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Rugby’s heartlands of Sydney and Brisbane will vie to host more Test matches due to a slump in crowd numbers around the country.
A concerning drop in attendances and the fickle Gold Coast market has put the spotlight on Wallabies’ crowds ahead of this weekend’s clash with Argentina.
The tourist strip may be hosting their last Rugby Championship match if ticket sales don’t dramatically improve before Saturday night’s kick-off at Cbus Super Stadium.
A disappointing turn-out of less than 15,000 is forecast for the Test, only the second ever to be played on the Gold Coast.
The first, also against the Pumas in September in 2012, attracted a far better attendance of 22,278.
Slow sales this week prompted Australia coach Ewen McKenzie to warn locals the city would lose hosting rights if they didn’t go closer to selling out the 27,000-seat venue.
“You’ve only got seven domestic Test matches to make all your money in any given year, so the goal is obviously to fill stadiums,” McKenzie told News Ltd.
While the Coast has traditionally had problems drawing crowds to all football codes, highlighted by NRL club Gold Coast Titans posting a record low average of 13,194 this season, the Australian Rugby Union’s crowd-drawing concerns also spread to west and south.
Perth’s Paterson Stadium only drew 25,718 for last weekend’s Test with South Africa – significantly fewer than the same fixture two years before (34,377).
Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium was also only half full when 27,189 fans turned out to watch France play in June.
Sydney has struggled to pack out the 83,000-capacity ANZ Stadium of late while Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium (52,500) was two-thirds full against the French, but both regularly ensure good gate receipts.
The Waratahs and Reds also enjoy healthy crowd support in Super Rugby, giving rugby’s main centres – who both generally host two Tests each year – a better case.
Next year will create bigger challenges for the cash-strapped ARU with the Rugby World Cup, to be held in England in September-October, drastically reducing the number of domestic Tests and expected revenue.
How the Wallabies’ crowd numbers have stacked up in 2014
33,718 v France at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
27,189 v France at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
43,188 v France at Sydney Cricket Ground
68,627 v New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
25,718 v South Africa at Paterson Stadium, Perth
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.