The grand final has passed, meaning the next major announcement from the NRL will be the 2019 draw, with all fans wanting to know where, when and who their favourite team is playing for every round.
Recently, I copped lots of criticism surrounding my ‘Liverpool Stadium’ idea.
However, I still don’t see why people are against it. If you looked at a map of Sydney, it is clear to see where there is no stadium built for rugby league fans to enjoy. Liverpool is one of the most central places outside the CBD area of Sydney.
Anyway, this plan will be similar to a part of my article ‘All of the NRL’s problems – and how to solve them,’ however, it could be a possible plan for next year and will not include Liverpool Stadium.
In the plan below, Sydney clubs will be forced to move four of their games* (two against interstate clubs to interstate locations and two against local opposition to one of Sydney’s big stadiums) and non-Sydney clubs will move two games.
* – The whole plan is based around moving games to the Sydney Football Stadium (Sydney Cricket Ground in 2019) and Western Sydney Stadium, moving away from ANZ Stadium.
This means that the Roosters, the Eels and the Tigers will only take 2 games away to interstate venues because these stadiums are their home grounds. The Tigers are unaffected because they are already taking four games to Western Sydney Stadium (more than what was originally encouraged above).
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- 8 games at ANZ Stadium
- 2 games at Western Sydney Stadium (vs 2 of Panthers, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Eels)
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations/li>
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
- 8 games at Shark Park
- 2 games at the SCG (vs 2 of Roosters, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Dragons)
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations/li>
Penrith Panthers
- 8 games at Panthers Stadium
- 2 games at Western Sydney Stadium (vs 2 of Bulldogs, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Eels)
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations/li>
Sydney Roosters
- 10 games at the SCG
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations
Wests Tigers
- 4 games at Western Sydney Stadium
- 3 games at Leichhardt Oval
- 3 games at Campbelltown Oval
- 1 game guaranteed for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- 1 game at Auckland or Tamworth (confirmed by NRL)
South Sydney Rabbitohs
- 8 games at ANZ Stadium
- 1 game at the SCG (vs 1 of Roosters, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Dragons)
- 1 game at Western Sydney Stadium (vs 1 of Bulldogs, Tigers, Panthers, Eels)
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- 8 games at Brookvale
- 2 games at the SCG (vs 2 of Roosters, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Dragons)
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations
St George Illawarra Dragons
- 4 games at Kogarah
- 4 games at WIN Stadium
- 2 games at SCG (vs 2 of Roosters, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles)
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations
Parramatta Eels
- 10 games at Western Sydney Stadium
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations
Cowboys, Broncos, Titans, Knights, Raiders, Storm, Warriors
- 10 games at respective home grounds
- 1 game possibly for the Magic Round in Brisbane
- Remainder of games in regional or interstate locations
So, this is what it means for the clubs, but what does it mean for the three main stadiums in question?
Allianz Stadium/SCG
- Will host 17 games (11 in 2018)
- Will host 10 Roosters games
- Will host 2 Sharks games
- Will host 1 Rabbitohs game
- Will host 2 Sea Eagles games
- Will host 2 Dragons games
ANZ Stadium
- Will host 16 games (33 in 2018)
- Will host 8 Bulldogs games
- Will host 8 Rabbitohs games
Western Sydney Stadium (bold)
- Will host 19 games
- Will host 10 Eels games
- Will host 4 Tigers games
- Will host 2 Bulldogs games
- Will host 2 Panthers games
- Will host 1 Rabbitohs game
You’re probably thinking – why would anyone want to come to these games? There is a possible solution, however: give all members of travelling clubs free or very cheap tickets to the game. This will increase membership numbers and will be worth moving to the big stadium with a big crowd. Who doesn’t like a sold-out derby?
David Spencer
Guest
Love your passion in launching your Liverpool strategy. Good on you for launching such a bold new idea. It makes decent geographic sense but not strong demographic sense. Liverpool houses a strong migrant and ex-migrant belt not steeped in the tribal inter-generational traditions of League. Plenty more fans live on the Western Train Line (Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith) than on the South-Western. The New Stadium at Parramatta is geographically perfect. Let's hope they get their Lease-pricing right before all their potential tenants run away.
Steve
Guest
What about North Sydney Oval ? Transport - facilities - central
SR1
Roar Pro
Thanks for your support.
