Sydney Match of the Day

[titoelcolombiano]

Sydney gets millions of tourists a year, I wonder how many of them take in some Australian culture at an NRL game? I know whenever I'm visiting a new country/city I try to get to a sports event if the stadium or experience interests me.

This is an angle that the NRL need to go for a little more in Sydney. Be visible and advertise heavily around town so that visitors know that it is the # 1 code in town. The Broncos are a must see by international visitors to Brisbane, many of which don't even know what RL is but they just ''have'' to go to Suncorp to see these ''Broncos'' play whatever they are. When they get there they find a good crowd of usually 30k plus, in an awesome stadium watching world class sport. A selfie or FB post from a Broncos game at Suncorp becomes bucket list item once they arrive in town and see the advertising and huge media presence the game here has. The Broncos also advertise heavily with hostels and tourist kiosks so that they are highly visible to tourists or international students looking for something to do.

 

[Perth Red]

I’d start small fixtures wise and build it. Possible starting super Sunday events for first season trial of it. Play it at WSS last Sunday of the month. If we can’t get Sydney RL fans, tourists and wider public to want to go there then we may as well give up and accept we need to look outside of Sydney for the solutions. Make the games free to opposition teams full members then sell remaining tickets for $5 kids $10 adults. Get the events series sponsored to cover the costs. If you can’t get 30k in that scenario then we really are in trouble in Sydney.

Penrith v Wests
Wests v Eels
Souths v Bulldogs
Souths v Roosters
Bulldogs v Wests
Wests v Manly
Bulldogs v Eels

 

[Miller was a legend]

I’d start small fixtures wise and build it. Possible starting super Sunday events for first season trial of it. Play it at WSS last Sunday of the month. If we can’t get Sydney RL fans, tourists and wider public to want to go there then we may as well give up and accept we need to look outside of Sydney for the solutions. Make the games free to opposition fans full members then sell remaining tickets for $5 kids $10 adults. Get the events series sponsored to cover the costs.

Penrith v Wests
Wests v Eels
Souths v Bulldogs
Souths v Roosters
Bulldogs v Wests
Wests v Manly
Bulldogs v Eels

Where’s the perff sharks and dwagons?

 

[Perth Red]

Where’s the perff sharks and dwagons?

Too far for The new sharks fans to travel, likes of Dragons, roosters, manly etc would come into it year two or three when the momentum and hype been built. Pick some easier winners year one.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Too far for The new sharks fans to travel, likes of Dragons, roosters, manly etc would come into it year two or three when the momentum and hype been built. Pick some easier winners year one.

But that’s just discrimation PR. We Perff supporters deserve our time in the sun as shining lights

 

[Perth Red]

But that’s just discrimation PR. We Perff supporters deserve our time in the sun as shining lights

Im sure the current 10k sharks fans will get right behind the perth sharks, 20k fans in Perth, 10k fans in Sydney, powerhouse of the game!

 

[Miller was a legend]

Im sure the current 10k sharks fans will get right behind the perth sharks, 20k fans in Perth, 10k fans in Sydney, powerhouse of the game!

I’m starting to like it. Dear god please forgive my blasphemy

 

[Perth Red]

I’m starting to like it. Dear god please forgive my blasphemy

So we’re settled on perth sharks rather than west coast sharks? I’ll get the merch guys onto it

 

[Miller was a legend]

So we’re settled on perth sharks rather than west coast sharks? I’ll get the merch guys onto it

Don’t use ours they are either shit or gone

 

[Timmah]

I’d start small fixtures wise and build it. Possible starting super Sunday events for first season trial of it. Play it at WSS last Sunday of the month. If we can’t get Sydney RL fans, tourists and wider public to want to go there then we may as well give up and accept we need to look outside of Sydney for the solutions. Make the games free to opposition teams full members then sell remaining tickets for $5 kids $10 adults. Get the events series sponsored to cover the costs. If you can’t get 30k in that scenario then we really are in trouble in Sydney.

Penrith v Wests
Wests v Eels
Souths v Bulldogs
Souths v Roosters
Bulldogs v Wests
Wests v Manly
Bulldogs v Eels

Assuming they always get a return clash each year, you only get one of the two matches I've bolded in that slot if you move forward with it - both are marquee Easter games.

You'll also face mass opposition from the networks given how much better these clashes rate on Thu/Fri nights (for little difference in the attendance figure), and lastly, WT v Manly would be an utter flop lol

 

[Perth Red]

Assuming they always get a return clash each year, you only get one of the two matches I've bolded in that slot if you move forward with it - both are marquee Easter games.

You'll also face mass opposition from the networks given how much better these clashes rate on Thu/Fri nights (for little difference in the attendance figure), and lastly, WT v Manly would be an utter flop lol

Geez and they call me pessimistic lol

 

[Timmah]

Geez and they call me pessimistic lol

Quality detailed response to the reasonable and clear response I gave to your post. Well done.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

So you idea is to develop a feeling of going to your childhood home by taking the game away from where people are used to attending. People who go to every home game now will have to break their habit of attending and go to a new stadium. You will lose those people on the hope of gaining these neutrals?

I take it you didnt read what i actually wrote...

Im didnt suggest that games needed to be taken away from suburban grounds; we already have enough games a ANZ. What we need to do is just structure the draw to guarantee these games are at the same time/ground every week.

