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Expansion Why don't Sydney NRL fans go to games?
- Thread starter walhawk
- Start date
- Tagged users None
I'm only fairly new here so haven't read previous posts on the topic but thought i should point out a few obvious reasons that haven't been mentioned in this thread
* Cost - Sydney is by far the most expensive city in Australia to live in - it's cheaper to go to a leagues club with a few mates, not pay an entry fee, watch the game on a big screen and buy drinks an 1/2 what u pay at the game and you only have to travel locally not right across town - especially when money is tight
* Demographics - There are two types of Rugby - Rugby Union mostly played by private school kids, lawyers, doctors etc - i.e. the top end of town and Rugby League - the working class game, played by the public schools and the battlers. It splits the audience
* Memberships - AFL clubs sell 20000 / 40000 thousand memberships??? something like that, league clubs have a fraction of those numbers. A member of an AFL club pays their $150 or whatever and goes to all the home games each season. It's a whole different culture in that regards. Add to that AFL members, MCG members etc etc etc and that's where your crowd comes from. You're a hell of a lot more likely to go to a game if you have already paid for your ticket - how many people buy a ticket on game day?
Which flows onto the obvious question - not sure if anyone has figures but i'd like to know the difference in gate takings???
Some body put up some crowd figures earlier and mentioned that 28000 was the biggest league crowd last week - they forgot to mention the game was a sell out, you can't fit more then the ground holds - and it was at the Gold Coast
League's a great game to watch live at a rectangle field - u'll have one in Melbourne soon - get along and have a look.
AFL is a brilliant game to watch live rather then on tv as has been mentioned
I love both, the advantage of living in Canberra is I'm allowed
Anyways - there's some other reasons to consider
* Cost - Sydney is by far the most expensive city in Australia to live in - it's cheaper to go to a leagues club with a few mates, not pay an entry fee, watch the game on a big screen and buy drinks an 1/2 what u pay at the game and you only have to travel locally not right across town - especially when money is tight
* Demographics - There are two types of Rugby - Rugby Union mostly played by private school kids, lawyers, doctors etc - i.e. the top end of town and Rugby League - the working class game, played by the public schools and the battlers. It splits the audience
* Memberships - AFL clubs sell 20000 / 40000 thousand memberships??? something like that, league clubs have a fraction of those numbers. A member of an AFL club pays their $150 or whatever and goes to all the home games each season. It's a whole different culture in that regards. Add to that AFL members, MCG members etc etc etc and that's where your crowd comes from. You're a hell of a lot more likely to go to a game if you have already paid for your ticket - how many people buy a ticket on game day?
Which flows onto the obvious question - not sure if anyone has figures but i'd like to know the difference in gate takings???
Some body put up some crowd figures earlier and mentioned that 28000 was the biggest league crowd last week - they forgot to mention the game was a sell out, you can't fit more then the ground holds - and it was at the Gold Coast
League's a great game to watch live at a rectangle field - u'll have one in Melbourne soon - get along and have a look.
AFL is a brilliant game to watch live rather then on tv as has been mentioned
I love both, the advantage of living in Canberra is I'm allowed
Anyways - there's some other reasons to consider
Lasted 2 weeks, hardly going to change the culture of the city.
Let me correct myself. The period upto the last 20 years, Melbourne was a very conservative city. Football was about the only major form of entertainment also there was NO competition to rival or provide an option to the VFL (this would explain the reason AFL people are very insular in comparison to their northern rivals who know and don't mind other codes).
I've lived in Melbourne for nearly 30 years so am quite aware of the city. The Herald Sun and Age were never printed on Sundays, Sunday shopping wasn't about, clubs with pokies, the casino, the redevelopment and change in living style etc have only come about in the last 20 years. Look at St.Kilda, it was a dive 20 years ago, you wouldn't spend a Sunday there, or Port Melbourne.
Sometimes the answer is obvious. Sydney NRL attendances are low becuase there are not enough people interested in going. I actually quite like League but there is no disguising the disinterest Sydney exhibits toward the sport. They will watch on TV but then again they'll watch anything on TV. Each club has about 10,000 real matchgoing fans on average.
Simple as that.
Simple as that.
Your argument is somewhat undermined by the fact that the changes to melbourne lifestyle you mention have coincided with a huge increase in AFL attendances.
Melbourne is now for all intents and purposes as big as Sydney with a whole "Big city" array of things to do just like in Sydney Cinema, theatre, music etc etc but attendances at the footy are massive.
The simple conclusion is that there are more fans. We hunt about looking for reasons when the obvious answer is staring us in the face and it is that AFL clubs have more people interested enough to go and support them than NRL clubs do and its not just Sydney. Yesterday was Anzac day. The Broncos, League's biggest club were at home to League's historically most successful club in a superb stadium and drew 34,000 with about 18,000 empty seats. Look for reasons anywhere but the simple truth is Brisbane wasn't interested enough to fill lang park.
