2024 Crowd Watch

[SLRBRONCOS]

I think they just need to release the big chunks of restricted view in the corners of sections 200 and 229. Should have had them up all week - quite a few there.

 

[Suitman]

I think they just need to release the big chunks of restricted view in the corners of sections 200 and 229. Should have had them up all week - quite a few there.

Commbank also has a decent amount of standing tickets they could sell - maybe 1000 or so, behind the lower concourse.

 

[undertaker]

NRL has confirmed that Kangaroos match will be at 4pm

Channel 9 were ALWAYS going to make sure that the Kangaroos match - regardless of whether it was the main event or the promotion/relegation match - was the lead-in to Nine News.

No way in a million years would Channel 9 ever agree to having it shafted to a secondary channel (which would've been the case for the 6:20pm, due to the clash with Nine News) and subsequently, NZ vs PNG was at 4pm.

 

[undertaker]

Tonga v Australia got over 30k for the pool game

Should’ve swapped that game for commbank and the final at Brisbane

Yes, I agree with you.

However, before the start of the tournament, the tournament organisers never predicted Australia vs Tonga was going to end up drawing the well-above average crowd that it did (which, as I've said before, surpassed the Suncorp crowd attendances for the rescheduled 2015 ANZAC test and the 2017 RLWC semi-final).

Given the success of this tournament, I have no doubt the next Pacific Championship final that is held in Australia will be at a larger venue than Commbank. The organisers will have a lot more confidence that the final is capable of drawing a larger crowd, hence maximising profit.

 

[undertaker]

It`s an arse up way of doing it, the main game should be the last event, hope it doesn`t empty out too much after the Kangaroos games,

I agree the main game should be the last match of the day.

The more ideal day for that situation to occur would've been Saturday. Most fans would've been more inclined to attend a Saturday night match rather than a Sunday night match (due to work/school commitments on Monday morning).

On a Saturday, the schedule could've been something like this:

Women's promotion/relegation match at 1pm
Women's cup final at 3:15pm
Men's promotion/relegation match at 5:30pm
Men's cup final at approx. 7:45-8pm

The 3rd match (5:30pm) would've been the one broadcast on Nine's secondary channel, the other three on Nine's main channel (with the Men's cup final live in prime time, pre-game show for the final commencing at 7:30pm).

 

[undertaker]

The The nThe
If it’s selling out so fast then maybe Allianz would’ve been a sell out too

I think part of it is the western Sydney location though. Although I think it is a little insulting if they thought that the Islander diaspora wouldn’t travel to the city. I’m just guessing on this though.

Comm bank was the correct choice for this game, ppl are quickly forgetting the abismal crowds last year.

in coming years when the tournament starts gaining momentum we can move to bigger stadiums.

the dream would be to one day sell out accor, maybe by 2040 this could happen

It doesn't have to sell out at Accor for the match there to be considered a success.

Even if the final at Accor got at least in the 42-45k range (i.e pretty much the lower bowl of the stadium full. Seating on level 6 would have to be available in order to crack 50k+, such as the Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles week 1 finals match did this year), it would still look and sound good at the ground and on tv, and be classified as a success by the tournament organisers.

I know this is an unpopular opinion due to fans' constant complaints during the NRL season about how the view at Accor is crap compared to Allianz or Suncorp (mainly due to the flatter gradient/slope of the seats at Accor). However, with proper promotion and continued success of the Pacific Championship brand, there's every chance the final could draw a big crowd at Accor in the near future.

Last time Accor hosted a test match was in 2005 (opening match of the tri-nations between Australia and New Zealand, which got 28,255), which has been the only test Accor has hosted since the post-Olympic games reconfiguration of the stadium was complete, with capacity being 83,500 since 2003.

 

[bazza]

Yes, I agree with you.

However, before the start of the tournament, the tournament organisers never predicted Australia vs Tonga was going to end up drawing the well-above average crowd that it did (which, as I've said before, surpassed the Suncorp crowd attendances for the rescheduled 2015 ANZAC test and the 2017 RLWC semi-final).

