As is always the case the AFL makes these excuses look pathetic. The answer is too much live TV. Well the AFL also get every game live on TV, they even get an extra FTA game each week than the NRL. Yet somehow their crowds aren't affected. Why?
Form is a bullshit excuse. Every year some big supported team does badly. Last year the knights, one of our biggest supporter bases came last. You say Parra are doing bad this year but how did the biggest Sydney clubs do last year? The dragons, dogs, rabbits and tigers all missed the 8. You know 4 of the 5 biggest supporter bases in Sydney.
Sure we've had a few games impacted by hot weather and rain but nowhere near as much as last year. Most of last year all we heard about was the once in a century bad weather for Sydney that apparently crippled crowds, now we have the same posters pretending it hasn't been much worse this year. It's BS.
Oh but it's all the 6pm Friday and Thursday night games killing crowds. Then why do we get so many shot crowds in other timeslots (just look at yesterday's crowd). Why have crowds been stagnant for a decade since before those timeslots were introduced?
It's so frustrating seeing people defend mediocrity. I've been reading so many of these same nonsense excuses for the past 10 years.
I stated it was a combo ,not just one factor.The scheduling also plays a very big part.I'm also aware of teams have up and down seasons.
Having the local Sharks v Dragons derby on a thursday night at the start of this year was plain dumb.
The Dragons did far better last year than the Eels this year,the Dogs used to pull decent crowds they don't; now.Hope you're not suggesting they are this year?
Guess what the 6pm game was well attended at Newcastle because they don;t have the traffic issues we have in Sydney.
Guess how many Sharks supporters even if they travelled would get to Penrith for a 6pm game.
The once in a century bad year was when a Cat 1 cyclone hit the Sharks ground a couple of years ago.
OK in 2005 the best crowds we've had for over a decade.Guess what no 6pm.Tigers winners, and Titans with decent crowds.
Ever considered the financial aspect for families also,no wage increases for many, and costs have risen ,so tight budgeting may well affect some.
There are a myriad if reasons not just one.Live Tv I agree impacts the gate.
We got a crap 12,000 crowd at Shark Park v the Eels,on a Saturday night which would normally draw 15,000.There were a few Eels supporters there but the overwhelming majority were dressed in blue black and white.
You ask about the sh*t crowd for the Roosters v Manly,did anyone in there right mind expect 20,000 there? Especially after their recent debacles.
Are you not the same bloke ,who stated 6pm in Melbourne for the Storm is a crap schedule.
Yet memberships are at record levels for the game, go figure.
Defending mediocrity WTF,I'm spelling out factors I believe stuff crowd attendances.You think I'm for stagnation FFS.
