The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[Western_Eel]

I dont think the stadiums will improve the crowds that much,
they should be focusing on the game day experience, the NRL and club bosses should go and watch a college football game in America and learn how to host a football game

 

[hutch]

I dont think the stadiums will improve the crowds that much,
they should be focusing on the game day experience, the NRL and club bosses should go and watch a college football game in America and learn how to host a football game

I think the stadia will make a huge difference but yes, game day experience has a lot of improvement in it.

 

[Perth Red]

I think the stadia will make a huge difference but yes, game day experience has a lot of improvement in it.

Will it though in isolation? ANZ isnt going to be much better. Allianz will only be used by Roosters who dont have the biggest fanbase, Townsville will improve as long as they dont become annual wooden spooners without JT. Eels should be the big winner if they can get their sht together. After that it depends if anyone else uses WSS, if not then it will be status quo for most clubs. If Bulldogs and Tigers use WSS then I can see improvements in both their clubs attendances. Sharks, Penrith, Raiders, Warriors, St's, Manly not going to see any change unless a more radical strategy is put in place.

 

[Suitman]

 

[taipan]

Will it though in isolation? ANZ isnt going to be much better. Allianz will only be used by Roosters who dont have the biggest fanbase, Townsville will improve as long as they dont become annual wooden spooners without JT. Eels should be the big winner if they can get their sht together. After that it depends if anyone else uses WSS, if not then it will be status quo for most clubs. If Bulldogs and Tigers use WSS then I can see improvements in both their clubs attendances. Sharks, Penrith, Raiders, Warriors, St's, Manly not going to see any change unless a more radical strategy is put in place.

Well the real crowd drops which have affected attendances overall have been mainly ANZ users,Eels/Dogs.Playing games in the bush which is a great idea also impacts averages.
WSS IMO will assist .
You ignore the fact Penrith had a couple of sellouts this year at home.Typically narrow vision comments.
Manly has really dragged averages down with all their off field dramas and performances ,playing in a Park ground.
You just confirmed the fact continued poor performances don;t bring in the crowds.And guess what, that will apply to the Sharks as well as a Perth Nrl side.And with the latter people putting sh*t on Perth's crowds ,will stir you up.

Out of the last few teams you mentioned, it is only really Manly that is the real case for concern crowd wise.The others will have reasonable crowds ,up and down with scheduling and performances.

 

[herbert henry1908]

ANZ will be half arsed, if done at all. They have already won.

I’m less & less concerned about ANZ not being a full knock down & rebuild.

The issue with ANZ isn’t just the stadium being oval shaped with poor sightlines, the location is the real killer. Particularly for certain time lots like Thursday & Friday night. The size of the stadium is the other factor for club games, it would’ve remained as too big under a full knock down.

Better outcome for the NRL is Bulldogs & Tigers moving games to WSS and Souths moving games to Allianz.

ANZ stadium should become an event stadium. Easter Monday, Queens Birthday etc. Use it for Sunday afternoon clashes.

Dogs V Souths
Dogs V Parramatta
Tigers V Dogs
Souths V Tigers

WSS & Allianz should host the rest.

 

[taipan]

I’m less & less concerned about ANZ not being a full knock down & rebuild.

The issue with ANZ isn’t just the stadium being oval shaped with poor sightlines, the location is the real killer. Particularly for certain time lots like Thursday & Friday night. The size of the stadium is the other factor for club games, it would’ve remained as too big under a full knock down.

Better outcome for the NRL is Bulldogs & Tigers moving games to WSS and Souths moving games to Allianz.

ANZ stadium should become an event stadium. Easter Monday, Queens Birthday etc. Use it for Sunday afternoon clashes.

Dogs V Souths
Dogs V Parramatta
Tigers V Dogs
Souths V Tigers

WSS & Allianz should host the rest.

Agree ANZ should be for weekend use.The stadium would get better crowds generally ,the clubs would be happier as well as fans, and the stadium might make more loot through food and drink sales.

Thursday nights should be for Sydney outer suburbs,Auckland,Melbourne,Newcastle.6pm Friday should become Sunday arvo game.
We got screwed with scheduling and money because Smith initially played solo Rambo.The negotiating mould for Fox was then cast in mud.
Then when Rupert's mob get involved in negotiations, the Tv stations appear to say OK Nine wants Thursday night for ratings.and Rupert's mob 6pm Friday to replace Monday nights to get their near $2bn deal.
The NRL in effect was negotiating with one hand behind its back. We got well and truly reamed.
Result 9s Thursday nights ratings are not as they expected and crowds are generally crap,and 6pm Friday crowds in Sydney are crap and would be less than Monday night.
Smith and Grant have b*ggered off into the sunset,and we have been left with a scheduling schmozzle.Only rugby league can create a rod for its own back.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I’m less & less concerned about ANZ not being a full knock down & rebuild.

