Which Team has the largest number of fans.

[Eels Dude]

Weird isn't it. Does anyone know whether there are any plans to actually extend the capacity of Parra Stadium anytime soon? Spose it might be a tough sell with Homebush up the road...

There are 'plans' to build a proper stand on the southern terrace increasing the capacity by about 2000, but the issue is the Parramatta Stadium Trust being able to come up with the cash to do so.

 

[ByRd]

I always love it when fans of sides in surburban grounds say things like "if we played in a bigger stadium well beat those other sides that do" when in fact, they struggle to sell out venues that hold 18-20k.

Bulldogs & Tigers have easily had the most support over the last few years and i dont see this changing anytime soon.

 

[Jason Maher]

So the Dogs used to sell out Belmore week in, week out did they?

 

[IFR33K]

I always love it when fans of sides in surburban grounds say things like "if we played in a bigger stadium well beat those other sides that do" when in fact, they struggle to sell out venues that hold 18-20k.

Bulldogs & Tigers have easily had the most support over the last few years and i dont see this changing anytime soon.

When tickets are nearly sold out for a game, you will not get the the crowd that decides at the last minute to go to that particular game. Surely it ain't that hard.

Before I was a STH, a would decide at the last minute to go. If the crowd at parra stadium was going yo be a big one, I wouldn't bother.

Let me ask you one question. If the dogs still played at belmore, do you think they would be on top of the crowd averages.

 

[ByRd]

Who knows what would happen if we played at Belmore but our club has realised that we need to move forward and grow the game, it isnt the 50s anymore, we need more teams playing in bigger grounds.

Tbh, i wouldnt care if we were last with an avg of 20k, it only means that the whole game has grown which is what should be the goal.

 

[slammingsam]

Souths have the most members in the NRL with over 18,000. I wish more then say 8000 of those would turn up to games. I wish everyone who attended NRL games were members..the game and clubs would be in alot better shape.

 

[Jason Maher]

So do you actually prefer a game in a quarter-full ANZ to a Leichhardt sellout? It would be nice if NRL crowds were big enough to demand all teams playing out of the SFS or ANZ, but we are a long way from that point. In the meantime, Kogarah or the Gong >>> almost empty ANZ.

 

[SET2JT]

Who knows what would happen if we played at Belmore but our club has realised that we need to move forward and grow the game, it isnt the 50s anymore, we need more teams playing in bigger grounds.

Tbh, i wouldnt care if we were last with an avg of 20k, it only means that the whole game has grown which is what should be the goal.

Dude didn't ANZ get caught out a few years ago for inflating figures at Bulldog home games?

 

[ByRd]

So do you actually prefer a game in a quarter-full ANZ to a Leichhardt sellout? It would be nice if NRL crowds were big enough to demand all teams playing out of the SFS or ANZ, but we are a long way from that point. In the meantime, Kogarah or the Gong >>> almost empty ANZ.

Oh give me the atmosphere at those grounds over ANZ for sure but to grow the game decisions need to be made in the future, i hope one day the Bulldogs can get back to playing 3-4 games a year at Belmore with the blockbusters at ANZ (this is what clubs like Eels, Dragons) should be doing, Eels have started doing this and i think the Dragons need to follow as there grounds are too small for one of the bigger sydney sides.

 

[ByRd]

Dude didn't ANZ get caught out a few years ago for inflating figures at Bulldog home games?

nah i dont think so, dont remember anything and our crowds have always been consistent even though we have had some tough years recently (like 05, 08 and this year), if we can get a few years at the top again, i feel with the boost in membership we can push towards 25k.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Here are the actual figures for this year (I've removed "home" games played in places like Brisbane or Perth, which obviously can't provide any indication of a team's support in Sydney):

Canterbury (10 games): 19,545
Wests Tigers (12 games): 18,096
Souths (11 games): 17,735
Parramatta (12 games): 17,080
St. George-Illawarra (12 games): 16,820
Sydney Roosters (11 games): 15,812
Manly (12 games): 13,816
Penrith (12 games): 13,056
Cronulla (12 games): 10,551

A couple of interesting outliers I noted: Canterbury's smallest home crowd was against the Tigers;

You might remember that that game was played in atrocious conditions. In the context of other Tigers v Bulldogs games over the years it was certainly an aberration. I don't think you can read anything into it.

