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The NRL were questioning where all the fans were after the first round of the 2014 season. This was a well-documented dilemma, which had left everyone wondering what had gone wrong.
However further on in the year and fans had finally figured out there was rugby league being played around the Easter and school holiday breaks. This saw crowd figures rise instantly.
This year, Round 1’s crowd average was 15,824 people compared to 2013’s 19,835 people. The large decline of supporters attending games has a lot to do with a few reasons that I’ve been thinking about for the past weeks.
Round 1’s draw was a complete mess from the start.
It’s time to sack Thursday night football once and for all. No parents want to take their kids out to ANZ Stadium on a school night. The Roosters versus Souths game should’ve had more than 30,000 fans just to see Sonny Bill Williams versus Sam Burgess, Greg Inglis versus Mick Jennings and Mitchell Pearce versus Adam Reynolds.
Yet the game only managed to gain 27,000 fans.
My Round 1 draw would’ve looked like this (with possible crowd averages afterwards):
Friday
Roosters versus Souths – Allianz Stadium – 30,000+ fans
Broncos versus Bulldogs – Suncorp Stadium – 40,000+ fans
Saturday
Knights versus Panthers – Hunter Stadium – 20,000+ fans
Manly versus Storm – Brookvale Oval – 10,000+ fans
Cowboys versus Raiders – Townsville – 10,000+ fans
Sunday
Warriors versus Eels – Eden Park – 30,000+ fans
Dragons versus Tigers – Sydney Cricket Ground – 20,000+ fans
Monday
Titans versus Sharks – Shark Park – 10,000+ fans
Some games I didn’t change the venue, but the ones I did change I believe could’ve attracted the predicted amount of fans.
There is also argument that it’s time to scrap Monday night football. In eight games in 2014, the average crowd has been 11,095. Again, this contributes to parents not wanting to take children out, as well as the game starting at 7pm and the lack of top teams playing in the Monday night fixture.
The Titans and the Sharks having already played three fixtures each on Monday nights in 2014, hurting their averages.
With the Rabbitohs recently breaking a record of 30,000 members and a number of other clubs already ahead of their 2013 tally, it is understandable to be confused as to why so little people aren’t attending the games.
During the off-season, the membership drive was in full swing, the same ad being played on TV over and over again calling for members.
We know there are people that love their rugby league. The NRL just needs to work hard to ensure that they make it easier for these people to attend games.
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