Why do NRL fans love empty seats?

This is not just an issue for NRL but also for Sydney sport in general. The Tahs have cracked 20,000 just once this season. GWS haven't cracked more than 10,000 this season. Sydney is such a fickle and at times lazy supporting city. If the product isn't right then people won't fork out there hard earned in such an expensive place to live.

shut up. These faceless men you speak of are actually very well known. Chris ward? Shayne Hayne? Jared Maxwell? Luke Phillips? Paul Mellor? Yeah i've heard of these guys. Actually they had camera's in the box last week and had a segment on sterlo about it. I'd say you're the faceless one having a repetitive dig at the referee's behind your keyboard

He has lost the plot or is just trolling. The sport of rugby league has never been bigger than it is now. There are record crowds in the nrl, record juniors, record tv audiences, record sponsorship and advertising revenue and record interest levels. Stop being so damn dramatic!!!

I don't know why everyone keeps bringing up jumping castles. Smith simply used that (as well as other things which people conveniently seem to ignore) as an off-the-cuff example of the sort of thing the NRL could explore to lift crowds. To my knowledge the NRL has NEVER publicly announced that crowds will be a KPI and that they are putting together a solid plan to fix the problem until recently. If you think that jumping castles are the sole extent of their initiative than I truly believe you missed the whole point of the announcement.

The NFL blacks out to TV games that are not sold out. Maybe a few blackouts would get the fans to show up.

League and soccer doesn't get the crowds simply because their supporters don't care enough and don't have the passion. If u can't be bothered getting along to the game ur not a real supporter!! Afl averages 35,000 a game. There's only one code in Australia baby!

fact is tho, they are lifting crowds. each year. we shant be too harsh now, shall we? While I think more can be done it will take time. This year has been fantastic so far imo

I actually find it incredible that the sydney teams have not done more. and I find it incredible ticket prices have not been reduced. I want kids into the ground for either free or very cheap, 5 bucks. I want things like support for adults taking kids. i want them to put up an attractive and perfect model and build it, tearing down forever (not improving) the old.....you can't polish a * as they say. I want rugby league attendance to be sacred and highly accessible, and this reliance on night games is absurd. I dont want TV to be the pinnacle, I want the game at the ground to be. IF it takes less night games - so be it.

the arlc/nrl must see this post by matt children and families were at the core of my crowd building reforms. Yes, many of those reforms are now passed or being implemented or being discussed. Day football is a big one imho.

omg. HOW can it be the end when its record levels of internet traffic, crowds, revenue, ratings and sponsorship's?

The NRL says every year that they are going to lift crowds. No amount of bouncy castles will lift the crowds unless the product of rugby league improves.They've got you to get it right cause people just don't seem to be interested otherwise they would turn up. Beats me why teams like south's don't get big numbers every time they play in Sydney. This is the reality.The game has run out of excuses unfortunately.

Yes, and the only thing rugby league should be concerned with about crowds is the financials -- making sure supporters are (and want to) support their clubs by going to games as much as possible and taking out memberships. Its a close relationship you need, built over time, a symbiosis rather than just a mere exchange of money for a service which is to "entertain me live" All the vanity and ego, its too much. Its a major turnoff-----you *can't* hit the issue with all that and solve it. Problems of the mind, of which this is related to, you can't solve such problems by using the problem itself. Because all I see here is an image thing, and a vanity thing. IF you want more crowds, you can't use the tools you've come with to solve it. Its bringing nothing to the table. But thats a specific point. What I am most concerned with is that people think 15k is the end of the world. Have some perspective. They only just hit 25k (not all who are ticketed) and the game is not a massive drawer anyway - dont you think people would pick and choose? And don't you think Souths need more time to solidify support from those numbers? Maybe when there are 50k members, a game like this would draw 25k Peoples intentions are wide and varied. Its a flawed argument to suggest 25k members should equal more than 15k at a game.

Hmmm I personally don't believe the cowboys are a drawcard for most people really. Even when they are successful. 15 is not surprising to me in the slightest. Remember the *OTHER* out of town crowd - Melbourne? 30K+

It is a little bit worrying, however the NRL has publicly stated that they are putting together an action plan to lift crowds so I think we'll begin to see things improve. The wellington crowd was great. Its about learning what they did right there and replicating it.

"unofficial reports put the number closer to 1500"..what complete fantasy and propaganda. Don't believe that nonsense. I was there and the figure of 5,830 was about right. I would have guess around 7K (and I've been there for half a dozen games now so I have a rough idea). It was hot/sunny day so most people stayed on the shady side of the ground - the photo day from the Telegraph today showed the side of the ground where there were the fewest people in support of their nonsense article bagging the Giants. If you wanted exaggeration of crowds go to NRL - I've been at the SFS for an NRL semi final and when the official crowd figure was announced as 30K there was audible laughter - the crowd looked to be around 16K, maybe 20K at a stretch....the official figure was so farcical even RL fans laughed at it when announced. The Giants made a mistake in scheduling...I went to the game but I had to leave behind three other Giants members due to mother's day commitments. I'm sure this did hurt the crow numbers.

Fair enough Boom, I'll doff my (flat) cap to your knowledge, although I never said Wigan was not a league town, just that Soccer gets a better average now - something that would have been unthinkable in the 50's and 60's.

Canterbury? Gah, what am I saying, Roosters I meant.

Tharsnodeawtaboutit Latics numbers are helped in a big part by the proximity to larger Lancashire EPL clubs, but there can be no doubt that Wigan is a Rugby town. Doesn't matter who visits on game day, the grass roots support for the cherry and white hoops is much greater than the round ball game. Orrell RFC used to have a strong team until Whelan (the very man considered by the media to be a hero yesterday) left the club with extortionate rent and the team collapsed (good reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orrell_R.U.F.C.). From someone who lived there in the late 80's, still visits every few years, went to scho there and has extended family who play league int town, Rugby League is still number one. Like the Orwellian quote, quite apt.