Staying at suburban grounds in the long term will destroy at least one NRL club, according to NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres.
Speaking at Sydney FC’s lavish season launch at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on Thursday, Ayres also responded to criticism of the $1.6 billion stadium strategy, claiming that the figure was less than one per cent of what the government will spend on hospitals over the same 10-year period.
However it was his attitude towards smaller grounds that would be of most concern to NRL clubs who refuse to move out of dilapidated venues.
“My strong view is that suburban grounds, particularly in the rugby league space, will probably kill at least one, maybe two franchises if we don’t make this transition into a larger network,” he said on Thursday.
NRL crowds in 2015 slumped to their lowest average in more than a decade, and Ayres believes its current batch of stadiums are to blame.
“I would say one of the biggest reason why crowds, whether it’s in football or whether it’s in NRL, have dropped off, is because the product we offer the customers is pretty crap at the stadium,” he said.
“In fact, it’s the athlete that’s still bringing people through the gate. It’s not the experience at the ground.
“And when you’ve got such fantastic competition from TV, unless you can provide a high-quality experience from the moment that person leaves their front door, to the moment they return, you’re going to choose to purchase or obtain their sporting content from somewhere else.”
In March, the state government pledged to spend just $600 million on stadiums.
However just last month, Premier Mike Baird unveiled a more expensive stadium strategy comprising of four new arenas, including a 55,000-seater over the current Allianz Stadium.
ANZ Stadium would also be redeveloped, while Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta will also be knocked down and rebuilt.
Asked why the money couldn’t be better spent on hospitals, Ayres said: “The key point here is that we can do both.
“One of the biggest challenges that we have in communicating government policy, is the numbers are so big now, they almost mean nothing to a person in the shopping aisle of your local supermarket,” he said.
“So you’ve got to compare the actual total expenditure. That money that we spend on stadiums is less than one per cent of what we spend on hospitals in NSW over the next ten years.
“And if I was going to be really honest with you, I reckon that’s a conservative figure. I reckon it’ll be closer to half a per cent by the time we get to the end of the decade.”
Casper
Guest
The 2015 NRL final series drew record crowds, mainly due to a fair proportion being played in Qld. History has proven sydneysiders don't travel so the problem won't be solved easily. The public won't cop money wasted on a few thousand home supporters of any code.
Tom G
Guest
Looks like these idiots are persisting with the "Field of Dreams" big stadia policy.. the only problem that their theory has is that it doesn't acknowledge two key things ...people and behaviour. The reasons that people are not going to games in Sydney are a) the simple fact that getting around in Sydney is difficult, b) ticket pricing is way too high for fans c)it's never been easier to see a game live at home or in a pub or club. I could also throw in the fact that the NRL and Clubs have done little to improve the atmosphere at venues. So these numbskulls take all of this on board and decide the way to get more people to games is to make it more inconvenient, less affordable and diminish the atmosphere even further. Pure genius!!!
boonboon
Roar Pro
20,000 at Leichardt doesen't and never has existed
boonboon
Roar Pro
Agreed I am a tigers supporter and regular at Leichardt and I still think we should move all our games to ANZ and perhaps Parra Stadium. Leichardt is a dump, hard to get too, surrounded by houses
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The same number of night time slot apply.Difference is Thursday night instead of Monday night.And the comment by Grant,about expansion would provide an additional afternoon spot. The Sharks indeed own their own ground ,and have plans to further bring it in line to a boutique stadium.After Residential development(well on the way,)and retail to be started ,have been completed.And talk of an A League side in the South. The biggest problem is transport in the Sydney basin.If I were in charge ,I would be ensuring Brookvale ,Shark Park and Penrith stadium were structured to 20,000 seaters with cover .The NRL contributing BTW. Other problems this year the wettest autumn for yonks.Manly,Souths,Parramatta,Dragons really underperforming.Uncertainty in the economy with job losses.All add up.regardless of ticketing and food costs.
James T
Guest
food prices and quality along with transport are major factors in dropping crowd numbers which never seem to be addressed. The nrl keep pushing more games into night time slots so I expect crowd numbers to keep dropping. Don't the Sharks own their ground? Maybe the nrl could fund some renovations and teams could play out of there while the nrl can control food and ticket prices
marron
Roar Guru
This logic from Ayers about spectators only wanting to see the athletes and crowds dropping off because tthere isn't a high quality experience doesn't stack up. The idea seems to be to replicate the comforts of home. This is impossible. Spectator sport should offer something good unique, that you CANT get at home. If it was only about the athlete, you can see it from home, better. If it's about the creature comforts, you cannot compete. So focus on what makes it special - atmosphere, collective euphoria. No amount of wifi or screens or whatever will actually create that.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Sure, that's fine too. So what is wrong then with following amateur clubs at these grounds?
Ryan Meyer
Guest
Many people prefer historic suburban grounds over plastic soulless cookie cutter post-modern monstrosities.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Unless they can satisfy the needs of a professional club competing in the entertainment business, then suburban grounds are for amateur clubs. And honestly, there is nothing wrong with this.
Rick
Guest
Suburban grounds create atmosphere totally lacking at ANZ. NRL generally gets less than 20,000 to a game in Sydney. 20,000 at Leichhardt gives an amazing experience. The place rocks. The same number at ANZ provides a cavernous shell devoid of any feeling. NRL crowds are not part of a movie - building stadiums, as Ayres believes, will not ensure people come.
Niall
Guest
Why do the Tigers 'need' Leichardt oval?
marco
Guest
$15 finals tickets. $45 grand final tickets. These prices were heavily advertised this year, so a precedent has been set. What will the regular home and away season prices be ? Clubs will have a close eye on game day revenue so the choice of stadiums and their viability will be more a more important issue than ever before. I can see the state government playing hard in pushing clubs towards a couple of main stadiums.
Onballer
Guest
Stadium Bunker.
Kevin dustby
Guest
So, if we don't soend 1.6 billion one club could go under? Sounds like a good idea
Kevin dustby
Guest
And how is hat going to help?
Mike
Guest
Manly will fold before they go back to Gosford. The Tigers need Leichhardt. In short there is no perfect solution but I would love to see a couple of boutique suburban grounds and see what crowds and revenue they can generate.
Kirk
Guest
push Manly out to gosford, Tigers can play at Parra, Dragons at the SFS and Woolongong. Leichardt and Kogarah to both shut up shop for good. not sure with Penrith and Cronulla, they may have to play out of their suburban grounds for some years to come.
AR
Guest
That would involve the NSW Govt spending another billion dollars buying council assets (stadiums/carparks/infrastructure etc) and then a few hundred more million upgrading each of them, and then trying to recoup that money by staging 11 home games at Brookvale with 12,000 people at each game. No way jose.
Mike
Guest
I'm not convinced the big stadium policy is the way to go. I would like to see a mix of boutique suburban stadiums and the big 3 at Parramatta, Homebush and the city for the big drawing games. The only way that would work is if the State Govt owns, operates and rebuilds the lot including say Leichhardt, Brookvale and one other. The atmosphere in packed suburban grounds is as good as any venue but the only way to get the casual fans there is to have all seat stadiums with better facilities and public transport. Probably won't happen buts thats my two bobs worth.