2024 Crowd Watch

[Iamback]

Wow Brisbane has really shown up

If that was at Allianz it would struggle to get 20k

No. The Tongans would turn up

 

[Wb1234]

No. The Tongans would turn up

Nope

Remember when Samoa v Tonga was just played at Campbelltown and the crowd was awful

Maybe another time it was at Penrith stadium

 

[warriors 95]

Ticket sales today have been awesome - could be at about 30k sold already. They need to open up some more 'bronze' areas, but with good members and sales tomorrow morning - touch wood - 35k isn't out of the question.

It's looking like anywhere from 29-34k from here though.

Anything over 30k would be amazing and a great way to kickoff the competition.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Anything over 30k would be amazing and a great way to kickoff the competition.

Shows how close we are to cracking it with this tournament, couple of close games and some Aussie losses and this would do 40k + next year.

 

[yakstorm]

Nope

Remember when Samoa v Tonga was just played at Campbelltown and the crowd was awful

Maybe another time it was at Penrith stadium

The last Tonga v Samoa game held in the southern hemisphere was a sellout of 17,802 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in 2018.

Prior to that the crowds were:
18,156 - Hamilton 2017 RLWC
15,225 - Parramatta 2016
12,336 - Gold Coast 2015
10,143 - Penrith 2013
11,308 - Parramatta 2010

Only other game Tonga has played at Campbelltown was 2017 versus Fiji were the crowd was 18,271.

 

[Coastbloke]

Shows how close we are to cracking it with this tournament, couple of close games and some Aussie losses and this would do 40k + next year.

Not next year. England is touring Australia and will only play Australia. Still room for a Pacific tournament but because the NRL is pay-rolling these Pacific Tournaments they won’t bother without Australia..

 

[Matt_CBY]

Not next year. England is touring Australia and will only play Australia. Still room for a Pacific tournament but because the NRL is pay-rolling these Pacific Tournaments they won’t bother without Australia..

Where is the source for that?

 

[Wb1234]

Not next year. England is touring Australia and will only play Australia. Still room for a Pacific tournament but because the NRL is pay-rolling these Pacific Tournaments they won’t bother without Australia..

Why not ?

Samoa v Tonga will be the highlight

 

[jim_57]

Pacific Championship is funded by the federal government. As long as the deal remains in place I’d say it will be an annual event regardless of who is in & out.

Plus there is a promotion/relegation game this year so I’d say there are plans for it to take place in 2025.

Most likely:
1 - NZ, Tonga & Samoa
2 - PNG, Fiji & Cook Islands

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Pacific Championship is funded by the federal government. As long as the deal remains in place I’d say it will be an annual event regardless of who is in & out.

Plus there is a promotion/relegation game this year so I’d say there are plans for it to take place in 2025.

Most likely:
1 - NZ, Tonga & Samoa
2 - PNG, Fiji & Cook Islands

christ, if Aus bow out, bring France in. Play a game in Noumea.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

The last Tonga v Samoa game held in the southern hemisphere was a sellout of 17,802 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in 2018.

Prior to that the crowds were:
18,156 - Hamilton 2017 RLWC
15,225 - Parramatta 2016
12,336 - Gold Coast 2015
10,143 - Penrith 2013
11,308 - Parramatta 2010

Only other game Tonga has played at Campbelltown was 2017 versus Fiji were the crowd was 18,271.

If they ain`t the most obvious trend-line crowd numbers wise then I don`t know what is. A contest that has really gained traction.

 

[Coastbloke]

Appreciate everyone’s positivity but I’ve followed International Rugby League long enough to guess that 2025 Pacific Championship won’t happen..

I do hope I’m wrong because it would still be a great series and we’ll worth watching, but you know, International Rugby League..

 

[yakstorm]

Appreciate everyone’s positivity but I’ve followed International Rugby League long enough to guess that 2025 Pacific Championship won’t happen..

I do hope I’m wrong because it would still be a great series and we’ll worth watching, but you know, International Rugby League..

There is that risk. The original investment from the Australian Government was just for 2023/2024: https://www.pacificaussports.gov.au/news/launch-pacific-rugby-league-championships

Hopefully that doesn't mean it won't take place next year, or if it is skipped for next year because of the England tour and they want to do something different, it is back in 2027 after the RLWC.

 

[Wb1234]

Broadcasters want the content

 

[yakstorm]

Broadcasters will definitely want something for end of season, and I think there will be Tests no matter what, but the question will be what format they take. NZ will have to have at least 2 Tests for the NRL & NZRL to satisfy their deal with SkyNZ and the Aus Government will put money up for Tess in PNG at least, so there would be something.

Hopefully the Pacific Championship takes place. NZ, Samoa & Tonga tri-series would be amazing and easily get 3x 20K+ crowds.

 

[yakstorm]

603, 640 (Gold) and 639 (Silver) have just gone on sale at Suncorp. Looking really positive now, lower bowl is either sold out or down to single seats, on the second tier, only really 509 - 513 have more than a handful of seats (and are selling into the backs of the bays).

Will definitely be a new Australia v Tonga crowd record and a new Pacific Championship crowd record.

 

[Wb1234]

Broadcasters will definitely want something for end of season, and I think there will be Tests no matter what, but the question will be what format they take. NZ will have to have at least 2 Tests for the NRL & NZRL to satisfy their deal with SkyNZ and the Aus Government will put money up for Tess in PNG at least, so there would be something.

Hopefully the Pacific Championship takes place. NZ, Samoa & Tonga tri-series would be amazing and easily get 3x 20K+ crowds.

England could’ve been included in an expanded pacific cup

They been pining for an ashes type tour for 30 years

For 3 years straight they have devalued the pacific cup

Without Australia the games could be based in nz png and Fiji

Nz v Tonga
Nz v Samoa
Tonga v Samoa

Would be epic clashes

Even just a tri series with them would be epic

 

[bazza]

christ, if Aus bow out, bring France in. Play a game in Noumea.

that would be a riot

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Hopefully the Pacific Championship takes place. NZ, Samoa & Tonga tri-series would be amazing and easily get 3x 20K+ crowds.

The irony is of course potentially without Oz in the tournament it all of a sudden becomes a lot more wide open. As you say it has the potential to be a great little series.

 

[taste2taste]

Shows how close we are to cracking it with this tournament, couple of close games and some Aussie losses and this would do 40k + next year.

agreed, a good crowd shows this tournament has potential, will be interesting to see how it rates.

A few kangaroo loses will help, The highlights of tongas victory over the kangaroos popped up on my YouTube, it gives me a bit of hope Tonga can cause an upset.

in that game they had lolohea and staggs in the halves, Katoa is a huge upgrade on staggs, the current Tongan forward pack is also much stronger and better balanced, and the aussies were at full strength.

i still think the kangarooos win, but not by the large margin some are predicting