If this proves to be a success, i would expect other clubs to volunteer to host games given the easy revenue and exposure for their sponsors.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Assuming they always get a return clash each year, you only get one of the two matches I've bolded in that slot if you move forward with it - both are marquee Easter games.

You'll also face mass opposition from the networks given how much better these clashes rate on Thu/Fri nights (for little difference in the attendance figure), and lastly, WT v Manly would be an utter flop lol

"Hmmm, maybe it doesnt work...

I know, lets never try ANYTHING!!!"

 

[unforgiven]

I take it you didnt read what i actually wrote...

Im didnt suggest that games needed to be taken away from suburban grounds; we already have enough games a ANZ. What we need to do is just structure the draw to guarantee these games are at the same time/ground every week.

If this proves to be a success, i would expect other clubs to volunteer to host games given the easy revenue and exposure for their sponsors.

There are now only 2 teams playing at ANZ? and the Buldogs are only playing 9 games there, there is not even enough games between the 2 clubs playing there for 1 a round?

 

[Timmah]

"Hmmm, maybe it doesnt work...

I know, lets never try ANYTHING!!!"

That's a rather sublime to ridiculous position to put forward. Particularly given I've taken the opposite stance on Magic Weekend, but ok.

Im didnt suggest that games needed to be taken away from suburban grounds; we already have enough games a ANZ.

Not anymore, there are now less ANZ games than there are NRL rounds.

Parramatta leave ANZ after two rounds next year, Wests Tigers have abandoned it completely and Souths & Canterbury only play 9 games each. Therefore the number has reduced from 33 regular season games in 2018 to just 20 of them in 2019.

Edit: just realised @unforgiven has made the point already, never mind lol

 

[siv]

Assuming they always get a return clash each year, you only get one of the two matches I've bolded in that slot if you move forward with it - both are marquee Easter games.

You'll also face mass opposition from the networks given how much better these clashes rate on Thu/Fri nights (for little difference in the attendance figure), and lastly, WT v Manly would be an utter flop lol

Match of Round isn't just any two teams playing

But usually 2 top 8 teams playing

But your right ThuNF and Fri 6pm are crowd killer timeslots

But you can see the success of "habit" timeslots with Friday nights at Suncorp

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I honestly don't see those initiatives as being enough to entice fans of clubs like Manly, Roosters, Cronulla and even the Dragons to head to venues in Sydney's west in any meaningful number.

Take those clubs out of the equation and it immediately reduces the number of fixtures you can use to populate that timeslot - and then take out marquee match-ups like Dogs-Souths (Good Fri), Tigers-Eels (Easter Mon) and it becomes pointless very quickly.

Not to mention the reticence some clubs might have to giving up home games at their regular venue. Is it worth alienating the base to attract a handful of newbies?

Its the non-marquee games that this would benefit most....

Tigers-Eels and Dogs-Souths will get huge crowds regardless of when or where they are played. MotR would be for the shitty matchups that no one cares about; out-of-town opponents (Eels-Titans, Bulldogs-NQLD, Tigers-Knights) and just average trans-sydney rivalries.

Instead of hoping these shit games will draw any attention on their own, we could wrap them up in the bigger event and draw neutrals who just want an easy/fun Sunday out with the kids at the Footy.

That's a rather sublime to ridiculous position to put forward. Particularly given I've taken the opposite stance on Magic Weekend, but ok.

Not anymore, there are now less ANZ games than there are NRL rounds.

Parramatta leave ANZ after two rounds next year, Wests Tigers have abandoned it completely and Souths & Canterbury only play 9 games each. Therefore the number has reduced from 33 regular season games in 2018 to just 20 of them in 2019.

Edit: just realised @unforgiven has made the point already, never mind lol

Would it help if MotR was held at WSS instead of ANZ?

 

[Timmah]

Match of Round isn't just any two teams playing

But usually 2 top 8 teams playing

But your right ThuNF and Fri 6pm are crowd killer timeslots

But you can see the success of "habit" timeslots with Friday nights at Suncorp

Friday matches at Suncorp averaged 34,664 this year.

Sundays? 36,590 (and thats not including the Dragons' Week 1 final).

Brisbane have arguably been shortchanged by the Friday night thing - Sundays seem much better for crowds, at least this year anyway.

Its the non-marquee games that this would benefit most....

Tigers-Eels and Dogs-Souths will get huge crowds regardless of when or where they are played. MotR would be for the shitty matchups that no one cares about; out-of-town opponents (Eels-Titans, Bulldogs-NQLD, Tigers-Knights) and just average trans-sydney rivalries.

Instead of hoping these shit games will draw any attention on their own, we could wrap them up in the bigger event and draw neutrals who just want an easy/fun Sunday out with the kids at the Footy.

Would it help if MotR was held at WSS instead of ANZ?

WSS would be a better option than ANZ no doubt but again the reticence of clubs to move their home game allocations around to accommodate this will be the sticking point.

This wraps back around to the OP's suggestion that the match of the day concept be a Sydney thing between Sydney teams - which is what I don't think has merit in the current climate.

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

It’s pretty hard to have evidence until you have actually tried it, it’s called innovation.

We cannot solve a problem by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. [A. Einstein]

As a fan of the club that is currently in the NRL, I can tell you that we don't want our home games moved to some central ground. This would annoy members who have their specific seats, corporate attendees etc let alone removing the teams home ground advantage. This idea simply stinks..