Parramatta Eels fans love a bandwagon. After crushing Penrith in an ultra-meaningful trial game, they’re all in. Get the ribbons on the trophy now.
Of course, that’s in jest, but it wasn’t exactly ideal timing for that stereotype when the club announced they would become the first NRL club to lock opposing fans out of their games, declaring their Easter Monday clash with the Wests Tigers and the Battle of the West against Penrith Panthers would be member-only events.
The move, according to the Parra higher-ups, was to ensure their membership, which is now equal to the capacity of the stadium, would be able to fill CommBank Stadium.
The Eels’ 2022 membership has now topped 30,000, which is higher than the capacity of the ground in rugby league configuration, and demand is expected to be high.
It seems logical that a team sells tickets to its own fans first, but that was not how the move was interpreted out on the NRL Twitterverse, where it was seen as a decision to lock rival fans out – particularly Wests Tigers supporters – from one of their biggest fixtures.
The pair haven’t played to a crowd in the Easter Monday fixture since 2019, which was the opening NRL game at the new Western Sydney venue, which doubled down on the irritation of opposing supporters.
Step back for a second, however, and you can see where the Eels are coming from. With a membership now in advance of the capacity of their ground, it makes total sense for them to sell to their own first.
One of the key reasons that people buy memberships is to get priority access to the biggest fixtures, and indeed, this year Parramatta has sold a specific membership for fans just for the Easter Monday game, priced at $48.
If nothing else, it’s a good way to pad the membership numbers. There’s nothing to stop Wests Tigers fans simply buying a $48 ticket and essentially getting a Parra membership for free.
The second purpose of the decision might well have been to drive buzz around memberships, and it has more than done that.
Club memberships tend not to mean that much, given that NRL games rarely sell out, but this one has likely driven a few swithering Eels fans over the line and created a raft of publicity.
Once you’ve got them on the membership deal, you get their contact details, you get to market directly to them and thus hopefully drive repeat sales.
By the time the game rolls around, CommBank might have something almost never seen in the NRL: a partisan atmosphere.
I’ve attended plenty of matches in this country, and many multiples more in the UK, and it continually astounds me there’s not a better atmosphere at NRL games.
A derby between Rochdale Hornets and Oldham in the English third grade in front of a thousand people tops has a better atmosphere than the average big-ticket NRL game.
In fact, a Friday night game at Leichhardt Oval last year has been the only crowd experience that I’ve had that comes close to a Super League game.
Perhaps that’s because I’ve never been to a sold-out night at Parramatta – we’ll find out on Easter Monday, assuming, of course, the Eels fans answer the call from their club and show up.
I was at CommBank Stadium for a Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC derby last year, and the 23,000 crowd created a fair old din, so it certainly can be done.
There is one tip they can take from the Super League that would solve this whole problem, too: bring in an away end.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Aww now that doesn’t seem quite right. Aussie spectators can be very quiet it’s true. Our team is struggling and we go silent. Our team is on top we yell like mad banshees. You’d think we fans should be yelling all the way through a game for our team, encouraging them and trying to get them up when they are down and even further up when they are up. Crowds of spectators have a part to play but I dunno that we are very good at it. Even with our non singing and non sledging, competition is a fine thing amongst opposing spectators and enlivens the experience. Something would be missing…it wouldn’t feel quite right with no opposition fans at games. I don’t think I like the idea much. But who cares about that? Most pundits seem to like or at least be accepting of this practise becoming the norm. I don’t think it would be as entertaining to watch a game on Fox or Nine at home on the couch, where opposition colours were not flying in the stands or on the hills for anyone whose game or insane . I vote NO. I like tribalism but a stadium full of home game supporters would not be conducive to tribalism because tribalism requires more than one tribe at a battle of the fans . Does that make sense? I know what I mean anyway.
criag
Roar Rookie
"Gonna need a bigger boat!" Remember when they wanted to build a 50,000 seater?
criag
Roar Rookie
Guess there would be the odd guest of a member, so it'd be about 30 people against the rest of the stadium.
