Talking Footy

Beaussie wrote:

Festival of League Round 1 Blockbuster with predictions of 50,000 fans showing up and free tickets galore.

A tv ratings disaster too. Way to go NRL.

Where is Mr NRL will be No.1 in years to come. In hiding from embarrassment it appears.

RL heartland :_<> :_<> :_<>

Block-busted: Why did fans and viewers tune out of NRL’s opening night?

Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-Large
The Daily Telegraph
March 08, 2014 12:00AM

THE NRL’s blockbuster season kick-off on Thursday night was a TV-ratings disaster on top of the poor attendance of 27,000 at ANZ Stadium.

Channel Nine revealed figures yesterday that showed the audience was down by 10 per cent compared to last year, a result that has shocked NRL officials.

The same Rabbitohs-Roosters kick-off game on a Thursday night last year attracted 563,000 viewers (average audience) in Sydney compared to only 508,000 on Thursday night.

It’s taken only this one game for questions to be asked about the NRL’s new stadium strategy and membership campaign.

That only 27,000 turned up (down 25 per cent on last year) was an embarrassment for the code. The fact there were 58,000 fewer viewers made it even worse.

Crowd predictions had ranged from anything between 35,000 and 50,000 in the build-up to the premiership’s oldest arch-rivals.

Free trains, free wifi at the ground – and who knows how many free tickets.

It had everything – Sonny Bill v Sam, Reynolds v Pearce plus an all-time superstar in Greg Inglis playing what turned out to be one of the greatest games of his career.

The nearly 60,000 empty seats looked shocking on the TV coverage.

This same game opened the season in 2013 and attracted 36,000 at Allianz – and the Roosters were coming off a poor year.

To drag Souths and the Roosters, both based within 2km of Allianz, out to Homebush was plain dumb.

No wonder the attendance figure was down on last year.

Many officials were blaming the late 8.05pm kick-off on a Thursday school night.

Stadium staff noted the lack of children at the game and, by the time families that did attend got home, it was after 11pm.

Overall, the NRL’s stadium strategy is a step in the right direction, although membership numbers have remained only level with last year despite an advertising blitz.

Big games deserve big venues and big crowds deserve the best facilities.

But they’ve got to be smart about it and choose the right venues for the right games.

ANZ Stadium would have been fine if it was the Bulldogs against the Eels.

At least these teams come from the area and could attract a crowd of up towards 40,000.

Playing three round-one matches at an 80,000 seat stadium is only going to make the game look bad.

There’s nothing tribalistic about footy when there’s more empty seats than bums on them.

NRL Chief executive Dave Smith did not return our phone calls or text messages on Friday.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6848415109

Raiderdave wrote:

Beaussie wrote:

Festival of League Round 1 Blockbuster with predictions of 50,000 fans showing up and free tickets galore.

A tv ratings disaster too. Way to go NRL.

Where is Mr NRL will be No.1 in years to come. In hiding from embarrassment it appears.

RL heartland :_<> :_<> :_<>

Block-busted: Why did fans and viewers tune out of NRL’s opening night?

Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-Large
The Daily Telegraph
March 08, 2014 12:00AM

THE NRL’s blockbuster season kick-off on Thursday night was a TV-ratings disaster on top of the poor attendance of 27,000 at ANZ Stadium.

Channel Nine revealed figures yesterday that showed the audience was down by 10 per cent compared to last year, a result that has shocked NRL officials.

The same Rabbitohs-Roosters kick-off game on a Thursday night last year attracted 563,000 viewers (average audience) in Sydney compared to only 508,000 on Thursday night.

It’s taken only this one game for questions to be asked about the NRL’s new stadium strategy and membership campaign.

That only 27,000 turned up (down 25 per cent on last year) was an embarrassment for the code. The fact there were 58,000 fewer viewers made it even worse.

Crowd predictions had ranged from anything between 35,000 and 50,000 in the build-up to the premiership’s oldest arch-rivals.

Free trains, free wifi at the ground – and who knows how many free tickets.

