I have just been gowing through crowd stats of Both the NRL/ARL/NSWRL and the AFL/VFL, now before you say this is us verses them wait a second.
In the late 80's to early 90's AFL crowds stated to boom on the back of highly succesfull expansion clubs, and well organised blockbuster matches at the M.C.G.
Rugby League was starting to gather this same boom in the early 90's before the Super League war came to town, Brisbane were drawing crowds of over 45,000 the Knights were above the 20K mark as were the Crushers, Reds, Warriors and Cowboys. We all no what followed this shot in the arm that Rugby League had recieved.
It's only now were our crowds are on the rise again and i think marketed properley we can see Sydney clubs with average gates of over 20,000 people, first things first we need to try and spark a bit of rivalry between the old foe and the new blood. I propose that we have organised blockbuster matches in sydney amongst the big clubs in the big stadiums for example.
Parramatta v Canterbury Telstra Stadium Sunday afternoon, this match would be a pay tv match to try and gather more fans to the stadium, i also think that the big matches like this have no place on Friday night football.
Souths v St.George Sydney Cricket Ground Sunday afternoon, I went to a similar fixture on a saturday afternoon back in 99 there was a crowd of about 13,000 which is pretty good in Sydney in that timeslot. When St.George came out the dressing rooms it was a sight that would humble any RL fan seeing the red V walk down to the playing surface infront of the members.
Easts v Penrith Telstra Stadium Sunday afternoon, after last seasons climax no one could argue against such a fixture.
Matches that i would have Ch.9 show on Friday nights would be Newcastle v Brisbane, Brisbane v St.George.
I would also be inclined to have ch.9 do sunday football from townsville when the cowboys host the Broncos as this always attracts a bumper crowd regardless of the Northerners form.
The NRL needs to start stimulating the crowds like the AFL did in order to gain respect from the national media, this maybe what the game needs to get back on FTA nation wide again.
In the late 80's to early 90's AFL crowds stated to boom on the back of highly succesfull expansion clubs, and well organised blockbuster matches at the M.C.G.
Rugby League was starting to gather this same boom in the early 90's before the Super League war came to town, Brisbane were drawing crowds of over 45,000 the Knights were above the 20K mark as were the Crushers, Reds, Warriors and Cowboys. We all no what followed this shot in the arm that Rugby League had recieved.
It's only now were our crowds are on the rise again and i think marketed properley we can see Sydney clubs with average gates of over 20,000 people, first things first we need to try and spark a bit of rivalry between the old foe and the new blood. I propose that we have organised blockbuster matches in sydney amongst the big clubs in the big stadiums for example.
Parramatta v Canterbury Telstra Stadium Sunday afternoon, this match would be a pay tv match to try and gather more fans to the stadium, i also think that the big matches like this have no place on Friday night football.
Souths v St.George Sydney Cricket Ground Sunday afternoon, I went to a similar fixture on a saturday afternoon back in 99 there was a crowd of about 13,000 which is pretty good in Sydney in that timeslot. When St.George came out the dressing rooms it was a sight that would humble any RL fan seeing the red V walk down to the playing surface infront of the members.
Easts v Penrith Telstra Stadium Sunday afternoon, after last seasons climax no one could argue against such a fixture.
Matches that i would have Ch.9 show on Friday nights would be Newcastle v Brisbane, Brisbane v St.George.
I would also be inclined to have ch.9 do sunday football from townsville when the cowboys host the Broncos as this always attracts a bumper crowd regardless of the Northerners form.
The NRL needs to start stimulating the crowds like the AFL did in order to gain respect from the national media, this maybe what the game needs to get back on FTA nation wide again.