RLWC2017 Crowd Watch

[Stallion]

Anyway people hows today’s game tracking ?.

It's already a sellout with cheaper priced tickets at this venue! Should be a great game with a full house which is a rare thing for this world cup.

 

[Raiderdave]

Some nonsense about a 169k crowd. Which was irrelevant to the point I was making.

hahahaha
you ignored what I posted , so address what I said & try again

ok ? : )

 

[Raiderdave]

But but but, origin blah blah

but but but aussies don't attend rl
blah blah

 

[Raiderdave]

Yep, ask the kiwis or poms in the nrl if origin is the pinnacle of playing lol. Origin just shows how small our sport is in this country, nswrl with a smattering of qland clubs.

whos asking them ?
the problem with international RL crowds is in Australia
so
lets ask them shall we ?

Oh & yeah , we're so small aren't we that we have the largest sporting events in the land , its just that moaning poms & bleating Kiwis are upset it excludes them LOL

 

[Raiderdave]

No the comment was made that Australians didn’t turn up because it wasn’t a competitive match up, I clearly showed that they do for other codes, like I said it must be a RL thing. But we know that it doesn’t take much for your avg RL fan to stay home and watch it on tv.

examples in the pinnacle of one sport
against the 3rd rung in ours
there is some genuine competition in international union , theres is none for australia in RL
& aussies therefore aren't that interested.in that level of the game.

 

[Front-Rower]

I think the other problem is that majority of the players can be seen running around each week in the NRL whereas in other sports it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

[morningstar]

What I mean is the RLWC as a whole, not certain individual games against tier two nations, is a step up. England/GB haven't won the tournament or beaten Aus in a series in 45 years, it's become the holy grail. Aussies are going for their 10th RLWC in 12. Lack of competition for the winners reduces the significance of the tournament, the lack of wins increases it for loser. Aus and NZ aren't like anything seen in Super League, plus most of the best English players play in the NRL so there is an added pull to watch England. Aussies are watching the cream in the NRL, and the international team lords it over the tournament. It's a complete contrast between the two nations. The elevated status given to the tournament as a whole in England means games against tier two nations did well in terms of sales.

Also factor in the short distances fans had to travel for games in England. Most of the games were in the heartlands, RL territory that also has a much denser population than Australia. Geographically all 11 English clubs in Super League span just 110 miles. Plus tickets weren't as expensive as Australia.

Games outside the heartlands, two involved Australia in Ireland and Wales which had 5k at both games. Bristol had 7k. In terms of interest in the heartlands and for England internationals the tournament was a success, outside that though it was disappointing. This tournament with PNG and Tonga has added more depth of interest than the last one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Rugby_League_World_Cup#Attendances

Fair points but how many games in 2017 been played outside the "heartlands"? Darwin, Perth & Melbourne and they were three of the better Aussie crowds.

Back to my original point, strip all the excuses away; the supposed Aussie dominance, ticket prices, cricket, wrong locations, 3rd rated competition etc.The fact is the Aussie public is not willing to support in numbers the best 17 players they can produce playing the most clinical rugby league you could ever see at the stadium.

In a sport that dominates in the two most populous states in the country, I think that is a poor reflection of the ARLC and the Kangaroos as a brand.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It’s a World Cup semi final, we shouldn’t have to be giving tickets away!

How much were they for this game? I’d have thought $35 behind sticks and $60 for good seats would not be unreasonable.

I bought $75 tix Western stand at the ingoal area that Fiji were running towards in the second half

 

[titoelcolombiano]

At the end of the day for decades the governing body in Australia have not given the international game and the famous Kangaroos jersey the respect it deserves and the public and media have followed suit.

There is change in the air though, NRL Pacific Tests, Meninga and the current crop of Kangaroos are respecting the jersey and its history like I haven't seen before and other nations playing more.

Give the game a clear international calendar with no Aus rest years and the roos brand will not only be on par with the Wallabies, Socceroos and Cricketers, the TV ratings even now suggest they will surpass them all.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

We've got a live one here boys...

2013 Eng Opener - 45k
2017 Aus Opener - 23K

2013 Eng R2 - 25k
2017 Aus R2 - 12k

2013 Eng R3 - 25k
2017 Aus R3 - 21k

2013 Eng QF - 23k
2017 Aus QF - 14K

2013 Eng SF - 68K
2017 Aus SF - 22k

Bar Rnd 3, England managed to draw nearly double or over the amount Australia could in the corresponding fixture. Hence 100% more.

Maybe sit the next couple of plays out or get a calculator.

Wasnt two of those games above double headers though?

 

[morningstar]

Wasnt two of those games above double headers though?

How many were left in the stadium once the England games finished?

 

[kiwileaguefan]

How many were left in the stadium once the England games finished?

I don't know, did you count?...if that's the case then you should include today's semi final figures with last night's...

 

[Stallion]

Fair points but how many games in 2017 been played outside the "heartlands"? Darwin, Perth & Melbourne and they were three of the better Aussie crowds.

