Well done if you were one of the 50,668 fans at the game between the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels. I was proud to be part of such a passionate and energetic crowd, in one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever experienced.
Rather than focusing on the result, I want to express my delight at seeing such a tremendous crowd turn out to watch these two clubs play. 50,668 – that’s massive. That crowd broke the record for the largest home game crowd for the Eels – something both clubs should take tremendous pride in.
I am an advocate for keeping suburban grounds. So how do my arguments sit up in the wake of a bumper crowd – one which Pirtek Stadium would not have been able to accommodate? The answer of course, lies in a balanced approach.
For the Parramatta Eels, Pirtek Stadium is home. It is a suburban ground which holds just over 20,500 people. I love nothing more than attending Parramatta Stadium to watch the football – when at or near capacity, the atmosphere is electric.
We as fans are close to the action and it is our fortress. Slowly this year, Pirtek Stadium has again become a ground which opposition teams fear, and the Eels have a much better record there than anywhere. Even at our second home ground, ANZ Stadium, Parramatta have lost 12 of their last 13.
Obviously, yesterday’s crowd was too big for Parramatta Stadium. It’s here that the Parramatta Eels and the NRL have the chance to make smart and informed decisions when it comes to determining where games should be played.
Firstly, Parramatta should take care when moving games to ANZ Stadium. There are many things I dislike about the place, including Parramatta’s woeful record there.
ANZ Stadium feels completely soulless. Because it is so big, it is extremely difficult to get a good atmosphere. The only time ANZ Stadium erupts is when it is at capacity, and that usually comes during finals. The atmosphere at the grand final qualifier between the Bulldogs and the Eels in 2009 was one of the best games I have ever been to. For games like this ANZ Stadium is perfect.
However, Monday was a perfect game to move to ANZ Stadium. There are a couple of teams in the competition whose fans really turn out when their team is doing well, such as the Bulldogs, the Eels, the Tigers and the Dragons. It was no surprise that a bumper crowd attended.
It was also perfect in terms of scheduling. It was a public holiday, a beautiful afternoon for football and early enough that kids could get to bed at a reasonable time. Add to this the opportunity to go to the Easter Show before the game and you have all the ingredients for a massive crowd.
If the game had been played next weekend on a Friday night, the crowd would have been much, much smaller. If Parramatta was still playing like they had last year and the game had been on a Monday night, the stadium would have been good as empty.
Games that should be moved to ANZ Stadium are games against traditional rivals, when both teams are performing and when scheduling is in favour of those that attend live games. In any other circumstance, the suburban ground should remain king, at least until the NRL show they can consistently attract crowds of over 20,000.
Rugby league is tribal in nature – suburban grounds hold tradition and history. Suburban grounds hold fond memories, particularly for people who have supported their team from birth. Each NRL supporter recalls tight games which their team has won and lost at their home ground. I particularly remember games where it pours with rain and you walk home soggy, wet and freezing after a good night at the footy.
While the larger stadiums have greater capacity, better facilities and more undercover seating, they are devoid of atmosphere. The Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs have been playing at ANZ Stadium for a couple of years now and have not seen crowds increase to a point where it seems legitimate to justify the move – particularly when a crowd of 20,000 means ANZ is one quarter full, compared to capacity at a suburban ground.
Perhaps instead of debating whether to abandon our suburban grounds, we should be moving the discussion to ways we can improve them or improve our scheduling so that when a blockbuster between two rivals is being played, as many fans as possible can attend.
Mick Panther 79
Guest
No that is not true Penrith fans like Penrith Stadium Good parking easy access on the M4 & close to the Station the problem is when they play at home all the other Sydney team supporters like it to and they come in droves & if Penny is not having a good season sometimes it feels like the other team has more supporters at the ground & its probably why Penrith doesn't have a great home record compared to Brookvale Oval were no one else but manly fans go to Brookvale except a brave few so no wonder Brookvale oval is a Fortress I remember when Penrith had conditions in the dressing sheds & Penrith won most of their games at home back in the day. Also if you ever watch a game at Homebush with Penrith Playing we don't do to much Travelling trust me I believe have the least loyal fans out of the Sydney teams but that will change soon... IN GUS WE TRUST
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
A semi has zilch to do with what happened on the weekend..And conversely it can be argued these crowds may have dented their numbers ,when NRL matches are played.The crossover of fans is not that great in anycase.And Tv ratings only serve to confirm the lack of impact. Sorry Clip but your arguments are wearing thin.You could use the argument WSW crowds impacted the 17,000 who attended the Swans v GWS match .Even the Storm this weekend will get close to full house,so the AFL will not have impacted their numbers. The latter's crowds are also down.