criag
Roar Rookie
I haven't really notices singing at English Super League matches. It may depend on what sport you're at. There's a bit of noise at A-League matches - though I find it irritating. I'm more interested in the game.
criag
Roar Rookie
It has more to do with the atmosphere-less cavern that is ANZ. Nothing gets NSW crowds geed up than years of constant whining from Queenslanders with chips on their shoulders.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
I go to the game to watch the football, the on field contest. The last thing I need is some pillock, waving flags, banging drums or screeming in my ear for 80 minutes. Lets be honest if they did not sell beer most of these wannabees would not be at the game. Yes, cheer & clap for a good tackle, try or try save, but is does not need to be loud for 80 minutes to make a good game of football.
Jimbo
Guest
The whole ground would be silent , when Parramatta is having a bad day. Except for the opposition players on the field & on the sideline, in the stands. Now that would be quite something, to be sticking it to the Parramatta faithful, when there is total silence from the home supporters.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
No that’s not what’s happening. The issue is that membership requests for packages that include those two games has exceeded capacity. There aren’t likely to be any tickets left to sell to the public.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
We’ll just have to wait and see
Nick
Roar Guru
I spoke to someone around the club today and the demand for membership packages that include tickets to Easter Monday is nearly 50,000. Yes, well the club who are trying to spruik the game would be hyping up demand wouldn't they? They've not had 50k turn up to the match before. There's no evidence that your source is remotely objective.
Nick
Roar Guru
Only for clubs where a song is a "thing"...and it doesn't happen anywhere remotely similar to the style of the AFL. Half the fans of an NRL club wouldn't even a) know there is a song b) know the lyrics to it. Even the average AFL punter would be able to name the songs for each club. I strongly strongly doubt NRL fans could name all 16 songs. Can you?
Nick
Roar Guru
"I'm hearing...." care to share where you are hearing this? That match couldn't even pull that kind of crowd when it was at ANZ and had the easter show cracking on at the same time. Even so, if the game isn’t sold out they can still choose to sell to the public. No. It's too late by then.
Smoked
Roar Rookie
If the Parra marketing team are anything to go buy the Eels are in for a good year. Personally as a Parra fan I feel no rival fans makes for a dull game, the banter is half the fun. I’d allow a section for rivals fans, at least 5 or 6 seats that can be cone of silenced when we are having a bad day at the office
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes Leichhardt Oval is the worst because it is small and difficult to get to due to it's unique location down by the shore of the Iron Cove. There is no train line so you have to take a bus as there are not many places to park in Leichhardt. That was a long time ago.
KenW
Roar Rookie
We're on the same page with on this issue Andrew but I can't help myself jumping on the dinosaur call as a mythology fan. Dionysus was the Greek god of wine (and dancing - he was kind of the god of partying really). It's ripe for a 'god of whine' pun, but I don't think our forum Dio deserves that.
Westie
Guest
Nice new Stadium coming to Penrith in just a few years time. I’m sure Penrith will then be able to fill it, at least for a few games. Without Parramatta supporters being allowed in. Even if they have to give tickets away to local schools. You’d do it , if Parramatta goes that way.
Pride!
Guest
A few years ago Parramatta were at the bottom of the table. There was so much atmosphere at the ground, you could hear the crickets chirping. Are they still going to do the lockouts, if Parramatta is near the bottom of the table? There will be virtually no supporters there , without the opposition supporters.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Lol. I’ll go where ever Liz wants me too
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Again you're another one missing the point. The club basically offers bespoke membership packages that you can choose ahead of time which games you want to go to. The Easter Monday game & the Panthers game are the two that have the most demand. I spoke to someone around the club today and the demand for membership packages that include tickets to Easter Monday is nearly 50,000. That's potential Eels members wanting to buy a membership that includes a ticket to Easter Monday. They may not want or be able to go to another game this season, but they want to go to that game. Trust me, it'll be a sell out. The only empty seats will be from members who haven't used their ticket.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I didn't miss it, I too was joking, sort of.