RFL comment on 4N crowds: "highs, lows and frustrations"

[Burns]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-nations-final-ticket-sales-attendances-gates

Jon Dutton has conceded there have been “highs, lows and frustrations” during the Four Nations but the Rugby Football League tournament director said ticket sales are on target for Sunday’s final between Australia and New Zealand at Anfield. The RFL is hopeful of attracting about 40,000 fans to Anfield, with sales currently around the 37,000 mark.

Following disappointing attendances in Hull, Coventry and London, Dutton said the RFL has learned lessons for the next time it hosts international rugby league, which will be 2018 at the earliest. “We set out a schedule at the start which was a mixture of traditional and expansion,” he said. “There’s been some highs, lows and frustrations. We made the right decision to go back to London but we would have hoped for more people there [35,569 watched Australia beat England at the Olympic Stadium last Sunday].

“In terms of Coventry, we didn’t hit our targets and the stadium is quite unforgiving for a double-header event. Being on Bonfire Night made it difficult too. In hindsight we’d have a rethink about the first game and how we went about it. We were disappointed more people [5,337] didn’t come to Hull on the opening night to watch the Kangaroos [play Scotland] in all honesty.”

Dutton said a crowd anywhere between 35,000 and 40,000 would be considered a success at Anfield. “Where we’re at in terms of sales is a positive for us. It will look presentable on TV and there’s a feelgood factor in Liverpool with them being top of the Premier League. The players are excited to play here and we always wanted a marquee stadium for the final: we’ve delivered that.”

The Rugby League International Federation will shortly reveal the calendar leading up to the 2021 World Cup and Dutton said that while there is unlikely to be any England fixtures in this country next year, they are intent on securing some big matches the following year. “The important thing for us now is to set the international calendar from 2018 running up to a home World Cup in 2021 as quickly as possible,” he said. Dutton said the RFL, along with the NRL and the NZRL, will hold meetings this week to determine the future of the Four Nations. It is understood the tournament is likely to remain part of the international calendar.

The scheduling was really a mess. Opening game in Hull, Coventry on Bonfire night and London on a Sunday were just completely bad decisions. Good to know the Final is on track for expectations, hopefully it can nudge 40,000?

Also very interesting to note the last comment in regard to the RLIF meeting, is Aaron Bower alluding to the Four Nations remaining??

 

[adamkungl]

Hopefully if the 4N remains it fits nicely into a bigger picture and has some much needed changes on how it is run and scheduled. Imo 'neutral' games (Aus v NZ in England) have to go, and nation 4 has to be given home games against the visiting teams. (so England v Scotland in England, but Scotland v Aus/NZ in Scotland)

 

[paulmac]

Scheduling was a mess.It should've been
WEEK1
Aus v NZ in WA
Eng v Scotland at Coventry
WEEK 2
Aus v England In London
NZ v Scotland in Workington
WEEK 3
Aus v Scotland in Aberdeen
England v NZ at Elland Road
Final at Anfield
Make the Aussies & Kiwis travel to get the most out of your home advantage.Also Eng v NZ should always be in week 3 That way you get the mini semifinal before the big one.

 

[Matterhorn]

I'd agree with that schedule above.

Aus playing England first after arriving in the country is what would of helped England.

Aus playing Scotland first was a way for them to ease into the tournament after arriving in the country and as we have seen they have only got better since then.

Historically in the past when Great Britian have beaten Aus in 3 match series it has been in the first game.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

See when it was the Tri Nations, Aus Vs NZ games were either in Aus or NZ, except in 2004, but in 2005 they played both clashes in either country before heading to the UK for the remaining games.

I think with the 4nations they want all matches in the same hemisphere.

I agree with the above, I would've preferred Australia Vs England to open the 4 nations in London. Crowd would've been bigger.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

If Australia and NZ are going to play in England it has to be in London like it was in 2004 and one other year. It could just about get the 21,000 they got in Coventry without England playing. It sold out in 2004 at 17k and the next time they moved it to a 12k capacity ground and it filled again. And they still could have got 20k or more at Coventry. Very little sense in any of the venues and times this year.

 

[deluded pom?]

I agree that NZ v Austraila should be played in Auckland but then Australia have a tough game under their belt before meeting an England side who have probably played the likes of France as a warm up. This 4N could and should have been better promoted, organised and attended. The attendances weren't that bad when you realise the RFL aren't capable of arranging more than one event at a time which means they don't take the 4N seriously until the GF has been played. If we're insisting on the fourth nation hosting matches, does that apply when it's in the SH?

 

[Perth Red]

I think scheduling and KO times were a far bigger issue than venues chosen. Typical RL poor administration. Also not allowing the host venue club to promote and sell tickets was dumb.