Sunday’s game between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Wests Tigers has reinforced the stupidity of rugby league’s governing body and their inability to allocate fixtures to benefit the fans and even themselves.
The match was played at ANZ Stadium with less than a quarter of the seating being taken up. This provided a dour atmosphere for the these two clubs’ first premiership match of the season.
The ridiculous part about the whole thing is that it was a Dragons home game – that’s right, even though the Dragons have two stadiums in Kogarah Oval and Win Stadium, the NRL still insisted on the game being played at the biggest stadium in New South Wales.
It just does not make sense! The NRL should have known this game wasn’t going to be a ‘blockbuster’ match-up, the two teams came second and third last in 2013 and the crowd of 19,860 was testament to that.
The thing is though, 20,000 fans would provide a cracking vibe at Kogarah or Win and if the game was played at one of those two venues, the extra two or three thousand would probably show up to pack out the place.
People keep saying how Channel Nine has a big say in where the matches are played. I don’t have a problem with that, because they put big bucks into the sport, but why would they want the game to be showed in a empty-looking stadium?
That doesn’t make what they are broadcasting look as appealing as a bumper crowd down at Kogarah Oval.
The Dragons have three more ‘home games’ in Sydney this year, including a game at the SCG against the Rabbitohs for the heritage round, a game against the Roosters at their home ground of Allianz Stadium on ANZAC Day and then a clash with the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, where the Dogs play most of their home games.
Effectively, the Dragons only get eight home games this season, which seems unfair on the team and the fans.
Channel Nine commentator Phil Gould commented on the poor crowd at the game and how “fans should follow their club wherever they play.”
Gus, you don’t get it, the Red V army do not get free tickets like you do.
When you take into account the soaring cost of going to the match, the extra three or four hours of travel makes it a struggle.
For a high profile rugby league figure to openly criticise a fan group is unnecessary and another example of how Phil Gould should think before he speaks.
NRL Head of Football, Todd Greenberg, was interviewed on ABC Grandstand and said the match scheduling is something the NRL strives to improve on all the time.
Well I must use a different dictionary to Todd because if his ‘improving’ means moving more games from history-rich local grounds to empty arenas in the heart of the city, then the NRL is punching itself in the face.
No one wants to see the NRL get to the point where everyone just watches it on the television, even the television broadcasters in Channel Nine and Fox Sports don’t want that, because it ruins their product.
Lift your game Todd, give code what it needs.
Dean William Sullivan
Guest
When will the people in charge realize that the fans do not like Olympic Park?. Nobody wants to play their home games there. Olympic Park should only be used for the finals games (Semi final and final) like Wembley Stadium.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Pirtek needs serious upgrading also BA. I heard there isn't one ATM at the Stadium. ANZ is a state of the art Facility which Clubs can increase revenues by playing there. Yes it's huge however it's up to the Clubs in conjunction with the NRL to increase crowd numbers to ensure the atmosphere is there.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Yes Macca that is spot on.
Doug Graves
Guest
Not going to happen, makes too much sense.
turboddewd
Guest
Dylan, if there was no WCC in Sydney and the Souths-Easts game was at the SFS we would have had a similar crowd to this time last year, 35,000+ In addition, in Rd4 last year Souths v Cbury at ANZ was in front of 51,000. This evidence kinda crushes any moves back to venues like Leichhardt and Campbelltown. Those are dumps.
River Styx Boatman
Guest
Gus might not be your cup of tea, but he's no-one's fool. Premiership winning coach who has taken charge of Penrith and turned the club around financially. In a year or two, Panthers will be a powerhouse. All thanks to Gus. Some fool!
