The off-field issues bringing down crowds

[proto]

You are spot on and imo its only Gus that does it. As much as i hate Hadley, he doesnt bang on about "poor" ref decisions or how the game has changed for the worse etc, etc.

Gus needs to either learn to love the game as it is today or GTFO of the commentary box

and hilariously enough, its not like he doesn't have anything else to do!

 

[Lambretta]

Hand out free drinks vouchers at all AA meetings
Only redeemable at the ground on a Monday night

Free entry to ground

They'll all be packed and the crowd will be in a great mood

Oh and Gold Coasts games should only be played during schoolies and half time entertainment should be free drinking games paid for by the NRL

f**king sell outs galore

 

[Canard]

The game has been stagnant for a decade. I really hoped the independent ownership and then the massive revenue increase was going to bring some dramatic improvements, but it hasn't. Maybe we just have a current generation of RL fans that are fed up with the game and half arsed in supporting it?

Solutions?
Well we have all come up with plenty of great ideas, the biggest solution for me would be for the ARLC board to build a kpi into the NRL management positions performance of increasing crowds. Until Smith and the NRL GM's feel a serious need to do something about this nothing will happen.

This is so negative mate, you make Gould look like a optimist. There is no way I would agree that the game in Australia has been stagnant for a decade.

Crowds is only one part of the game as a whole, no its not great, but we shouldn't slit our wrists over it. Crowds are down in every sport in Australia, including the AFL, so its more of a modern cultural thing.

I also think whacking people over the head with a big stick is not the way to get a solution to a this issue. That is a 1970's management approach that just encourages people to lie about crowd figures and cheat there way to their KPI.

To me, the crowds issue needs a whole of game approach that requires buy in from everyone.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Scheduling isn't an issue because we get terrible crowds in the fan favourite sunday afternoon timeslot.

Weather isnt an issue because we get terrible crowds in perfect conditions

Game day experience??? Worse excuse ever, people go to a game to watch footy. Can someone please explain to me what entertainment they propose during a 15 minute half time break that will bring crowds back in their thousands? The only thing I can think of that may get a few fans in is having all 3 grades play. In addition to this we need a clear ranking of grades, at the moment the NRL rates under 20s higher than NSW/QLD cup, which it isnt. Bring back reserve grade as a 2nd tier comp then NSW/QLD cup below that.

You know what might bring fans back? Making going to an NRL game family friendly. Everyone who has a ticket to a game gets free public transport. Halve ticket prices, reduce food and beverage prices and you are well on your way to getting families back to footy.

A two pronged approach with dropping prices and and advertising blitz across QLD, NSW and VIC advertising the reduced prices is the way to go.

 

[magpie4ever]

What bores me to the shitter is the 30-40 minutes of pre-game analysis. I don't need dopes like Fittler and Johns explaining how to pass a ball, kick a ball or how to run,

5-10 minute run down on the teams than play bloody football.

Why do this pricks need to warm up on the field for 30 minutes when a reserve grade game could be on.

The TV product is stale (pre-game), an 80 minute game can take up to 2 hours to play (f**k it is not bloody gridiron), NYC is just a shit level of league. Bring back reserve grade, more ball in play in the 80 minutes, look at bring back possibly an U23s competition to make it a full (half) day experience.

Make the entry price reasonable ($15) etc.

 

[Perth Red]

This is so negative mate, you make Gould look like a optimist. There is no way I would agree that the game in Australia has been stagnant for a decade.

Crowds is only one part of the game as a whole, no its not great, but we shouldn't slit our wrists over it. Crowds are down in every sport in Australia, including the AFL, so its more of a modern cultural thing.

I also think whacking people over the head with a big stick is not the way to get a solution to a this issue. That is a 1970's management approach that just encourages people to lie about crowd figures and cheat there way to their KPI.

To me, the crowds issue needs a whole of game approach that requires buy in from everyone.