Back to my original point, strip all the excuses away; the supposed Aussie dominance, ticket prices, cricket, wrong locations, 3rd rated competition etc.The fact is the Aussie public is not willing to support in numbers the best 17 players they can produce playing the most clinical rugby league you could ever see at the stadium.

In a sport that dominates in the two most populous states in the country, I think that is a poor reflection of the ARLC and the Kangaroos as a brand.

You bring up solid points on the competitive level of other nations and placement of games. (Which has been mentioned b4) That's why ticket prices should have been enticing and not over-the-top. Ultimately a flawed approach from the marketing people responsible.

 

[morningstar]

I don't know, did you count?...if that's the case then you should include today's semi final figures with last night's...

Ok maybe 3K Welsh fans at the opener and 5-10k ex pat Aussies/Kiwis at the semi, and they still dwarf what the Kangaroos got.

Todays semi is irrelavant I am debating Kangaroos crowds in Australia. I have no issue with the crowds in NZ.

 

[morningstar]

You bring up solid points on the competitive level of other nations and placement of games. (Which has been mentioned b4) That's why ticket prices should have been enticing and not over-the-top. Ultimately a flawed approach from the marketing people responsible.

Completely agree. The organisers over estimated the appeal of the Kangaroos to the average NRL fan and then even more criminally did nothing to engage the latent fan base and the people who have no interest in RL but like to go to "events".

 

[Burns]

How good is today going to be?

 

[DC80]

What was the attendance when Australia played Namibia when the RWC was held in Australia? That was a really competitive match.

Again, that's isolating one game. The RUWC as a whole is more competitive, and this has a knock on effect with higher attendance for games against minnows.

I've heard comments like "Scotland haven't beaten NZ ever in RU yet New Zealander's turn up in big numbers for games". If the sport was just Scotland and NZ then no, New Zealander's wouldn't turn up in big numbers. RU does lack competition, however it's still far more competitive than RL. The RUWC has been won twice by Australia, twice by South Africa, once by England, and three times by New Zealand. France have also been knocking on the door reaching three finals. All that in 30 years. There is enough to keep New Zealand (players and public) on their toes.

Phil Caplan nails it when he speaks of why Aussies lack interest in RL at international level. There hasn't been anywhere near enough of a contest for them. The State of Origin has largely filled that void outside their domestic league. Competition creates interest, a challenge, even better if there's a rivalry. Until such time international RL provides that for the Aussies they will place more importance, and attention, on State of Origin.

 

[kbw]

The main problem is the WC was not marketed properly and t he media basically ignored it until some minor teams started doing well.

 

[DC80]

Fair points but how many games in 2017 been played outside the "heartlands"? Darwin, Perth & Melbourne and they were three of the better Aussie crowds.

Back to my original point, strip all the excuses away; the supposed Aussie dominance, ticket prices, cricket, wrong locations, 3rd rated competition etc.The fact is the Aussie public is not willing to support in numbers the best 17 players they can produce playing the most clinical rugby league you could ever see at the stadium.

In a sport that dominates in the two most populous states in the country, I think that is a poor reflection of the ARLC and the Kangaroos as a brand.

Competition, or lack of it, is the main issue though.

The secondary points about location, population density and prices do have an effect. I've heard prices have been extortionate for this tournament. A game on your doorstep that's cheap to go to, I'm sure would have seen more attend.

Had the competition been there with stellar opposition in the tournament, with the media all over it, wall to wall coverage, and hoards of travelling fans from every country, these stadiums would be packed out. The RUWC in Australia had much of this. 54,000 watched Australia vs Ireland, a match Ireland lost by a point. Serious competition, the profile of the tournament raised as a result, and hoards of opposition fans. Australia has barely had any of this. 45,000 watched England vs Wales in Brisbane in 2003. How many would attend the equivalent game in this RLWC? Lucky to get 10k id guess.

 

[Stallion]

Competition, or lack of it, is the main issue though.

The secondary points about location, population density and prices do have an effect. I've heard prices have been extortionate for this tournament. A game on your doorstep that's cheap to go to, I'm sure would have seen more attend.

Had the competition been there with stellar opposition in the tournament, with the media all over it, wall to wall coverage, and hoards of travelling fans from every country, these stadiums would be packed out. The RUWC in Australia had much of this. 54,000 watched Australia vs Ireland, a match Ireland lost by a point. Serious competition, the profile of the tournament raised as a result, and hoards of opposition fans. Australia has barely had any of this. 45,000 watched England vs Wales in Brisbane in 2003. How many would attend the equivalent game in this RLWC? Lucky to get 10k id guess.

This is why the pricing of tickets should have been commensurate with the comparative infancy stage rugby league is internationally at this point in time. This isn't to say this well hidden and underated code will not increase its worth. I believe out of all codes rugby league has the most potential to capture new markets and grow existing ones. It will happen as it has not been given the chance to do so to date. Sporting Justice and decency should prevail one day.