When the NRL announced it had sold the free-to-air TV rights from 2018 onwards for a staggering $1 billion it was seen as a massive coup for the game. Whether the game got enough money, how the deal was done, and comparisons to the AFL need to be put aside as the nature of the deal no doubt is favourable for the fans.
It means that from 2018 any NRL fan with a TV set will be able to access half a round of football free of charge from their living room. If your team isn’t lucky enough to jag a 50-50 chance of being on Channel Nine for most it will mean the prospect of a pilgrimage to the pub to watch it in glorious HD on Foxtel.
The third and final option will be to actually get in the car, train, bus, cab or bicycle and actually attend the ground.
While the TV deal is a great win it can be said that it signals what we all knew anyway – that what happens on TV remains more important to the NRL than the fans at the ground. It makes it a sad story in many ways. From 2018 it will be even harder for clubs to attract members and fans as the access to the game on TV is just so high.
If you do want to go to a game it will cost you a minimum of $20 for an adult and sometimes more. This is reasonable when you consider the cost of other activities such as the movies, the zoo, paintball etc. However, then you have to think about the transport, petrol, train ticket and cab fare.
Once you arrive at the ground you then have to think about food and drink. Beers at State of Origin go for $7.50 for a mid-strength and it’s normally deliciously warm and flat. A questionable hotdog will cost you a similar amount. Merchandise is a whole different ball-game.
Add it all up and it costs plenty. Think about how much it costs to watch at your local bowling club, pub or living room.
Then there is everything else. Monday and Thursday night timeslots, school nights. Cold, wet evenings. Hot afternoons. Crammed onto trains like sardines to get to ANZ Stadium. Spending more time watching the big screen than the field because your so far away you need Rabs’ binoculars.
Having to get up to go to the toilet every 10 minutes because you’ve had so much mid-strength beer. Not being able to bring certain food in because it’s “stadium policy”. Having to sit through 10 video ref referrals each game.
Having about as much leg room as in the back of a Barina. Getting berated by someone for standing up to support your team. Spending $100 for ordinary tickets to State of Origin and being thanked with pre-match entertainment by Shannon Noll.
There are too many reasons at the moment for fans not to go, and with more games free you can chuck another in there too. The new stadium policy is also likely to affect diehards as they are forced to move away from spiritual homes into concrete jungles for the sake of corporates who may pay the bills but certainly do not make the sport what it is.
Put it simply there are just too many reasons for the impartial fans to stay at home.
I attended two games during Round 26. One in a good seat undercover, the other general admission at Allianz Stadium. Despite all the reasons above I still love going, nothing will ever change that. I love the atmosphere, the stories, the fans, the friends. There is something about it that captivates me and makes me want to go but is in spite of all the reasons that the NRL creates not to go.
The NRL needs to give the impartial fans a reason to go to a solitary game over the round, their team’s game.
They need to convince those who do not live and die by rugby league that at least it is a fun, affordable, worthwhile day out with family, friends, mates or colleagues.
They need to look after those who turn up every week regardless of the score or the situation and invest in their club. They need to know they are loved.
It is a hard ask. It is a money driven business and clubs are already struggling. But as the money flows in from this new deal, as well as increased revenue from the new stadiums, there needs to be more invested in the game-day fan.
Their are a billion reasons not to go, the NRL needs to give the fans a few more reasons why they should, because the game is won or lost at the ground, not in your living room.
At work
Roar Rookie
Rugby league 'fans' are just full of excuses when it comes to attending lives games. Yes I agree the TV product is great and captures pretty much everything you need to see, unlike Aussie rules and football where being live has it's advantages. But if you're a big/true fan of your club you should be at the game, the cost argument doesn't fly. The Barry made a good point about other activities costing the same or more and the Scottish guy gave the great example of spending $42 which includes 4 beers!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Finals games for the AFL are already discounting tickets by 50%, so all is not woe in the NRL https://www.telstra.com.au/thanks/sport/afl
m hughes
Guest
where do you live nick nack under a rock last week I attended roosters souths left nth Richmond at 5.00 pm picked up some people at rooty hill parked at carpark Goulburn st walked to ground arrived at 7.45. Sydney crowds are affected by travel times its a fact of life they got a crowd which matched the swans.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
A merger "aint" going to happen,with a cashed up NRL and growing expansion overseas.And why should it. More opportunities are opening up and being investigated for rugby league via China,Europe and the USA . TV ratings here and in English ESL have shown ,rugby league is quite capable of sustaining decent viewership.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Brisbane and Gc would beg to differ re crowds .