Overall, I'd say Canterbury are clearly on top, then Souths and the Tigers, then Parra and Saints (small grounds)...

Looking at crowd averages from the past 5 years provides a more accurate reflection of home crowd support because it takes into account the fact that teams' performance will oscillate from season to season which should theoretically impact upon crowds.

You also note that St George and Parramatta play in smaller stadiums. In a previous post I mentioned that out of the games the Tigers took to the SCG and SFS, only one had a crowd in excess of the maximum capacity for Leichhardt and Campbelltown. On the other hand, 3 of the games played at Leichhardt and Campbelltown were sold out. And so, it could be argued that the Tigers were also 'disadvantaged' by playing at their traditional venues.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

If you like. The point is it's all relative. You can't sell more seats than you have and the fact is that that a sellout crowd for the Dragons and Eels is going to be around the 18 or 19k mark while the Tigers and Dogs have the potential to get a lot more. Actually you've proved my point with those 3 games you mentioned. The Dragons home game at the SCG drew 36k, while the Eels two home games at ANZ drew 32k and 25k. Logic from that would say that if the Dragons and Eels played more games at larger capacity stadiums then they'd get higher crowds. So your 'logical' argument that the only thing worth considering when it comes to who's got the largest supporter base is home crowds, is extremely flawed.

We're obviously arguing from different perspectives. My point is that the Tigers don't procure much of an advantage from playing 3 games at the SFS and 1 at the SCG. You're looking at it from the perspective of the Eels and intimating that their crowds would be bigger if they weren't limited by the capacity of Parramatta stadium. Out of interest, how many times have the Eels, and Dragons for that matter, sold out their stadiums in the preceding 5 years?

BTW you mentioned the Dragons v Roosters game at the SFS. I would regard it as a special occasion which always draws a big crowd much like the Tigers v Souths fixture at the SCG. It does not, however, follow that St George supporters would necessarily turn up to other fixtures if they were to be scheduled at the bigger stadiums. You might recall how paltry the Dragons crowds were when they moved temporarily to the SFS and later to Homebush. Of course, neither ground is within St George territory, but the same could be said for the Tigers.

 

[bmwpower]

I always love it when fans of sides in surburban grounds say things like "if we played in a bigger stadium well beat those other sides that do" when in fact, they struggle to sell out venues that hold 18-20k.

Bulldogs & Tigers have easily had the most support over the last few years and i dont see this changing anytime soon.

mate when you go to kogarah its a mission to get to. the rail way is on a different line. parking is impossible unless you arrive 2 hours earlier. then when you have 15000 Plus it gets uncomfortable. Most away teams dont travel to kogarah if so theyl get a few thousand max like bulldogs last year, other then that 1000 maximum are away supporters. This keeps away crowds away. if dragons had a convinient stadium, id put my life on it they will have the largest crowd average in sydney

 

[ByRd]

mate when you go to kogarah its a mission to get to. the rail way is on a different line. parking is impossible unless you arrive 2 hours earlier. then when you have 15000 Plus it gets uncomfortable. Most away teams dont travel to kogarah if so theyl get a few thousand max like bulldogs last year, other then that 1000 maximum are away supporters. This keeps away crowds away. if dragons had a convinient stadium, id put my life on it they will have the largest crowd average in sydney

Its easy to say but we have the track record and will only get bigger but anyways we just speculating now, in the end i really couldnt care as long as crowds are rising across the board.

 

[Loudstrat]

BAsed ona combination of memberships, home fan avg and merchandise sales (sorry but someone sat on his settee who turns on a odd game and calls homself a fan of that club is worthless imo) I'd say something like:

1. Broncos
2. Bulldogs
3. Wests
4. St George
5. Gold coast

but I can;t find the merchandise sales stats for each club to check.

