Sustaining&building upon current NRL boom

[Diesel]

Annual “event” matches for every club, each played on the same day each year, ideally a holiday or day of local significance, like the two Anzac Day matches that we already have.

It makes sense to have games on local public holidays but the only time it happens is when Sydney or NSW get a PH

 

[jim_57]

Annual “event” matches for every club, each played on the same day each year, ideally a holiday or day of local significance, like the two Anzac Day matches that we already have.

Good Friday - Bulldogs/Souths
Easter Monday - Parra/Tigers
Anzac - Roosters/Dragons & Storm

That’s 7 clubs covered, not counting Warriors since they never host.

Warriors on Māori new year as mentioned on Crowd Watch?

Dolphins & Brisbane both play while the Ekka is on? Offer combined ticket deals and run shuttle buses and trains.

Sharks & Manly no idea but they aren’t really in stadiums to capitalise on it unless they move one to Allianz.

Penrith, Canberra, Newcastle, NQ, Gold Coast also no idea. Newcastle has old boys day which they normally get a bigger than average crowd to.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

It makes sense to have games on local public holidays but the only time it happens is when Sydney or NSW get a PH

NZ has several that differ from any in Aus, most obviously Matariki
The ACT and QLD both have reconciliation day on May 29, which differs from NSW/Vic
And Brisbane has a local public holiday for the Royal Qld show in August

but yeah, you’re not going to find a separate public holiday for every club to use.

 

[Brian potter]

Just thought I’d give this thread a bump what with the incredible recent crowds being posted in Auckland, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth as well as big crowds in Townsville, Penrith and Parramatta etc.

Can the crowds keep growing and how far can the competition go in the next few seasons?

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Just thought I’d give this thread a bump what with the incredible recent crowds being posted in Auckland, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth as well as big crowds in Townsville, Penrith and Parramatta etc.

Can the crowds keep growing and how far can the competition go in the next few seasons?

Imagine how much better the crowds would be if the season wasn't disrupted by the soccer world cup?

 

[MugaB]

Imagine how much better the crowds would be if the season wasn't disrupted by the soccer world cup?

Looking at you warriors

 

[Brian potter]

An obvious and good way to build upon the current NRL boom would be better stadiums and upgrades for the likes of Penrith, Newcastle and Canberra.

these 3 clubs have good prospects of building upon their average attendances and better stadiums would help.

 

[jim_57]

An obvious and good way to build upon the current NRL boom would be better stadiums and upgrades for the likes of Penrith, Newcastle and Canberra.

these 3 clubs have good prospects of building upon their average attendances and better stadiums would help.

Warriors have just about reached the limit of Mt Smart this year too. It wouldn’t take a whole lot to get it to 30k+ then maybe if the demand is there and price is right take a game or 2 to Eden Park.

Newcastle could have the stands wrapped around each end, could get it to 40k.

Penrith will get $300m but not sure what that will get them yet, if they plan it smartly they could surely get it to 28-30k.

Canberra needs a new 30k+ stadium, preferably in a better location.

Wollongong could do with some work too, a small/low eastern stand and new North & South stands was proposed, should push capacity above 25k if that ever happens.

 

[Brian potter]

Warriors have just about reached the limit of Mt Smart this year too. It wouldn’t take a whole lot to get it to 30k+ then maybe if the demand is there and price is right take a game or 2 to Eden Park.

surely mt smart would receive some sort of government funding what with potentially having 3 tenants.

Newcastle could have the stands wrapped around each end, could get it to 40k.

love the design of that stadium and 40k would be awesome and not unreasonable to think the knights could average crowds in the low 30k.

Penrith will get $300m but not sure what that will get them yet, if they plan it smartly they could surely get it to 28-30k.

hopefully something similar to Newcastle with 2 huge identical grandstands. Simple classic design yet cost effective and pleasing on the eye.

Canberra needs a new 30k+ stadium, preferably in a better location.

and with a roof!!!

Wollongong could do with some work too, a small/low eastern stand and new North & South stands was proposed, should push capacity above 25k if that ever happens.

another classic design similar to English football clubs pre-premier league.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Looking at you warriors

How did the soccer World Cup affect Warriors crowds? If anything it actually boosted them a little as Mt Snart got a temporary capacity upgrade because of it.

 

[Brian potter]

I thought I’d give this thread a bump what with the imminent fall of the record NRL round crowd.

observations see all dragons home games but 1 game played at kogarah with the rest at WIN.

maybe play more cronulla “home” games away from shark park at alliance against the likes of St George, roosters and souths.

1 or 2 warriors home games played at Eden park until any redevelopment at mount smart.

take more souths home games to alliance.

 

[Vlad59]

I thought I’d give this thread a bump what with the imminent fall of the record NRL round crowd.

observations see all dragons home games but 1 game played at kogarah with the rest at WIN.

maybe play more cronulla “home” games away from shark park at alliance against the likes of St George, roosters and souths.

1 or 2 warriors home games played at Eden park until any redevelopment at mount smart.

take more souths home games to alliance.

And keep whinging poms in England.