SR1
Roar Pro
Aren't the tickets a part of the membership?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
My head's reeling from playing at the SCG to somewhere back O Bourke or thereabouts. 1) Local derbies are what they are and should be preserved as such, LOCAL.They get the maximum crowds ,regardless of the NRL offering cheapie tickets to play elsewhere.Sharks v Dragons on a Sunday afternoon 20,000 at packed Shark Park,lucky to grab 10-15,000 at an empty SCG.An oval ground which is terrible viewing for rectangular sports. 2)Utilise WSS as much as practical, that will draw the crowds. 3)ANZ still has to be used until it too gets refurbished ,thus Dogs,Souths,and Tigers play some big games there. 4)Leichhardt despite the facilities draws the crowds for some Tiger's games, continue to do so. 5) Each club required to take 1 game to the regionals or interstate. 6) Magic weekend .IMO a waste of space and does little to maximise crowds. 7) Outer Sydney suburban clubs to continue to play the bulk of their games therein. 8)Friday 6pm games to be concentrated to the Warriors,Newcastle or Canberra.Sydney is almost a no go zone for fans at this time slot. 9)Try to organise more games at family friendly hours. And as far as Liverpool is concerned, there is only one Liverpool, for me it's the place the Beatles were spawned.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Points for trying mate. It's not easy putting your thoughts into action and having it open for criticism, good on you for having a go. I personally don't agree with it or think it will work, but I admire the effort.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Before you go giving away all these free tickets you may want to check what it costs to open the gates to any of these grounds.... Clubs will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars for every game... Clubs need 1 venue to play their home games at so they can sell more corporate packaging. Manly can't sell a corporate package at the SCG.. not going to happen. And if the Western Sydney Stadium is going to be a plce for 5 teams to play home games at, it just becomes another souless ANZ Stadium. It is either the Home ground of the Parramatta franchise, or an Event/Marquee venue that you play at every Friday night (regardless of the teams). Don't dilute it.
Beastie
Roar Rookie
I currently get free tickets to my home games by paying for a ticketed membership. If we go your way, I pay for a ticketed membership and get free tickets to home games taken to a different stadium that is further away from my own and becomes inconvenient. You are giving no incentive to moving the games. Members already get to go to their home games for free as they have paid for the membership. You would need clubs to reduce their membership prices to take this loss of home games into account which means less money for clubs from memberships which would translate to them making that money up elsewhere. Namely ticket prices and/or food & drink prices would be targeted, making the game day experience even more expensive.
SR1
Roar Pro
Members get free or cheap tickets to the relocated games in Sydney.
Balmaon Bob
Guest
What is the good of suggesting how the 2019 draw should be set out? The NRL has always done what THEY want to do and stuff the supporters. They came out with the slogan "This is Our Game" many years ago and now we know who they meant when they said "OUR". It certainly wasn't the supporters!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beastie
Roar Rookie
We've all seen what "old footy heads" can do when put in charge of a club, and you want one in charge of the game itself? Why not just put up the white flag now and declare the NRL dead and buried. That's where it will end up if an "old footy head" is put in charge. I can just see the financial planning for the future now... "Broadcasting money? Who needs it! Let's just run a sausage sizzle and a chook raffle to raise the funds. It worked back in my day and it will work now. Trust me, I know footy!"
Beastie
Roar Rookie
But you have taken those home games away from them in the first place so instead of having 12 each year, they now only get 8 and they have to travel to some other ground for the other 4. How would this attract more members?
Randy
Roar Rookie
The NRL don't own 4 teams either. I don't think they own any now?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Playing derbies at neutral venues and giving away free tickets to get a crowd is a horrible idea.
SR1
Roar Pro
I'm not really sure. If I think of an idea, I research and edit it to make get published on The Roar.
SR1
Roar Pro
Sorry, LIVERPOOL is midway between Campbelltown and Leichardt.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Spoken like some dinosaur harking for the good old days. A "footy head" may be able to run the raffle down at the local footy club, but running the NRL is a little more complex, hence the need for university degrees in sports management or the like. Also culling 4 teams won't grow the game. It will reduce the competition to 12 teams and fans of the culled teams, will disappear and follow another sport. It's not the 80's time to move with the times
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
On behalf of all Roarers, we thank you for giving the Liverpool idea a rest. It is one of the worst ideas I've read about all season, there is no team there, it is not central, and taking games there makes no sense, so take the hint and never mention it again.
peeeko
Roar Guru
"Screw university degrees and politicians, the bloke running the show needs to know footy inside and out, that’s the most important qualification" spoken like someone with no idea
peeeko
Roar Guru
spoken like true Eastern suburbs person who doesnt realise Sydney is based in the west