Eels’ Homebush gambit positive move for NRL
Roar Guru By Steve Kaless, 26 Feb 2010 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- John Ribot, NRL, Parramatta Eels, paul osborne, Rugby League
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Bulldogs defence in action during the NRL, Round 6, Parramatta Eels v Bulldogs match at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, April 19, 2009. The Bulldogs beat the Eels 48-18. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Grant Trouville
As a rugby league fan who has often been frustrated by the small-minded nature of many of the game’s club bosses and administrators in the past, I had to applaud the stance of Parramatta CEO Paul Osborne this week.
Osborne, spying a monster crowd for his team’s season opener against the well supported Dragons, has made the call to up sticks and shift to Homebush.
Now, as any long time reader would know, I’m no fan of Homebush as a venue. But my dislike stems from watching games with crowds of 15,000 rattling around inside the beast’s belly.
This is different.
Osborne knows he would sell out Parramatta Stadium in the blink of an eye and could get triple that at Homebush.
The former politician witnessed the potential when more than 70,000 Bulldogs and Eels clicked through the turnstiles last year and he is keen to build on that platform.
These sorts of crowds work at Homebush, and the Eels have the right balance between playing the majority of matches at the superb Parramatta Stadium while potentially relocating the blockbusters to the former home of the Olympics.
With the players staying on the straight and narrow this offseason, the code doesn’t want to be faced with some story about school kids missing out on watching their heroes play (with the AFL’s Andrew D lurking in the background, stroking an Auskick footy), even though most of the cheeky rugrats will get in for free with their school passes.
But with the new breed of CEO like Osborne understanding the value of spreading the game rather than protecting their own turf, 2010 looks like it will get off on the right foot.
Speaking of administrators, I was struck this week how times had changed.
I was discussing the game with a few diehard fans this week, who were all bemoaning the length of time it was taking the ARL and QRL to hand over power to the new independent commission.
These guys were, though, the very same chanting “A-A-ARL!” during the Super League war and prattling in the same chairs at the same pub that the game mustn’t be run by businessmen.
Of course, there are some big differences, but it’s still a big jump to go from the game’s ultimate gatekeepers to the ones holding the game back.
At least they were still suspicious of John Ribot’s motives.
Finally, I’ll note with interest the turnout at the Charity Shield on Saturday, as both the Dragons and Rabbitohs seem to have plenty of optimism bouncing around the walls at present.
Rabbitohs fans are notorious for crawling out of the woodwork, so I wonder how many will pin their colours to the mast at the first opportunity of 2010?
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- John Ribot, NRL, Parramatta Eels, paul osborne, Rugby League
February 26th 2010 @ 1:05pm
Rob C said | February 26th 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
All, enough with bagging the Dragons.
I agree that the decision made by Doust was not commercial for the NRL as a national competition, but a reward to Dragons supporters that a LOYAL to the club year in and year out. All the hysteria last year about this lockout was not from within the Dragons supporter base. It was from disgruntled Eels supporters and the Daily Telegraph. Doust wanted to look after the Dragons core markets (Illawarra and Southern Sydney). Playing that game at Homebush would have taken a lot of money out of the local economy. Sure the Dragons would have got a few hundred thousand dollar windfall but what about all the local business sponsors in the area that pour money year in and year out into the Club (including leagues clubs for that matter) that would lose millions in revenue through lost sales for that one off decision. Also a lot of paid-up members (as I am) pay memberships to watch league in true rugby league stadiums which sadly Telstra is not. If the Dragons had ticketed memberships approaching the 20k mark than I would be all for moving big games to bigger grounds. Then sponsors and the like can be included in the decision making process as it would be mapped out before the season commenced (i.e. know what true value their sponsorship is giving them). As it stands I have no sympathy for blow-in supporters who whinge because they can’t get to their one big game a year that they see because they are not ticketed members and miss out on tickets to TRUE SUPPORTERS.
