Well I love the NRL finals, its just a shame Sydney and Melbourne do not. After a year of disappointing crowd figures in the regular season, the same fans have decided not to turn up come finals time.
First we have Manly versus Souths. A top-of-the-table Sydney clash and we get a paltry 28,000. Granted, Manly fans don’t travel but it seems Souths fans have adopted that mantra also. The crowd should have been 35,000 plus. 4/10
The Sydney Roosters versus Penrith crowd was a disgusting 23,000. Where were all the Roosters supporters? Half of them at home watching Midsomer Murders instead. 2/10
As for Panthers supporters, you’re not off the hook either. Come on, finally your team is back in the finals and only 5,000 of you thought the arduous two-hour trip wasn’t worth it. You missed a great game and a great result. 3/10
The one highlight – Cowboys fans take a bow – was the turnout in Townsville on Saturday. You score 10/10. With 25,000-plus through the gates, it was a great result and you spurred your Cowboys on to a big win over Brisbane.
Many of you probably did a six-hour round trip or more to support your side. You leave Sydney supporters embarrassed.
Last was the Storm-Bulldogs game in Melbourne. What a let down. I thought the Storm would get 28,000 for this one, instead 19,000.
Around 2,000 of them travelled all the way from Bankstown, meaning that only 17,000 Melbournians thought it necessary to support their team.
Where were you, Storm fans? Your team needed you and 10,000 of you found something less important to do instead. Storm supporters 5/10, Doggies supporters 6/10.
I’ve left the Bronco supporters out of this one as the Cowboys match would have been mostly a sell out to the locals, who have shown themselves the only real supporters so far in this series.
So come on Roosters, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Panthers supporters, for your next finals game get out of your comfortable bars, pubs, clubs and lounge rooms and lift your bloody game.
Because excusing the true supporters so far, the rest of you are a let down to the game, your club and yourselves.
robby
Guest
what else is there to do in Townsville and or Brisbane for that matter?? Both one team cities so your not comparing apples with apples-
robby
Guest
what is the price of tickets and food/drinks though for these finals games as people complain about the prices of tickest and food/drinks etc for premiership games as well- sure people can bring their own food and drinks but are the price of admission to games premiership and finals too high- i heard the cheapest ticket for the GF is $180 dollars - Families are doing it hard and if you have a morgage and other expenses going to the football is not something you would consider especially when you can watch it for free on TV in the comfort of your own home- People have Fox too and can also watch games live on their mobile phone/computer/ipad/laptop etc etc by live "ILLEGAL" streaming or subscribing to games for 5 or 6 dollars a week. People are also not watching the game due to the way the game is played i.e grapple/chicken wing tackles/players faking injury to receive a penalty- NRL is becoming like soccer/confussion between on field ref rule interpretations and video refs on ruling on general field play and tries- way too much use of the video refs who like to watch the replays countless times trying to find why a try should not be awarded which wastes time and takes momentum from the game- too much favouring of attack over defence in rule changes- 5 hit ups and bomb - all 16 teams basically play the same way etc etc etc
NathanA
Guest
The stats are incomplete, it's missing the last home game of the season, which would make it a 37% drop. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/2014.html
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I think if you see most AFL home grounds are also cricket grounds and stadium membership is very high. The MCG members get free access, for example, to regular home & away games (not sure about finals) and given MCG membership is high, it is probably correct many more neutrals go to AFL games compared to NRL. Perhaps a member of Allianz stadium who attends Roosters games could tell us if most stadium members choose not to go to NRL games on a regular basis & perhaps have stadium membership for other things (Wallabies, Waratahs etc)
Greg trilby
Guest
Yes, because we all know only the middle class drink wine, own a computer or can drive a Lexus!
JayBob
Guest
Interesting stats there, how have Roosters dropped 70%? That's insane! And coming off a premiership win? Did Dragons get the home game for Anzac day? Anyway that's still no excuse.
JayBob
Guest
Very disappointing for the Sydney games, it's a pity Parra and Saints missed out. If it was Souths, Dogs, Parra or Saints playing against each other in any combination there would be big crowds. Now Souths can't play Dogs until the GF so expect more of the same. Roosters are average at the best of times, Manly are worse, and Penrith have been shocking all year considering the season they've had.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I agree re Soccer growth GI.I was more or less just using it as a comparison. I did this mostly because I was personally interested to see if Australian fans as a whole were turning off 'live' sports or if it was just Rugby League. It was interesting to see AFL down as well, although as I explained in the article, it could mostly be put down to the two new clubs, which is probably to be expected. What I think it all boils down to is that at the moment it is a better experience watching Rugby League at home than it is going to the game. Or at least, it is close enough that it isn't worth spending the money in most peoples view. All of the reasons mentioned here are probably valid for different people.
