The Roar
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I don't want to pay for an 'experience', I just want to watch the footy

Roar Guru
16th March, 2015
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Jack Wighton was a key man for the Raiders in their NRL semi-final. (AAP Image/ Action Photographics, Jonathan Ng)
Roar Guru
16th March, 2015
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2031 Reads

Attending the Raiders vs Warriors game on the weekend, I forked out $7 to park my car and another $25 for GA seating. Before kick-off I was more than half way to paying for a month’s Foxtel subscription.

Apparently the rising prices are related to cost of the ‘match-day experience’, but why? I’m paying to see the game live in person, not for an experience.

After watching the Big Bash League, and going to AFL and NRL games previously, I’ve noticed there is a focus on fireworks, flame throwers, live music performances, and more dancers than players on the field.

It’s nice, but I could easily do away with all of it.

Changing sports, the Valvoline Raceway in Sydney regularly has racing during the summer months, and they’ve struck the right balance between experience and cost. Most sprintcar meets will set you back $30, for which you get sprintcars, and a few support-class races. In the breaks between races you get interviews with drivers, pre-recorded video packages with legends of the sport, or racing action throughout the season. On the bigger nights, the price inflates and you get a fireworks display, demolition derby, jet car and monster trucks.

You’re paying extra for the extra bits, which makes economic sense, since these are rare events, and a cheaper alternative is offered.

Simple things like video packages and interviews can entertain the crowd, and ‘special’ draws should be used sparingly to spark up interest. It keeps the costs for punter reasonable, and you can choose to go for nights with just the racing, or nights with the whole package of extras.

The NRL and AFL seem to focus on making every match a whole package of extras, but it makes them mundane, and since everyone is paying extra for the privilege, it’s turning people away.

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The football codes need to do away with the fireworks, the flame throwers. Keep the cheerleaders, but there’s no need for 100 professionally trained gymnasts.

Let the game be the feature of the match. During the half-time break, show player interviews, and legends of the game on the big screen. Have mini league (or equivalent for league) play games on the field, which will be a great thrill for them.

With all of that costing significantly less (particularly since you already have a big screen and PA system), lower the gate price and get more people to the game.

A larger crowd at the games will make its own experience, with thundering applause and cheering or jeering. You don’t need a flame thrower to fire up the fans.

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