The Game 2023 Crowd Watch

[EuroNymous]

A mate of mine in the ad industry worked on the NRL for a time back in 2015/16 and one of the stats he came across was that of all the Sydney clubs, Saints have the oldest demographic amongst supporters. So I guess they‘ve been waiting for them to drop off lol

yep they mentioned in presentation that the average saints supporters is close to 60 years old and they having trouble attracting younger fans to the game

kids rather go for riff or souths then dragons

 

[horrie hastings]

The Sea back drop.

They also did a drone shot looking west back over the Gong and the escarpment which looked amazing also just after sunset.
All the aerial shots they showed of the ground with the beach/ ocean and the escarpment looked amazing.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

yep they mentioned in presentation that the average saints supporters is close to 60 years old and they having trouble attracting younger fans to the game

kids rather go for riff or souths then dragons

That’s interesting because at the time at least, Souths had the second oldest demographic. I always figured that was the reason they couldn’t convert the big fan base they obviously have into bums-on-seats because old merkins don’t attend many games. I know a fair number of Souths fans in the 50+ category and they go to no games at all regardless (SFS or Accor) where they played. My neighbour is 60+ and doesn’t go either. There’s no doubt a growing number of younger fans though and it’ll be interesting to see their crowd average in a few years time.

 

[Pneuma]

That’s interesting because at the time at least, Souths had the second oldest demographic. I always figured that was the reason they couldn’t convert the big fan base they obviously have into bums-on-seats because old merkins don’t attend many games. I know a fair number of Souths fans in the 50+ category and they go to no games at all regardless (SFS or Accor) where they played. My neighbour is 60+ and doesn’t go either. There’s no doubt a growing number of younger fans though and it’ll be interesting to see their crowd average in a few years time.

Same here. My best mate lives in the shire and is a mad south’s fan. Old man played for them (lower grades) and has basically a shrine to them in his den. Regalia every where. South’s number plates etc etc. Barely ever goes to a game. In his mid 50s.

 

[Valheru]

That’s interesting because at the time at least, Souths had the second oldest demographic. I always figured that was the reason they couldn’t convert the big fan base they obviously have into bums-on-seats because old merkins don’t attend many games. I know a fair number of Souths fans in the 50+ category and they go to no games at all regardless (SFS or Accor) where they played. My neighbour is 60+ and doesn’t go either. There’s no doubt a growing number of younger fans though and it’ll be interesting to see their crowd average in a few years time.

Anecdotally, I find that souths have a large gap in their fanbase of Gen Y which makes sense as those people were impressionable when souths weren't in the comp and/or were a basket case. They probably have got their fair share of Gen Z on board though.

 

[King-Gutho94]

That’s interesting because at the time at least, Souths had the second oldest demographic. I always figured that was the reason they couldn’t convert the big fan base they obviously have into bums-on-seats because old merkins don’t attend many games. I know a fair number of Souths fans in the 50+ category and they go to no games at all regardless (SFS or Accor) where they played. My neighbour is 60+ and doesn’t go either. There’s no doubt a growing number of younger fans though and it’ll be interesting to see their crowd average in a few years time.

I think the last 10 years where they are perennial prelim finalists has helped grab the new generation.

My Grandfather is 74 and a souths fan but no one else in our family was brainwashed to become one haha.

I started watching league when i was in 5 to 6 years old during 1999/2000 around when souths got kicked out.

Then once they returned they spent 6 to 7 years as cellar dwellers during my childhood so my generation probably were turned off them originally during that period.

 

[yobbo84]

Anecdotally, I find that souths have a large gap in their fanbase of Gen Y which makes sense as those people were impressionable when souths weren't in the comp and/or were a basket case. They probably have got their fair share of Gen Z on board though.

I'd largely agree with that from what I see at our games.

I don't see a lot of older teens at our games, but plenty of parents in their 30s and 40s with their kids. There are a ton of kids at our games. My 3 kids are obsessed with Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray.

Which makes sense. All Gen Z know are a largely successful team. My then 9-year-old son last year asked me why Souths were going so badly - we were coming 8th at the time. Sweet, summer child.

Before that we had 20 odd years of stink. I can tell you it was not much fun growing up as Souths supporter in the 90s. Plenty of non-hardcore families would have dropped off.

 

[jim_57]

Regarding the Dragons they’re doing a 7-5 Wollongong-Kogarah split this year. Hopefully that becomes 8-4 or 9-3 in the next few years, maybe even 10-2 eventually with those Sydney games at the SFS if the numbers stack up.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I'd largely agree with that from what I see at our games.

I don't see a lot of older teens at our games, but plenty of parents in their 30s and 40s with their kids. There are a ton of kids at our games. My 3 kids are obsessed with Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray.

Which makes sense. All Gen Z know are a largely successful team. My then 9-year-old son last year asked me why Souths were going so badly - we were coming 8th at the time. Sweet, summer child.

Before that we had 20 odd years of stink. I can tell you it was not much fun growing up as Souths supporter in the 90s. Plenty of non-hardcore families would have dropped off.

