RLWC2017 Crowd Watch

[DC_fan]

The price for CAT A for the Auckland Semi Final is $85. Yiiiiiiikes.

You have to remember it’s the rugby league World Cup and ticket prices have to meet the criteria of it being a prestigious event.

 

[DC_fan]

Let's compare the potential crowds this weekend to the 2013 World Cup quarter final crowds:

Australia v USA, Wrexham, Wales - 5,762
New Zealand v Scotland, Leeds, England - 16,207
England v France, Wigan, England - 22,276
Samoa v Fiji, Warrington, England - 12,766

You would think that New Zealand v Fiji in New Zealand could match New Zealand v Scotland in England. Hopefully a walk-up crowd brings us up to around that 16k mark (I've seen a PAX above for 11k or so)

Australia v Samoa: The venue for this game is a shame because this could have sold out at Penrith at around 22k but I understand that the guaranteed dollars from the NT Gov are what will deliver the profits in this tournament. This one could have matched the England v France crowd though.

England v PNG in Australia was never going to match England v France in England but hopefully this can get up around the 12.7k mark that Samoa and Fiji pulled four years ago.

Tonga v Lebanon: Tonga has a lot of momentum bit I'm not sure what to expect from Christchurch this weekend. I don't really know what the Tongan population is like in that city or whether the Tongan supporters will travel from other parts of NZ to surely see them take their place in a World Cup semi-final. I think it will comfortably beat Australia v Wales though.

So if Tonga can somehow pull 15k, NZ 16k, England 12k and Australia sell-out in Darwin we could go close to matching the pretty impressive quarter final crowds from the last world cup plus have the addition of much better TV ratings.

It does help the ratings when the games are played in Australia at times everyone can watch.

The next two world cups, which are to be played in the northern hemisphere and outside of prime time viewing hours, will be interesting from a ratings perspective.

 

[Perth Red]

It would be a bit embarrassing for NZRL if more Yorkshire folk are interested in watching the Kiwis than NZ'ers! One of the good things in 2013 was they packaged tickets together I think. Might have been worth doing same in NZ.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It does help the ratings when the games are played in Australia at times everyone can watch.

The next two world cups, which are to be played in the northern hemisphere and outside of prime time viewing hours, will be interesting from a ratings perspective.

In 2013, 7 Mate replayed the games in prime time - I know this isn't the same as live matches but most people would not know the scores and watch it anyway and could rate quite well.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Has there been much media coverage? And how is the weather forecast? Thx Mr ozenzud !

Not really....most of the tv coverage has been about the All Blacks and All Whites.

That's not to say there has been none....but definitely not the main sports news item.

Hard to see how they have shifted 11,000 tickets but I hope I'm wrong.

 

[geordie_saint]

A friend of mine is in Melbourne and bought his ticket yesterday; the transaction number was 7713. I presume that’s the PAX number?

 

[Billythekid]

Looks like a good vibe around the ground. I know I've said it a few times but I love the carnival atmosphere at the World Cup matches. Wish NRL games had that feel, I think that's one of he things missing from the NRL.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Apparently according to Todd Greenberg the Darwin game is sold out

 

[Billythekid]

Apparently according to Todd Greenburg the Darwin game is sold out

Anything less would be a disappointment. I've probably been a bit harsh on this match. It's crowd for the game in Darwin and they paid quite a bit for the match. It also might end up being the biggest crowd of the weekend so it's hard to complain too much about the capacity.

 

[cleary89]

Keep saying sold out in the coverage.

 

[Irish-bulldog]

Doesn’t look sold out lol

 

[Jim from Oz]

I can see plenty of empty seats in the grandstand.

 

[Burns]

Really hope the NT Government paid some big cash money. This ground looks awful.

Edit: Crowd are still coming in apparently

 

[Jim from Oz]

Still, a good crowd!

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Apparently people still trying to get into the ground. Bit like the soccer the other night.

 

[Billythekid]

There's a handful of empty seats but it looks pretty damn full.

Really hope the NT Government paid some big cash money. This ground looks awful.

Edit: Crowd are still coming in apparently

I think it looks ok to be honest.

 

[Stallion]

You have to remember it’s the rugby league World Cup and ticket prices have to meet the criteria of it being a prestigious event.

It can be a prestigious event with full capacity crowds without the high prices. Rugby league is trying to navigate its way to a bigger international presence so the world cup should be seen to be popular and not with half full or 3 quarter full stadiums.

 

[yakstorm]

Crowd looks fine. At least as a positive, that's sell-out number 5 for the tournament... Possibly the last one, although we maybe lucky with the Final.

 

[Stallion]

Crowd looks fine. At least as a positive, that's sell-out number 5 for the tournament... Possibly the last one, although we maybe lucky with the Final.

If these marketing wizards decide to cheaply price tickets for the remaining finals then more sold out games can be achieved. As it stands the pricing and mechanics of buying tickets to this world cup has been farcical. What a wasted opportunity to have a highly attended tournament! The footy has been great but the organisers have let the game, fans and players down. Just as well the tv ratings are impressive.

 

[Jim from Oz]

Crowd looks fine. At least as a positive, that's sell-out number 5 for the tournament... Possibly the last one, although we maybe lucky with the Final.

If we can’t sell out the final then we really are in trouble!