Wests Campbelltown CEO enters debate on crowds

[gronkathon]

I am not blaming the South West.

I am blaming Wests Tigers fans

Financially the position is fast becoming untenable

 

[BuffaloRules]

The issue for me is how to get Wests Tigers fans to travel. If 16k can turn up to Leichhardt in the rain, where were those 16k last night? Stop blaming the south west, it's every fans responsibility to support their team no matter where you come from.

Always someone else to blame isn't there?

The answer is not convincing people from the inner west travelling 50 Kms to Cambo, it's convincing some of the locals to show up to the games like they were in 2005.

 

[TYGA]

The locals have switched off to the tigers due to branding and we are an inner west team. I'm a former magpie and am fine with it as I dread going out west to ctown it's an area i would never visit if not to see the tigers. You will never attract anyone but locals and diehards. We have killed off a lot of magpies fans which is a shame but it's easier for balmain fans as we are still the tigers. We need to permanently play all games out of anz financially and for the benefit of the broader jp. This game just nailed it as we are going well and cowboys although non Sydney are an exciting team. Disgrace.

 

[N.C.]

Cheers Braz, excellent post. Pretty much as I thought.

Getting into the schools is one thing and getting kids interested is an obvious strategy - but you've got to convert that into parental goodwill or it means nothing. Kids aren't going to save Campbelltown with their pocket money. I'm in the Ashfield area and my kids get a visit to our school at least once a year. I hardly hear about it, though.

I dunno. Little things like players handing out free tickets for kids at the local schools - valid with at least one paying adult or something like that - they'd get a few more through the gate.

But really WT needs to dedicate some regular time to training in Campbelltown.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Tyga- So we have to give up playing at LO, because people don't show up to Cambo?

I don't get the logic.

What about the players that love playing there?

What about the record they have, and the fact that opposing teams dislike going there?

We don't get a proper home ground advantage at the concrete canyon.

You need the team to be winning before people will show up anywhere to watch them in big numbers.

 

[TYGA]

Its going to happen mark my words read between the lines on Mayer's comments.

 

[gronkathon]

Take a game off each LO & CSS and take the money to play in Adelaide & Perth

Build the brand and cash in

 

[TYGA]

Tyga- So we have to give up playing at LO, because people don't show up to Cambo?

I don't get the logic.

What about the players that love playing there?

What about the record they have, and the fact that opposing teams dislike going there?

We don't get a proper home ground advantage at the concrete canyon.

You need the team to be winning before people will show up anywhere to watch them in big numbers.

You are right the logic makes no sense that people miss out on LO due to Ctown crowds being disgraceful. There is however, no other way as both sides have to be treated evenly. Its also poor form we get 16k LO in the rain and 6k Ctown when dry granted manly is a Sydney team but there were hardly any of them there.

Behind the scenes Balmain are a financial Basketcase and Wests Group will inevitably control the club. Wests Group (Ashfield) I would think would be about corporate return as will the NRL (independent directors) so I believe you will find Wests + the NRL look to one home ground based on finances which, point one way.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Just on the weather last night, it was belting down when we left the inner west but by the time we arrived in Campbelltown the weather had cleared. Perhaps some of the inner west supporters decided against going to Campbelltown believing that the weather would be terrible out there as well. That being said, I'm not sure how many inner west supporters would make the trek to Campbelltown in dry conditions. I often get the sense that we have a distinct support group for each traditional home ground with a small contingent of fans attending both.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Leichhardt winning turf war with Campbelltown

Almost 25,000 more fans have attended Leichhardt Oval home games compared to Campbelltown Sports Stadium since 2012.
On average Leichhardt Oval has attracted almost 3000 more supporters than the venue in Sydney's south west, raising doubts over the future of the Wests Tigers in Campbelltown.​

Saturday night's disappointing crowd of 6546 at Campbelltown against the Cowboys was well below the 16,311 that turned out to Leichhardt Oval in pouring rain a week earlier to witness one of the club's best victories against Manly.

Sunday afternoon matches at Leichhardt Oval have averaged 18,800 since 2012, while games in the similar time slot at Campbelltown have attracted an average of 11,387.

While many fans in Campbelltown have argued the opposition team is a factor in the crowd figure, it cannot be used as an excuse given five non-Sydney teams have featured at both grounds in the nine games played since the start of 2012.

The crowd averages at Leichhardt would likely be higher if the club's previous management had not played all four games at the ground last year at night, given the success of afternoon games at the iconic venue.
"We’ve worked closely with the NRL in 2014 to make sure that we have the 'right game, right venue, right time' strategy," chief executive Grant Mayer said.
"Whilst we'd like to think we've perfected it, there's obviously some additional work that needs to be done."
The Tigers recently signed a 10-year deal with ANZ Stadium to play at least four games at the Olympic Stadium each year, however that could increase if the club decides to abandon one or both of the suburban grounds.

Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Round 6, 2014 v Cowboys: 6456 (Saturday night)
Round 20, 2013 v Manly: 11,162 (Monday night)
Round 15, 2013 v Raiders: 7833 (Saturday night)
Round 7, 2010 v Brisbane: 11,547 (Saturday night)
Round 2, 2013 v Panthers: 9715 (Sunday afternoon)
Round 22, 2012 v Eels: 14,822 (Monday night)
Round 12, 2012 v Cowboys: 13,059 (Sunday afternoon)
Round 19, 2012 v Panthers: 12,384 (Saturday night)
Round 4, 2012 v Raiders: 14,388 (Monday night)
Total: 101,366 (Avg = 11,262)
Leichhardt Oval
Round 5, 2014 v Sea Eagles: 16,311 (Sunday afternoon)
Round 19, 2013 v Warriors: 11,436 (Friday night)
Round 16, 2013 v Storm: 5288 (Saturday evening)
Round 11, 2013 v Cowboys: 7125 (Friday night)
Round 3, 2013 v Eels: 18,326 (Friday night)
Round 26, 2012 v Storm: 10,834 (Saturday night)
Round 15, 2012 v Roosters: 20,327 (Sunday afternoon)
Round 11, 2012 v Warriors: 16,406 (Friday night)
Round 1, 2012 v Sharks: 19,762 (Sunday afternoon)
Total = 125,815 (Avg = 13,980​

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ampbelltown-20140413-zqu56.html#ixzz2yo76m0sU

 

[BuffaloRules]

Wests Tigers to reconsider Campbelltown stadium as a home ground​

The future of Campbelltown Sports Stadium as a home venue will be high on the agenda when the newly structured Wests Tigers board comes together for the first time next month.

Club officials are frustrated by the lack of support from the Campbelltown contingency of Tigers fans compared with that at Leichhardt Oval, after only 6456 turned out for Saturday night’s win against the Cowboys.​

​

The Tigers will play four games at each of their three home grounds this year (ANZ Stadium, Leichhardt and Campbelltown) but it is understood the new board is likely to discuss the possibility of moving the round-21 game at Campbelltown to another venue.


The match against Melbourne hasn't been locked into a date and time given the broadcasters have left the scheduling for the final six rounds until later in the year.

Stripping Campbelltown of one of their home games would not sit well with the Western Suburbs-aligned supporters of the Tigers, however, the cash-stricken club can ill afford a repeat of Saturday night's crowd given the two other home games at ANZ Stadium and Leichhardt Oval attracted crowds of 19,860 and 16,311 respectively this year.
​

After last week’s incredible victory against Manly at Leichhardt Oval, several senior players questioned management over why more games weren’t scheduled at the inner-city venue, with those same players expressing disappointment over Campbelltown’s disinterest in the joint venture club this week.
​

Wests Tigers chairman and Western Suburbs Magpies deputy chairman Mike Bailey said the future of Campbelltown was with the new board.
"I'd have to say that any game beyond our next game at Campbelltown will be in the hands of the new board," Bailey said. "It's not up to me to make a projection as to which way a new board may go."
​

Since 2012, Campbelltown and Leichhardt have hosted nine games. However, only twice has Campbelltown attracted a crowd larger than the Leichhardt average of 13,980 during the same period.
​

Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer said the club would undertake extensive research to discover the best way to promote the next game at Campbelltown, against Brisbane in round 11.

"We’ve got to be sympathetic to the entire situation," Mayer said. "We've spent 15 years in the area, we shouldn't be making a knee-jerk reaction to one poor crowd. We need to work harder and smarter to find a way to improve the club’s relationship with the south-west."

"The 6500 that were there, the passion and the desire they showed was amazing, and without doubt lifted our boys to get the result we did, so we take our hats off to the commitment they all made," Mayer said.
Less than half of the 2500 allocated members for Campbelltown Sports Stadium attended Saturday night's victory against North Queensland,
The corporate boxes were at capacity with 400 in attendance, while 4500 tickets were sold for the match that, despite the poor crowd, still made plenty of noise for the first game of the season in Campbelltown.
While the crowd figure was disappointing, those at the ground showed plenty of commitment, exceeding the club's expectations by buying more than $15,000 worth of merchandise.
While Bailey says the NRL needs to invest more time and money to help increase interest in the Tigers and rugby league in the south-west, he said the region was crying out for local support.
"It's got to come from the top [the NRL] but it's also got to come from the local business people as well," Bailey said.
"We've been out there for 15 years now, and we're still waiting for someone to come along and say 'you guys need to be here and we're prepared to help'. Whether it's local businesses or politicians, that needs to be examined.
"I respect the people in the area saying 'yes, you may be our club but you are not actually out here'. If we're ever going to get out there, which doesn't look like happening in the foreseeable future, it needs to be embraced by more people embracing it at the moment."

