Apologies for this post, it contains positivity.
The history bit
From 1979-1987 league crowd averages were sub 10k. Before that, there had been the odd year above 10k average, with a 'purple patch' (1964-1971) where crowd averages were between 10,342 and 12,854).
This all dipped away, 1988 marked the 'return' of a 10k crowd average. Newcastle led the charge with 20k+ per game, the Broncos (16k) and Eels (13k) did the rest of the heavy lifting.
From 1988 to 1994, crowds increased by almost 50%. 1995 saw the inclusion of new teams, and a predictable drop in attendance (not from the new teams home games, but away attendance).
Super League was rumbling in the background, and the washup of it all was a drop back to 10,934 average in 1998.
The relevant bit NRL vs AFL 1998 --> present
From 1998, to today, the NRL has seen crowds increase 47.6%
Over the same time frame, the AFL has seen a 6.4% decrease in crowd numbers.
Anyone saying ground capacity has no relevance on crowd size is nuts, and AFL obviously play at larger capacity grounds (cricket ovals vs rectangle fields). Sure, in terms of actual numbers, the AFL is streets ahead, but one sport is growing the crowd averages, and the other sport is running on the spot.
Sure, since 2005 there has been little NRL growth, but lets give Dave Smith a few more years before giving up on him? Last year saw a drop, this year, growth. I've seen more crowd initiatives this year than last.
/\\\\
