The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[Frailty]

Until the NRL and clubs put the focus on crowds, the "Big Stadium will bring the crowds" approach just won't work. I agree with @Perth Red in that larger stadiums should be a target for growth - but it's not the NRLs priority.

Case in point - the Friday 6pm game is a horrible time slot for everyone but the Warriors. The NRL also seems to make this even worse by scheduling out of town teams to play in this slot. Sharks vs Knights at 6pm on Friday ensured that if any Knights fan wanted to attend they would need to take the afternoon off work. People aren't going to do that for a round 4 game.

 

[Iamback]

Until the NRL and clubs put the focus on crowds, the "Big Stadium will bring the crowds" approach just won't work. I agree with @Perth Red in that larger stadiums should be a target for growth - but it's not the NRLs priority.

Case in point - the Friday 6pm game is a horrible time slot for everyone but the Warriors. The NRL also seems to make this even worse by scheduling out of town teams to play in this slot. Sharks vs Knights at 6pm on Friday ensured that if any Knights fan wanted to attend they would need to take the afternoon off work. People aren't going to do that for a round 4 game.

They just need to have an event game each season and play the rest of normal home grounds

 

[Jamberoo]

Until the NRL and clubs put the focus on crowds, the "Big Stadium will bring the crowds" approach just won't work. I agree with @Perth Red in that larger stadiums should be a target for growth - but it's not the NRLs priority.

Case in point - the Friday 6pm game is a horrible time slot for everyone but the Warriors. The NRL also seems to make this even worse by scheduling out of town teams to play in this slot. Sharks vs Knights at 6pm on Friday ensured that if any Knights fan wanted to attend they would need to take the afternoon off work. People aren't going to do that for a round 4 game.

This.
The NRL's priority is broadcast revenue. This is where they are on level pegging with the AFL. They would not want to slip behind to a clear second. There is no way back from that.
The AFL prioritises crowds - Broadcasters have no say in the fixture - hence their GF is still played during the day. They also put the games in Melbourne in the best slots for crowds, and the WA/SA teams get the worst time slots. They believe that those fans are so passionate that they will attend or watch on TV no matter when the games are. NRL does the opposite - Broncos in the best slots.
With so much $$$ being spent on Sydney stadiums, let hope that they rethink how they do the draw, so that more people attend in Sydney. If crowds dwindle away, eventually, fans become disconnected from their club. Get the fixture right - both time slots and who plays where, and crowds will grow. Games in turn look better and have more atmosphere on TV, and that helps the broadcaster as well. 20K stadiums are fine - as long as they are full,

 

[Perth Red]

Sydney teams have been playing at Stadium Australia for 23 years. At one stage it had a capacity of 100k. It still has about 80k seats. Crowds haven't improved.

strawman argument. No one is suggesting playin in an 80k seat stadium is a good idea! All NRL stadiums should be a min 25k all seater with 80% covered.

 

[Perth Red]

SFS has been a good ground but its crowds aren't any better.

Parramatta Stadium is world class but its attendances are small.

I think there's just not enough people willing to attend games. They make excuses to not go because they find the hassle of getting to and from games outweighs the benefit of seeing the action from the stands. In my case, health issues and pets make it extremely stressful and burdensome to attend games.

You have to encourage them. The best attended clubs are all playing out of modern 30k plus stadiums, coincidence?

 

[Perth Red]

Which is why TV is king really

Only because we have allowed it to be, clubs are missing out on massive revenue opportunities with their, and the games, current attitude that TV brings in the money so we will sacrifice fanbase.

 

[Tiger Shark]

This.
The NRL's priority is broadcast revenue. This is where they are on level pegging with the AFL. They would not want to slip behind to a clear second. There is no way back from that.
The AFL prioritises crowds - Broadcasters have no say in the fixture - hence their GF is still played during the day. They also put the games in Melbourne in the best slots for crowds, and the WA/SA teams get the worst time slots. They believe that those fans are so passionate that they will attend or watch on TV no matter when the games are. NRL does the opposite - Broncos in the best slots.
With so much $$$ being spent on Sydney stadiums, let hope that they rethink how they do the draw, so that more people attend in Sydney. If crowds dwindle away, eventually, fans become disconnected from their club. Get the fixture right - both time slots and who plays where, and crowds will grow. Games in turn look better and have more atmosphere on TV, and that helps the broadcaster as well. 20K stadiums are fine - as long as they are full,

The AFL and NRL are very different games on TV vs Live though. AFL has so much off the ball things going on that seeing it Live is better.

League doesn't and so watching at the comfort of your own home you dont miss as much.

No stadiums or scheduling will change that aspect.

 

[mongoose]

The AFL and NRL are very different games on TV vs Live though. AFL has so much off the ball things going on that seeing it Live is better.

League doesn't and so watching at the comfort of your own home you dont miss as much.

No stadiums or scheduling will change that aspect.

I think its more to do with AFL and the cities its played in have an attendance culture, while NRL, especially in Sydney does not. The Knights are the only team who regularly attract good crowds with respect to the cities population. Even the Broncos attendance is pretty mediocre when they are drawing on a city of 2.2 million. So what's the difference between Newcastle and other places where League is played?

League definitely translates to TV better but it shouldn't be hard to get more people to see games live...

 

[Perth Red]

The AFL and NRL are very different games on TV vs Live though. AFL has so much off the ball things going on that seeing it Live is better.

