Rugby League in North America Vs AFL in China
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 12:32 pm
I thought this post deserves to be started again since the last one was shutdown and since b bear want's to debate which sport is making more ground in each region.
Here are some of the stats -
Professional Teams
Rugby League
1 established team Toronto Wolfpack
1 approved team Ottawa Aces
1 planned expansion New York
AFL
No professional team anywhere in China or even planned.
Crowds
AFLs best crowd in China was 10,689 in 2018
But that fell to 9,412 in 2019.
While AFLs crowd started higher, Toronto Wolfpacks crowd was higher in the past year.
2018 - 9266
2019 - 9974
And there definitely seems to be a more packed Stadium at the Wolfpacks last home game in Toronto Canada than all AFL games in China which had empty seats everywhere you looked.
Local Media coverage
I am yet to find any Chinese media coverage of the AFL in China.
Rugby League seems to have decent support from Canadian media.
Fan engagement.
Seems impossible to find crowds of Chinese baracking for an AFL team with the crowd in China looking like all Aussie expats and very few Asians.
While Toronto Wolfpack does have Canadian fans.
Despite many AFL fans claiming it is only expat English showing interest in the sport.
Here are some of the stats -
Professional Teams
Rugby League
1 established team Toronto Wolfpack
1 approved team Ottawa Aces
1 planned expansion New York
AFL
No professional team anywhere in China or even planned.
Crowds
AFLs best crowd in China was 10,689 in 2018
But that fell to 9,412 in 2019.
While AFLs crowd started higher, Toronto Wolfpacks crowd was higher in the past year.
2018 - 9266
2019 - 9974
And there definitely seems to be a more packed Stadium at the Wolfpacks last home game in Toronto Canada than all AFL games in China which had empty seats everywhere you looked.
Local Media coverage
I am yet to find any Chinese media coverage of the AFL in China.
Rugby League seems to have decent support from Canadian media.
Fan engagement.
Seems impossible to find crowds of Chinese baracking for an AFL team with the crowd in China looking like all Aussie expats and very few Asians.
While Toronto Wolfpack does have Canadian fans.
Despite many AFL fans claiming it is only expat English showing interest in the sport.