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2025 Crowd Watch

S

Sky_Is_The_Limit

Juniors
Messages
520
Some fun facts on tonight's crowd:
- Biggest sporting attendance for any code in Brisbane in the 2020s (besting 52,457 for State of Origin in 2024)
- Third biggest sporting attendance for any code in Brisbane in the past decade
- Seventh biggest rugby league crowd in Brisbane since the redeveloped Suncorp Stadium reopened in 2003
- Tenth biggest sporting attendance for any code in Brisbane in the past 20 years
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
6,540
So I feel it's fair to say, a number of the experiments that the NRL ran with this year's WSOO didn't generate the uplift they expected.

Firstly, the hope that a 4 day Magic pass would significantly boost the crowds for Game One never materialised. I'm sure the NRL won't release actual figures, but it seemed like that ticketing option moved very little seats (I estimate around 1-2K max)

Secondly, moving Game Two forward so it was played inbetween Magic & Men's Origin unfortunately didn't help elevate the series. In fact lead in coverage was unfortunately down, with the game getting lost inbetween regular fixtures. If they wanted to play it before the Men's series, last Thursday would have been better when it was competing with a split round.

Thirdly, natural audience size for the series is around 20Kish per game. Moving fixtures to bigger grounds without a better marketing plan isn't going to translate to bigger crowds, as shown at Allianz (which would have been over 20K if not for the rain based upon pre-sales).

Still a very positive series and solid consolidation after a record year last year.
 
newc18

newc18

Juniors
Messages
247
yakstorm said:
So I feel it's fair to say, a number of the experiments that the NRL ran with this year's WSOO didn't generate the uplift they expected.

Firstly, the hope that a 4 day Magic pass would significantly boost the crowds for Game One never materialised. I'm sure the NRL won't release actual figures, but it seemed like that ticketing option moved very little seats (I estimate around 1-2K max)

Secondly, moving Game Two forward so it was played inbetween Magic & Men's Origin unfortunately didn't help elevate the series. In fact lead in coverage was unfortunately down, with the game getting lost inbetween regular fixtures. If they wanted to play it before the Men's series, last Thursday would have been better when it was competing with a split round.

Thirdly, natural audience size for the series is around 20Kish per game. Moving fixtures to bigger grounds without a better marketing plan isn't going to translate to bigger crowds, as shown at Allianz (which would have been over 20K if not for the rain based upon pre-sales).

Still a very positive series and solid consolidation after a record year last year.
Click to expand...
I know not everyone is a fan of standalone Origin but I'd love to see Women's Origin on Saturday night and the Men's on Sunday night over 3 weeks.
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
6,540
newc18 said:
I know not everyone is a fan of standalone Origin but I'd love to see Women's Origin on Saturday night and the Men's on Sunday night over 3 weeks.
Click to expand...
I'd be a fan. Personally, I'd go for WSOO on Friday, NZ/Tonga/Samoa Tri-Series on Saturday, Men's Origin on Sunday, but I'd be happy with the above.
 
T-Boon

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
17,201
newc18 said:
I know not everyone is a fan of standalone Origin but I'd love to see Women's Origin on Saturday night and the Men's on Sunday night over 3 weeks.
Click to expand...
the only thing is the ratings on Wednesday night are phenomenal. Why not have them tuesday night and wednesday night instead?
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
73,556
T-Boon said:
the only thing is the ratings on Wednesday night are phenomenal. Why not have them tuesday night and wednesday night instead?
Click to expand...
Didn't the weekend origin rate higher than some mid week origins?
Ive heard the WA govt were desperate for the Perth origin to be on weekend like previous games but Ch9 wouldn't allow it. NRL compromised with putting the Dolphins game on following weekend to try and encourage some fans to stay over a few days. I reckon sports tourist numbers will take a big hit being mid week in Perth.
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
6,540
So hoping I'm wrong, though I feel like we might not have a game crack 20K this round.

Looking at pre-sales, tonight's Dragons v Knights game is looking like 8K-10K at Kogarah.

Titans v Storm has had encouraging pre-sales for a Titans game, so might push 16K, Cowboys v Tigers is trending for 17-18K and Sea Eagles v Broncos is set to be another 17K sell out.

Sunday's the best chance of a 20K game, though Rabbitohs v Warriors hasn't been moving like I'd hope (unless everyone is just buying GA), same with Panthers v Eels, there are a lot of bays, especially in the North and South ends which are still majority full. At the moment I'd say we're looking at around 18K for both.

Timeslot is hurting Roosters v Raiders, looking like 16-18K
 
newc18

newc18

Juniors
Messages
247
T-Boon said:
the only thing is the ratings on Wednesday night are phenomenal. Why not have them tuesday night and wednesday night instead?
Click to expand...
My thinking is you could make State of Origin an all day thing like the NRL Grand Final. You could play an under 19's SOO beforehand and just make the event even bigger. Bring in pre-game entertainment like the GF.

You could do the exact same thing for the women but on Saturday (which could probably result in a bigger crowd). Television viewers might drop going from Thursday but I think you could build them back up again.

While Wednesday is popular on television, imo l think it limits how good you can make the whole event.
 
W

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
42,085
yakstorm said:
So I feel it's fair to say, a number of the experiments that the NRL ran with this year's WSOO didn't generate the uplift they expected.

Firstly, the hope that a 4 day Magic pass would significantly boost the crowds for Game One never materialised. I'm sure the NRL won't release actual figures, but it seemed like that ticketing option moved very little seats (I estimate around 1-2K max)

Secondly, moving Game Two forward so it was played inbetween Magic & Men's Origin unfortunately didn't help elevate the series. In fact lead in coverage was unfortunately down, with the game getting lost inbetween regular fixtures. If they wanted to play it before the Men's series, last Thursday would have been better when it was competing with a split round.

Thirdly, natural audience size for the series is around 20Kish per game. Moving fixtures to bigger grounds without a better marketing plan isn't going to translate to bigger crowds, as shown at Allianz (which would have been over 20K if not for the rain based upon pre-sales).

Still a very positive series and solid consolidation after a record year last year.
Click to expand...
Should be taking games to Canberra and north qld instead of Allianz and Suncorp

Regional centres are starved of elite rep games which will help ticket sales
 
T-Boon

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
17,201
yakstorm said:
So I feel it's fair to say, a number of the experiments that the NRL ran with this year's WSOO didn't generate the uplift they expected.

Firstly, the hope that a 4 day Magic pass would significantly boost the crowds for Game One never materialised. I'm sure the NRL won't release actual figures, but it seemed like that ticketing option moved very little seats (I estimate around 1-2K max)

Secondly, moving Game Two forward so it was played inbetween Magic & Men's Origin unfortunately didn't help elevate the series. In fact lead in coverage was unfortunately down, with the game getting lost inbetween regular fixtures. If they wanted to play it before the Men's series, last Thursday would have been better when it was competing with a split round.

Thirdly, natural audience size for the series is around 20Kish per game. Moving fixtures to bigger grounds without a better marketing plan isn't going to translate to bigger crowds, as shown at Allianz (which would have been over 20K if not for the rain based upon pre-sales).

Still a very positive series and solid consolidation after a record year last year.
Click to expand...
I think this is a fair review although I'd give it another year with the same set up and pray for good weather. If it is wet hardly any sydney sports fans leave the lounge room (been like that forever) but in the dry things are different. That could be more of a 30k crowd....plus Newcastle has not had good weather yet.
I am a believer in the WNRL starting when the NRL does, peak RL interest time, so they should look into that as well and promo WSOO throughout the start of WNRL.
 
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