend more matches, feel more a part of the club, etc.
I work most Saturdays so a five game package would be great.
How much is a basic reserved seat membership package for Sydney clubs?
Andrew Wilkie wants to change the pokie machine gambling limits and is now one of the 4 independents that will decide who governs this country. Whoever he sides with will likely enforce those changes and the effect on Rugby League will be huge.
I am mixed on gambling funding the game, but no one had the real foresight to move to club memberships in the 90's as there were other pressing matters. The way of supporting your club was always through the leagues club, unlike the AFL's structure. Now we're implementing that because we know that revenue stream will just keep declining.
The reason NRL memberships are more expensive is primarily because less people attend than AFL. This though has that negative feedback.
The NRL needs to plan its blockbuster matches before the season starts and lock in those dates and times. All major rivalries need to be guaranteed played twice, home and away.
Each club could then have five to six locked in home matches that people can pay for at the start of the year. These are the matches that regularly draw crowds and TV audiences - Eels v Bulldogs etc. It would also mean that each team is guaranteed a minimum number of Free To Air TV exposure.
People can therefore buy tickets for these games individually or as a set at the start of the season and plan months in advance.
As the remaining games are still flexible to ensure FTA top of the table clashes, it won't affect the television income.
The more BIG EVENT games there are and the more they're promoted, the more people will go. It's about building the culture of attendance so it becomes a way of life. Realistically speaking, Sydney Derbies should be drawing 20,000+ and regular sell outs.
Members should also have an increased discount on other games that they aren't already ticketed for. The main reason AFL draws the crowds it does is because it has a high percentage of fans who have 6-9 games+ memberships. Most League members have 3 games.
So 3 keys:
1. Scheduling
2. Culture
3. Memberships
The potential crowds for Rugby League is there. The problem is they're at home watching it on TV rather than viewing it live.