In terms of growth of game generally (Jnrs, amateur, uptake of the game in new regions etc) and crowds it would be hard to argue much differently. If you count Facebook and Twitter growth were killing it lol.

For things to change it needs motivation by managent and board. The Arlc set a strategic goal of a 20k crowd avg by 2018, I'm struggling to see how the NRL management have come up with any operational plans to meet this Goal. Second year in we are facing our lowest crowd avg this decade. Not being negative, just realistic.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Game day experience??? Worse excuse ever, people go to a game to watch footy. Can someone please explain to me what entertainment they propose during a 15 minute half time break that will bring crowds back in their thousands? The only thing I can think of that may get a few fans in is having all 3 grades play. In addition to this we need a clear ranking of grades, at the moment the NRL rates under 20s higher than NSW/QLD cup, which it isnt. Bring back reserve grade as a 2nd tier comp then NSW/QLD cup below that.

But you can "watch the footy" on the TV....

NRL is the most popular ProLeague in the country, and yet no one goes to the game because the Game Day Experience is no better than just watching on a screen.

And its not about putting shit on at half time, just leave the field empty, no ones watching anyway. The Experience is everything outside of the stadium; we should be creating a community carnival that people want to go to even if they dont care about the game, have a beer garden and a band on a stage, etc.

This puritanical view, that you and so many others hold, that its "all about whats on the field" is bullshit. A football game is meant to be a community event, not somewhere you go to sit in silence. People game DSmith so much shit when he spoke about Jumping castles, etc. but that was just peopel that couldnt imagine a worldview that didnt equate "RL" to "blowjobs on crack". Families need more than just 80minutes of grunting men to justify dedicating a day to the NRL.

Auckland 9s was a perfect example!! The stadium was half-full at best for most of the 2 days, and yet anyone that went would tell you it was a fantastic day; its more than a football game, its a festival of football.......

 

[PARRA_FAN]

What bores me to the shitter is the 30-40 minutes of pre-game analysis. I don't need dopes like Fittler and Johns explaining how to pass a ball, kick a ball or how to run,

5-10 minute run down on the teams than play bloody football.

Why do this pricks need to warm up on the field for 30 minutes when a reserve grade game could be on.

The TV product is stale (pre-game), an 80 minute game can take up to 2 hours to play (f**k it is not bloody gridiron), NYC is just a shit level of league. Bring back reserve grade, more ball in play in the 80 minutes, look at bring back possibly an U23s competition to make it a full (half) day experience.

Make the entry price reasonable ($15) etc.

Ahh the good old days when Reserve Grade had just finished you'd basically only have 10-15 minutes before the game kicked off, and to fill that gap you'd have the little league come on and the crowd would get into it.

Meanwhile you can see on the other side of the ground, both teams warming up.

Im talking about Parramatta Stadium, btw, there's an oval on the southern end where the players used to train pre game. Im not sure about other grounds in the comp.

Nowadays, if the game you're going to game is the 2nd or 3rd game on the day/night, you go the nearest pub, watch the earlier game on TV then head to the ground.

And can we actually kick off on its scheduled time for once? I know the games on Fox sports arent too bad, sometimes a 1 or 2 minute after the scheduled time, but Friday nights and Sunday's is about 10 minutes after, if not longer.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

I think less games is one of the big keys here.

But that revenue has be recovered elsewhere for the clubs. Total fan attendance has to rise for it to be worthwhile.

Eg. Cut out 4 rounds. Club loses 2 low drawing home games of 10,000 each. To break even on fan numbers the club needs an increase of 2000 average on their remaining 10 home games. Feasible?

You have to factor in the costs of playing those 2 low drawing games. If they are loss making, break-even or not very profitable you don't need 2000 avg to the other games.