It had everything – Sonny Bill v Sam, Reynolds v Pearce plus an all-time superstar in Greg Inglis playing what turned out to be one of the greatest games of his career.

The nearly 60,000 empty seats looked shocking on the TV coverage.

This same game opened the season in 2013 and attracted 36,000 at Allianz – and the Roosters were coming off a poor year.

To drag Souths and the Roosters, both based within 2km of Allianz, out to Homebush was plain dumb.

No wonder the attendance figure was down on last year.

Many officials were blaming the late 8.05pm kick-off on a Thursday school night.

Stadium staff noted the lack of children at the game and, by the time families that did attend got home, it was after 11pm.

Overall, the NRL’s stadium strategy is a step in the right direction, although membership numbers have remained only level with last year despite an advertising blitz.

Big games deserve big venues and big crowds deserve the best facilities.

But they’ve got to be smart about it and choose the right venues for the right games.

ANZ Stadium would have been fine if it was the Bulldogs against the Eels.

At least these teams come from the area and could attract a crowd of up towards 40,000.

Playing three round-one matches at an 80,000 seat stadium is only going to make the game look bad.

There’s nothing tribalistic about footy when there’s more empty seats than bums on them.

NRL Chief executive Dave Smith did not return our phone calls or text messages on Friday.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6848415109

:_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>



Scanning
Scanning

NEWS LTD

the bitter old bitch will never forgive our game for showing them the door


I wonder if Dill Slothfield will be at the forefront this time next week with headlines screeching this

MIDGETS & SWINES FAIL TO SELLOUT TINY SYDNEY SHOWGROUND

phhhhtttt what am I talking about
theres not a negative NRL tone about that so of course not



& of course we all know this mob will batter them on TV in Sydney :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

Swans4ever wrote:

Raiderdave wrote:

Beaussie wrote:

Festival of League Round 1 Blockbuster with predictions of 50,000 fans showing up and free tickets galore.

A tv ratings disaster too. Way to go NRL.

Where is Mr NRL will be No.1 in years to come. In hiding from embarrassment it appears.

RL heartland :_<> :_<> :_<>

Block-busted: Why did fans and viewers tune out of NRL’s opening night?

Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-Large
The Daily Telegraph
March 08, 2014 12:00AM

THE NRL’s blockbuster season kick-off on Thursday night was a TV-ratings disaster on top of the poor attendance of 27,000 at ANZ Stadium.

Channel Nine revealed figures yesterday that showed the audience was down by 10 per cent compared to last year, a result that has shocked NRL officials.

The same Rabbitohs-Roosters kick-off game on a Thursday night last year attracted 563,000 viewers (average audience) in Sydney compared to only 508,000 on Thursday night.

It’s taken only this one game for questions to be asked about the NRL’s new stadium strategy and membership campaign.

That only 27,000 turned up (down 25 per cent on last year) was an embarrassment for the code. The fact there were 58,000 fewer viewers made it even worse.

Crowd predictions had ranged from anything between 35,000 and 50,000 in the build-up to the premiership’s oldest arch-rivals.

Free trains, free wifi at the ground – and who knows how many free tickets.

It had everything – Sonny Bill v Sam, Reynolds v Pearce plus an all-time superstar in Greg Inglis playing what turned out to be one of the greatest games of his career.

The nearly 60,000 empty seats looked shocking on the TV coverage.

This same game opened the season in 2013 and attracted 36,000 at Allianz – and the Roosters were coming off a poor year.

To drag Souths and the Roosters, both based within 2km of Allianz, out to Homebush was plain dumb.

No wonder the attendance figure was down on last year.

Many officials were blaming the late 8.05pm kick-off on a Thursday school night.

Stadium staff noted the lack of children at the game and, by the time families that did attend got home, it was after 11pm.

Overall, the NRL’s stadium strategy is a step in the right direction, although membership numbers have remained only level with last year despite an advertising blitz.

Big games deserve big venues and big crowds deserve the best facilities.

But they’ve got to be smart about it and choose the right venues for the right games.

