Massive Drop in NRL Crowds

[Beaussie]

Gee what's going on? The record breaking crowd average of last season looks like not being broken this season.

Attendance drops 1000 a game
By Josh Massoud
June 10, 2006
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,86 ... 14,00.html

NRL crowds have dipped considerably from boom figures last season, with attendances down almost 1000 fans a game.

The halfway mark of 2006 sees games attracting an average of 15,912 people.

After 13 rounds last season the mark stood at 16,822 - 910 more per game.

The worrying slip is a stark reverse trend amid growing TV ratings, soaring merchandise sales and unpredictable results.

Clubs struggling to match the heady days of 2005 are blaming everything from chilly temperatures to rail maintenance for the downturn.

And with football and State of Origin certain to dominate attention over the next month, the NRL concedes there is little chance of exceeding last year's record average of 16,468.

In a concerning development, nine of the 15 teams are attracting fewer punters than at last year's midpoint.

Six of those outfits - the Bulldogs, Roosters, Sharks, Panthers, Raiders and Warriors - have experienced a drop of more than 20 per cent.

Sharks CEO Greg Pierce said the team's miserable 1-4 start explained the dive from 17,110 last season to 12,689 now.


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"Three of those losses were at home and when we upset the Cowboys [in round 7] there was not a big crowd here to see it," Pierce said.
Rail maintenance on the day of the club's biggest home game against neighbours St George Illawarra didn't help.

"That probably cost us a couple of thousand people," Pierce said.

The Sharks would also prefer to play certain games on Sunday afternoons - a stance at odds with the club's modern era Saturday night love affair.

"You do get more families on a Sunday and travelling fans will come from places like Newcastle because they can get home earlier," Pierce said.

Canberra CEO Simon Hawkins is even more desperate for daylight.

After watching the Raiders crowds plummet by nearly a third, Hawkins is "constantly" asking for Sundays.

"The weather down here can get very cold, especially at night," he added.

NRL marketing manager Paul Kind nominated the Warriors - now the lowest drawing team - as the biggest concern.

Despite the downturn, the NRL will not embark on radical changes such as free weekends to combat traditionally stagnant mid-season crowds.

[Willis 21]

No,, it won't be another record this year.. ( the first time in 4 years where the record won't be broken..)

It will still be the 3rd or so best year for crowds in the 98 year history of Rugby League though...

AFL crowds are down as well aren't they this year??

Maybe there are some other factors to consider where families don't have the same disposable income this year??

[Beaussie]

Another poor result for the NRL in terms of crowds for Round 14:

Manly vs Wests Tigers - 11,588
Penrith vs St George/Illaw. - 9,422
South Sydney vs Brisbane - 6,537
North QLD vs Cronulla - 16,923
Syd. Roosters vs NZ Warriors - 6,806
Parramatta vs Melbourne - 7,139
Canberra vs Bulldogs - 12,541

Only 3 games broke the 10.000 mark. Imagine what a crowd of 6,537 would have looked like at the 85,500 seat Telstra Stadium. And Souths finally won a game.

And Willis I'm yet to have come across any news that AFL crowds are down. If it is indeed true, perhaps it has alot to do with the fact that the MCG was unavailable early in the season.

[Grim Reaper]

Notice the Ca Swannies crowd at the SCG was up there with the NRL!

[Beaussie]

Over 31,000 at the SCG for Sydney vs St Kilda in pouring rain Grim. What's your point?

[Willis 21]

No,, it won't be another record this year.. ( the first time in 4 years where the record won't be broken..)

It will still be the 3rd or so best year for crowds in the 98 year history of Rugby League though...

AFL crowds are down as well aren't they this year??

Maybe there are some other factors to consider where families don't have the same disposable income this year??

Well.. I'm glad to say i was wrong, and this year ended up as the 2nd best crowd average on record for the NRL...

An average of 15,602 attended each game as opposed to last season 16,468...

I guess that we aren't going to beat the record every year...( Btw AFL crowds were down as well this year.- no attendance record for them either... )

Good result for the NRL this year in my opinion - the future is looking great, particulary in Melbourne.. :D

[Beaussie]

Crowds in the NRL have dropped by nearly 1,000 when compared with last year. This is a fact as was pointed out in the original article. How that is a good result and the future is looking great, I'm not exactly sure. >

Melbourne Storm home crowds, taking into account their top of the table form and the crowds at Melbourne Victory games is surely a huge concern. Melbourne Victory can attract nearly 40,000 for a home and away game in round 2 of the A-League. Any chance the Melbourne Storm will attract such numbers for their home final on Sunday? No need to book Telstra Dome, we all know how ridiculous that would look with 38,000 empty seats.

[Willis 21]

Like I said in the other thread, how is the Victory crowds ( primarily played in the NRL off season) a concern for the Storm?

In the 98 year history of Rugby League in Australia, this has been the 2nd best attended season... and you think that is a bad thing?? >

[Beaussie]

Like I said in the other thread, how is the Victory crowds ( primarily played in the NRL off season) a concern for the Storm?

40,000 for the Melbourne Victory vs 14,000 for the Melbourne Storm. Not a real concern leading into the NRL finals eh???