Before I get hammered for not thinking big picture, I will tell you that the Clubs need to ensure that they do not alienate their current fans and sponsors by moving games when they see fit to improve their bottom line. This is short sighted and could result in serious long-term losses in Club sponsorships as sponsors cringe due to the lack of surity in the value for money that they get in corporate signage and boxes at local grounds (remember these are not transferable as grounds like ANZ have their own sponsors and corporate requirements to fulfill) and choose not to maintain future sponsorships. This is also the case for members who do not wish to travel an extra 80kms round trip to watch a game they thought was be played at Kogorah which is now at ANZ (160km if moved from Wollongong).
The NRL and Clubs are doing the right things now in improving ticketed memberships. Once these get to 15-20k than Clubs should seriously lobby for new stadiums to be built or existing ones upgraded or move to larger rugby league grounds (not fomer Olympic venues). This is the only way to grow the game. I seriously think chopping and changing venues is frought with danger. This is also backed up by the point that everybody complains about the NRL not having fixed sheduling (as in the AFL). Well this current shift in thinking will cause larger problems with the already loyal members if this is not handled with care. Just my thoughts….
February 26th 2010 @ 1:53pm
The man said | February 26th 2010 @ 1:53pm | Report comment
Right on Rob C
Firstly it is Para’s right to play a home game in Homebush or anywhere else for that matter. Personnally I would prefer to see it played at a bursting at the seems Parra stadium than a half full Homebush. The view is much better and the amtosphere would be great. Week in week out house full signs at local venues packed with local supporters (with waiting lists for season tickets) should be the aim for the regular season and bigger stadiums should follow.
Secondly, in relation to the home semi final last year the usual the petty jealousy of the other Sydney clubs comes to the for when the Saints are discussed. The home final was reward for winning the minor premiership (or collecting it when the Dogs stumbled at the final hurdle). As such it was Saints option to play it where they wanted and fans of Para (and News Ltd) should just get over it.
I have no problem with the NRL making finals in neutral venues – but if the home semi is a reward then everyone should be prepared for it to be played at home.
Thirdly, Saints v Dogs as local rivals should always be played in Kogarah and not the Gong. The fact that WIN is getting redeveloped and resulting in the first 6 home games being down south was a major disicentive for renewing a Kogarah season ticket.
As for the Charity Sheild jersey – while I would prefer red and white – for a one off game why not.
February 26th 2010 @ 2:22pm
Springs said | February 26th 2010 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Exactly, YOU would rather see the game at Parramatta. I’m sure up to 20,000 more people would rather it at ANZ just so they can actually see the game!
The Dragons supporters that are loyal to the club week in and week out will still get to see the game at ANZ if it is played there, and how come there were Eels supporters at Kogarah in Finals week one last year if it was all about Dragons supporters.
People need to stop being selfish and realise that 40,000 people getting to just see the game is better than 18,000 having a slightly better experience if the other 22,000 miss out.
February 26th 2010 @ 2:37pm
oikee said | February 26th 2010 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
What a strange reason to keep the game small. Look its really simple, play teams who cant get supporters to games, Cowboys, Canberra Warriors etc, at your homeground, but with growth in Numbers for league in Sydney, you cant expect to lock people out, its just madness.
So your seaon ticket allows you to get into the bigger stadium? what is wrong with that, the broncos play in a 50 thousand stadium every home game, and the CEO expects it to be near full every time. And we dont get many away team supporters.
With small time thinking like this, the game will never grow. I agree, it will take time to grow members, but lets start now, we had games at the big stadiums last year with small crowds, it will be good to see them start growing, i cant see growth at a already packed 15-20 thousand stadium, plus the guys locked out must be peed off. Their is plenty of room for them at AFL or Union at the big stadium, they will simply move on if there is no room.
.
