2025 Crowd Watch

[Yosemite Sam]

But why do we have low expectations of Canberra? I know the stadium isn’t great but if they’re flying in the top 4 I’d have thought they’d be 20K minimum every game

What low expectations? The have never in their history averaged close to 20k. Why would they now?

I think a 15k average in their current stadium is as good as it will get. Today's crowd was above expectations considering the opponent.

They still have plenty of big drawing matches to come and all of them are in good timeslots. I'd expect some of them to push 20k.

Oh and the AFL is not a threat in Canberra. I wouldn't worry about them at all to be honest.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

But why do we have low expectations of Canberra? I know the stadium isn’t great but if they’re flying in the top 4 I’d have thought they’d be 20K minimum every game

Canberra Stadium is truly a dump. Smells like an open sewer, is shit to get to, parking is shit, bottlenecks to get out of, nowhere nearby to have nice pre or post game food and drinks.

There is absolutely no redeeming quality. They've not averaged 20k before.

If they had a QCBS or even a CBUS equivalent in a central location I'm certain that they would routinely draw 20k. Until then a 20k average isn't realistic.

 

[Jonty]

Another awesome round of attendances apart from Canberra which was hugely disappointing.

 

[yakstorm]

In the Raiders history, their highest ever crowd average at Bruce is 15,298 (2019) and including the likes of Magic, etc is 17,043 (2024).

So far this year they've had crowds of 18,884 (Broncos), 10,914 (Sharks) and 15,686 (Dolphins) at Bruce, to give them a current average of 15,161. If you add in their other home game (Vegas), their average is 22,673.

They are showing some positive signs at GIO from their first 3 games and still have some of their traditionally stronger drawing games to come (Bulldogs, Eels, Dragons). If the Raiders can finish around the 15K mark (or higher) this year, that's a win, relative to where they've been.

 

[Perth Red]

Canberra Stadium is truly a dump. Smells like an open sewer, is shit to get to, parking is shit, bottlenecks to get out of, nowhere nearby to have nice pre or post game food and drinks.

There is absolutely no redeeming quality. They've not averaged 20k before.

If they had a QCBS or even a CBUS equivalent in a central location I'm certain that they would routinely draw 20k. Until then a 20k average isn't realistic.

Been once, wouldn't rush back. They did do a great burger though!

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Women's Origin 1 update:

- Black - 80%-100% sold
- Maroon - selling
- White - only 10% of these areas are sold due to seats being pulled for sponsorship packages
- Purple - Stadium members

Probably around 20k sold.

 

[bazza]

But why do we have low expectations of Canberra? I know the stadium isn’t great but if they’re flying in the top 4 I’d have thought they’d be 20K minimum every game

based on recent history, the 15k odd crowd v Dolphins seems higher than usual
I think only a new stadium could see them get a 20k average

 

[Billythekid]

It’s a disgrace that Canberra still has such a dogshit stadium. Not only that but the stadium is old as f**k at this point. A brand new modern stadium with a decent capacity will not only do wonders for the local clubs but will attract so many other events that Canberra is overlooked for. It should be a no brainer.

 

[sportsnut]

TV ratings tell all and the only thing that matter. Only afl zombies think otherwise.

Big crowds are just a nice add on.

.

bizarre take.

A number on a piece of paper representing the number of eyes on a screen is better than big full stadiums.

 

[parrawentyfan]

But why do we have low expectations of Canberra? I know the stadium isn’t great but if they’re flying in the top 4 I’d have thought they’d be 20K minimum every game

A huge proportion of Canberra's population leave town on long weekends - to Sydney, Melbourne, the coast or the snow (in winter). Thus many who would attend just aren't in town.

 

[Jordan23]

Considering last few weeks total attendances I was a little disappointed magic round would “only” attract around 145k .
Looking at the draw probably still get an extra 20k than if the teams played at there own home grounds

 

[T-Boon]

Considering last few weeks total attendances I was a little disappointed magic round would “only” attract around 145k .
Looking at the draw probably still get an extra 20k than if the teams played at there own home grounds

Magic round isn't so much about the overall crowd number but a big event for Brisbane and people travelling up there is big numbers from NSW and Vic.