The issue with ANZ isn’t just the stadium being oval shaped with poor sightlines, the location is the real killer. Particularly for certain time lots like Thursday & Friday night. The size of the stadium is the other factor for club games, it would’ve remained as too big under a full knock down.

Better outcome for the NRL is Bulldogs & Tigers moving games to WSS and Souths moving games to Allianz.

ANZ stadium should become an event stadium. Easter Monday, Queens Birthday etc. Use it for Sunday afternoon clashes.

Dogs V Souths
Dogs V Parramatta
Tigers V Dogs
Souths V Tigers

WSS & Allianz should host the rest.

It would be great if we could standardize the 4pm Sunday match as an ANZ stadium weekly game...

If clubs want the FTA exposure for their sponsors, they can apply to play in the match. We could create a weekly ritual for fans and try to build an event around the match.

 

[Captain Apollo]

It would be great if we could standardize the 4pm Sunday match as an ANZ stadium weekly game...

If clubs want the FTA exposure for their sponsors, they can apply to play in the match. We could create a weekly ritual for fans and try to build an event around the match.

Sorry I disagree there. Why should clubs, other than those already playing out of ANZ, have to move a home game to ANZ stadium to get a 4.00 pm game on a Sunday? Why should the Roosters, St George, Manly, Penrith or Cronulla have to? Let alone are you proposing that non-Sydney based clubs do too? There are plenty of non-Sydney clubs that want 4.00 pm on Sundays, and it is not all about TV exposure either.

There are some clubs where their fan base prefer Sunday afternoon football to Friday or Saturday nights. For example the last time the Roosters surveyed their season ticket holders, the clear preference for scheduling was Sunday afternoon by a looooonnnnnggggg way.

Also you are then providing administrative headaches for those clubs as they would have to negotiate with the owner of the current grounds they hire to shift a game to ANZ Stadium.

 

[Perth Red]

Agree ANZ should be for weekend use.The stadium would get better crowds generally ,the clubs would be happier as well as fans, and the stadium might make more loot through food and drink sales.

Thursday nights should be for Sydney outer suburbs,Auckland,Melbourne,Newcastle.6pm Friday should become Sunday arvo game.
We got screwed with scheduling and money because Smith initially played solo Rambo.The negotiating mould for Fox was then cast in mud.
Then when Rupert's mob get involved in negotiations, the Tv stations appear to say OK Nine wants Thursday night for ratings.and Rupert's mob 6pm Friday to replace Monday nights to get their near $2bn deal.
The NRL in effect was negotiating with one hand behind its back. We got well and truly reamed.
Result 9s Thursday nights ratings are not as they expected and crowds are generally crap,and 6pm Friday crowds in Sydney are crap and would be less than Monday night.
Smith and Grant have b*ggered off into the sunset,and we have been left with a scheduling schmozzle.Only rugby league can create a rod for its own back.

I dont see why we couldnt have two fox games at same time on a sunday afternoon on red button choice or separate channels. End of day they care about total subscribers not how many people watch each game. Sundays should be 2pm FTA Game, two 4pm Fox games. With the ninth game you could have WA games at 6pm EAST as well giving Fox a three or four game Super sunday to go with their super saturday!

 

[Perth Red]

Sorry I disagree there. Why should clubs, other than those already playing out of ANZ, have to move a home game to ANZ stadium to get a 4.00 pm game on a Sunday? Why should the Roosters, St George, Manly, Penrith or Cronulla have to? Let alone are you proposing that non-Sydney based clubs do too? There are plenty of non-Sydney clubs that want 4.00 pm on Sundays, and it is not all about TV exposure either.

There are some clubs where their fan base prefer Sunday afternoon football to Friday or Saturday nights. For example the last time the Roosters surveyed their season ticket holders, the clear preference for scheduling was Sunday afternoon by a looooonnnnnggggg way.

Also you are then providing administrative headaches for those clubs as they would have to negotiate with the owner of the current grounds they hire to shift a game to ANZ Stadium.

$'s and the good of the game. Better 35k in ANZ then 7k in Bathurst. Smith wanted to do this but the clubs told him to rack off.

 

[herbert henry1908]

$'s and the good of the game. Better 35k in ANZ then 7k in Bathurst. Smith wanted to do this but the clubs told him to rack off.

Some clubs just won’t attract a crowd at ANZ.

Just limit it to the clubs who already use it, doesn’t have to be every Sunday. 6 games a year at ANZ is enough. Maybe Parramatta could take one or two blockbusters there too.