Football_illiterate
Guest
Yes, Kogarah is about 400m from Carlton Station.. straight pust the pub on the corner :-)
clipper
Guest
Not if the Wanderers were playing in a semi final - you can be certain they would've got over 15k - they got 40k for the derby a few weeks ago - so they may have dented the total
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
One has only to see the suburban grounds up to the 80s,to feel even Brookvale was up to scratch.Penrith,Sharks,Leichhardt,Sportsground,Jubilee,Canterbury,Parramatta,were to put it mildly,antiquated then. The SCG in reality was the only decent venue ,to attract crowds,and traffic problems compared to 2014 were a piece of cake . Rectangular codes with modern infrastructure are better received,than structures that are multipurpose or like the current SCG. If the ANZ was in fact rectangular with the sides drawn in and decent cover provided,club rounds would attract more,than is currently the case. That is why getting Parra stadium up to 32,000 seats is essential ,and getting a roof for ANZ ditto. The sooner the code ,scraps Monday night football(next TV deal) the better the crowd averages will be. The way I see it FWIW. Increase Parra stadium capacity(parra/WSW games) Roof ANZ and bring rectangular codes in closer (blockbusters played there)SOO More cover needed Allianz stadium.Roosters games and tests Improve Brookvale/Penrith/Leichhardt/Sharks for most suburban games involving these clubs Bruce stadium; Covered for Brumbys and Raiders . Central stadium policy is fine to a degree,but ti will never repeat never solve the rpoblems of outlying clubs in a city that is spread over a much larger area than Melbourne,and has far worse traffic issues,that are ompounded year by year.When one takes 45 minutes to drive from Dolls Point to Brighton,a distance of a couple of kms,you know you have a problem.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Technical owners WTF.You come up with some beauties AR. You either own the ground or you don't. You quite clearly and emphatically stated clubs don't individually contribute to stadium upgrades. The Sharks; example showed your statement to be false and that is taking into account the $10m from the Feds for the southern stand.The $10m spent is for a stand and ground that is actually used,not like another code in Blacktown where a similar amount was expended.. That is not the only stand at the ground.Were you following the club when the were in fact zero stands? .The Peter Burns stand is attached to the licensed club,that is club owned and financed.The ET stand had a decent club financial involvement.The new seating around the ground is club financed.And the stadium will be further updated once development around the club has been completed in toto. You leave yourself open once again,with a stupid they don't stump up the cash themselves comment .That's how they got into trouble in the first place"stumping up the cash" geez.So it is quite simple. The licensed club is expected to receive up to $1m pa on leasing of the retail development on the car park side. The club based on current concluded sales and projected ahead on the remaining units conservatively will be makingat least $43m.They would have made $53m ,but the developers have provided part of the club's future profits ($10m to slice the debt).The $3.5m lent by an individual will be repaid as soon as profits are handed over.It has to be repaid.It is not a gift. I further remind you seeing you know half the facts,the club has not outlaid one cent of its own money in terms of the new housing and retail development. Provide me with a list of all the clubs in your code that actually own the grounds on which their premiership matches are played? And the list of clubs that use poker machine profits,whereas the Sharks get little currently from that side.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Greenburg never got back to me. Will tweet others now.
chris
Guest
Looking at the histroy of Sydney club Rugby League crowds from the 1920's to early 1970's it seemed most rounds crowds were average and not great for teams at there home venues but it was the SCG games for Sydney that would get 20000-40000 big crowds.
chris
Guest
Agree and stick to nice v-neck old school jerseys be nice.
duecer
Guest
To be fair Storm Boy, which stadiums have over 50K capacity outside of the MCG for AFL. Perth seats around 40 with a lage waiting list. Adelaide Oval might have 50k, but that only started this year and already has had sell outs. SCG holds over 40k and has been under that for ages because of the redevelopment. I do believe that the Swans pulled over 50k against Collingwood at some stage.
jamesb
Guest
great idea Dogs of War
Bluebag
Guest
Free Bertie Beetles
Bluebag
Guest
We're up for it!
Bluebag
Guest
Poppycock and balderdash! The game is built on tribalism and whilst you can play big games at ANZ Stadium, or take games to Perth, Wellington or Woop Woop suburban grounds are great. Leichhardt is a bit run down but Wests Tigers should play at least one or two games a year there, but the club should play more games at Campbelltown. Likewise Kogarah and Wollongong. I was at ANZ on Sunday and loved it but I've been there other times when 10k are present and it does feel empty on those days.
turbodewd
Guest
MNF should be killed off!
ciudadmarron
Guest
I know you don't AR :lol: But you admit there's a problem... that's a start at least. ;) ANd that lack of people is kind of the point - you need it at capacity. I've seen it at capacity or close twice, I think. It's good then. But below that and it's not. It doesn't heave. A stadium should heave! And even when it IS good... you have to contend with getting there which is not an enjoyable experience the way say walking to the MCG from almost any direction or distance is. I just don't enjoy having to travel to a carpark to watch sport. And worse having to wait for ages afterwards to get away with no choice to stick around and do something else while the crowd dissipates.
Scrubbit
Guest
I believe they mentioned it in passing in an article. Something like "in front of a healthy 50000" or something close to that.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Great idea! The NRL needs to use all the opportunities it can get to get people attend. It is so so silly to have thousands of people in the Homebush precinct and not get them along to NRL. Another idea I had was a combined Easter Show/footy ticket.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks for your comments! Agree that when ANZ has a good crowd, nothing comes close. Monday afternoon was amazing. But I think its stupidity, for example, to move a Monday night game to ANZ between say Parra and the Dragons... Monday night is just too hard to draw the crowd that such a game deserves.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks for your comments James - they were interesting. I agree in that no team should call ANZ Stadium home and that we should carefully consider which games should be sent there. Long weekend, afternoon games are perfect. Just like Monday afternoon! P.S. I describe our performance on Mon as disappointing, unlucky and stupid. We were unlucky because who has 2 intercept tries scored against them in one game... we didn't take advantage of our opportunities and the game was there to be won. About time Lee got a run... his name is Eel spelt backward after all! :P