February 26th 2010 @ 2:59pm
AGO74 said | February 26th 2010 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
Even in the 50′s and 60′s they moved the big regular season matches to the SCG to accommodate fans. It’s not exactly ground-breaking stuff here. As for the local businesses, sorry Rob, but apart from the pub in Carlton opposite the railway station who benefited by keeping it at Kogarah? The local kebab shop?! It’s not about Dragon bashing because a week ago I was saying the same stuff about Parra. The difference is that Parra have a CEO who seems to have seen the light unlike their previous CEO. Further on Doust, what a goose with rejecting that 1/2 hour slot on Fox Sports. Not sure if you have seen the program but all it is is a nice fluffy piece on what each club has been up to over the summer. Great free advertising for the club and its sponsors. If I’m a major sponsor supporting the club I have to question my investment when the club I’m sponsoring knocks back good (and free) p.r. material.
February 26th 2010 @ 4:08pm
Rob C said | February 26th 2010 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
Guys, you seem to be missing my point. If clubs chase the quick dollar without firstly looking after their current paid-up members and sponsors they will soon be in a situation where people will become dissatisfied and not re-new their current memberships. This will send the game from a membership point of view backwards and not forwards.
In response to Parramatta moving this game wouldn’t it have been smarter for the Club to have made this announcement before undertaking to recruit new season ticket holders for 2010 and ground sponsors? i.e. last year when they were planning for 2010. Nothing has changed since then has it…. That way everyone is informed before committing their hard earned money for the season. In Parramatta’s favour however is that the ground is only 10m up the road (little inconvenience). If you take the Dragons however, any shift in venue to ANZ would mean members would have to travel an extra 80km’s round trip (or 160km’s if in Wollongong) to attend a game that was included in their membership package. This would have massive implications for the Dragons supporters and lead to big backlashes from the local community (as was the case with crowd numbers a few seasons ago when games were shifted to both ANZ and SFS).
It is horses for courses as to how this applies to each Club. I just wish you guys that think you know everything there is to know about running football Club’s and business in general would firstly consider each club and their respective targeted markets rather than the NRL as one market. Businesses don’t run that way. Being a member I have no problems with how Doust handled the situation last year. I would however have a problem if I found out that some of my Wollongong home games were being shifted to ANZ. I would want compensation just as Parramatta Trust is seeking it in this situation. It is a big issue and needs to be factored into any short-term decision for a quick dollar. After all, that is what shifting games at short notice is. It not about looking after football Club members but rather about maximising short-term revenue without thinking of the long-term impact.
February 26th 2010 @ 4:18pm
Springs said | February 26th 2010 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
Mate i would to travel a 1200km round trip just to see one match. But I still became a member, not because I want the best seat in the house at Parramatta Stadum, but because I love my club. Maybe the Sydney supporters who want the game to stay at parramatta sould not be so selfish and count themselves lucky that they get to see every game.
The decision to shift the games to ANZ/SFS a few years ago were made before the start of the season I’m quite sure. Problem was it ended up so that the Dragons played teams like the Storm and Titans At ANZ, leading to bad crowds.
February 26th 2010 @ 4:26pm
Andrew said | February 26th 2010 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
Parra probably should also push a 3 game Superpass for there games at Homebush (Maybe even a larger one if they play there away as well). As there membership drive seems to have stalled a little.
At least this will kick it along a little more, and get people committed to more than the one match at the ground this year.
February 26th 2010 @ 1:08pm
Worlds Biggest said | February 26th 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Steve, your disdain for ANZ Stadium due to smaller crowds ( 15,000 ) is hardly the fault of the actual Stadium . Why are there only crowds of 15,000 in the first place. The onus is on both the NRL and the respective Clubs to ensure there are crowds of 30,000 – 40,000 plus for home games. Osborne can see the big picture and may others follow his forsight.
February 26th 2010 @ 4:34pm
Dan Dresden said | February 26th 2010 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Because for the Swans games at ANZ the state government puts on the extra free buses and trains to get to ANZ, but it doesn’t do the same for ANY of the NRL games except the Grand Final.
The govt only decided on free extra transport for the Eels v Bulldogs final last year TWO days before the game and by then 70K tickets had already been sold.
This Eels v Dragons game is a Friday night and there will be plenty of people who won’t go unless the Olympic transport button is pushed.