My kids loved Trell when he was at the Roosters. It was the kangaroo ears that captured their hearts

 

[yobbo84]

My kids loved Trell when he was the Rooster. It was the kangaroo ears that captured their hearts

For all his shithousery on the field, Latrell - along with Cody Walker and Tom Burgess - are generally the last off the field every game, always signing autographs, posing for photos, chatting to fans, etc. The kids love them.

 

[yobbo84]

Conversely what's struck me at recent Souths vs Roosters games is the large amount of 20-somethings that follow the Roosters.

You really need a premiership or at least a GF appearance every generation (15 or so years) to maintain the higher levels of supporters that want to attend games. In Sydney anyway.

 

[Valheru]

Regarding the Dragons they’re doing a 7-5 Wollongong-Kogarah split this year. Hopefully that becomes 8-4 or 9-3 in the next few years, maybe even 10-2 eventually with those Sydney games at the SFS if the numbers stack up.

The numbers will definitiely stack up for the Dragons at the SFS if their opponents are Roosters and Souths

 

[bazza]

The numbers will definitiely stack up for the Dragons at the SFS if their opponents are Roosters and Souths

probably do ok for other Sydney teams like Dogs, Tigers and even Manly and Parra

 

[ground zero]

The numbers will definitiely stack up for the Dragons at the SFS if their opponents are Roosters and Souths

An Parra

 

[King-Gutho94]

Conversely what's struck me at recent Souths vs Roosters games is the large amount of 20-somethings that follow the Roosters.

You really need a premiership or at least a GF appearance every generation (15 or so years) to maintain the higher levels of supporters that want to attend games. In Sydney anyway.

Parra have the largest member base in Sydney after overtaking souths in 2021 and won nothing for nearly 4 decades.

Demographic helps but imagine if we had the success of the level Roosters on a regular basis.

We would probably have 45 thousand plus members.

 

[yobbo84]

Parra have the largest member base in Sydney after overtaking souths in 2021 and won nothing for nearly 4 decades.

Demographic helps but imagine if we had the success of the level Roosters on a regular basis.

We would probably have 45 thousand plus members.

Premiership, no, but you have had 2001, 2009 and 2022 Grand Final appearances. Regular enough appearances to keep that support going though.

If you went through 10 years of being bottom 4 like some have, you'd see that member base drop significantly.

 

[Billythekid]

Premiership, no, but you have had 2001, 2009 and 2022 Grand Final appearances. Regular enough appearances to keep that support going though.

If you went through 10 years of being bottom 4 like some have, you'd see that member base drop significantly.

I mean sure any team that goes like a patch like the tigers currently are will see a significant drop in interest. However lets not pretend that Parra haven't had some dog shit periods in the last 10 years, when they won back to back wooden spoons they were the laughing stock of the league. In a 7 year period they won 3 wooden spoons.

I'm not convinced that Parra have maintained they're huge level of support because they made a GF over 2 decades ago. Frankly the data sets are so small that I doubt the point can be proven anyway.

 

[Wb1234]

He’s right if parra was as sucesful as the roosters they would just about sell out every game at commbank and the bigger games would need to go to homebush

the eels are the sleeping giant of the nrl the problem is I dunno when they will ever wake up

the three biggest Sydney club are south’s eels and dogs. If they had a run of success the crowd average would go through the roof

 

[Steel Saints]

As a fan from the Wollongong side of the merger, I am conflicted. Naturally I want more games, but then you need to have a look at the overall bigger picture of the club and see what's best. So I'll be fair minded.

My personal opinion is if there is no upgrade at Kogarah oval, then you would take all of the 5/6 Sydney games to Allianz. The club would benefit from corporates and playing against teams like Roosters, Souths, Bulldogs, Parramatta, Sharks or Tigers where the club could draw more than Kogarah's capacity. Don't get me wrong. I also want those teams to play in Wollongong. Just alternate. An example, Bulldogs away in Wollongong in 2023, 2025, 2027, 2029 etc.

Overall home games at Allianz would improve the clubs bottom line, and therefore they would pour more money into developing young players, especially in the Illawarra region.

I don't mind six games in Wollongong on the proviso that NO home games are scheduled on Thursday night or Friday 6pm.

In fact, have majority of the games during the day. As you
saw yesterday, broadcasters can take advantage of shooting wonderful overhead drone shots of the stadium, south beach, lighthouse, the city and escarpment.

PS if the club in their infinite wisdom decide to bring more home games to Win, then I won’t complain.

 

[ouwet]

As much as it pains me to say it IMO Parramatta have the largest amount of supporters in Sydney followed closely by the Dogs...

I think this was evident in the Prelim crowds since 2009.

Dogs V Eels - 75K (Slightly more Eels)
Dragons V Tiger's 71K (About even)
Dogs V Souths - 70K (Dogs Easily)
Souths V Roosters - 60 odd from memory (Souths Easily)
Dogs V Penrith - 46K (Hardly any Penrith fans)

1. Parramatta
2. Dogs (When we have success our supporters travel the most)
3. Tiger's
4. Dragons
5. South Sydney