I have always found it peculiar that Sydney sides play many of their games at ANZ Stadium. If I had my way, Canterbury would move back to Belmore, Souths to Redfern, and the internet destroyed.
Here in the UK, we have – along with bad weather, trains that don’t work and a failing public health service – something called the Magic Weekend, whereby an additional round of fixtures is played at one venue over a weekend.
From a commercial, promotional and financial point of view, I can see the positives – 65,000 made the trek to Newcastle last year.
From the players’ point of view, it does provide those that wouldn’t normally have the chance to play at the grand final or Challenge Cup final an opportunity to experience a grand rugby league stage.
After all, the players do deserve some happiness in this bleak, perennially discontented existence we call life, especially if – with all the injuries gathered throughout their careers – an ex-player can expect to be in a wheelchair by 50.
I’m not suggesting the NRL replicates the Magic Weekend, for I fundamentally disagree with the concept of an extra league fixture that devalues the regular season (the event should be saved for the eight matches of the Challenge Cup last 16), as well as extends an already overblown season.
What I suggest is simply a greater degree of intellect with regards to scheduling.
After heavy research (a quick search into google in between deletion of history) shows that Canterbury play all 12 games at ANZ, Souths ten, Wests four, plus other minor, inconsequential sides.
I advocate a policy whereby when these sides have home fixtures, they have back-to-back home games.
For example, if the weekend saw Souths versus Melbourne, Canterbury versus Canberra, anda Wests versus Gold Coast, would it be so bad to simply put all three fixtures one after the other? TV already covers three Saturday games, so no complaints from our lord and saviour Murdoch, recently married to his stunning new wife (you can also find this article in The Australian).
And considering your average gate will only be about 20,000, there’s no danger of any fans being denied entry. Sell a day-ticket to fans that gives them the chance to see three games, with a small premium ($10 say, split equally between the clubs involved).
The clubs don’t lose money (in fact they gain), TV doesn’t lose out (the quality of broadcast is improved with a greater attendance), and players and fans have the chance to experience a greater atmosphere.
As is customary, I eagerly anticipate your calls for my head on a silver platter, but this will unfortunately not come to fruition, as – on advice from readers of a previous article – it’s still stuck where the sun doesn’t shine.
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