February 26th 2010 @ 3:02pm
Rod said | February 26th 2010 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Good move ozzy.
February 26th 2010 @ 5:11pm
Dogs Of War said | February 26th 2010 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/fans-locked-out-after-parramatta-backflip/story-e6frfgbo-1225834886135
Fans locked out after Parramatta backflip
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* February 26, 2010 5:41PM
AS many as 30,000 fans will be locked out of the season opener between Parramatta and the Dragons after the Eels decided not to move the game to ANZ Stadium.
“The board has listened to our members and fans and decided to play our first match of the NRL season at Parramatta Stadium,” Eels CEO Paul Osborne said.
“The penalty was too great to move the game, since Parramatta Stadium were going to impose a $100,000 penalty, on top of the hirers’ fee we were already contracted to pay. To move the match would have cost us almost $200,000.
“Clearly the current arrangement with Parramatta Stadium is onerous and it is difficult to make decisions like this that could benefit the club and its fans. “Now we hope the fans support our players and pack out all our games throughout the season and make them sell-outs.”
_________________
Poor backflip. Can understand the cost side of things though. This is why they need to really look before the season starts and ensure the right things are in place (Superpasses for Homebush games and FREE Travel). Lesson learnt I suppose, these things can’t be done in an instant.
February 26th 2010 @ 6:03pm
The man said | February 26th 2010 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
I say to any Para fan locked out – buy a season ticket and you would be there.
As for any Dragons fan who wanted to go – much like in the EPL – there should be reserved seating for members of away clubs who apply to go – hopefully you could build a culture where going to an away game like this was a priviledge earned after years of supporting i.e as a long term member you get first call on tickets.
This builds a real benefits of membership mentality amoung fans.
February 26th 2010 @ 9:19pm
Springs said | February 26th 2010 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
I have a season ticket, but I won’t be there because I live 600km away. This really is disappointing, they took money over fans…again. I was looking forward to finally matching Brisbane for once.
February 26th 2010 @ 10:07pm
jimbo said | February 26th 2010 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
At about $20 a ticket, an extra 30K fans would have given them an extra $600K in revenue which dwarfs the $200K cost of moving the game.
Maybe the Daily Rugby League Telegraph overestimated the real number of people who will be going to the game in their Back Page Headliner.
They haven’t even printed the tickets yet, so on what basis is everyone predicting a blockbuster crowd of over 50 thousand?
February 26th 2010 @ 10:17pm
Moonface said | February 26th 2010 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
If they were going to get an extra 30K fans or more at Olympic Stadium, at $20 a ticket that’s $600K extra revenue, which is a lot more than $200K they would lose by moving the game.
They wouldn’t be silly enough to throw away $400K profit would they?
Maybe theye weren’t going to get that sort of crowd in the first place – tickets haven’t even gone on sale yet, so how did they estimate the crowd?
I think the AFL pay for the free buses for Swans games and the NRL would be asked to do the same.
February 26th 2010 @ 8:48pm
Mister Football said | February 26th 2010 @ 8:48pm | Report comment
I remember for years Collingwood refused to move home games away from Vic Park, which could only squash in 28,000 supporters, and that was at a pinch.
The same excuse was used – looking after the interests of members.
Yeh – but what about looking after the interests of the club?
What about growing the club to the stage where 28,000 represents the puny attendance it really is?
Now Collingwood play their home games out of the MCG, and guess what? Their membership will be pushing 55,000 this season. Last season their home ground average attendance was around the 60,000 mark (placing them in the upper tier of clubs in the world in any code).
So now instead of worrying about the interests of some 18,000 members, they can worry about the interests of some 55,000 members.
February 26th 2010 @ 10:08pm
bever fever said | February 26th 2010 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
Yes true, but have Collingwood lost something through that move, personally i would prefer to be in the standing room at Victoria park in a crowd of 25thou than a crowd of 60k at the MCG.
It was the home ground of the Magpies for 107 years from 1892 through to 1999, the longest association between a club and stadium in Australian rules football history, you cannot buy that tradition and history.