It’s a long shot but the best outcome would be

WSS

Parramatta - 8 games
Tigers - 8 games
Bulldogs - 8 Games

ANZ stadium

Parramatta - 2 games
Tigers - 2 Games
Souths - 2 Games
Bulldogs - 2 games

Allianz

Roosters 10 games
Souths 8 Games

The missing 2 games for each team would be ideally played in the bush against small drawing opposition.

 

[Perth Red]

Some clubs just won’t attract a crowd at ANZ.

Just limit it to the clubs who already use it, doesn’t have to be every Sunday. 6 games a year at ANZ is enough. Maybe Parramatta could take one or two blockbusters there too.


It’s a long shot but the best outcome would be

WSS

Parramatta - 8 games
Tigers - 8 games
Bulldogs - 8 Games

ANZ stadium

Parramatta - 2 games
Tigers - 2 Games
Souths - 2 Games
Bulldogs - 2 games

Allianz

Roosters 10 games
Souths 8 Games

The missing 2 games for each team would be ideally played in the bush against small drawing opposition.

I do wonder if the NRL has had to sign some sort of agreement with NSW Govt re usage of the upgraded stadiums? (beyond the GF agreement). Be interesting if they have dictated stadium usage or not. I guess they can continue to influence who plays where by how much they are willing to pay teams to play at ANZ. I cant see any good reason beyond Govt subsidy why a club would choose ANZ over WSS?

 

[herbert henry1908]

I do wonder if the NRL has had to sign some sort of agreement with NSW Govt re usage of the upgraded stadiums? (beyond the GF agreement). Be interesting if they have dictated stadium usage or not. I guess they can continue to influence who plays where by how much they are willing to pay teams to play at ANZ. I cant see any good reason beyond Govt subsidy why a club would choose ANZ over WSS?

My understanding is there is no requirement, the clubs baulked at that suggestion.

In terms of the subsidy to play out of ANZ I think that’s gone. Pretty sure the tigers hinted at that when they said they’re looking at WSS for the future. (But pre-existing contracts would be honoured)

The only reasons to use ANZ over WSS are twofold

A game can draw more than 30k - which we should be aiming towards for some blockbusters

Hesitation to line the pockets of Parramatta Leagues


I’m hoping when clubs see how excellent the facility is that the second point becomes moot.

Dogs & Tigers are going to have to use WSS when ANZ is being refurbished, so they’ll get a good taste of it for two seasons.

 

[Timbo]

ANZ should be by application and league permission only once Nu-SFS and WSS are built.

If you can reasonably expect to draw more than 35,000 to a match, you should be able to apply to shift the match there. If you are expecting a crowd smaller than that, you should be playing it at WSS, nu-SFS in club mode (having said that, for a big Roosters or Bunnies game nu-SFS in championship mode works too) or a suburban ground.

Clubs should have to apply within 21 days to the NRL. If they think it will draw the numbers, they can move the game.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Sorry I disagree there. Why should clubs, other than those already playing out of ANZ, have to move a home game to ANZ stadium to get a 4.00 pm game on a Sunday?

Clubs arent being forced into anything, but the dont have a divine right to have it all their own way either.

ARLC has previously stated the think the big crowd growth potential is in "event" games, so its not unreasonable to think they might do an "ANZ Stadium Match-of-the-Round". The clubs can play along or they can choose not to. Thats fine, im sure the teams already playing at ANZ would be happy to full the 4pm Sunday slots all by themselves.

There are 9 Sydney teams. It is mathamatically impossible (outside of bye rounds) to not have at least one Sydney game. If the price of the prized Sunday 4pm is to join in on this inniciative, im sure we would get a fe hands going up.

Why should the Roosters, St George, Manly, Penrith or Cronulla have to?

They dont NEED to, but they shouldnt be rewarded for refusing to do something that could benefit the sport as a whole.

Let alone are you proposing that non-Sydney based clubs do too? There are plenty of non-Sydney clubs that want 4.00 pm on Sundays, and it is not all about TV exposure either.There are some clubs where their fan base prefer Sunday afternoon football to Friday or Saturday nights. For example the last time the Roosters surveyed their season ticket holders, the clear preference for scheduling was Sunday afternoon by a looooonnnnnggggg way.

There are other afternoon games teams can ask for and there are other FTA tv spots teams can have too.

If this would need big Sunday crowds, i think this is a reasonable sacrifice.

Also you are then providing administrative headaches for those clubs as they would have to negotiate with the owner of the current grounds they hire to shift a game to ANZ Stadium.

The ARLC could easily take control of this negotiation and bargain a collective deal.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Some clubs just won’t attract a crowd at ANZ.

Just limit it to the clubs who already use it, doesn’t have to be every Sunday. 6 games a year at ANZ is enough. Maybe Parramatta could take one or two blockbusters there too.

The teams that dont draw at ANZ just dont need to participate, but i think any team would benefit from the neutral fans who would turn up to this...

