i would rather 23k packed into Kogarah with an amazing atmosphere and a TRUE home ground advantage, compared to 28k at Homebush, playing in a stadium devoid of atmosphere being 70% empty and sacrificing a true home ground advantage because its actually the other teams home ground..
sure short term you make a little more cash on gate takings + the NRL's little cash bonus, however just say you miss the finals buy 2 points having lost a game at Homebush that should have been a Kogarah home game that you increase your chance of winning...
the financial repercussions long term could far outweigh any short term advantage..
Yeah I agree except last year we kept getting flogged at Kogarah. I'd like to see Dragons v Tigers played on Sat as a double header with Parra and Penrith every year and make it a big event as everyone is itching to see a game after the offseason so take advantage and make it an attractive option for them, give them something to travel for.
Worth note is that Dragons v Parra & Knights v Manly double header in 1999 at Stadium Australia attendence was a world record 104 000!
Other Sydney teams you could involve would be Souths, Rorters and dogs. For me it's a no brainer
F**k it lets do a tripple header lol and sell the stadium out. I believe it has been remodelled and only holds 83 500 but could it be temporarily remodelled back in an attempt to break the world record? What a great start to the season and a great promotion for NRL.........or am I just high lol
The rest of the weeks games barre maybe 1 you play outside of Sydney and the following week you play the Grandfinal rematch. If one of the previous Grandfinalists were outside sydney you give them a home game for their fans. Follow that week with a rivalry round and then Women in League round. Thats 4 weeks to start with a bang and get punters used to going back to the games.
My other big idea is to run a separate competition during the state of origin series in a group format like the world cup. That way you eliminate the unfairness of teams playing without origin stars relative to the proper season and also most of the irregularity of playing most teams twice. You would then only have to play about 2 teams twice in the proper season which you would make either rivalry or local derby games.
Last but not least I realised this season and last that the offseason is very long for supporters of teams who don't make the 8, why not run a second tier finals series. It also resolves the feeling that you get toward the end of the finals when there is not much football. These may seem like crazy idea's but they add interest.
Thoughts?