MJ
Guest
Good ticket deals? I wasted $32 to freeze my nuts off watching a Roosters v Titans MNF fixture which was a ho-hum affair. Throw in $8 for a mini pizza when I could (should) have spent a similar price for a full sized equivalent in the CBD, and I'm thankful I didn't bring anyone else. Neutral observer too. AFL game would have cost $8 less for a similar ticket for a similar game. As for the night GF, I can only remember 2 moments EVER in night GFs. Plus I believe a day GF would be a better long term strategy for ratings. Get your guaranteed 2.5 million leading into the news, then launch your Big Brother or The Block at 6:30 and get those who don't normally watch those shows to tune in long term.
Knightblues
Roar Guru
Proof of that statement?
Knightblues
Roar Guru
well that's still only 2,500 bronco supporters, bit Id put it at more like 1500
Storm Boy
Guest
Knightblues maybe take account that NRL finals do not pull neutral fans. It happens a lot more in Melbourne in AFL.
Knightblues
Roar Guru
Gregg first, I erred a bit on some crowd numbers, so my apology's. Excuses for panther supporters as usual, 'it rained that day' OMG what soft supporters they have out there then, you say they don't have a big supporter base but thet get over 19,000 to some of their home games, are you actually saying half of them cant be bothered to support their team in a final? So sad. I agree about Allianz stadium, the NRL needs to crack down on the slackness there, also the place needs an urgent upgrade, Im talking new video screens, new roof that closes as well, better toilets and more bar and food facilitys. Get your F@%#act together SFS!!!!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Hahaha a few weeks ago another Roarer was telling me off for being too positive about the game. Now I'm Mr Negative. Such is the internet...
Knightblues
Roar Guru
my advice is for familys using public transport at night to hook up with other family's and travel with them, you are much less likely to get trouble if you travel in numbers The nut of this is but, games played at night in Sydney have to be scheduled earlier to be shown live, to look after the familys better, and CH9 must agree to this or the NRL will take the game to another channel that will.
Knightblues
Roar Guru
At Jay C- "It’s not that the rich could afford to play Union. It’s that it was the sport played at private schools. And still is" Bizarre statement indeed, you have to be rich to go to private schools buddy
Gregg
Guest
Where did you get 28000 from? it was 25,000 and for a manly vs souths game on a beautiful friday night was quite disappointing. Souths fans outnumbered manly.The Easts vs Penrith game of 23500 was a little down however it had rained that day and penrith dont have a big supporter base so was a decent crowd. Would of been 20 000 Roosters fans. The NRL need to demand answers from Allianz stadium on why some bars and food stalls were closed on both nights meaning fans had huge ques, this stadium is great to watch footy at however really needs an upgrade and open all the facilities otherwise people will continue to stay away and watch it on tv so they dont miss any action.
Damo
Guest
1. NRL has worked hard on good ticket deals so it's not that. 2. I think this is a pain and I would love it to be cheaper but I don't think this stops anyone who wants to go. My dad packed spaghetti in a thermos bolognese for himself and myself as a kid and we bought a coke. It's a cop out to use this as an excuse if you are a true fan. 3. People are whinging about getting to the venue on time. If you make it earlier you will have less chance to arrive on time. Kickoff times are ok as the game is done by 10pm and it's prime time TV which makes the $ and pays player wages. 4. Let it go. The GF will only ever be a night game from now on due to the above point. 5. Agree and this needs massive attention. This is the real killer to the game at the moment. Solve this and you will go a long way to solving ref problems, judiciary problems and GUS whinging and constantly bad mouthing the game 6. I think they went overboard with the big and more importantly the shoulder charge. But once again 'Let it go'. I'll add - 1. Wrestling. Sort it out now. 2. Finals ad campaign is weak. The tune they picked and the visuals with 'Slash' is average at best. It doesn't get me excited. 3. Commentators. Channel 9 need to mix it up. Im sure they can do better with other commentators. I love watching the QLD cup on Ch9 each Sunday as the commentators are easy to listen, get super excited (Darrel Eastlake style) and dont whinge and carry on every 5 mins. Bury the hatchet and bring back Vossy as well. Start with these and then try to bring back the randomness and attack. The game is too structured and needs more rewards for crazy players like Sandow, Albert Kelly, Hunt, Thurston, Cherry and co to really show their wares!
Glenn Innes
Guest
Mushi - I guess because people have to sacrafice time, money, and comfort to go to the ground so you have to be pretty passionate about it to be bothered making the effort.So crowds are a guide to how large your games hardcore rusted on supporter base really is.. Jay C - I remember saying on a long forgotten thread on this issue that I expect both the major football codes will do well if they can tread water as far as crowds are concerned because games are being scheduled to maximise TV viewing not crowds and the NRL is even more extreme in this regard than the AFL. As far as Soccer is concerned they are coming off a very low base. with really a whole new League AFL and Rugby League are very mature markets so it is very difficult for them to match ALeague attendance growth in percentage terms (impossible really) but soccer crowds will eventually plateau at what point it is too early to say.,
Knightblues
Roar Guru
The game is better than ever, but if I could change some things it would be the following- -drumroll- 1. Ticket prices down 2. Cheaper food and non alcoholic drinks 3. No start of a game later than 7pm 4. GF kick off at 3pm 5. No wrestling holds anymore 6 Bring back the biff