It would need to be just about every week though. The point would be to create a regular, standard ritual that is easy for fans to follow.

The problem with each team having their own suburban ground is that it repels away supporters. The new location, figuring out parking/public transport, new food/entertainment place; the stress of the whole thing would put lots of fans off. Football shouldnt be stressful, it should be like a going back to a childhood home.

A weekly ANZ game would mean fans know exactly what they need to do to get their and home, know all the best places to go in the area and they would hopefully feel like they are part of a growing community.

(i know Homebush is usually a lifeless dump, but this would also allow the NRL/local council/whoever to organise a weekly market in the precinct. Homebush can easily handle an 80k crowds, so 20-40k would be a piece of piss. ANd most weekly markets would kill for just a fraction of that foot traffic.)

 

[taipan]

I dont see why we couldnt have two fox games at same time on a sunday afternoon on red button choice or separate channels. End of day they care about total subscribers not how many people watch each game. Sundays should be 2pm FTA Game, two 4pm Fox games. With the ninth game you could have WA games at 6pm EAST as well giving Fox a three or four game Super sunday to go with their super saturday!

One word:Agree

 

[Captain Apollo]

Clubs arent being forced into anything, but the dont have a divine right to have it all their own way either.

ARLC has previously stated the think the big crowd growth potential is in "event" games, so its not unreasonable to think they might do an "ANZ Stadium Match-of-the-Round". The clubs can play along or they can choose not to. Thats fine, im sure the teams already playing at ANZ would be happy to full the 4pm Sunday slots all by themselves.

There are 9 Sydney teams. It is mathamatically impossible (outside of bye rounds) to not have at least one Sydney game. If the price of the prized Sunday 4pm is to join in on this inniciative, im sure we would get a fe hands going up.

They dont NEED to, but they shouldnt be rewarded for refusing to do something that could benefit the sport as a whole.

There are other afternoon games teams can ask for and there are other FTA tv spots teams can have too.

If this would need big Sunday crowds, i think this is a reasonable sacrifice.

The ARLC could easily take control of this negotiation and bargain a collective deal.

This is back to the future stuff. We used to have the "match of the round" played at the SCG until the early 1970s. Main reason it got big crowds was because the games were not on TV. These days every game is live on TV, and because you can get such a good view of the game on TV, many league fans won't attend games in person. Add in those on limited budgets, and even more stay home.

You want people to attend games, you have to give them a reason to. Just playing at ANZ alone won't get people to attend. Yes better facilities do help, but alone they won't address the malaise in people not attending games.

You have not made a justifiable case for why ANZ Stadium should, automatically, get the 4pm Sunday time slot. Without any disrespect to their fans, Gee I could imagine the barnstorming crowd of neutrals you'd get this year if the Eels played the Bulldogs at ANZ and you put it at 4.00 pm on a Sunday

I don't agree with playing games at suburban grounds, but just saying all the big games should be at ANZ Stadium alone doing forward is short sighted and what I am against per se. For example, why should the Roosters have to move a home game against Souths from the SFS to ANZ when their ground will accommodate the crowd? It makes no sense at all.

 

[Perth Red]

This is back to the future stuff. We used to have the "match of the round" played at the SCG until the early 1970s. Main reason it got big crowds was because the games were not on TV. These days every game is live on TV, and because you can get such a good view of the game on TV, many league fans won't attend games in person. Add in those on limited budgets, and even more stay home.

You want people to attend games, you have to give them a reason to. Just playing at ANZ alone won't get people to attend. Yes better facilities do help, but alone they won't address the malaise in people not attending games.

You have not made a justifiable case for why ANZ Stadium should, automatically, get the 4pm Sunday time slot. Without any disrespect to their fans, Gee I could imagine the barnstorming crowd of neutrals you'd get this year if the Eels played the Bulldogs at ANZ and you put it at 4.00 pm on a Sunday

I don't agree with playing games at suburban grounds, but just saying all the big games should be at ANZ Stadium alone doing forward is short sighted and what I am against per se. For example, why should the Roosters have to move a home game against Souths from the SFS to ANZ when their ground will accommodate the crowd? It makes no sense at all.

You missed his point entirely, there would be lots of reasons to attend and not sit at home watching on tv. With the game being nrl controlled the nrl could put on a game day experience unseen in Australia before. It could become the must do event in Sydney on a Sunday for locals and tourists.
Anz has the capacity to make it free for any nrl ticketed member. Throw in a heap of stuff happening outside the ground from 11am, helps of food options for Sunday lunch and turn into somewhere that is a great Sunday out regardless of whose playing. If we can’t get 40k out of 5million turning up every weekend then the game really is up sht creek. If it fails at least we tried something different!