 

[Canard]

"Um the Dragons should play some more games in Wollongong"

Only the big issues in this thread.

 

[final say]

I thought I’d give this thread a bump what with the imminent fall of the record NRL round crowd.

observations see all dragons home games but 1 game played at kogarah with the rest at WIN.

maybe play more cronulla “home” games away from shark park at alliance against the likes of St George, roosters and souths.

1 or 2 warriors home games played at Eden park until any redevelopment at mount smart.

take more souths home games to alliance.

I agree with all this.
The easiest way to grow crowds imo is to create incentives for clubs more. Our crowds are held back in a large part by cost. A good seat is top dollar and a bad seat is borderline for many working families. The AFL live is good from angles at more affordable prices.
If the NRL made crowd growth rebates, making it more economically advantageous to pull higher numbers as opposed to charging premium for tickets would achieve this .
100 for every single digit lift in your crowd average ..
17 k average goes to 18k = $100,000 in bonus grants.
Clubs will advertise more, lower prices, move derby games to bigger grounds all because it improves their bottom dollar. If the Dolphins play at Kayo there's no overheads and even though it only 10k , it's all profits and probably makes more than 20k at Suncorp .. this is only 1 example but apply that principle across 17 clubs and you could create a substantial lift continuously over time... over time every stadium will be sold out and games will continually need bigger venues. Then we'll have this amazing atmosphere that will add even more momentum..the end game is a " going to the game culture "

Simple structural change.

 

[Vlad59]

"Um the Dragons should play some more games in Wollongong"

Only the big issues in this thread.

Forgive him. He’s a Pom.

 

[Canard]

I agree with all this.
The easiest way to grow crowds imo is to create incentives for clubs more. Our crowds are held back in a large part by cost. A good seat is top dollar and a bad seat is borderline for many working families. The AFL live is good from angles at more affordable prices.
If the NRL made crowd growth rebates, making it more economically advantageous to pull higher numbers as opposed to charging premium for tickets would achieve this .
100 for every single digit lift in your crowd average ..
17 k average goes to 18k = $100,000 in bonus grants.
Clubs will advertise more, lower prices, move derby games to bigger grounds all because it improves their bottom dollar. If the Dolphins play at Kayo there's no overheads and even though it only 10k , it's all profits and probably makes more than 20k at Suncorp .. this is only 1 example but apply that principle across 17 clubs and you could create a substantial lift continuously over time... over time every stadium will be sold out and games will continually need bigger venues. Then we'll have this amazing atmosphere that will add even more momentum..the end game is a " going to the game culture "

Simple structural change.

Paying clubs incentives to get bigger crowds is robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Clubs directly benefit from bigger crowds why would they need to be paid to do more?

 

[final say]

Paying clubs incentives to get bigger crowds is robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Clubs directly benefit from bigger crowds why would they need to be paid to do more?

$35 a ticket sells 1000 tickets = $35k
$20 a ticket sells 1500 tickets =$30k

13 home games at $35 a ticket nets 65k more per season more than $20 a ticket even with a 50% increase in crowds.
So no, bigger crowds don't make more money- we need incentives to ensure that they do!

 

[Canard]

$35 a ticket sells 1000 tickets = $35k
$20 a ticket sells 1500 tickets =$30k

13 home games at $35 a ticket nets 65k more per season more than $20 a ticket even with a 50% increase in crowds.
So no, bigger crowds don't make more money- we need incentives to ensure that they do!

Why not try to sell more tickets at $35?

You're using the premise that big crowds can only be obtained by cheaper tickets.

Even if this was true, what's the value in artificially inflating crowd numbers for no financial gain?

 

[final say]

$35 a ticket sells 1000 tickets = $35k
$20 a ticket sells 1500 tickets =$30k

13 home games at $35 a ticket nets 65k more per season more than $20 a ticket even with a 50% increase in crowds.
So no, bigger crowds don't make more money- we need incentives to ensure that they do!

I should add too that the NRL are getting something for their money. Bigger crowds create a bigger spectacle on Television and lifts the brand of the NRL overall. Overall the NRL as a business, the value of that business rises. It's an investment.

 

[final say]

Why not try to sell more tickets at $35?

You're using the premise that big crowds can only be obtained by cheaper tickets.

Even if this was true, what's the value in artificially inflating crowd numbers for no financial gain?

No I'm not, that's only one example.
Stadium costs are another, they may choose smaller stadiums because the rent is lower or even opting to leave sections closed because of those costs. Advertising plays a massive part which is another cost point.

There's no such thing as artificial crowd inflation. The beach is free ,are we saying there's nobody at the beach? But if we charge parking .. that creates a disincentive to go to the beach...
at just $1 a ticket we are actually artificiality deflating the size of crowds.

This is another point: If the rent on a Stadium is high ( set by governments)and clubs have to charge more.. the crowds are kept low reliving pressure on governments for bigger stadiums...
If we get around this with rebates from the NRL, we'll circumvent this artificial crowd deflation created by government rent. We could lift crowds, putting pressure on governments for bigger and better facilities even if it's so they can pull more revenue..


It's all pretty obvious if you think about it .