League doesn't and so watching at the comfort of your own home you dont miss as much.

No stadiums or scheduling will change that aspect.

You'll never get the same buzz watching on Tv as you do in the stands. That's why live events are generally more memorable and more fun. Yes it takes a bit of effort and some cash but isnt that why they are called "fans" rather than just watchers? Nothing fanatical about sitting on the settee because you cant be arsed to support your team in person.

 

[Perth Red]

I think its more to do with AFL and the cities its played in have an attendance culture, while NRL, especially in Sydney does not. The Knights are the only team who regularly attract good crowds with respect to the cities population. Even the Broncos attendance is pretty mediocre when they are drawing on a city of 2.2 million. So what's the difference between Newcastle and other places where League is played?

League definitely translates to TV better but it shouldn't be hard to get more people to see games live...

Culture of attending plays a big part but as does facilities, ease of access, cost etc
AFL clubs raise an awful lot of revenue from their fanbases compared to NRL clubs and this is also a key driver of club and code expectation and behavior. EG they wont bring in stupid KO times at the whim of TV as it would be too costly for clubs.

The annoying thing is we have compromised attendances for TV and still get less money from our Tv partners!

 

[Iamback]

Only because we have allowed it to be, clubs are missing out on massive revenue opportunities with their, and the games, current attitude that TV brings in the money so we will sacrifice fanbase.

Fans are fickle TV money isn't

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Take Redcliffe. Hosting games mean more people come back to the club after the game.

Unless you know for certain it will be worth it then better off staying

In the long term it would be good for The Dolphins to rebrand as Moreton Bay Dolphins ane play all of their games out of Dolphin Oval. That area needs a team of its own. If they fan sell out Dolphin Oval every game and create a waiting list for fans to become ticketed members them it will improve their chances of getting the eastern and western stands upgraded to two or three tiers so that they can increase the capacity to 20k. I think 20k is a reasonable size for an NRL club until there's ever a demand for a bigger one.

 

[Jamberoo]

Fans are fickle TV money isn't

It will be if the ratings drop. If NRL is giving up on growing crowd then 15k stadiums will suffice - the atmosphere will be better both at the game and on TV.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Culture of attending plays a big part but as does facilities, ease of access, cost etc
AFL clubs raise an awful lot of revenue from their fanbases compared to NRL clubs and this is also a key driver of club and code expectation and behavior. EG they wont bring in stupid KO times at the whim of TV as it would be too costly for clubs.

The annoying thing is we have compromised attendances for TV and still get less money from our Tv partners!

Socio-economic factors play a role. The average RL fan is probably not as wealthy as the yuppies who watch fumbleball and onionball.

 

[Ozzi_78]

Back on topic… upup

A million reasons Brooks won’t be leaving the Wests Tigers

Luke Brooks’ salary has been going up incrementally since he signed his current contract with the Wests Tigers. Next year, he will be one of the top 10 paid players in the NRL.

www.smh.com.au

Sharks Stadium in line for windfall​

The NSW State Government is close to finalising its strategy regarding the NRL’s suburban grounds investment.
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While Penrith has been confirmed and Manly tipped to get another cash injection for Brookvale Oval, momentum is gathering for Cronulla’s privately-owned stadium to get a significant makeover.
Funds were originally put aside for a major renovation at Jubilee Oval. The Sharks can thank the Dragons, who showed little interest in playing more than half of their games at Kogarah each year given their ties to the South Coast

 

[Iamback]

It will be if the ratings drop. If NRL is giving up on growing crowd then 15k stadiums will suffice - the atmosphere will be better both at the game and on TV.

Ratings are going up though. Covid has gotten people in the habit of watching stuff on tv

 

[Perth Red]

It will be if the ratings drop. If NRL is giving up on growing crowd then 15k stadiums will suffice - the atmosphere will be better both at the game and on TV.

Nrl clubs only have 3 main sources of football related income. nrl grant, sponsorship and game day sales of memberships, tickets and corporate boxes. Handicapping one of them doesn’t seem a wise move!

 

[Iamback]

Nrl clubs only have 3 main sources of football related income. nrl grant, sponsorship and game day sales of memberships, tickets and corporate boxes. Handicapping one of them doesn’t seem a wise move!

Yet you want to do that by taking home games away

 

[LeagueXIII]

There's not enough rugby league fans in Sydney to support nine clubs with strong attendances. We don't even have enough casual fans to watch all nine Sydney clubs on TV, which is evident by the ratings. We've got four or five clubs across Sydney who draw well on TV and have decent attendances. The other half are just making up the numbers and preventing the big guns from growing.

Canada has over 35m people, yet there's just nine clubs in the Canadian Football League. Those nine clubs are spread out all over the country. The attendance

I think its more to do with AFL and the cities its played in have an attendance culture, while NRL, especially in Sydney does not. The Knights are the only team who regularly attract good crowds with respect to the cities population. Even the Broncos attendance is pretty mediocre when they are drawing on a city of 2.2 million. So what's the difference between Newcastle and other places where League is played?

League definitely translates to TV better but it shouldn't be hard to get more people to see games live...

AFL cities love the sport whilst it seems in Sydney more people hate league then like it.

 

[Iamback]

AFL cities love the sport whilst it seems in Sydney more people hate league then like it.

More sport here. More people of a liking more than just League