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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-stadium-as-a-home-ground-20140413-zquac.html

Some comments:

1- I don't believe that they can move games from Cambo this year. They have sold no doubt hundreds of memberships on the basis of them playing 4 games there.

2. Interesting that Mayer is backing down a bit, but Mike Bailey seems to be putting across the hard line now.

3. No surprises to me that the players want to play more often at LO. Why wouldnt they? - they win more often there and the opposing teams dont like to play there. You need every advantage you can get in this competition.

 

[madunit]

7 of last 9 games at Campbo have been night games

3 of those on Monday night. Hardly favourable.

Leichhardt has had no Monday night games and 5 of 9 night games, 4 on friday night.

I'm from the Balmain side of the JV & love Leicchardt, but its clear to see that Leichhardt is getting better games than Campbo for fans to attend.

 

[BuffaloRules]

7 of last 9 games at Campbo have been night games

3 of those on Monday night. Hardly favourable.

Leichhardt has had no Monday night games and 5 of 9 night games, 4 on friday night.

I'm from the Balmain side of the JV & love Leicchardt, but its clear to see that Leichhardt is getting better games than Campbo for fans to attend.

I want them to stay at both the suburban grounds...

The issue is though that they have played games at all times at Cambo. The biggest crowd on the list over the past 3 years was on a Monday night and the other two were pretty handy as well in comparison to the others... they got twice as many versus Canberra in 2012 on an Monday night as they did the following year on a Saturday night...

You could almost put up an argument that they should play more Monday night games there...

 

[madunit]

They would consistently draw higher crowds at both venues, moreso Campbo, if they played Sunday arvo games only at each venue. Would keep costs down too on lighting.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

You guys are absolutely right. The Campbelltown council and certain board members do themselves a disservice by constantly complaining about the scheduling of games against non-Sydney teams at Campbelltown. The club has always endeavoured to divide marque games equally between LO and CS and if anything, has given CS slightly more games against Sydney opposition teams. Campbelltown does, however, have a legitimate grievance regarding the number of night games scheduled at the ground. The club has set a precedent by requesting the NRL to assign it day games at Leichhardt to maximise crowd figures and it ought to do the same for CS. Monday night, in particular, is the worst possible time to schedule a game at CS given the geographical dispersion of our support base.

 

[madunit]

If we have 6 home games between these two grounds, then make them Sunday arvo games. It hits at the nostaglic part of old Magpies/Tigers fans and is family friendly and ensures those driving/train to the game can get home at a reasonable hour so as to not impact on their working week.

It would mean that the other 6 games at the SFS can be night games. It just makes sense imo

 

[macnaz]

I want them to stay at both the suburban grounds...

The issue is though that they have played games at all times at Cambo. The biggest crowd on the list over the past 3 years was on a Monday night and the other two were pretty handy as well in comparison to the others... they got twice as many versus Canberra in 2012 on an Monday night as they did the following year on a Saturday night...

You could almost put up an argument that they should play more Monday night games there...

+1

 

[macnaz]

You guys are absolutely right. The Campbelltown council and certain board members do themselves a disservice by constantly complaining about the scheduling of games against non-Sydney teams at Campbelltown. The club has always endeavoured to divide marque games equally between LO and CS and if anything, has given CS slightly more games against Sydney opposition teams. Campbelltown does, however, have a legitimate grievance regarding the number of night games scheduled at the ground. The club has set a precedent by requesting the NRL to assign it day games at Leichhardt to maximise crowd figures and it ought to do the same for CS. Monday night, in particular, is the worst possible time to schedule a game at CS given the geographical dispersion of our support base.

Check the stats.. Monday night seem.to rate there , so im guessing the club is only trying to utilize what works

 

[851]

7 of last 9 games at Campbo have been night games

3 of those on Monday night. Hardly favourable.

Leichhardt has had no Monday night games and 5 of 9 night games, 4 on friday night.

I'm from the Balmain side of the JV & love Leicchardt, but its clear to see that Leichhardt is getting better games than Campbo for fans to attend.

And the win rate at Campbo is similar to Leichhardt as well

 

[macnaz]

They would consistently draw higher crowds at both venues, moreso Campbo, if they played Sunday arvo games only at each venue. Would keep costs down too on lighting.

Every club would be rhe same , they cant all have sunday arvo's