Poor Crowds on the Weekend

[imported_Bigbopper]

After the euphoria of the Buldogs-Eels match the crowds for this weekend were pathetic (and in one or two cases were probably over-stated). Less than 80,000 turned up to watch a full round of matches and this has continued the disappointing trend for the year. Since the half-way mark of the competition only one round has drawn over 100,000 with a further two getting between 90,000 and 100,000.
Except for a couple of weeks ago the weather has been good for most of the second round. What's the problem - it can't all be pay TV.

 

[legend]

Thats a good point mate. I think the Dragons/ Broncos game would have got 20k if they could fit them in. Did anyone see the weather for the Warriors/Sharks clash. It was 7 degrees and rain and they still got over 10k. I expect they will get closer to 15-20k for the game v the Roosters this weekend. Canberra/ Penrith. Nothing to play for and it was -2 at game time. Knights/Tigers shoulod of drawn a bigger crowd and i'm expecting the Tigers/ Eels match will get close to 20k. Roosters/Storm, well Roosters don't get crowds at the best of time and the last game was Cowboys/ Eagles. Self expanatory really.

 

[bender]

I believe the effect of the top 8 on crowds should not be underestimated. There are no more crunch games anymore. Cronulla just won about 7 games in a row, but it did not really mean anything because they have been comfortably in the 8 for most of this time. With a top 5, the crowd would be on tenderhooks. Sides like Brisbane and Sydney City have shown ordinary form and do not deserve to win the comp unless they can turn their season around and win their last few games. This should be a virtual sudden death period for supporters of these teams, yet games mean nothing, as they will probably make the finals even if they lose more games than they win.

The sooner the NRL returns to a top 5, the better, as I believe it will make a better competition, which would more than offsett the loss in revenue gauged from having less finals games.