2017 Crowd Watch

[AlwaysGreen]

So if 30000 people show up and the atmosphere is shit its better than 29000 showing up where the atmosphere is electric.

Sounds reasonable.

 

[Panther_Daz]

A couple of positives in the past 2 weeks for Penrith.

- Highest crowd at Penrith v Souths ever.
- Highest crowd between Penrith and Cronulla (all venues) since 2006.

 

[DC_fan]

Wettest March in history, you can't say "weather is just an excuse". What if next year March is completely fine and the crowd average jumps back up to 16k+?

Save for a very slight increase last year crowds have been in steady decline since 2012. That has to be of concern and worthy of discussion. Yes, the east coast of Australia suffered through an extreme wet in the early part of this season. Hopefully the remainder of the season will be played in much more football friendly weather and we see crowd figures rise.

 

[DC_fan]

A couple of positives in the past 2 weeks for Penrith.

- Highest crowd at Penrith v Souths ever.
- Highest crowd between Penrith and Cronulla (all venues) since 2006.

Given the form of both teams the crowd here gave me a nice surprise.

 

[Valheru]

well their crowds are up 25% this season
who else can claim that in 2017 ?
: )

Roosters are up 26% on last year's average with their 2 home games thus far being Thursday night and Friday 6PM

ANZAC day will only help.

 

[Stormwarrior82]

It's amazing this has nearly 130 pages discussing why. It's. So. Simple.

The NRL have placed their priority on tv rights. All decisions have been made with that front of mind. Everything. If faced with a family watching it on tv or going to the ground they want that family at home watching it on channel 9 or fox sports. They don't care about attendance figures.


There will never be an increase to average crowd sizes and it's not because of the weather (which has been Sh*t) and it's not because Sydney people are lazy (we are) it's because the governing body simply don't want you there instead of watching it on TV. They've had a million opportunities to prove otherwise.

Hopefully the code hits rock bottom soon and then can climb back up because between MRC, refereeing and rules, player agents and general decision making on scheduling and marketing, the sport needs a complete overhaul ASAP.

Don't believe it's that simple at all. Disagree with most of what you say. Seems everyone on here is starting to believe the news ltd.

Show me where a nrl CEO has said they prefer the money over crowds? Show me.....?

Priority on tv deal ....welI I better bloody hope so. It does fund rugby league in Australia/nz, slightly important. It's apparently always the Nrls fault. No one else. I'm sure the nrl would of got more if they let tv companies choose the games.

The clubs have to take responsibility for crowds/atmosphere at games. Clubs prefer to have 10 physios/masseuses and 10 doctors instead of spending money on marketing or stadium entertainment at games. Clubs try to blame the nrl on anything that is bad without fixing the real issue. Weather and lazy fans (comparing to melb) also play apart in lower crowds. You can't dismiss that. The Nrl did try to up the entertainment $$ in certain games a few years ago and the got nailed when they released the annual budget.

How about be a little positive about the crowds and the nrl. I personally hope the nrl never hit rock bottom. Let's hope big crowds this Anzac weekend.

 

[Vee]

Don't believe it's that simple at all. Disagree with most of what you say. Seems everyone on here is starting to believe the news ltd.

Show me where a nrl CEO has said they prefer the money over crowds? Show me.....?

Priority on tv deal ....welI I better bloody hope so. It does fund rugby league in Australia/nz, slightly important. It's apparently always the Nrls fault. No one else. I'm sure the nrl would of got more if they let tv companies choose the games.

The clubs have to take responsibility for crowds/atmosphere at games. Clubs prefer to have 10 physios/masseuses and 10 doctors instead of spending money on marketing or stadium entertainment at games. Clubs try to blame the nrl on anything that is bad without fixing the real issue. Weather and lazy fans (comparing to melb) also play apart in lower crowds. You can't dismiss that. The Nrl did try to up the entertainment $$ in certain games a few years ago and the got nailed when they released the annual budget.

How about be a little positive about the crowds and the nrl. I personally hope the nrl never hit rock bottom. Let's hope big crowds this Anzac weekend.

I guess time will tell. You're correct in saying that the NRL prioritised TV$ over crowds and with some justification. But from next year, they have the cash and control of the schedule, so we'll see what they make of it. If Brisbane continue dominating Friday night or we continue to get the usual suspects on FTA regardless of form or fairness, we'll know the NRL are full of sh*t.

 

[Knight76]

The NRL have control of the schedule, there will still be considerable pressure from TV land to get the games they want on TV in key timeslots.

The NRL isn't about to put a bunch of teams in the key timeslots that will draw low viewing numbers, and then next contract take the hit on the deal as the TV execs will rightly claim viewership is down so the "product" is not worth as much.

 

[Vee]

The NRL have control of the schedule, there will still be considerable pressure from TV land to get the games they want on TV in key timeslots.

The NRL isn't about to put a bunch of teams in the key timeslots that will draw low viewing numbers, and then next contract take the hit on the deal as the TV execs will rightly claim viewership is down so the "product" is not worth as much.

They should show some spine and grow the game. Take a small hit on the rights which will be mitigated by the growth in crowds and the game. TV need us as much as we need them.

