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Eels, Tigers make a strong case for games at ANZ (sometimes)

The Soceroos and Matildas have locked in a deal to play International Football in Sydney for at least the next five years. (Image by Chuq, Wikimedia Commons)
Expert
22nd April, 2014
98
1640 Reads

Well done if you were one of the 50,668 fans at the game between the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels. I was proud to be part of such a passionate and energetic crowd, in one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever experienced.

Rather than focusing on the result, I want to express my delight at seeing such a tremendous crowd turn out to watch these two clubs play. 50,668 – that’s massive. That crowd broke the record for the largest home game crowd for the Eels – something both clubs should take tremendous pride in.

I am an advocate for keeping suburban grounds. So how do my arguments sit up in the wake of a bumper crowd – one which Pirtek Stadium would not have been able to accommodate? The answer of course, lies in a balanced approach.

For the Parramatta Eels, Pirtek Stadium is home. It is a suburban ground which holds just over 20,500 people. I love nothing more than attending Parramatta Stadium to watch the football – when at or near capacity, the atmosphere is electric.

We as fans are close to the action and it is our fortress. Slowly this year, Pirtek Stadium has again become a ground which opposition teams fear, and the Eels have a much better record there than anywhere. Even at our second home ground, ANZ Stadium, Parramatta have lost 12 of their last 13.

Obviously, yesterday’s crowd was too big for Parramatta Stadium. It’s here that the Parramatta Eels and the NRL have the chance to make smart and informed decisions when it comes to determining where games should be played.

Firstly, Parramatta should take care when moving games to ANZ Stadium. There are many things I dislike about the place, including Parramatta’s woeful record there.

ANZ Stadium feels completely soulless. Because it is so big, it is extremely difficult to get a good atmosphere. The only time ANZ Stadium erupts is when it is at capacity, and that usually comes during finals. The atmosphere at the grand final qualifier between the Bulldogs and the Eels in 2009 was one of the best games I have ever been to. For games like this ANZ Stadium is perfect.

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However, Monday was a perfect game to move to ANZ Stadium. There are a couple of teams in the competition whose fans really turn out when their team is doing well, such as the Bulldogs, the Eels, the Tigers and the Dragons. It was no surprise that a bumper crowd attended.

It was also perfect in terms of scheduling. It was a public holiday, a beautiful afternoon for football and early enough that kids could get to bed at a reasonable time. Add to this the opportunity to go to the Easter Show before the game and you have all the ingredients for a massive crowd.

If the game had been played next weekend on a Friday night, the crowd would have been much, much smaller. If Parramatta was still playing like they had last year and the game had been on a Monday night, the stadium would have been good as empty.

Games that should be moved to ANZ Stadium are games against traditional rivals, when both teams are performing and when scheduling is in favour of those that attend live games. In any other circumstance, the suburban ground should remain king, at least until the NRL show they can consistently attract crowds of over 20,000.

Rugby league is tribal in nature – suburban grounds hold tradition and history. Suburban grounds hold fond memories, particularly for people who have supported their team from birth. Each NRL supporter recalls tight games which their team has won and lost at their home ground. I particularly remember games where it pours with rain and you walk home soggy, wet and freezing after a good night at the footy.

While the larger stadiums have greater capacity, better facilities and more undercover seating, they are devoid of atmosphere. The Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs have been playing at ANZ Stadium for a couple of years now and have not seen crowds increase to a point where it seems legitimate to justify the move – particularly when a crowd of 20,000 means ANZ is one quarter full, compared to capacity at a suburban ground.

Perhaps instead of debating whether to abandon our suburban grounds, we should be moving the discussion to ways we can improve them or improve our scheduling so that when a blockbuster between two rivals is being played, as many fans as possible can attend.

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