We live in an age of technology where supporters would rather watch the footy at home, in the comfort of their lounge rooms then brave the traffic and cold to get to the stadium.
And once you’re at the venue? You’re most likely sitting in the open, nursing a half-strength beer, which is warm by the time you get back and tastes more like water than anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, going to the footy is great but it could be better, right?
Here are my solutions.
Solution number 1# – Star Power
As cliché as it is, star power helps. People flock to see the big names because they create excitement, produce highlights and win games. Let me give you a figure.
In 2012 the Sydney Roosters averaged 12,500 for home crowds but after signing Sonny-Bill Williams the average crowds for 2013 are over 20,000 at Allianz Stadium.
Teams that are playing well, have a couple of marquee players and are executing an exciting brand of footy will attract the crowds in droves.
Solution number 2 – Salary Cap
It is all well and good for the teams that are in the top eight but what about the rest of the crop. The Parramatta Eels for example are favourites for the wooden spoon and their average crowd of 17,000 in 2010 has dropped to 13,000 this year.
The Eels have overpaid their players and their not getting any tax back in return. The salary cap needs to be revised or used more wisely by teams next year to ensure that crowds are interested, but hey, someone has to lose.
Solution Number 3 – State of Origin
There is no solution. Obviously crowds are going to be stripped down when heads turn to the Origin period.
Personally I think it’s a blessing in disguise, it shows the depth of teams and it gives up and comers the opportunity to express their talent in the absence of marquee players. The game’s superstars can’t keep playing forever and eventually new legends must be born.
Solution Number 4 – Social Media
Currently, the NRL has a remarkable social media infrastructure, which out performs that of Super Rugby and the AFL. Whether they enjoy it or not, the players have a responsibility to promote the game and set an example for the rest of us.
The big three, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the future of NRL promotion and the athletes play a key role in attracting fans to the games and boosting the sport’s public image.
Solution Number 5 – Bring back the hill
Now this may be a stretch of the imagination but we should bring back the hill to stadiums. There is a reason why Manly boasts one of the biggest fan groups in the game and it is because of the atmosphere Brookvale Oval delivers.
The ability to casually sit on the hill and watch some of the best players in the game takes rugby league back to its grassroots. It creates a social atmosphere and although the Manly fans may not be the friendliest, their team remains the number one side that everyone hates losing to because they boast a big home crowd.
Solution Number 6 – Match Scheduling
The latest debacle in the NRL is around the scheduling of the Canterbury sides home ground, which is being used to host the Swans versus Hawthorn AFL blockbuster on the 30th of August.
Every dog has his day and there are bigger games to be played on that Friday night considering Manly plays Melbourne and the Warriors have a clash with Canberra. I’m guessing the Swans fans aren’t overjoyed with the move either from their cherished SCG to the concrete giant.
All the hysteria about rugby league attendances of late are subject to the standard complaints of tickets, food prices and the lack of biff but these are just fish in a pool of sharks and things actually aren’t as bad as they seem.
In fact, this year, the average crowd numbers represent the fifth highest average in the history of the game.
So man up, throw your jersey on and enjoy the warm beer because this could take awhile.
barry lunn
Guest
95,000 elimanation final richmond v carlton say no more lol
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I'll get a translator,the first para was about the general thrust of the thread for all to see and respond to if they so choose.. The second was a NB for you,and relevant to the thread ie crowds are down when teams are not performing,and I cited the G ,and teams are also not performing in the NRL,in fact getting thrashed. and crowds are down. If you can't see it through the haze, re discussions getting people off the couch ,then I wont use your description of me as a dill,(you love name calling),and respond in kind,just scratch my head and wonder where the hell you get off.I stated prior about addressing the 2nd para to you,read buddy.
Australian Rules
Guest
Mate, post comments about whatever you like. But when you respond directly to my comment, then say you weren't responding to me, and while you're at it, make baseless comments about (of all things) MCG crowds being down, you look like a dill.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Read my first para before I even introduced the comment to you.Stop playing the victim.In future I will address it as dear sir,so as not to upset the apple cart.
Australian Rules
Guest
You weren't responding to the thread content, you were responding directly to my post. This article is about the NRL, so I can't see how the MCG crowds could possibly be relevant. But while we're on it, the crowds at the MCG are not down..there's been 10 games over 70k this year alone.
clpper
Guest
You're quite correct, Greg - Netball and Football would also be in consideration after daylight
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Yeah but have you ever been to an NFL game live - I went to one at Homebush a few years ago (around 50K) crowd and it was a major disappointment. nFL is better on TV than live.
Redb
Roar Guru
Social media is not dominated by NRL like the author would have you believe. @afl has 162,500 followers. @nrl has 116,300.
Redb
Roar Guru
Yeah here is a dumb point, Waverley a suburban ground according to Johno akin to Windy Hill,etc, really? It held 80,000.
Greg
Guest
With all due respect crosscoder, league is not even the one following behind daylight. When taking into account all factors, league ranks around 5th most popular sport. I know alot of Johnos posts are base on wishful thinking, but don't expect NZers to tell him he's wrong when he clearly is.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Firstly I was responding to the thread content in getting people off the couch.Teams such as parra,Dragons and Tigers even with their star power have difficulty in so doing.If you know a little about their following you might understand.So I was responding to the thread not you in that respect.. The theme of the thread was getting people off their couches. Irrelevant!!! ,when crowds are down at a major venue, it has a cause.WE are also discussing crowd drops in this thread.Teams that are not performing do not bring in the crowds ,and that applies to the (MCG/AFL in which you loom large), as indicated.It's not hard.In fact it also happens with the Tahs. Irrelevancy appears to be in the eye of the beholder,so your last line went through to keeper.
