Full houses at four games
By Dean Ritchie
August 11, 2005
THE NRL has reached unprecedented popularity with four matches this weekend poised to be sold out as five radio stations line up to call matches next season.
NRL chief executive David Gallop was last night contemplating sellouts at matches between Parramatta and the Bulldogs at Parramatta Stadium, Brisbane and St George lllawarra at Suncorp Stadium, Newcastle and Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium and Wests Tigers and North Queensland at Campbelltown.
Rugby league historian David Middleton said: "To have four games sold out in one round would be an absolute first - that's for sure."
Combined crowds this weekend are expected to pass 140,000.
The NRL is, for the third successive season, ready to smash attendance records.
"It's unprecedented to be contemplating four sellouts in one round of NRL," Gallop said last night.
"If ever a person thought about going to the footy then this weekend is the time to get your tickets early and enjoy the atmosphere that a packed houses provide."
About 50,000 are expected for the Broncos game, 18,000 at Campbelltown, 26,000 at Newcastle and 21,000 at Parramatta Stadium.
Ground records might not be broken, however, given most stadiums have less capacity now than the past.
"Hopefully we can get a full house of Wests Tigers fans screaming and yelling," said Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce.
"The kids are playing well - that's half the battle."
Knights football manager Steve Crowe said tickets would still be available on game day in Newcastle.
"But ticket sales are by far the best they have been in quite some time," Crowe said.
Manly officials last night had trouble obtaining tickets for the match because of the rush.
Brisbane had sold 35,000 tickets by yesterday.
Meanwhile, Gallop confirmed the intense interest in radio stations covering rugby league next season.
The Daily Telegraph understands 2GB, 2UE, ABC, 2SM and 2MMM are interested in calling NRL matches next season.
NRL officials will talk with 2MMM on Monday.
The NRL will not continue with its exclusive rights policy for next season.
It is understood an FM station could call the Monday Night Football game in 2007.
Radio stations will also in 2007 be able to call the live Friday night game.
"We're in the process of talking to both AM and FM networks," Gallop said.
"At this stage, there's a lot of interest from radio stations.
"We're likely to go back to a non-exclusive environment for next year and look to introduce an FM network.
"This will mean enormous coverage of rugby league."
The NRL is looking to explore whether there could be a primary broadcaster who has first choice of matches each weekend.
But there is also a line of thinking that radio stations should be entitled to call whichever match they choose.
"We could have a primary broadcaster but at the same time we could also give broadcasters the chance to call the most exciting game," Gallop said.
Radio 2GB has held the exclusive commercial rights but are still planning to continue calling games next season.
"We have indicated to the NRL that we aren't interested in exclusive rights," said 2GB's Ray Hadley.
"Commercially, why pay for them when we win the ratings even if we don't have the rights?"
The Daily Telegraph