There are also costs associated with transport, staff etc. that would surely be reduced by scrapping two home games. You would have to charge less for membership though.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Having entertainment outside the stadium won't bring the crowds. That is just wishful thinking. As
I said, people go to watch football, the product is football, having a jumping castle and a beer garden isn't going to make the average increase to 20k. The only thing that will increase the average is making it more affordable. Most families just can not afford an extra $100-$150 a week to go to the football. NRL ticket pricing is only suitable for those with disposable incomes which the majority of NRL fans do not have.

 

[TheVelourFog]

Yep price is a big one

It's all about finding that tipping point that makes people get out their wallets

Money drives most people's decisions

 

[Canard]

You have to factor in the costs of playing those 2 low drawing games. If they are loss making, break-even or not very profitable you don't need 2000 avg to the other games.

There are also costs associated with transport, staff etc. that would surely be reduced by scrapping two home games. You would have to charge less for membership though.

Not to mention large reduction in TV money.

I think the Reserve grade thing is a nostalgic niche that only appeals to hardcore supporters like us.

The majority of fans like to turn up to their seat at the last possible minute these days.

 

[Canard]

In terms of growth of game generally (Jnrs, amateur, uptake of the game in new regions etc) and crowds it would be hard to argue much differently. If you count Facebook and Twitter growth were killing it lol.

For things to change it needs motivation by managent and board. The Arlc set a strategic goal of a 20k crowd avg by 2018, I'm struggling to see how the NRL management have come up with any operational plans to meet this Goal. Second year in we are facing our lowest crowd avg this decade. Not being negative, just realistic.

With expansion to non League areas like Perth, which you and I are proponents of, crowds will take a hit.

Do you think that's a reason to not do it though?

 

[adamkungl]

With expansion to non League areas like Perth, which you and I are proponents of, crowds will take a hit.

Do you think that's a reason to not do it though?

No they won't. Any expansion team in the running could easily match most Sydney crowds, Cowboys, Knights, Raiders, Storm.

 

[Canard]

No they won't. Any expansion team in the running could easily match most Sydney crowds, Cowboys, Knights, Raiders, Storm.

Your thinking home crowds.

You think Roosters v Perth is a draw in Sydney?

If Perth outdraws Newcastle and NQ, then happyv days

 

[adamkungl]

Your thinking home crowds.

You think Roosters v Perth is a draw in Sydney?

No worse than Roosters v Canberra/NthQLD/Cows.

Which, incidently, is where less matches comes into it. Less of these games please, no one cares.

 

[Red Bear]

I do agree whoever said part of the game day experience is up to fans to create a better one. In that way I think bigger crowds feed into this, because a bigger crowd makes you more inclined to go back, generally more enjoyable, builds on that.

 

[adamkungl]

I do agree whoever said part of the game day experience is up to fans to create a better one. In that way I think bigger crowds feed into this, because a bigger crowd makes you more inclined to go back, generally more enjoyable, builds on that.

And the first step is to make it affordable.

It's not too bad for a die-hard with a season ticket going with a partner. Bring a snack and you've got a free night out.

Go with a couple of mates and you can add in 4 beers for $30 each + $35 each tickets.

Hate to be taking a family.


I can't understand how a club can charge $60 for 'premium' seats when they don't come close to packing out a ground. And every club does it.

Stop being greedy merkins, sell as many as you can as Season Tickets and make the rest of the ground GA and cheap. Fill it up.

 

[Timmah]

It still disturbs me how high people put access to alcohol on their list of requisites to attend a game.

 

[adamkungl]

It still disturbs me how high people put access to alcohol on their list of requisites to attend a game.

People like pissing up at sports and gigs.

The pub is providing a better view, warmer, and better beer for half the price with no ticket and no transport.

The NRL has to at least beat it in some aspect.

Better view = stop charging $60 for decent seats when the joint is empty.
Warmer... well not much to be done here.
Beer (and food) = stop ripping people off for mid strength beer, slop pies, flavourless burgers hot dogs, etc. It's pleb food, price it as such.
Ticket and transport = lower the prices and include public transport.