Not worthless if they make up numbers so vast as to make our code the m,ost watched in the country.

In he bush there are stacks of Dragons, Dogs, Manly, Wests and Parra fans. Up here there are stacks of Knights fans as well.

On telly, it's Brisbane and then Parra. Telly pays the bills.

Than again the Warriors are seen by more NZers than the Awl Blicks.

I do recall when Parra played Newy in 01 - both home grounds were well attended by punters checking out the big screen.

So, until the Bears come back in a few seasons, it would have to be Brisbane leading Parra, Wests, Saints, Dogs and Newcastle. And whoever is playing Manly.

 

[Eels Dude]

We're obviously arguing from different perspectives. My point is that the Tigers don't procure much of an advantage from playing 3 games at the SFS and 1 at the SCG. You're looking at it from the perspective of the Eels and intimating that their crowds would be bigger if they weren't limited by the capacity of Parramatta stadium. Out of interest, how many times have the Eels, and Dragons for that matter, sold out their stadiums in the preceding 5 years?

BTW you mentioned the Dragons v Roosters game at the SFS. I would regard it as a special occasion which always draws a big crowd much like the Tigers v Souths fixture at the SCG. It does not, however, follow that St George supporters would necessarily turn up to other fixtures if they were to be scheduled at the bigger stadiums. You might recall how paltry the Dragons crowds were when they moved temporarily to the SFS and later to Homebush. Of course, neither ground is within St George territory, but the same could be said for the Tigers.

True, that's why I think your suggestion of corwd figures being the be all and end all of supporters doesn't work. Parramatta sold out 3 games this year at home, but due to season ticketholders not turning up a sellout can potentially be 18k. Our last game this year against the Warriors we got a crowd of 11k, but the day before if you wanted to buy tickets the best you could get was on the goal line due to having 8000 season ticket holders who's seat is held whether they turn up or not. That needs to be taken into consideration as such a situation is not going to happen for the Dogs or Tigers (when the play at the SFS or SCG)

 

[ouwet]

mate when you go to kogarah its a mission to get to. the rail way is on a different line. parking is impossible unless you arrive 2 hours earlier. then when you have 15000 Plus it gets uncomfortable. Most away teams dont travel to kogarah if so theyl get a few thousand max like bulldogs last year, other then that 1000 maximum are away supporters. This keeps away crowds away. if dragons had a convinient stadium, id put my life on it they will have the largest crowd average in sydney

You can't have your cake and eat it too! I love St George supporters, you guys are classic! When you guys were playing at Homesbush it didn't do much to your averages, you all said "It's because people don't like Homebush"... Same as the SFS!!!! BUT now you're blaming Kogarah for keeping down your averages?:lol::lol: The same stadium in Kogarah that you all "Love" and wouldn't move a semi final from?:lol::lol::lol:

 

[boxhead]

Honestly it has to be;

1. Broncos
Second, Third and Fourth are Eels, Bulldogs and Dragons in some order.

Those are definitely the four teams with the biggest fanbases, without a doubt.
T.V. ratings say Broncos and Eels are top. Crowd averages say Broncos, Eels and Dragons are top. Even in a sh*t year there are plenty of Bulldogs fans attending games, same with Broncos and Eels.
As for merchandising....who knows?
Honestly though, it has to be a combination of those four, with Brisbane on top.

 

[legend]

I agree with the first three but surely the Tigers are in front of the Dragons?

 

[NAS]

Broncos would be number 1.

Number 2 I think is difficult to assess. The condenders would have to be Parramatta, St George, Souths, Dogs and Tigers. and it could feasibly be any one of them.

Parramatta, when having a successful year, seem to draw on a limitless number of fans. St George have a huge fan base in both Sydney and the Gong. Dogs and Tigers as people have pointed out, do seem to enjoy good crowds all the time.

Souths.....it's the bumper sticker....how many cars do you see with the rabbitoh bumper sticker going around? they're every where....Me thinks that a really successful season for souths could really change the figures considerably......