 

[Knight76]

True, but it will be fun to watch the clubs juggle their cap when the next deal is lower, and the NRL lower the salary cap accordingly.

Along with the elites demanding their mill+ a year but clubs not able to pay it.

 

[Emu01]

I'm a member at SCG and SFS and I have already received 4 requests from friends and family members wanting to attend the Anzac Day Roosters v Dragons game with me this year.

Normally we don't have many extras wanting to attend just our normal group.

So I'm predicting a huge crowd. Last year we got 35k with rain hitting during the game and both teams were in bad form leading into Anzac Day..

Will be 40k if weather is fine.

 

[Perth Red]

True, but it will be fun to watch the clubs juggle their cap when the next deal is lower, and the NRL lower the salary cap accordingly.

Along with the elites demanding their mill+ a year but clubs not able to pay it.

The next deal won't be lower. The nrl is investing $100milion in digital to ensure it isn't. Doesn't matter that much to tv if numbers are down a bit as long as tv adverts and subscriptions remain. Like I said getting 5k extra through the gate every game brings in $2mill or 25% of current tv money they are getting.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I'm quite interested in the streaming numbers.

Funny thing is, every bloody Telstra streaming ad I see, it's either AFL or Netball.

Funny Telstra sponsor the NRL...

 

[Cumberland Throw]

Crowds are always either up or down fractionally. This years attendances are down approx 1/20th on last years totals.

In 2012 the premiership overall averaged approx 16,500 fans per game. This season so far, the average is approx 14,500. I don't know about you but a drop of 2,000 per game in such a short period of time has to be of concern.

Cannot agree with your comment crowds sometimes being about more then numbers. Crowds are all about how many people show up.

current ave is in 15 k range not 14500

 

[lockyno1]

I'm a member at SCG and SFS and I have already received 4 requests from friends and family members wanting to attend the Anzac Day Roosters v Dragons game with me this year.

Normally we don't have many extras wanting to attend just our normal group.

So I'm predicting a huge crowd. Last year we got 35k with rain hitting during the game and both teams were in bad form leading into Anzac Day..

Will be 40k if weather is fine.

As with all games (well big games anyway), the general seating will be sold. Will depend on how many members turn up. Anywhere from 38k-42k. Who knows.

 

[Billythekid]

It's amazing this has nearly 130 pages discussing why. It's. So. Simple.

The NRL have placed their priority on tv rights. All decisions have been made with that front of mind. Everything. If faced with a family watching it on tv or going to the ground they want that family at home watching it on channel 9 or fox sports. They don't care about attendance figures.


There will never be an increase to average crowd sizes and it's not because of the weather (which has been Sh*t) and it's not because Sydney people are lazy (we are) it's because the governing body simply don't want you there instead of watching it on TV. They've had a million opportunities to prove otherwise.

Hopefully the code hits rock bottom soon and then can climb back up because between MRC, refereeing and rules, player agents and general decision making on scheduling and marketing, the sport needs a complete overhaul ASAP.

Well considering we bent over for the TV networks and care about nothing but ratings it can't be a good look that TV ratings are down as well. If the NRL truely only care about TV ratings than they're doing a shit job there as well.

I don't buy the argument that crowds and ratings are mutually exclusive. Big crowds make the product more entertaining to watch in TV. On the flip side declining TV audiences eventually have a knock on effect to crowds as well (just look at rugby).

The NRL is a big enough organisation that it can focus on both things at once. There is no reason we can't increase crowds and ratings at the same time.

 

[DC_fan]

current ave is in 15 k range not 14500

My figures were before the past weekends games

 

[Emu01]

Well considering we bent over for the TV networks and care about nothing but ratings it can't be a good look that TV ratings are down as well. If the NRL truely only care about TV ratings than they're doing a shit job there as well.

I don't buy the argument that crowds and ratings are mutually exclusive. Big crowds make the product more entertaining to watch in TV. On the flip side declining TV audiences eventually have a knock on effect to crowds as well (just look at rugby).

The NRL is a big enough organisation that it can focus on both things at once. There is no reason we can't increase crowds and ratings at the same time.

I remember Todd Greenberg saying when he came to office. "I want more people attending games, more people playing the game and more people watching the game on tv"

That's almost word for word what he said several times on tv and radio.

So what is the fan supposed to think when he makes such comments and fails on all 3 fronts.

Either he talks the talk and can't back it it up ( in other words talks shit) or the nrl are completely incompetent and couldn't organise a root in a brothel.

 

[adamkungl]

I remember Todd Greenberg saying when he came to office. "I want more people attending games, more people playing the game and more people watching the game on tv"

That's almost word for word what he said several times on tv and radio.

So what is the fan supposed to think when he makes such comments and fails on all 3 fronts.

Either he talks the talk and can't back it it up ( in other words talks shit) or the nrl are completely incompetent and couldn't organise a root in a brothel.

Their actions speak a lot louder than words.

Standard week has 5 night games to 3 day games - anti crowd.
Thursdays, Mondays or both in recent years - anti crowd.
Origin overlapping club season - anti crowd.
Big rivalry games played in worst available timeslots - anti crowd.
No reduction on ticket prices - anti crowd.

 

[morley101]

Average after 7 rounds 15,559