Talking Footy

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

Beaussie wrote:

Interesting point about membership numbers for the NRL. Despite a massive advertising blitz here in Sydney on TV, radio, print etc the numbers have remained level with last year. Did NRL membership numbers peak last season and there is little to no growth in the future?

Anyway something is drastically wrong. Crowds, tv viewers down and membership numbers showing no growth. I wonder if Dave Smith knows whats going on?

ParraEelsNRL wrote:

Fuck News "Limited" Scum and their Agendas.

And fuck the idiots who soak it all up, yet turn on them when they print the complete opposite, I call them scumbags "hypocrites". Aye Fumblers.

Xman wrote:

Why wouldn't Smith return his calls?

ParraEelsNRL wrote:

Delayed in QLD for a start, no QLD team playing, do you think these things have any effect on those numbers coming out of QLD?

The truth Xman, just for once eh?

ParraEelsNRL wrote:

Prime time eh?

LOL, it started at 18 past 8 in NSW, tell me, what time did it actually start in QLD, I'll give you a hint, it was much later than that.

Primetime my arse.

As usual, you sidestep everything my agenda driven loon.

ParraEelsNRL wrote:

Oh, and you didn't answer my main point Xman.

Why should anyone from the ARLC answer to News Limited?

Please answer that one.