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Here is the proof that the National Rugby League is thinking about dollar signs and not tradition and the game’s heartland.
The numbers shows that while Melbourne’s AFL clubs are within walking distance of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney is its own beast and incomparable.
NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres believes NRL clubs can’t grow their fan-bases by playing the majority of their matches at suburban grounds and must shift matches to redeveloped venues such as Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium and Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta.
The NRL needs a guarantee from its clubs that 65 matches will be played at the revamped stadiums to ensure the state government funds the $1.6 billion worth of proposals.
Ayres has publicly stated that Sydney needs to catch up to cities like Melbourne who boast both the MCG and Etihad Stadium.
“Absolutely I understand how important tribalism and passion is,” Ayres said.
“I don’t think playing in larger venues removes that. In fact I think it gets every chance to enhance that.
“And this is about making sure we have stadiums that allow clubs in NSW to grow and thrive. If we honestly believe we can grow and have those clubs improve, grow their memberships, grow their fan-bases, grow their revenues bases, and do so in suburban grounds, I think the harsh reality tells us that’s not the case.”
But what fan-base will there be when a huge chunk of them live nowhere near these arenas – especially Allianz Stadium, which sits at the Moore Park precinct in Sydney’s CBD?
In Melbourne, excluding Geelong, the farthest team from the MCG is Essendon which is an 18km drive. Following them are the Western Bulldogs (Footscray), at just 9km.
Now here is the problem for the NRL and Sydney.
The NRL wants the Manly Sea Eagles (a hellish 30km drive to Allianz) and Cronulla Sharks fans (26km) to play matches at the former Sydney Football Stadium.
A large chunk of Wests Tigers’ fans live in Campbelltown and surrounding areas but if more matches were played at Allianz that would also mean a 120km roundtrip for each game.
Better yet, what about St George Illawarra?
The Dragons are based and train in Wollongong but if their South Coast fans want more footy they’ll have to do a 170km roundtrip.
The total distance between all of Melbourne’s AFL teams and the MCG is 55km.
When only including the Sharks, Sea Eagles, Tigers and Dragons – the distance combined is 201km.
Just to prove the size of Sydney and the great distance between its franchises, let’s look at the Penrith Panthers.
For Panthers fans, it’s an 80km drive from Penrith to Manly, 75km to Cronulla and 60km to Campbelltown Stadium. It’s a thirty minute drive just to go watch a derby match against the Parramatta Eels.
“Fans are crying out for quality stadiums and facilities to watch sport,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“Let’s face it, rugby league in this city has been devoid of investment in our stadia. This is the one opportunity we will get in this generation to fix that. We need to propel ourselves forward for decades.
“History and heritage is important to the game and we are never going to lose that but we also need to look forward and consider what it might be like in the future.
“There will always be a hardcore element that enjoys suburban footy. This isn’t the end of suburban footy. There will always be games played at suburban venues.”
Come on, Todd.
Sure this isn’t the end of suburban footy.
It’s just the end of everything that made Sydney and rugby league the game it once was.
The Numbers
Melbourne
Essendon to MCG – 18km
Western Bulldogs to MCG – 9km
Hawthorn to MCG – 8km
St Kila to MCG – 6km
North Melbourne to MCG – 5km
Carlton to MCG – 3km
Richmond to MCG – 3k
Collingwood to MCG – 3km
Melbourne FC to MCG – 0km
Sydney
Wollongong to Allianz – 85km
Campbelltown to Allianz – 60km
Cronulla to Allianz – 30km
Manly to Allianz – 26km
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