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Attending the Souths Vs Saints game on Friday night, I had expected that there would be a quite big crowd, with the Dragons being number one and the Bunnies going into the weekend pushing for the top four.
However, I was very disappointed at the crowd of 22,000, given the facts mentioned and the highly=publicised Rivalry Week. Looking at the crowd, I thought it was 70 percent Dragons, which leads me to ask: where are all the Souths fans?
A second point on the crowd was the huge brawl that occurred on the Eastern side of the ground near the 10 metre line.
I did not see how this started, but both teams’ supporters involved should feel ashamed in their actions. Police and security were being attacked by both groups.
It was disgusting. I hope that all involved are charged and barred from future NRL games.
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The Crowd Says (23) | Page 1 of Comments
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Corey said | July 20th 2010 @ 8:00am | Report comment
It was a pretty disappointing crowd when you think that both teams have the highest memberships in NSW, and they were both pretty high on the ladder. And the result was crucial for the Bunnies, the ladder is so tight everyone should be attending as many matches as possible. I’m a Broncos supporter and I saw us win against the Titans which moved us from 8th (which were only in b/c our points differential was better than the Eagles by 1 point) to 4th, than by the end of the round we see they are back to 7th.
This year is the greatest year of the competition I have ever seen. I just wish the Storm were allowed points, it would be even tighter. The bookies have said this is the hardest competition season in the world they have ever had to put prices on. Only 60% of the favourites have won this year.
Aussies should be going out and watching their team this weekend. I can’t wait for monday night footy, my first ever and it will be great. Broncos v Roosters, whoever wins leads the other in the competition. The same set-up as last week.
Back to the Storm, if they were allowed points, only 2 teams would not be able to reach the finals (Cowboys and Sharks).
ptovey01 said | July 20th 2010 @ 8:52am | Report comment
It is disappointing that the comp will be tarnished for whoever wins it, given it is so tight but I don’t think the Storm deserve points. I was on the other side of the fence a couple of weeks ago, but now given the depth of their cheating I don’t think they should be included at all and should have been cut from the comp this year comnpletely.
They say that the players knew nothing about how they were being over paid, but lets be real, they had to know something. You don’t sign 3 contracts and get paid from multiple people withhout areas without something clicking in your head and asking questions. I think they have a duty to ask the question. Also if they knew nothing about it why would they not go and be questioned by the auditors. I know they had no legally binding reason to, but the NRL should have made them do this. I still haven’t forgiven the storm for 1999
Anyway back to the crowd issue, I did forget to mention that they are 2 of the highest ticketed teams. Pathetic. Maybe it is due to the fact that it is too easy to watch the game on TV.
Anyway go the Rooster on Monday (I still haven’t forgiven the Broncos for 1992 and 1993). I think that Brisbane should put out a decent crowd (they always do), but you probably will only have Broncos fans as it is hard to travel on a monday night.
Hope the roosters get up with
M1tch said | July 20th 2010 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Played at SFS and it gets 35k plus
The curse of homebush for regular season footy
ptovey01 said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Your probably right. I think Hombush makes people nuts as well. I have only ever seen 1 fight at the SFS. At Hombush it is a regular occurance. aybe there is too much space.
The all new King of the Gorganites said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:33am | Report comment
As has been well documented, Homebush is a souless place. it is poorly designed, in a bad location, and has nothing ofi nterest around it. only diehards will go to games there. The place is getting harder and harder to sell out (regardless of code). When it a club match these problems only get magnified. that game should have been at SFS and would have got 50% more. bad move by the respective clubs and the NRL.
Jay said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Well homebush is the bunnies home ground, so like it or not, supporters have got used to it. you can make all the excuses, but the fact is that its was a poor crowd for what was otherwise a very good game.
panthers and eels got the same number, but the atosphere at penrith park was something else!
M1tch said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Until 2016 that is, I would hope the SCG Trust would try and get them back when anz contract is up
sticky tape pudding said | July 20th 2010 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Seems a strange decision to have all home games at Homebush when Moore Park is a stones throw from Redfern.
Not sure of the rationale for Souths to play their home games there….maybe the money guaranteed from ANZ?
M1tch said | July 20th 2010 @ 10:31am | Report comment
100k a game and souths were drawing bad crowds as they were bottom
Crowe wanted guarantee revenue for the team
Fez's are cool said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Sydney has some of the worst sporting infrastructure in regards to location and public transport.
I am so jelous of Melbourne having all their stadiums and grounds within spitting distance of the main 2 train stations, right in the city.
Or Brisbane with Suncorp within short distance of Roma Street Station.
