Two rounds into the 2013 NRL season and there has been disappointing crowds across the board. The question is, why aren’t rugby league fans turning up to the games?
Here are a few possible explanations.
Firstly, the television deal dealt a attendance blow when it was announced with the introduction of Thursday night football, which is not a attractive time-slot to attend games on a work-night.
Monday night football is already a common crowd killer, but soon enough Thursday night football will overtake it as a poor crowd puller.
Already rivalry games such as Bulldogs/Eels drew less than usual during this timeslot, a mere 25,000 when it could possible got 35,000-plus on Friday/Sunday afternoon.
The TV deal itself reinforces the idea of league being a ‘TV sport’, which is the most common excuse as to not turning up to the game besides the usual transport and traffic reasons.
‘TV sport’ or not, if league fans truly care about the game they could a least make a effort to attend one game.
The sight of empty seats in barren stadiums is a terrible look for the game on the couch.
Poor attendances makes the code look second-rate and unattractive to any potential new followers, so whenever possible make the effort for once to get off the couch and get to the game.
Supporting the game on the couch is not real support – and that’s the truth!
Joe C
Guest
"Supporting the game on the couch is not real support – and that’s the truth!".... Stop jerking the fans about and we will! Expecting families to attend weeknight games just isn't fair. You won't be doing the league or anyone any favours by blaming the fans either. More Monday and Thursday night games means this will be the last year we purchase season tickets as well. If the league and each team cares about its fans they should make more effort to schedule games when people can make the time to attend. Getting to a game after work and trying to get kids fed and their homework done is just about impossible.
damo
Guest
The game has gone to the dogs. Sydneysiders aren't rich mate. Most of them anyways. They just give the illusion of wealth by buying everything with credit and debt. You think times are tough now? We are heading for the recession of all recessions. Watch crowd attendance then. Those poor Sydney muppers are going to scream blue murder when their assets are worth less than the debt they have left to pay on em. Lol. City of idiots that lost its Aussie culture after the Olympics.
Freo Boy
Guest
I agree with kiwiinoz. Swearing in movies and music isn't threatening the way it is with an some bloke sitting behind you, even when it's directed at the field. That's why I don't take my kids to the footy, so they won't grow up with a culture of going to the footy, so we'll all watch it on TV.
NF
Roar Guru
Beardan My comments haven't made it to your article, so I reply here your mindset is insular and backwards thinking the very same one that has held the game back since day one for you to say 'focus on heartlands' while other codes are doing the opposite and giving it a go. For you to stick your head in the sand and think everything is fine with just heartlands is pure delusional, your checklist is a joke too since I wasn't around in the 70's when all that happen. The only thing that matters is the supporter no matter where there from including Melbourne since according to you 'it's not in there blood', as far as I see if there watch and aleast have a casual interest in rugby league that's good enough. As oikee would say your views are that of the dinosaurs the sames ones who have the very same views are you, never expand and keep to ourselves talk about lack of confidence in the code you dearly love Beardan. P.S: The Bears are never coming back ever, WA/Brisbane 2 over them any day of the week. If you want the NSWRL watch the NSW Cup too.
NF
Roar Guru
If the NRL sucks then what does they put Super Rugby (in Australia) x-man going by your logic. lol stick to writing about rugby.
x_man
Roar Rookie
Because NRL sucks.
NF
Roar Guru
Wanderers on a roll and should ride that bandwagon for what it's worth as it's no secret how fickle the Australian sporting place is. Another man's thrash is another man treasure is one can say for your boring comment so enjoy the football leave rugby league to the true believers.
Craig_Foster
Guest
Sports matches in Sydney have no atmosphere and people don't show up? Funny how the Wanderers are doing so well and those boring rugby league teams are not
NF
Roar Guru
We get it Celery football is awesome, league is not good on A-league for the success that have this season but it''s irrelevant to the topic at hand which is about league not football.
Mr Celery
Guest
Agree with this. The game itself is decidedly dull, so it is hard for fans to get enthusiastic. How many times can you watch tackle, one pass, tackle, one pass, tackle, two passes, tackle, kick (repeat). Compare that with free flowing exciting football like that show between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC last night, and you can see why the atmosphere is beyond awesome and the game is a sell out.
Keyless sky blues fan
Guest
This. My SFC membership costs me $130 in the Cove. For 13 home games plus priority to buy derby tickets, it's perfect. Next season in the a league in sydney we could have around 20k members between the two clubs, less than 3 years ago we had less than a third of that. Much more attractive option with merch discounts, free public transport and walk straight into your favourite seats, it's perfect and gives people no right to complain IMO.
Carlos
Guest
Damn straight, The NRL seems more interested in crawling up Tom Waterhouses pimply backside than provideing any real vision for the game. Seeing the Jets play at Henson is better than a trip to ANZ any day
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
we need a 2nd brisbane team ASAP, make it happen ARLC - you won't regret it. We need to address the 2 most glaring holes in the sport. A perth and brisbane 2 team.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Inflated? That's ludicrous, I've never heard of such a thing! ;) Why do people believe they are inflated? Why fudge numbers? Why lie? I'll take the numbers for what they are, and currently they are the numbers that show fans are turning up just that little bit more compared to the start of last season.
Blaze
Guest
Indeed.
Australian Rules
Guest
'We are guaranteed a great atmosphere in the comfort of our lounge rooms'... Haha, priceless
Australian Rules
Guest
Sydney does love a winner...
Anon
Guest
what do we regard here then as 'atmosphere'? crowd banter etc is what might occur during the tea break in the cricket - that's gotta be distinguished from the 'atmosphere' generated by the contest on the field. To the casual observor - that English apparent involvement often seems pretty independent of the onfield activity - rather much like when a Mexican wave is generated at a sporting event. For me - nothing matches the atmosphere that a great game (contest) generates - and that's NOT artificial or contrived - that's actually the atmosphere that develops across the match and for me a great AFL contest can rival anything (with every 50-50 contest and every possession hard fought).
marco
Guest
why hasn't Brisbane got a second team?I'm with you on this one.
marco
Guest
careful of those official crowd figures.some are very obviously inflated big-time.