The Wests Tigers turned up to play on Sunday, but . . . WHERE WERE THE FANS?
A sunny afternoon Wests Tigers game in Campbelltown used to mean a packed house . . . . on Sunday, only 9715 turned up. With only four local games of NRL each year, standing room should be at a premium. So what has happened to our city's willingness to turn up and cheer? Scott Dougherty and Ben Chenoweth report.
WESTS TIGERS said the decision to take the only home game at their suburban grounds on a Sunday afternoon to Leumeah has cost them more than $100,000.
??If we played at Leichhardt on a sunny Sunday we?d fill it,?? a clearly frustrated chief executive Stephen Humphreys told the Advertiser after the match at a half-full Campbelltown Stadium.
??It?s over a $100,000 turn- around for us in the decision to play here instead of there.??
Mr Humphreys said a crowd of 13,000 would have been a pass mark ? well short of the 20,000 capacity.
It?s only the second time since the Tigers 2005 premiership that a crowd of less than 10,000 have attended an NRL game at the ground.
The decision to grant Campbelltown the only Sunday game at a suburban venue this season had clearly backfired on the club.
??We only had one Sunday afternoon game to take to a suburban venue this year and we decided to bring it to Campbelltown despite hours of protests from those who love Leichhardt,?? Mr Humphreys said.
??So to draw less than 10,000 on a sunny Sunday is really disappointing.??
Many local fans say tickets are too expensive, something the club may look to address.
??It?s difficult for us to put the game on for less than that, but that?s one of the things we?ll do a bit of research on,?? he said.
Other fans, such as Councillor Paul Lake, said it?s the lack of variety of opposition teams that are brought to Campbelltown that fails to grab the attention of fans.
The Tigers have hosted Penrith five times the past six seasons and Canberra four out of the past five.
Yet they haven?t played St George Illawarra at the venue since 2002 and have yet to host South Sydney in the club?s 13-year history.
The disconnection between the Concord-based club and the Campbelltown community may be another reason for a poor crowd.
??Obviously there?s a lot more things to do to endear ourselves to the local community,?? Mr Humphreys said.
When asked if it would be commercially viable for small crowds to continue at Campbelltown, Mr Humphreys said the club was here for the long term and they needed to be better at encouraging fans to attend.
"We're a long way behind what we budgeted to do for this game," he said. "That will bring financial pressure on us.
"If there's more of that, ultimately it has to have consequences.
"I don't want that to be reported in a threatening way ? it's not about 'we're not going to play here any more', it's more about finding ways to ensure people come along to enjoy the footy."
Mr Humphreys also said leading up to the local game, tickets to the Leichhardt game another week away were selling faster.
So to draw less than 10,000 on a sunny Sunday is really disappointing.??
Many local fans say tickets are too expensive, something the club may look to address.
??It?s difficult for us to put the game on for less than that, but that?s one of the things we?ll do a bit of research on,?? he said.
Other fans, such as Councillor Paul Lake, said it?s the lack of variety of opposition teams that are brought to Campbelltown that fails to grab the attention of fans.
The Tigers have hosted Penrith five times the past six seasons and Canberra four out of the past five.
Yet they haven?t played St George Illawarra at the venue since 2002 and have yet to host South Sydney in the club?s 13-year history.
The disconnection between the Concord-based club and the Campbelltown community may be another reason for a poor crowd.
??Obviously there?s a lot more things to do to endear ourselves to the local community,?? Mr Humphreys said.
When asked if it would be commercially viable for small crowds to continue at Campbelltown, Mr Humphreys said the club was here for the long term and they needed to be better at encouraging fans to attend.
"We're a long way behind what we budgeted to do for this game," he said. "That will bring financial pressure on us.
"If there's more of that, ultimately it has to have consequences.
"I don't want that to be reported in a threatening way ? it's not about 'we're not going to play here any more', it's more about finding ways to ensure people come along to enjoy the footy."
Mr Humphreys also said leading up to the local game, tickets to the Leichhardt game another week away were selling faster.