Banana man
Guest
Wasn't this crowd the second or maybe third biggest over the weekend? These two sides came second and third last in 2013, SFS probably would've been a better option but as far as grounds go for these two clubs the only place you would've gotten the same crowd would've been leichhardt oval but it was a dragons home game. Crowds aren't really down this year as it's not the same as 2013! The only way you can put your hand on your heart and say crowds are down on last years figures is by playing the exact same teams in exact same venues at exact same time and exact same cost. No games in Brisbane newcastle is always going to hurt crowd average.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
But does 15K pay the bills? There in lies the problem. Sydney could do with a few 30K stadiums, but then it becomes a questions of where to locate them. I could see the Bulldogs and Tigers share one around Liverpool. Parra and Penrith share one, but where do you locate that one? Sharks and the Dragons to share one? But is it worth it? Not to mention who would pay for it. So it comes back to what we have available. ANZ will have to do for a lot of teams if they want to let in as many as possible to a ground.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Dragons members were $12, Tigers members $6.25 - How much cheaper can they be. Both included free transport and discounts on food, drink , merchandise. You can also pay across the full 12 months which fro Tigers fans meant less then $1 a week
Epiquin
Guest
Except that I love Rugby league and want to see it flourish...
boonboon
Roar Pro
You mean like last year where in 6 games the most they got was 14,226 at Kograh and the average was 12, 436. Also these 2 teams played at the SCG in Round 25 on a beautiful Sunday last year and only pulled 15k. So the 19k was actually a fantastic crowd
BA Sports
Guest
Three Bears analogy. Well i was at ANZ, Parramatta and Penrith Stadiums over the weekend. ANZ should only be a major event venue. I know that has sustinability implications, but the place has no aura cause it is used three times a week and has no atmosphere. - Too Hot So should all games go to suburban grounds? Well i was at Penrith Park on Saturday. What a dump. Panthers are putting all their money into the leagues club and hoping for a grant for the Stadium obviously. Faded old seats (they were sticking numbers back on seats as the gates opened), concrete cancer, the faicer on the top of the western stand says "Penrith Pan..er." Its embarrassing. It is seriously like going to a ground in a bigger regional town like Bathurst. It shouldn't be hosting NRL matches. - Too cold Parra Stadium is a good size with good atmosphere. Some of the amenities need upgrading but with 15,000 in the ground about 3/4 full it was an enjoyable night out. - Just right.
code 13
Roar Guru
You could work for the Daily Telegraph
Brett McKay
Expert
Um, wasn't it a Dragons choice to take the guaranteed income and play at ANZ Stadium, just like it was their choice to reduce the number of games at Kogarah ad Wollongong?
Sean
Guest
The NRL blame Nine, Nine blame the fans, the fans blame Nine and the NRL and New Corp blames everybody and nothing will change because there’s too many agendas pulling the game in different directions.
Pete
Guest
$10 tickets. Get people in the gates, build some atmosphere and make people WANT to be at the games rather than watch on TV
StormBoy
Guest
GREAT Article and I agree with pretty much everything. What is wrong with these people commenting? Of course 20k would show up at Kogarah, have you seen how packed out it gets when that get a game there. They has a redevelopment a few years ago so they need to use it! Same with win stadium..
Epiquin
Guest
The year is 2015. NRL only schedules games at suburban grounds. Big games sell out quickly, people (paying customers) turned away. NRL fans scream "Why oh why didn't those idiots at the NRL move the game to a bigger ground?!?" 2016 - repeat process.
JohnM
Guest
Don't agree with this article. It was a good decision to move it to Homebush, as those numbers never would have arrived to Kogorah or WIN. Quit living in the past. Suburban grounds will always remain for smaller fixtures. Everyone wins.
Fazed
Guest
The time of kick off, along with being a Thursday night is crazy especially for families, work for the parents & school for the kids next day, that is a disincentive if ever I saw one. Add to that how far the clubs supporters would have to travel before & after the game makes the 27000 who did go quite loyal fans & a good crowd. If the NRL wants the blockbuster games on TV & even at worst case at the empty pit, they should look to double headers to kick the season off but on a Friday night. Give both NSW fans & QLD fans a feast of football, with two block busters at the empty pit & 2 at Suncorp, Televise them all with the coverage going to each respective state live as well as replays on Saturdays. I personally do not attend night games especially in the winter, my health & travel prevents that, & I know of a fair few fans who are the same. More games need to be played on Saturday & Sunday afternoons to bring the crowds back especially as the weather gets colder. First round games at this time of the year, will always be down for the added reason that many will be watching their teams & weighing up the year, winners are grinners & losers, all look to hope & next year, get the overall prices for a game day experience down & things may also improve.