 

[drcmuch]

Considering last few weeks total attendances I was a little disappointed magic round would “only” attract around 145k .
Looking at the draw probably still get an extra 20k than if the teams played at there own home grounds

NOPE, deleted, I misread your comment.

---

 

[Steel Saints]

Considering last few weeks total attendances I was a little disappointed magic round would “only” attract around 145k .
Looking at the draw probably still get an extra 20k than if the teams played at there own home grounds

Chances are Perth will enter the comp in 2027. There will be 18 teams, nine games per round. Which means the NRL would have to restructure the schedule of Magic Round from three to four days. Magic Round could increase attendance from 145k, 150k to maybe 175k, 180k.

Thursday- 1 game
Friday- 2
Saturday- 3
Sunday- 3

Women's Origin to be played on Wednesday night.

 

[bazza]

It’s a disgrace that Canberra still has such a dogshit stadium. Not only that but the stadium is old as f**k at this point. A brand new modern stadium with a decent capacity will not only do wonders for the local clubs but will attract so many other events that Canberra is overlooked for. It should be a no brainer.

yes - think an all weather rectangular stadium would be a bonus for the region, not just the Raiders

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Melbourne have slowly but steadily and kind of quietly crept their average attendances up over the years.

From bouncing around 9-12k at the old Olympic park between 1998 and 2009, to moving into AAMI in 2010 and slowly climbing from there to hopefully this season averaging 20k in Melbourne for the first time.

Hopefully it's not long until a city the size of Melbourne with a sports attendance culture and a hugely successful NRL team is selling out AAMI almost every game and we are looking at putting event games on at Docklands or MCG to boost averages even more.

What a success story for Rugby League. If we can make it in Melbourne, probably the most hostile of markets for our game, we can make it anywhere.

 

[Lidcombe Bull]

Canberra's average crowd compared to population, is pretty good. They essentially average 1 person to their games per 29.9 people in their metro population:

City/Region	Population	Teams	Proportion per team	Average Crowd (2025)	Crowd per pop
Newcastle	508,437	1​	508,437​	22,913​	22.2​
North Queensland*	414,052	1​	414,052​	18,320​	22.6​
Illawarra	313,842	1​	313,842​	12,310​	25.5​
Canberra	453,558	1​	453,558​	15,161​	29.9​
Sydney	5,557,233	9​	617,470​	19,287​	32.0​
Brisbane	2,780,063	2​	1,390,032​	33,601​	41.4​
Gold Coast	640,778	1​	640,778​	14,286​	44.9​
Auckland	1,797,300	1​	1,797,300​	22,275​	80.7​
Melbourne	5,207,145	1​	5,207,145​	23,348​	223.0​

Melbourne are doing well despite the high quotient, considering they are still an expansion team in the epicenter of AFL. To truly judge the success of Melbourne's crowds you have to look at how they have grown over time (149% growth since 2005, 49% since 2014, and 28% since 2018). Warriors being in traditional Union territory need to be cut some slack too. Again with the Warriors you need to look at growth over time rather than comparing their numbers to the Broncos or the Knights for example. Comparing the Warrior or Storm with the Broncos or Knights would be extremely harsh and lacking acumen.

Newcastle and North Queensland are unsurprisingly the best when it comes to average crowd per head of population.

*The North Queensland population includes Townsville and surrounding LGAs such as Charters Towers, Whitsunday and Mackay, not Cairns though.

 

[beave]

Canberra's average crowd compared to population, is pretty good. They essentially average 1 person to their games per 29.9 people in their metro population:

City/Region	Population	Teams	Proportion per team	Average Crowd (2025)	Crowd per pop
Newcastle	508,437	1​	508,437​	22,913​	22.2​
North Queensland*	414,052	1​	414,052​	18,320​	22.6​
Illawarra	313,842	1​	313,842​	12,310​	25.5​
Canberra	453,558	1​	453,558​	15,161​	29.9​
Sydney	5,557,233	9​	617,470​	19,287​	32.0​
Brisbane	2,780,063	2​	1,390,032​	33,601​	41.4​
Gold Coast	640,778	1​	640,778​	14,286​	44.9​
Auckland	1,797,300	1​	1,797,300​	22,275​	80.7​
Melbourne	5,207,145	1​	5,207,145​	23,348​	223.0​