Russ
Guest
Truly I do wonder where the internet trawls people like this up from? They don't like League well tough luck who cares! But they have to share their opinion on a League Forum...........why? I hate what yawnion stands for but I'd never go to a Vichy website to tell them so!
Tricky Ricky
Guest
It is a joke that the game this Saturday between Dragons v Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium which holds 83,500 spectators has limited "Category 2" affordable reserved seating available. What a joke Australian Rugby League Commission!
clipper
Guest
Don't those issues affect AFL as well? They actually have more teams share a ground that actually has 100k capacity, admission is usually more than league, especially at finals time, games go longer, therefore finish later and I imagine have the same lounge room possibilities as the NRL fan.
marco
Guest
If people think that $20 for an adult ticket to a rugby league game played at an elite level is expensive then there is an issue. I dont know what more can be done. In many games, kids get in free. 4 nights of FTA games are on the way. That could make crowds worse. And they want to build bigger and better stadiums ?! Is that the solution ? I'm not so sure if its money well spent.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
AFL games switch their broadcasts based on states of course, so that 4 of 9 can be a bit misleading and under-represent FTA access. For example in WA it's a fact that most AFL fans follow Eagles/ Dockers and those games involving these clubs are broadcast on FTA. The same applies for most games played in SA, QLD and NSW with local supporter bases largely being get access to FTA. It's not complete coverage but a lot of AFL fans can see their teams on FTA.
scott
Guest
That's not really true though. Broncos and Cowboys both get decent crowds, the Titans are poor but that's partly because the stadium is awful and mostly because the team is awful, and Melbourne have a smallish but faithful group of attendees in a city dominated by AFL who battle conditions which would make a polar bear seek warmer climes. Canberra also do okay, I'm actually suprised anyone at all bothers to turn up and risk frostbite to watch the southern version of the Titans stumble and bumble their way around under the expert tutelage of the game's worst coach in a climate which makes Melbourne look like Cairns. Any crowd problem lies squarely at the feet of Sydney. Personally I'd move NRL HQ to Brisbane and disband all bar one Sydney team, send them to a town where people actually show up to watch their team play.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Some of the reasons are; admission is too expensive, food and drinks are too expensive, two of the main teams in the NRL (Bulldogs and Rabbitohs) are forced to share a ground that is a coliseum that its capacity is 100,00 people, the stadium is too hard to get to, and when a game finishes its too late and its a nightmare to get home from the ANZ stadium and of course the biggest problem is (after all that I've pointed out) is that you can sit in your lounge room or at a club, pub and enjoy any game having a beer, snack or anything and do it in comfort. Why should any fan go and watch any NRL game if he has so many options and choices.
Jay C
Roar Guru
You guys will miss me when i head north.
Jay C
Roar Guru
What? !?! I was operating under the assumption that everyone agreed with me all the time? :/
Az
Guest
Finally something I can agree and back Jay C on, nice work mate
Chris
Guest
I know I keep harping on about a Rugby merger but I think crowds would flock to see a Wallabies/Kangaroo team take on All-Blacks, Bok's, Lions, England etc and then watching a 2 club comp involving NRL/TransTasman Super sides.
The Barry
Roar Guru
My point is why are the travel costs factored into going to the footy but not to get to the zoo, paintball or the movies...
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Actually, it's 4 of 9 games (currently), to become an average of 3.5 games per round in 2017.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I want trying to start a big thing either. I understand the difficulties faced. And I can see your point, if you are raising your kids to be responsible you don't really need that thrown in their face. But you didn't mention any poor behavior so i assume they probably didn't go nuts. I think we've all been to a game and seen the guys that go silly on the drink. As I've gotten older I've definitely tried to be a bit more responsible with the way I act at the footy. I generally have a good look around and see if there's young ones about. They don't need to hear some of the filth that can come out of my mouth, and i try to moderate myself. It brings up a bit of a good point i think and the nrl could do a bit more about having some decent family friendly designated areas. Not alcohol free necessarily because i don't want to ruin the poor dad who likes a beer at the footys' night. But maybe they could let people know that this is a pg area and poor behavior will not be tolerated. Dirt of a win win because if I want to describe in detail the shortcomings of the other teams players/fans i can do it without upsetting young families.
Tony
Guest
Hey guys, didn't want to get into an argument about it. Was just passing on a comment a son made to his dad which I thought was relevant at the time. As long as their behavior doesn't spoil our day at the footy, doesn't really bother me. It's just my opinion. Cheers.