ANZ Stadium would have been fine if it was the Bulldogs against the Eels.

At least these teams come from the area and could attract a crowd of up towards 40,000.

Playing three round-one matches at an 80,000 seat stadium is only going to make the game look bad.

There’s nothing tribalistic about footy when there’s more empty seats than bums on them.

NRL Chief executive Dave Smith did not return our phone calls or text messages on Friday.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6848415109

:_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>



Scanning
Scanning

NEWS LTD

the bitter old bitch will never forgive our game for showing them the door


I wonder if Dill Slothfield will be at the forefront this time next week with headlines screeching this

MIDGETS & SWINES FAIL TO SELLOUT TINY SYDNEY SHOWGROUND

phhhhtttt what am I talking about
theres not a negative NRL tone about that so of course not



& of course we all know this mob will batter them on TV in Sydney :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

- but Dave Smiths prediction is already in tatters!

AFLcrap1 wrote:

Yep .agree RD.
& as we are told when we laugh at greater Western Canberra/Prague/The Moon/Sydney,Fumblers ..
ITs a 20-30 yr plan .
ITs a 20-30 yr plan.

Don't judge them now ..
waaa
waaa.

Yet a 5 yr plan is judged after 2 weeks.

AFLcrap1 wrote:

A prediction is still a prediction.
Have to wait .

& as for members .
The hypocrisy is astounding..

NRL memberships are being judged on present numbers V last yrs number..
As has been quoted many times Swans have 28K ,but expect 40K.
So why are the NR numbers not afforded the same leeway..
Wait till the end of the yr & look at them..

Swans4ever wrote:

AFLcrap1 wrote:

A prediction is still a prediction.
Have to wait .

& as for members .
The hypocrisy is astounding..

NRL memberships are being judged on present numbers V last yrs number..
As has been quoted many times Swans have 28K ,but expect 40K.
So why are the NR numbers not afforded the same leeway..
Wait till the end of the yr & look at them..

Swans have 32,200 members that's 4000 more - how about you get your information right before you comment!

AFLcrap1 wrote:

Swans4ever wrote:

AFLcrap1 wrote:

A prediction is still a prediction.
Have to wait .

& as for members .
The hypocrisy is astounding..

NRL memberships are being judged on present numbers V last yrs number..
As has been quoted many times Swans have 28K ,but expect 40K.
So why are the NR numbers not afforded the same leeway..
Wait till the end of the yr & look at them..

Swans have 32,200 members that's 4000 more - how about you get your information right before you comment!

I was going by the 40K thread..old I know.

Does that alter the fact that ..The 40 k gets spruiked ( & it will be an end os season total),yet the AFL Media ,don't allow the NRL the same latitude..
its about what I expect...

AFLcrap1 wrote:

A prediction is still a prediction.
Have to wait .

& as for members .
The hypocrisy is astounding..

NRL memberships are being judged on present numbers V last yrs number..
As has been quoted many times Swans have 28K ,but expect 40K.
So why are the NR numbers not afforded the same leeway..
Wait till the end of the yr & look at them..

Cracker wrote:

Xman, it bears reminding that the NRL clubs are not membership savvy like AFL clubs. So it's unfair to have a go at NRL membership numbers compared to AFL. That will hopefully change once the NRL clubs realise once and for all that memberships are essential to their need to improve their balance sheets, and then as a follow on their fans realise the same thing. I have my membership - both at Belmore and at Whitten. Let the NRL change the culture first, then we can make comparisons on that score.

Swans4ever wrote:

Cracker wrote:

Xman, it bears reminding that the NRL clubs are not membership savvy like AFL clubs. So it's unfair to have a go at NRL membership numbers compared to AFL. That will hopefully change once the NRL clubs realise once and for all that memberships are essential to their need to improve their balance sheets, and then as a follow on their fans realise the same thing. I have my membership - both at Belmore and at Whitten. Let the NRL change the culture first, then we can make comparisons on that score.

- it was more important to build a leagues club and fill it with pokies - and that's what people tend to forget that's where their priority lay over 30 years ago!