here are the official world cup press releases

[Paullyboy]

I cant believe people are expecting the minnows games to be shown on FTA! Get some perspective guys, it'd be an absolute ratings failure.

I also laughed at the suggestion that Gosford is 'too small'. Do you honestly think we are going to get crowds anywhere near 10,000 (let alone 20,000) for games between the minnows?

 

[brendothejet]

I cant believe people are expecting the minnows games to be shown on FTA! Get some perspective guys, it'd be an absolute ratings failure.

I also laughed at the suggestion that Gosford is 'too small'. Do you honestly think we are going to get crowds anywhere near 10,000 (let alone 20,000) for games between the minnows?

Every stadium, every game we should be aiming for sellout. The only way to get big crowds is to aim for them, to want them , to promote for them, to build them.

The minnows can easily draw 20k to gosford. RL heartland, FRance vs Fiji. It will be a great game of footy with plenty of big name players attached to it.

 

[langpark]

Every stadium, every game we should be aiming for sellout. The only way to get big crowds is to aim for them, to want them , to promote for them, to build them.

The minnows can easily draw 20k to gosford. RL heartland, FRance vs Fiji. It will be a great game of footy with plenty of big name players attached to it.

I agree, I think 25k should be the absolute minimum a stadium should hold for a match, altho maybe an exception can be made for Gosford. With only 19 World Cup games, for the whole of Australia, tickets will be in such high demand every game should sellout IMO, even the Tonga v Samoa type matches.

That's the good thing about only 10 teams, Tonga v Samoa is about as 'minnow' as it's gonna get, yet that game will probably feature about 10 professionals or so. Every game should be a good game of footy.

 

[steeden.]

remember theres a Queensland regional centre that is getting a game - which would make it either Cairns or Rockhampton, with the Courier Mail today saying it will probably be Rockhampton. Only problem is that Browne Park only holds ~10,000 from memory.

 

[Nook]

I also laughed at the suggestion that Gosford is 'too small'. Do you honestly think we are going to get crowds anywhere near 10,000 (let alone 20,000) for games between the minnows?

Yup.

If done right all games can get above that, easily. The 'regional centres' will eat 'em up - Queensland and one somewhere in the 'bush' in NSW. A bit of smart community advertising in Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong (+Campbelltown for that matter) will see good crowds for the one-off 'novelty' matches.

 

[aarondoyle]

remember theres a Queensland regional centre that is getting a game - which would make it either Cairns or Rockhampton, with the Courier Mail today saying it will probably be Rockhampton. Only problem is that Browne Park only holds ~10,000 from memory.

Mackay is getting a new stadium...

 

[Gibbo]

remember theres a Queensland regional centre that is getting a game - which would make it either Cairns or Rockhampton, with the Courier Mail today saying it will probably be Rockhampton. Only problem is that Browne Park only holds ~10,000 from memory.

The new Mackay ground is supposed to hold 15 000, not sure when it is due to be completed though

 

[brendothejet]

I reckon we will see games at Dairy Farmers, Suncorp, Robina, EAS, Gosford, SFS, Telstra, Telstra Dome, Memebers Equity.

i hope they dont get stuck in little 10k jobbies..

 

[Lockyer4President!]

The new Mackay ground is supposed to hold 15 000, not sure when it is due to be completed though

Next year apparently. It's one grandstand and a few light towers so it won't take too long to build.

 

[brendothejet]

Next year apparently. It's one grandstand and a few light towers so it won't take too long to build.

Then i hope to f**k it doesn't get a game.

No mickey mouse stadiums please.

 

[International RL]

Then i hope to f**k it doesn't get a game.

No mickey mouse stadiums please.

agreed. 19 games. promote the hell out of it, good grounds. There are good enough stadiums around in regional areas,[p';0---------------------------------- to not have to resort to cow paddocks

 

[yosh64]

Really happy with what has come out. Although they have left me excited and wanting to know more.

People have been whinging bout the lack of free to air games. Compare it to union world cup and even they couldnt get every game on fta. It just wouldnt rate. As long as fox pays to have them i'll be happy. Remember that the matches that wont be aired in Oz are probably being bought by overseas nations. Its just not commercially feasible to air all the games in Oz on fta.

2ndly dont worry bout the smaller stadiums. I agree with brendothejet

Every stadium, every game we should be aiming for sellout. The only way to get big crowds is to aim for them, to want them , to promote for them, to build them

We cant have minnows in 30,000 seat stadiums as it will look like the cup is a failure and the atmosphere wont be as good. If Gosford was good enough for the RUWC its good enough for us. The right advertising with teams going to tourist spots and getting local paper/media attention will get the locals interested in it.

You just cant expect to have tonga v ireland sell 25,000 seats. You can hope but it would be best to have them in a smaller stadium where it doesnt feel and look empty. Remember this world cup is about consolidating leagues position, being a financial success to prepare and grow for the next world cup. Having half empty stadiums wont help the cup be a success.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

one thing id like to know, in the RUWC of 2003 how many games were played, and how many of these were aired on FTA and how many were on Fox? and were there any that wasnt aired at all?

anyone have any answers to this?

 

[JasonE]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Parra Stadium get a game, possibly even the Fiji v France game.

1. Rugby League heartland
2. Plenty of Fijians in the area
3. Last time France played there they got 27k

 

[roughyedspud]

i'd take all of the "minnow" games asigned to sydney out to the likes of parra,campbeltown,penrith

 

[yosh64]

i'd take all of the "minnow" games asigned to sydney out to the likes of parra,campbeltown,penrith

Agreed. Western Sydney has many different races that would get behind the minnow teams. Lebanese, fijians, tongans, etc. Cant have large stadiums half full, put them in smaller stadiums where locals can enjoy the atmosphere and the differing races can support their 'mother country' teams.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

samoan games must go to penrith and lebanese games must go to parra, imo

 

[nqboy]

hey if Ireland can beat Pakistan in the CWC... the kumuls def can. Imo PNG is the equivalent of Bangladesh in Cricket. Corruption and Poverty filled, but a geniune love for their national sport

Yeah but England probably won't be betting on PNG to win.

 

[nqboy]

I hope we get a PNG game up in Townsville though I don't think it will happen.

I'm generally positive about these developments but I still feel the ARL could be doing more to help out our northern neighbours. A PM's 13 game every year, development tours of PNG by the Australian Schoolboys v the Kumuls and so on. I was also disappointed to see the Cowboys drop their Young Guns pre-season trials against the junior Kumuls (can't remember what they're called) this year.

 

[Razor]

I'm generally positive about these developments but I still feel the ARL could be doing more to help out our northern neighbours.

I think every 4 years there should be a Pacific Cup after the NRL season. All the Pacific countries(Australia, NZ, Fiji, PNG, Tonga, Somoa, etc) competing, in 2 even sized pools. Winner of each pool plays the final(Which will always be Australia v NZ).

2008 World Cup
2009 Tri(Quad)-Series
2010 Pacific Cup
2011 Tri(Quad)-Series
2012 World Cup