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http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19759627-10389,00.html
THE NRL has blamed "under-performing" teams such as the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta for an almost 10 per cent drop in crowds this year.
Average crowds have dipped 1544 a game from last year's record 16,469 to 14,925 over the first 18 rounds of the competition, leaving most clubs behind budget. The worst slides have been at the Warriors (down 34.67 per cent), Panthers (-23.06) and Roosters (-22.7) although the Warriors and Panthers have legitimate excuses for a drop-off in support.
There was a significant grassroots protest in Auckland when the NRL penalised the Warriors four premiership points before the season started for salary cap breaches.
Penrith was forced to play its first seven games on the road because its stadium was being redeveloped.
"Other than those two, the biggest falls have been at clubs which have not performed to their fans' expectations," NRL CEO David Gallop said last night.
"It's hard for fans to get excited when their sides are not winning and I think that has had a real effect at the Roosters and Parramatta.
"Apart from that, we have had a terrible run with wet weather for our so-called blockbuster games in Sydney. Last year we literally didn't have a wet weekend, this year we've had some shockers.
"We are still on track to have our second-best season on record for average crowds and our television ratings are still exceptional. A constant battle for rugby league is that it is such a good game on TV, people sometimes prefer to stay at home."
Gallop said the NRL still had several "blockbusters" to come before the finals, including Friday night's Dragons-Bulldogs showdown at Jubilee Stadium, to boost averages.
"We're not in a panic about crowd figures.We actually predicted the averages might be down a little this year after three record years in a row," he said.
THE NRL has blamed "under-performing" teams such as the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta for an almost 10 per cent drop in crowds this year.
Average crowds have dipped 1544 a game from last year's record 16,469 to 14,925 over the first 18 rounds of the competition, leaving most clubs behind budget. The worst slides have been at the Warriors (down 34.67 per cent), Panthers (-23.06) and Roosters (-22.7) although the Warriors and Panthers have legitimate excuses for a drop-off in support.
There was a significant grassroots protest in Auckland when the NRL penalised the Warriors four premiership points before the season started for salary cap breaches.
Penrith was forced to play its first seven games on the road because its stadium was being redeveloped.
"Other than those two, the biggest falls have been at clubs which have not performed to their fans' expectations," NRL CEO David Gallop said last night.
"It's hard for fans to get excited when their sides are not winning and I think that has had a real effect at the Roosters and Parramatta.
"Apart from that, we have had a terrible run with wet weather for our so-called blockbuster games in Sydney. Last year we literally didn't have a wet weekend, this year we've had some shockers.
"We are still on track to have our second-best season on record for average crowds and our television ratings are still exceptional. A constant battle for rugby league is that it is such a good game on TV, people sometimes prefer to stay at home."
Gallop said the NRL still had several "blockbusters" to come before the finals, including Friday night's Dragons-Bulldogs showdown at Jubilee Stadium, to boost averages.
"We're not in a panic about crowd figures.We actually predicted the averages might be down a little this year after three record years in a row," he said.
. and most families cant afford to go to the games all the time
