Why are the Waratahs' crowds so shit then when they play in their heartland??
That's right - union doesn't have a heartland.
Correct. Add the successful Brumbies who have lost 6-8,000 in crowd averages, despite still being successful, sub 10,000 averages for Rebels, Force, then take into account woeful tv ratings for super rugby, where are all these rich bankers & IT people?
Read a good article in Financial Review where the NRL is absolutely killing it in social media, attracting all age demographics in FTA tv ratings, then these arguments that the sport has little following outside the so called working classes is FALSE.
I will say again, the NRL is in the top 20 'football' code sports for spectator averages (someone can confirm if this is still the case) yet would have on a whole, the worst facilities for spectators particularly Sydney. For a first class city, the standard of rectangular stadiums is woeful & inadequate.
This new funding package for stadiums in Sydney is a make or break opportunity for the sport.
The only mistake I will have little forgiveness toward Smith is if he gets Allianz across the line ahead of Homebush. A 75,000 rectangular Homebush will catipult the NRL to new heights in terms of crowds commensurate with its other successful indicators-tv ratings, merchandise sales, social media following etc.