Image the SFS and SCG sitting right next to Central Station, or ANZ adjacent to Circular Quay.
Corey said | July 20th 2010 @ 10:27am | Report comment
True with Suncorp, but still the crowds should be much larger. Until we have sold-out crowds, then we don’t have a successful Leadership team. We have managers at the Broncos, but not really any leaders. We have the ability to sell out the stadium each week, but we don’t – so there is something wrong. So transport is only some of the problem. The CEO’s and the “leadership” team need to take responsibility for lacklustre crowds.
John said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Friday night was pretty cold. Maybe they just decided to stay home and watch the game on TV.
M1tch said | July 20th 2010 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Big games at Hoembush and people will make the effort to go there ie: prelim final 75k for dogs and eels
There are so many games during the year that should get big numbers out there, but people just hate the ground and of course location, location, location
The all new King of the Gorganites said | July 20th 2010 @ 10:49am | Report comment
unless there is 75K at the game then it is pointless. thew place needs to go.
word is that the SFS will be increased to 55K. in that case i suggest all big footy games be played at the SFS, except, perhaps, the Bledisloe and the RL GF
M1tch said | July 20th 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
The SFS is great, where ever you sit you have a good viewing location
shame we dont use it more often
The all new King of the Gorganites said | July 20th 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Totally agree. Add to that all the fablous pubs and resturants around the area, it really should be utilised fro bigger matches more often. i remember the atmosphere the place use to generate when SOO or bledisloe matches were still played there. the whole place was buzzing. parking is still an issue that needs to be addressed there.
Mr Springs said | July 20th 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
The sooner they merge the Bunnies the better may the Cronulla Bunnies to make may for the perth team
Mark said | July 20th 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
70% Dragons fans? Be realistic.
It anything it was 60/40 to Souths fans
oikee said | July 20th 2010 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
There in the Burrow, waiting for predators to pass by, come out and play bunny fans, the broncos, parra and the dogs are coming to get you furry critters.
They have 3 under 21 players doing all the work, you need leadership to win finals.
Besides, they will never win a comp with Wesser as fullback. He’s time passed about 4 years ago.
Bunnies are soft, and belong in penhouse’s.
wallythefly said | July 20th 2010 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
It is entirely a Homebush v SFS thing, look at any Souths v Easts game at the SFS such as the one the previous week and there are EASILY a majoirty of Rabbitohs supporters. I’d argue that its often at least 65%. If Souths had home games on a at the SFS they would have massive crowds and the ticketed memberships would be even higher (especially on sunday afternoons).
I think Crowe and others have done a great job in bringing Souths to where they are with sponsorships and ticketed members but the ANZ decision was a shocker…10 years, couldn’t it have been just 5?
I go to probably 7 or 8 Rabbits home games a year at Homebush but the one I always enjoy most is watching them at Brookvale oval on the hill (so close to the action) and at the SFS (where there are thousands of pumped up fans screaming for a victory against arch-rivals Easts).
Corey said | July 20th 2010 @ 10:21pm | Report comment
Good point, the rivalries need to be put where it is most accessible for all the fans – and why not take back some games to Redfern like the Warriors game? I’m not sure on how many that stadium can fit, but it would be great to see a game back at Redfern.
wallythefly said | July 21st 2010 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
Corey, I wish. Souths hoped to get support from the City of Sydney council to do up Redfern to a sizable stadium to host games, the atmosphere would be unbelievable and right in the heart of Rabbits territory. It can only hold 5,000 at the moment and they have started playing one trial game a year there that’s it.
Corey said | July 22nd 2010 @ 10:37pm | Report comment
Get Russell Crowe onto the council, just give him a sword and a couple of lines and u will have a deal. It’s ridiculous that we lose the heritage. Look at the EPL teams, they keep upgrading the traditional grounds and that is how they retain the interest of ppl and attendances.
Everton moved from Anfield to Goodison Park in 1892 and developed it from a “howling desert” into a 40k+ stadium today. and Anfield was developed by them and Liverpool took it and kept developing it and they now house over 50k. So the NRL clubs should do the same and the Bunnies should invest and buy Redfern stadium (while it would be fairly cheap in comparison to other stadiums). And land is always a great investment – especially in Sydney!!
Imagine developing Redfern (which would have a massive heritage history) into a 25k stadium and eventually developing it into a 40k stadium, which I think they could fill every week to be honest. The way the Bunnies ticketed memberships are going they could easily fill a stadium of that size.
I reckon that’s the way for NRL clubs to go forward to be honest – buy your own stadium like the sharkies have. The sharkies have better crowd figures than the Roosters.