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Suburban home grounds need to stay in rugby league

20th July, 2014
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Cronulla players celebrate their win with fans during the round 12 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Cronulla Sharks (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Roar Rookie
20th July, 2014
162
1643 Reads

I, like many punters around the grounds, am disappointed at the lack of support the federal government and the NRL have given to suburban grounds

With none other than the prime minister of this great country being Manly’s number one ticket holder this year, I had hoped that funding would be provided to Brookvale Oval.

It is a massive embarrassment to not only the northern beaches, the fans and the club, but to the game as a whole.

The game is supposed to be provided for the fans, the people who essentially provide a great deal of the NRL’s income. Ticket sales and merchandise are one thing, but the big money is in advertising and broadcasting deals.

Sure, that’s fair enough. As the Young brothers attest to, ‘Money talks!’

But even Blind Freddy can tell that you that it’s the fans who watch the telly, ads and all. Keep turning them away, and rugby league, as a franchise, won’t net a billion dollars.

Take footy out of the suburbs, put it in the bigger stadiums, at the best and most TV-friendly times. The times where families would be struggling to make games, as they’d end past their children’s bedtimes. Throw in the added time for the commute home, and of course they’re going to watch it on the telly.

A win for the broadcasters, for sure.

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But, honestly, how long does the administration expect loyal fans to remain loyal? How long until they’ll say enough is enough and turn off their sets. Or switch over to another sport.

Brookvale Oval, Leichardt Oval, Parramatta Stadium, Remondis Stadium, and many others house loyal, hard working fans, who come to all the home games, bring their rugs to sit on the hill and fly their flags, while their scarfs fly about it in wind.

They sometimes freeze out of refusal to don a jumper over the jersey they’re so bloody proud of. Their home ground holds a special place in their hearts. They remember big wins their boys have had there, and remonstrate over harsh loses.

Their home ground has heart and soul, and often a nickname like ‘The Fortress’, because their team lift to new heights every time they set foot on that sacred ground.

Take that away, just for what will the NRL hope and presume to be a bigger profit, and you take away the real community spirit that this great game was founded on.

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