NRL's push to increase attendances in 2018

I know no ones reading this thread still but just in case... here are the crowd figures for first 6 events at Perth Stadium Aust v Eng ODI (first event) 53781 West Coast v Sydney AFL (5th event) 53553 Scorchers v Hurricanes BBL (2nd event) 52960 Fremantle v Essendon AFL (6th event) 49021 Fremantle v C/wood AFLW (3rd event) 41975* NZ v Sth/Storm v Dogs NRL (4th event) 38824 *$2 entry and that was only so they could issue tickets for the free trains... it doesnt cost anything to get into AFLW usually. Im not sure they really did it right. I was keen for a look at the new stadium and have never been to an NRL game despite at times taking more than a passing interest. I should have been the target market but i bearly knew it was on... if the NRL wants to get bums on seats they might want to look at their marketing - it should have been easy to get another 15000 in there.

.........you see therein lies the contagion - 'commercialisation' by television, that is rendering support, so tribalism and live attendances, superfluous..............

Depends on the stadium deals The crowds = success thing is an outdated way of thinking like saying to be good in retail you must have a shop front with good foot traffic. Or to sell advertising you need a free to air TV channel. I don't believe the NRL spin doctors either but our criticisms are outdated. And if they aren't, and having people attend the game is an imperative driver of TV coverage.. then Aussie sports are screwed by leagues in higher population density countries anyway so it's a pointless exercise

I was more thinking as a well known producer with director creds (ie invested in the outcome financially hence the reference to business) but hey you’ve missed every other point since I joined the Roar so I understand why you’re an AFL fan boy, you need a game that still puts you on the scoreboard when you’re wide of the mark. Further delving in, even going to the director level, they may passingly care but they don’t worry. And they only care if the first thing they worry about actually worked out. They sweat on the box office and have passing faux outrage at the adaptation (which actually would be years later and be a commercial rounding error). Anyone who ever goes to you for advice on commercial matters should get a free marker and a sheet of cardboard, because they’ll need it.

What if the AFL played Richmond vs Collingwood at the MCG (80-90K people) and followed it up with GWS vs GC in a double header? They would get 180K people at the game and GWS and GC would magically be in a better position? This solution is nothing more than an accounting trick. Essentially counting the same crowd twice.

But why Perth? The Storm won the competition. Shouldn't Melbourne get the opening double header. That would of made more sense surely. Storm fans would be rightly disappointed. I know there's a new stadium but it looks like it will be used quite a bit before the NRL gets there.

That's correct. Taking these games away from supporters all the time is a bit strange. It's devalualing memberships. If Sydney is struggling so much, why make it worse?

Wow I've really hit a nerve. Looks like we'll just have to disagree then.

You really think Speilberg (although not the most current director who could have chosen) wouldn't care if a Broadway adaptation failed - it would damage his brand and his name - they would expect a lesser selling movie or show now and again, but all the big directors would take a keen interest that everything with their name would be a success. After all, success breeds success.

This was my point, which to date, like your post has gone unanswered

So you won't take the bet, citing free tickets when Sydney is the only area where free tickets are offered. You won't say whether you actually attend games. You start calling me a Yes Man for acknowledging the NRL for trying something new. The Sydney fans have shown their hand during the finals series (with the exception of Parra fans) and this year's drop in attendance on the whole. You have 2 double headers in Sydney but you demand the first one - not that you will go. You will/do not appreciate why Perth is a good idea because everything has to be Sydney based. I will happily admit if I am proven wrong. You are just a Naysayer with no skin in the game. It is people like you who force the hand of the NRL to take more things away from Sydney. I'm done with you. The game is moving past fans like you. The scrums are still good in Union, I suggest you jump over there.

Exactly y point Benji. The game/s will attract a good crowd of club supporters and interested spectators because it is an event at the new stadium.

The is the only way the NRL can get a crowd to the large stadiums - particularly in Sydney. There will be more of this in the future. The result will be an even more soulless game than we have now. So much for building up club memberships. Who gets to sit where in these double headers? Paid up members pay for and expect a premium seat. Since presumably two of the four teams playing these double headers will be deemed to be playing a home game who gets priority? When the home games are played in Perth, Adelaide or NZ the members again get dudded. Both Leichhardt and Campbelltown lose a home game next year to an out of Sydney venue. This is not the way to grow club memberships which the NRL supposedly encourages.

You are sort of right Mushi. But healthy crowds are usually an indication of a healthy sporting competition. Plus it must cost a lot to hire those stadiums, so they need a decent crowd . I'm sure all fans want to see a good turnout each week. And the pressure should be put on the clubs and the NRL to deliver . I don't believe the NRL spin doctors. Too much smoke and mirrors!

Nat, I don't know what sort of cloud you are on but you need to have a good hard look around. You've just said Perth will get more paid attendance than Sydney. If you really believe that, then the game in Sydney must be in worse shape than I thought. And Perth hasn't even got an NRL team. All the more reason that an opening double header should've been played in Sydney. The game needs more big event Sydney promotions. Glad your not on the NRL board. Although, Greenberg would love you as a yes man.

crowd obsession is a Victorian thing. Apparently the quality of a sport and the happiness of people in a city is determined by how many turn up to a sporting event. Sections of the league media then use it as a criticism of the games administration (when it apparently wasn't an issue when that same media ran the game). Others read it and follow

I do wonder. There are umpteen articles a week about how the NRL doesn't get "business" and then we laud anything to do with crowds. Isn't an obsession with crowds, commercially, like Spielberg worrying about the turn out for the Broadway adaptation?

.....this is the NRL testing the H2O for support of their code in the West, due to the void left from axing of the Force. It will be interesting to see how many disaffected Union supporters in Perth choose to patronise the other rugby code. Union supporters often gravitate towards the Australian code rather than stoop to be seen to support League. That said, it seems more rationale that the predominately ex pat rugby culture of Perth, would reluctantly move across to the dark side and get behind an NRL League entity, in good time..........

If the Storm cant sell out AAMi after 5 premierships and perennial finalists for 20 years then no point going to half empty Etihad

The theory is that until the AFL starts Melbourne people aren't into footy and of course the Rebels/Victory/City have a call on the stadium too.