Given the success of this tournament, I have no doubt the next Pacific Championship final that is held in Australia will be at a larger venue than Commbank. The organisers will have a lot more confidence that the final is capable of drawing a larger crowd, hence maximising profit.

maybe if the tournament continues and gets decent crowds we might get cities/stadiums bidding to have games

 

[user_nat]

This will be 2 years in a row where the final has a smaller crowd/venue than the pool match between the same teams.

It's such a weird way to schedule a tournament.

 

[Perth Red]

Dont really understand why commbank rather than Allianz? Maybe they think the PI/Kiwi fanbase more likely to go to commbank? At least its in one of Sydneys best stadiums and there's a great atmosphere in there when its full. Accor provides neither of those things.

 

[Wb1234]

Dont really understand why commbank rather than Allianz? Maybe they think the PI/Kiwi fanbase more likely to go to commbank? At least its in one of Sydneys best stadiums and there's a great atmosphere in there when its full. Accor provides neither of those things.

Final crowd last year was awful in Hamilton

Last year it seemed rushed and the whole event was average

This year they had better preparation

 

[It's Been Done]

Dont really understand why commbank rather than Allianz? Maybe they think the PI/Kiwi fanbase more likely to go to commbank? At least its in one of Sydneys best stadiums and there's a great atmosphere in there when its full. Accor provides neither of those things.

Final crowd last year was awful in Hamilton

Last year it seemed rushed and the whole event was average

This year they had better preparation

Not to mention the majority of the Pacific Islander community in New South Wales lives in Western Sydney so it's basically bringing the game to their doorstep. Same if it was on the Gold Coast in Queensland or AAMI Park in Victoria as the majority of the Islander community of those states lives on the Gold Coast for Queensland and the South Eastern and Western Suburbs of Melbourne for Victoria

 

[TheEroticGamer]

You’d like to think the concept will continue to gain prestige each year which will lead to games played at bigger stadiums being more realistic.

 

[Kurt Angle]

Great choice tbh

In building this up, close to the fans, cheap(er) rent and sell it out to set up the feeling of FOMO, as soon as next year

 

[yakstorm]

Dont really understand why commbank rather than Allianz? Maybe they think the PI/Kiwi fanbase more likely to go to commbank? At least its in one of Sydneys best stadiums and there's a great atmosphere in there when its full. Accor provides neither of those things.

The real reason is everything else had already been booked out in Sydney.

Allianz has Sydney FC v Macarthur, SCG has the WBBL double header & Sydney derby, Accor has Coldplay, all 3 booked well in advance.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I just heard it's apparently sold out

 

[yakstorm]

I just heard it's apparently sold out

Yeap, NRL put out the message this morning

 

[grozzy]

I bought my ticket as soon as they went on sale, admittedly not knowing much about the tournament. One suggestion for the future is to do some promotion before the sale date, instead of just sending an email saying tickets now on sale.

 

[bazza]

Great choice tbh

In building this up, close to the fans, cheap(er) rent and sell it out to set up the feeling of FOMO, as soon as next year

It isn't like it is a dump in the middle of no where
Pretty new stadium with great viewing and amenities in a central location. Probably the second best option for Sydney unless you expect a crowd of 60,000+

 

[Wb1234]

When they chose the venue they didn’t know Tonga was going to make the final lol

It wasn’t chosen cause it’s close to the Tongan supporters in w.Sydney

 

[yakstorm]

Looking ahead to next year, Dolphins have confirmed they'll play 9 home games at Suncorp in 2025 and 2 at Kayo.

Their 12th match hasn't been confirmed, but will most likely be in Perth again.

Positive signs the club has continued to increase the number of matches at Suncorp.

For those playing at home, in 2024, the split was 8 Suncorp/3 Kayo/1 Perth and in 2023 it was 7 Suncorp/3 Kayo/1 Sunshine Coast/1 Perth.