Australian Rules
Guest
My comment was about Star Power and the Origin-effect...as set out in the article. Other than an irrelevant comment about MCG crowds, what was yours about?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That may be the case as to ego for a couple of clubs.We all have egos ,to varying degrees. But I distinctly remember the knights being in the financial mire,with decent debt to fund,and really struggling.Tinkler who actually played the game and and apparently loves it,put his money in to assist the club.Ego or feel good factor,or soiem sort of social responsibility.Poeple actually donate money ,because they feel honour bound to do do,or feel a need to assist. If the club had been running along smoothly,he would hardly be throwing money around for ego purposes. Manly another club,in real financial trouble at one stage due to the Licensed club being unable to provide the grants required,got a handful of local business people(manly supporters) on board to see them through the dark days.Egos?They have involved themselves in a bit of in fighting,rarely appearing in front of cameras. The Broncos backers ,hardly ever hear or see them anywhere,suggestign their egos are behind the curtains or left at home. I know of one high profile businessman who has assisted the sharks in the past,when they were near death's door.Ego,he certainly never bragged about it,and few knew about it.And I will not name him. Some backers actually have a deep love for the game, You are not totally correct AR,because now ch9 shows NRL games on the HD channels in Perth etc,and SOO was made available to SA and WA,with ratings higher than expected. The deal actually gave fans some sort of certainty re the first 20rd scheduling.that is one of the reasons,membership is at record levels. Whilst FTA content remained unchanged for the eastern states,the deal has meant grassroots will benefit in the long run,and the code will not have to spend $20m pa on a new club anywhere/anytime. if you are keeping up to speed,clubs are pushing memberships,they are at record levels for most clubs and overall.It also is a well known fact that poker nmachine dependency is being decreased substantially for many clubs. The NRL did not hold all the power,if that was the case FTA would be on in all states live.The Tv ratings are what hold the power,and what advertisers are prepared to throw money behind.That is why SOO is on Wednesday nights,maximise Tv ratings and crowds. So your last line is contradictory,if the NRL held all the power,they would have demanded the cash and live FTA in all states.The Tv station had the programming power . There was give and take on both sides,not an ideal world .But the code has secured not just $bn ,but around $1.2bn when all Tv/tech taken into account.And the code with an alliance with Telstra is forming their own media unit.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And that is not a bad thing.Considering prior to 95,rugby league was not even played in Fiji.Thanks to the 7s in Sydney,Rabuka gave the code the go ahead. And it is not a case of may be increasing,the plain fact it is increasing. Isn't it nice to have a choice.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
turbo 1.SOO is such a huge part of the code's structure and money making,you don't fiddle with it.The crowd drop is not anew phenomena.Parras/Dragons and Tigers all performing badly at the same time is. 2.A trip to the cinema is also full of ads,and is a comfort zone like one's house.The players are getting injuries in an 80 min game,so we increase it and by the law of averages, so do we increase the injury rate.Not IMO a great idea.It's just about one of the toughest sports on this earth. My suggestion would be drop kicks for goal shots,regardless of where they are staged.Reduce the number of scrums,by having more handovers if there is a knock on even a double knock on.More bang for your buck. 3.Agree on your last point.My view increase the number of teams in the code.My solution with an 18 team comp.3 conferences of 6 each The Messenger,Churchill and Gasnier/Beetson conferences. each conference plays within each conference twice meaning 10 games. Once that has been concluded,then each conference lays the other two, once only,meaning 22 rounds in toto. You then have room for the blockbuster rep weeks (3 of them) SOO,Tonga V Samoa,U20s ,PNG v Fiji,womens SOO.The Tv content is there,you can combine the PI into any mix you wish. The code is or almost certainly will be announcing in the enext few days a 9s tournament in Auckland at the start of 2014,that also could be incorporated.
allblackfan
Guest
rugby league clubs may be increasing in Fiji but that probably means more players are playing a second code ie rugby league AND union! Welcome to the future, guys, where code jumping will be as normal as play-the ball!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Winning teams and facilties will get people off the coch viz a viz last weekend.20,000 in Auckland,20,000 on the Gc Even the sharks 14,000 plus against Penrith(brought no fans) There is now a complaint which may interest you AR,that the MCG crowds are well down due to the introduction of the new teams.One a continual loser.Its in the press today. Three teams among the biggest followings in Sydney ,are down in the dumps,Parra/Tigers and St George. And has been the case since the inception of SOO.The very reason SOO will continue ad infinitum is due to the massive publicity and following it secures in this country,and the marketing effect it has.12 million viewers and over 200,000 in attendance ,and sponsorship and moneis that flow into the coffers,to actually ensure stars in the main stay in the game.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Whilst he may be going over the top and I disagree with his view,he could well have been using this story as some sort of basis:- http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=204301 All I know (and I do not rely on one source such as above) , is the game is growing well in Fiji.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
turbo I agree ,the code has working class roots ,which it must never forget as part of its tradition,and times have changed as the mix of fans now is far representative of the code than it ever was. For anyone to cling to the notion it is still the same makeup as it was in the 60s and 70s,has been out of this country for decades. The order of priorities should be family ticket prices made much more affordable. Facilites must keep pace with the times.For Canberra to still have an open air facility when weather conditions most of the time there are at best cold and at worst abysmal and expect families to attend not only Raiders but Brumbies games is a bit rich. Thirdly have your team competitive,not one that is sure of losing.Get Parra/Tigers/Dragons in that category and the crowds would be far higher than exist now. Proof.Look at the Warrior's crowd last weekend and the Roosters home crowds average 20,000,and even the embattled Sharks get 14,000 plus against Penrith(bringing no one).Winners are grinners especially among supporters.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
It's not then daylight league second Greg,with due respect.