As finals were approaching, NRL fans expected a massive increase in Sydney crowds, with teams from the city having featured in all of the top-ten lowest crowds throughout the season.
So how did it go? Panthers vs Warriors had 17,168 turn out, while the Sharks vs Panthers match saw 19,211.
Compare that to Richmond vs Hawthorn attracting 91,446 and Melbourne vs Hawthorne featuring a crowd of 90,152.
The reason behind these low crowds is that the NRL is relying on fans from two fan bases to travel a long distance in peak-hour Friday night traffic. The MCG, on the other hand, is in a convenient location, with transport options surrounding.
I realise that the NRL wants to play every finals game in 30,000-plus seat stadiums, however with the current set-up in Sydney, there is no way to achieve a decent crowd for a suburban team like the Sharks or the Panthers at Allianz or ANZ Stadiums.
The solution is building a 40,000-seat stadium in Liverpool, rather than upgrading ANZ Stadium.
Homebush is hard to access at all times. Building a stadium at Liverpool would allow a home for the Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs, while the Sharks and Dragons could also use this stadium for a finals base – it’s much more convenient than travelling into the city on a Friday night.
As of next year, the Panthers will have the new 30,000-seat Western Sydney Stadium instead of taking games to ANZ Stadium – there’s one problem solved.
In the meantime, teams that don’t have a convenient, large stadium in proximity should play at the ground they have been playing (and winning) at all year.
This is the solution that the fans want – this is what will draw the crowds.
Robert Szemeti
Roar Rookie
Tigers should play at western Sydney stadium, or move to perth where they can have optus stadium all to themselves Along with a bigger grant fron the NRL And support from over 3million residents that are in perth, as oppose to the 1.5 million when the western reds were there Actually any team in sydney would be stupid not to move, Also adeliade and darwin should also be looked into as possible future relocations too
Big Daddy
Guest
If I remember the nrl criteria that clubs had to have a modern up to date stadium when gallop was in charge. Now the position looks like they want all clubs to play out of 2 stadiums similar to afl footprint. Sydney is not Melbourne and will never work. Some clubs like St George , Penrith and Canterbury have worked very hard with local councils to improve their grounds while someone like manly have does nothing.
SR1
Roar Pro
Easy train ride...
SR1
Roar Pro
Yes. Good point.
SR1
Roar Pro
Also very hard areas to get to.......
SR1
Roar Pro
https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/09/20/why-it-will-be-a-roosters-vs-sharks-grand-final/
SR1
Roar Pro
https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/09/20/nrl-expansion-how-could-they-pull-it-off/
SR1
Roar Pro
My other articles are:
SR1
Roar Pro
Thanks for all your support...
SR1
Roar Pro
This is my first ever article on The Roar.
SR1
Roar Pro
50 comments so far...
SR1
Roar Pro
Sorry, not published yet...
SR1
Roar Pro
They just want to make fun of the NRL..
SR1
Roar Pro
Yes, keeping in mind it was a sharks home game.
At work
Roar Rookie
So you say the SFS is inconvenient for Cronulla and Penrith fans, but somehow Liverpool is more convenient.....
Razamatazbaz
Guest
AFL soyboys on every league article......what gives?
clipper
Roar Rookie
The actual organisations are not for profit, it's the clubs that are mostly private enterprises (excepting the AFL, they're all not for profit)
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
AFL clubs don't have an identity crisis. They are named for the area that they represent, but the game is smart enough to put games in the best stadiums. Result? 90-odd thousand fans to finals games. NRL hangs on to outdated grounds and forces fans to head there all year and then expects them to travel to Allianz. Not going to happen.
clipper
Roar Rookie
AFL is more popular than league in the NT, don't know where you're getting your info from.
SR1
Roar Pro
Okay, thanks for your comment.