Melbourne are doing well despite the high quotient, considering they are still an expansion team in the epicenter of AFL. To truly judge the success of Melbourne's crowds you have to look at how they have grown over time (149% growth since 2005, 49% since 2014, and 28% since 2018). Warriors being in traditional Union territory need to be cut some slack too. Again with the Warriors you need to look at growth over time rather than comparing their numbers to the Broncos or the Knights for example. Comparing the Warrior or Storm with the Broncos or Knights would be extremely harsh and lacking acumen.

Newcastle and North Queensland are unsurprisingly the best when it comes to average crowd per head of population.

*The North Queensland population includes Townsville and surrounding LGAs such as Charters Towers, Whitsunday and Mackay, not Cairns though.

This old chestnut.

You cannot compare apples v oranges, so bear with me below, I'll use my club (NQ) as an example as its the most isolated and most unique club out of the whole comp.

100% the club represents the whole of NQ (which it has been shit at during times in the past).

You mention you are including certain NQ catchments of down to Mackay and others but mention "not Cairns"......you realise Cairns is actually closer to Townsville than Mackay is??

Also, if you are then going to consider 400kms either side of Townsville for crowd v population rates then you can add the whole of Sydney to your Raiders catchment figure as it's even closer to Canberra than what Mackay and Cairns is to Townsville........... then if you use that same ideology, you can also use Brisbane as a catchment for the Titans.......

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Canberra's average crowd compared to population, is pretty good. They essentially average 1 person to their games per 29.9 people in their metro population:

City/Region	Population	Teams	Proportion per team	Average Crowd (2025)	Crowd per pop
Newcastle	508,437	1​	508,437​	22,913​	22.2​
North Queensland*	414,052	1​	414,052​	18,320​	22.6​
Illawarra	313,842	1​	313,842​	12,310​	25.5​
Canberra	453,558	1​	453,558​	15,161​	29.9​
Sydney	5,557,233	9​	617,470​	19,287​	32.0​
Brisbane	2,780,063	2​	1,390,032​	33,601​	41.4​
Gold Coast	640,778	1​	640,778​	14,286​	44.9​
Auckland	1,797,300	1​	1,797,300​	22,275​	80.7​
Melbourne	5,207,145	1​	5,207,145​	23,348​	223.0​

Melbourne are doing well despite the high quotient, considering they are still an expansion team in the epicenter of AFL. To truly judge the success of Melbourne's crowds you have to look at how they have grown over time (149% growth since 2005, 49% since 2014, and 28% since 2018). Warriors being in traditional Union territory need to be cut some slack too. Again with the Warriors you need to look at growth over time rather than comparing their numbers to the Broncos or the Knights for example. Comparing the Warrior or Storm with the Broncos or Knights would be extremely harsh and lacking acumen.

Newcastle and North Queensland are unsurprisingly the best when it comes to average crowd per head of population.

*The North Queensland population includes Townsville and surrounding LGAs such as Charters Towers, Whitsunday and Mackay, not Cairns though.

Interesting stuff and thanks for posting, but it can't be said that Melbourne has 5.2M people to itself. There are 9 (I think) religiously followed AFL teams there.

That being the case Melbourne's crowd per population ratio as per your formula there is 22.3. Which is incredibly impressive in a hostile, foreign city.

 

[RedVee]

This old chestnut.

You cannot compare apples v oranges, so bear with me below, I'll use my club (NQ) as an example as its the most isolated and most unique club out of the whole comp.

100% the club represents the whole of NQ (which it has been shit at during times in the past).

You mention you are including certain NQ catchments of down to Mackay and others but mention "not Cairns"......you realise Cairns is actually closer to Townsville than Mackay is??

Also, if you are then going to consider 400kms either side of Townsville for crowd v population rates then you can add the whole of Sydney to your Raiders catchment figure as it's even closer to Canberra than what Mackay and Cairns is to Townsville........... then if you use that same ideology, you can also use Brisbane as a catchment for the Titans.......

And all of Southern England as a catchment for London Bronco’s