In the midst of the new houseguests arriving at rugby league HQ this week, much mockery has been had at the expense of NRL CEO Dave Smith’s attempt at ‘bouncing’ a few ideas around with regards to increasing crowds via his entertainment squared initiative.
While Smith’s enthusiasm to make attending NRL matches more attractive was warmly received, mentions of using distractions like live music and jumping castles to sell his vision left many rugby league fans feeling a little, well, deflated.
Seems as though mentions of entertainment not actually happening out on the green stuff had the effect of bringing back painful memories for punters, memories of men in mid-90s hairdos talking about how ‘super’ the game could be.
Which is perhaps a trifle unfair on Smith.
While NRL crowds have increased this year, the black hole of media exposure that is State of Origin is not too far away, and Smith would not be doing his job (or flick passing it off to the new bloke) unless he had a desire to raise attendances.
Also, fans behaving as if NRL matches are holy occasions untouched by silly sideshow ally acts is nonsensical, as the majority of NRL matches already have a number of the distractions Smith was alluding to.
At the last NRL match I attended it was quite possible, in the short walk to the stadium, to have a go at rock climbing, get my hair spray painted, run through an inflatable obstacle course and embarrass myself in several different promo competitions.
Not that I would consider doing any of these mind you, although I did try in vain to buy a Big League from someone, but it’s a fallacy to say I didn’t have the chance if I wanted to.
I think the issue Smith needs to focus on here is who he’s targeting with the extra ‘entertainment and engagement’ initiatives. In particular I believe there is an age issue that should be addressed.
Kids distractions? Go nuts. The first time I ever saw a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man at Shark Park it changed my life, and my little cousin bugs me to take him to the football just to see the ridiculous flame cannons.
Alternative entertainment for adults? Forget it.
Seeing some hopelessly out of place indie band ignored during a pointless twenty minute pre-match acoustic set while you’re trying to talk to the person next to you is an unfortunately common occurrence at NRL matches.
If you’re aged over sixteen and are at a NRL match you’re either there to watch football, or you are there with someone that is. Hence, make all adult orientated entertainment football related.
And this is where my ‘Entertainment Cubed’ initiative comes into play. What it involves is a third game of football, in addition to the NRL and Holden cup games, for rugby league fans to watch while the kids are in the ball pit or feeding the pony in the petting zoo.
Hand the keys for it over to new boy Jim Doyle and I reckon he could rustle something up for us, particularly after having stumbled across the replay of the brilliant game of football between Tweed Heads and Easts Tigers in Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup on the weekend.
Maybe tack on a place where adult fans can congregate before and after a match to talk footy and I believe it would be crowd problems solved.
Rugby league…
Now that’s entertainment!
Baloo
Guest
Every ground needs an area like Caxton street for drinks/food/childish name-calling etc
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Yea i dont think its jumping castles etc that will make people go to the game. I dont know what the answer is and for the last 20 years no one has so that particular task is the holey grail for RL, and to be honest i dont know that it will ever be figured out with the current product RL is. The game is bigger and better than ever before but the list of reasons why we go to footy is far smaller than the reasons not to go which is maybe a starting point to try and get fans to go to more footy games. Some reasons not to go are 1,I have pay tv and the time slots that games are played makes staying in and watching your team very enjoyable 2, The game only goes for 80 minutes and the act of goingand getting to the game is, well when you consider the cost and alternatives i think its an issue 3, if it costs 150 to go and take a kid or 2, you can get a mate around have a bbq and enjoy a great afternoon or evening at home. 4, The media, as much as they say they promote the game they serach out and exagerate negatives and are really no help at all in getting people to the games. 5, for me its not suprising the crowds were at the best when all games were played on sundays at 3pm, 6, its usually only the blokes who love the footy and the wives bemoan themselves as footy widows becuase they are over how much footy we watch on tv and to go to a game on top of that is stretching the " freindship" so to speak. I think i could keep going with a list of reasons not to, maybe someone can come up with a list of reasons to go that has more to it than just thier love of thier club or should that be enough ?
Rabby
Guest
Most people who go to footy games are going for that not side shows. Would do better to focus on that and sort out the transport, food & beverage facilities plus getting rid of silly security rules like what length of lens you have on your camera. Its time that footy fans were treated like human beings not mindless cattle.
Australian Rules
Guest
Actually, that just spurred me to re-live the joy of Meat at the Grand Final. I say this: if anyone is feeling down, feeling like they're a failure, or just need a good thigh slapping to pick them up, please go to YouTube and watch Mr Loaf do his thing at the the GF. If you urgently need quick relief, fast forward to 5:30min...and let the good times roll.
Klassic
Guest
Ok you gotta laugh at the battery line LOL!
Australian Rules
Guest
Meatloaf, like Angry Anderson before him, earned his place in the hallowed AFL halls of "so bad it was good".
Lou
Guest
Australian rules I'd have Huey over muttloaf any day !!!
lou
Guest
your 100% pelican, who goes to the footy and expects a multiple entertainment experience ? if thats what your after go visit a theme park, entertainment off the field is what your after , if the kids annoy you at half time an ice cream is great for getting them off your back , or alternativly you could always get em to lick 9volt batteries ! works a treat , just ask doggies fans , its better than watching the footy !!!!! sometimes
Australian Rules
Guest
I assume the new NRL anthem is the 1986 smash from Huey Lewis and the News: "Hip to be Square". Play it Dave!
uPelican
Guest
Adults go to the footy to see the footy. Small children have no idea about whats going on at the footy, but like ice creams and other things that small children like. The world has always been thus, and thus it shall remain. I don't go to the footy to see bands, singers, comedians, jugglers, nutters (unless they are wearing a team jersey), minstrels, hawkers, politicians , rugby league officials, evil knievel or his son thes days, harstyle competitions, lottery spruikers, sewer rats bookmakers feeding off mugs, mobile phone displays, or other things which are not football. The footy is not entertainment. Its serious. Hose all this other stuff out of the way and get back up into the stand and down to business. Go Manly.
Johnno
Guest
Gangnam style. Psy Now it's E-squared "Dave Smith style".