I’d suggest that with the growth in crowds a few clubs need to look at crowd maximisation strategies. It’s not a problem we’ve had before. But it’s not as simple as scheduling a game at a larger ground. Just ask the Rabbitohs.
There is a bit of a difference with hosting a game at Accor and the SFS, but yes its not as simple as just moving a game. You need to put it on the right day, right time, right opponent and advertise it well. Give the fans a compelling reason to make the trip.
The roosters had the luxury of playing at the best ground in Sydney with a 4pm Sunday game. They are going well and they are the only club playing at that venue. And its fanbase lives in that area.
Roosters were 8th coming into last weekend. I think the fact they created an event that made fans want to come to the game against an out of town opponent in the Cowboys should be applauded. Cowboys against the Bunnies, Tigers, Sharks, Dragons etc. in Sydney gets half that crowd.
As for the Sharks, the club is still dealing with issues relating to the Development. The ground will return to 18000 capacity. It’s leagues club will reopen. But that’s all held up due to woeful decisions by previous administrators.
Which is more of a reason to look at other venues while all that gets built. Talk with the NRL and venues NSW to get a Sunday 2-4pm slot or whatever the best time the Sharks think people will travel to the SFS and play against a major Sydney club. There's probably tons of Sharks fans who live in Sydney who can't get the Shire and would love to watch a game live.
And yes it should try to market a couple of big games at the SFS in my opinion. But don’t fool yourself that it’s a tried and true strategy by using the roosters as a model.
Exactly. There isn't anything stopping clubs from negotiating a game or two at the SFS. The Bunnies just negotiated 3 games.
And the health of the game is not determined solely or even to a significant extent by crowds.
The NRL is in rude health, is expanding, has record participation , sponsorship, tv ratings, crowds and wealth.
While that is true, more income is important to growing the clubs and the game overall. Last year the Broncos made $28,744,642 million from membership, tickets, and corporate sales. This is up from $16,047,539 in 2019. Outstanding effort if you ask me.
Obviously I'm not expecting clubs like the Sharks to get anywhere near what the Broncos get, but it shows the Broncos have done a great job of building their club over the last 5 years. No reason the Sharks can't strive for 25-30,000 members, sell out crowds to Shark Park every home game and 20-25k to 1 or 2 home games at the SFS each season.
This thread has a history of irrational expectations, morbid whinging when they aren’t met, and endless bickering.
May it never change.
All I want to see is clubs actively looking to grow their memberships, crowds, and overall revenue.
We have a similar fanbase to the AFL, but we just do a poor job as a whole of engaging them and getting them to sign up as members and go to games. No reason every single club in Sydney can't average 20,000 crowds/ 40,000 members at a minimum.