Luckily IMO the ground was saved from demolition by the heritage register.
I believ Fitzroy amatuer footy club plays on it and some Collingwood reserve games ( is it Port melbourne) this year but being on the train line its possible that Vic Park may be the 3rd Melbourne boutique stadium that is continually talked about.
Parking is the issue.
February 27th 2010 @ 9:28am
Mister Football said | February 27th 2010 @ 9:28am | Report comment
bever
I believe history and tradition is important too – but occasionally, it has to give way for the betterment of the game (otherwise today we’d still have 12, or 11 or 10 Victorian clubs playing in a semi-pro comp playing on mud heaps).
February 27th 2010 @ 1:08pm
bever fever said | February 27th 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Well their are a few very good reasons for keeping some suburban grounds and the fact that teams like the Dockers, Eagles,Power and the two new teams will/do not usually not draw big crowds (In Melbourne).
For a team like Collingwood, Vic park may well be the correct size venue, imagine a full Vic park, it would need to be be balloted, so some ( maybe a lot) members may miss out, but i would imagine that many Collingwood fans would be happy to take their chances in a chance to get to the ground.
Would the cost of fixing the ground be to great ?.
February 27th 2010 @ 10:53am
Springs said | February 27th 2010 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Exactly ‘I would prefer to be’. I’m sure the other 35,000 would rather be at the MCG so they can actually watch the game live rather than on TV!
February 26th 2010 @ 11:25pm
LH said | February 26th 2010 @ 11:25pm | Report comment
All juniors who played rugby league are all allowed in for free in most NRL games. Another great idea by the NRL board to boost crowd numbers.
February 27th 2010 @ 8:53am
oikee said | February 27th 2010 @ 8:53am | Report comment
The kids will be locked out and this is nothing but a farse. Rugby league is proving to everyone involved. The game is a hillbilly run backwater rabid dog. And thats putting it nicely.
We have dinosaurs running dinosaurs running dinosaurs. I give up.
February 28th 2010 @ 1:03am
T-Rex said | February 28th 2010 @ 1:03am | Report comment
Osborne considered moving the game In November and said no. In fact he requested the NRL schedule him a round 1 game at Parramatta Stadium. He decided the better strategy was to sell a blockbuster round 1 match to encourage membership to the parra failthful over summer. Memberships have almost doubled.
Then 2 weeks before the season he wakes up one morning and decides “for the good of the game” he wants to move it to ANZ Stadium.
Rather than go behind closed doors to explore what it would cost to move the game he decides to play it out in the media. Takes 2 days to work out the numbers don’t stack up. surely he must have known the penalty clause for moving a game for weeks, if not months. Lots of media interviews over both days.
Finally decision is made. Turns out its Parramatta Stadium’s fault. Of course they should give up a sell out match. . Its also the NRL’s fault. Surely they could have guaranteed the potential loss. sure why not, maybe underwrite the other games the eels take to ANZ Stadium too. its the members fault – they complained. Its the Parramatta board’s fault – they listened to Eels members, sponsors, corporate hospitality clients. Many of have been there 20 x longer than Osborne.
Gee looks like Osborne should be knighted. He gave it a good old go. wasn’t his fault. I wonder, given his background in politics, if he didn’t forsee the shellacking he was going to get next week when the game sells out and instead of taking it on the chin for the sake of all those he’s promised the game to (members, sponsors, players) he works out a way to make this everybody else’s fault but his own. why else would he play it out in the media.
If he’d decided to move the game to ANZ in November when everyone in league circles suggested he should, then everyone would have been on board. he could have made it one of the two games he’s allowed to move to ANZ. The NRL would have been able to help him promote the hell out of it (e.g. make it $10 to ticketed members of all other clubs as a celebration to help launch the season) and eveyone would have been talking about it all summer long. there wouldn’t have been 50K there, it would have been 70K.
This pathetic egotistical display brought the game into disrepute and he should be embarrassed by his actions. He’s out of his depth .I give him 3 months.