- Banned
- #82
7,000 up on the same game last year and at the time, souths had actually won a few games and were in the top 8, this year, souths haven't won a game.
Make of the attendance what you will, the Broncos are averaging 40,000 so far.
gostk86
Club Legend
And when West Sydney V Sydney at ANZ gets 80,000 for AFL they will still be sitting on their hands the stupid muppets.
RL is in the pits because no-one cares enough for it, Aussie rules fans take pride in the game they love and they SUPPORT IT. Probably because it's AUSTRALIAN.
Have you been to west sydney? Its majority asians out there. Look at the swans last game at anz. 44 000 all wearing red, they support sydney not afl. Its an event.
ANZ is the worst stadium to play RL, crowd is too far away, which is why its put fans off. Of course they turn up for state of origin, vics remember what that is dont you?? And the grand final.
Basically NRL needs to build a 50 000 brisbane like stadium in central west sydney location. For regular games, and leave anz for afl and SOO and GF.
Tell why is AFL wanting to destroy league, union and soccer, is it that there scared the game wont survive any other way?
Not at all, my point being that the culture was built up over nearly 100 years. Victorian culture goes hand in hand with football, it's as if you are indoctrinated in it. It's funny when people ask me who I follow and I say I don't I follow "rugby" and the conversation goes dead and the blank look on their faces. It happens over and over in the sporting capital(sic) of Australia. The same can not be said for RL and NSW, it is something you choose.
Live NRL games in Sydney on Friday nights continually fail to rate well. In fact, repeats of Midsomer Murders and Better Homes and Gardens rate better than a live NRL game in Sydney.
What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,523,000 428,000 406,000 310,000 157,000 223,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,306,000 384,000 320,000 250,000 154,000 198,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 1,285,000 408,000 392,000 237,000 147,000 101,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,227,000 397,000 393,000 210,000 133,000 94,000
5 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,213,000 422,000 376,000 249,000 166,000 Not shown
6 MIDSOMER MURDERS RPT ABC 1,213,000 383,000 348,000 213,000 142,000 127,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,158,000 371,000 262,000 196,000 120,000 208,000
8 THE BIGGEST LOSER (AUS) Ten 1,133,000 309,000 361,000 208,000 121,000 133,000
9 ANZAC DAY AFL Ten 1,102,000 83,000 606,000 111,000 151,000 151,000
13 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 6: FREMANTLE VS GEELONG Seven 864,000 18,000 441,000 6,000 144,000 254,000
21 ANZAC DAY MARCH 2008-AM ABC 707,000 294,000 129,000 148,000 78,000 58,000
24 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 586,000 305,000 281,000
31 GALLIPOLI DAWN SERVICE (2008)-PM ABC 441,000 150,000 120,000 92,000 31,000 47,000
32 SUNRISE Seven 388,000 126,000 86,000 93,000 34,000 49,000
33 SEVEN NEWS SPECIAL Seven 347,000 128,000 92,000 63,000 38,000 27,000
35 THE MORNING SHOW Seven 341,000 109,000 88,000 69,000 41,000 34,000
38 ANZAC DAY SPECIAL Seven 319,000 114,000 80,000 60,000 35,000 30,000
40 ANZAC DAY FROM THE MCG Ten 291,000 34,000 147,000 47,000 63,000
45 GALLIPOLI (Turkish documentary, not Aus movie) SBS 276,000 92,000 72,000 60,000 33,000 19,000
47 SEVEN MORNING NEWS Seven 269,000 85,000 66,000 58,000 34,000 27,000
48 NINE NEWS SPECIAL Nine 268,000 97,000 70,000 46,000 26,000 29,000
50 TODAY Nine 266,000 89,000 94,000 46,000 15,000 22,000
51 VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL SERVICE (2008)-PM ABC 263,000 101,000 41,000 49,000 30,000 42,000
http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare/
- Banned
- #86
Really , it's as simple as that .
You really are flogging dead horses with these excuses
why nrl is not supported to the same degree as AFL .
Just admit it and you'll be bigger for it .
.
- Banned
- #87
Derr , people go to watch Australian football at AFL games
to watch football , have a good time and support their team .
Gee , it never enters our minds that we are destroying other codes .
how thoughless of us all .
Who denies AFL get bigger crowds???????
- Banned
- #89
The real picture looks like NRL came 4th in its time slot, assuming "biggest loser" is on about the same time. Loosing to a reality show about fat people speaks volumes about Sydney's love of league.
Also, in green above, NRL total well down on AFL, even with the AFL one on during the day. Thats why AFL rights are 2 x NRL rights.
I have lieved in Canberra since 1981, Apart from Participation levels, the rest of your comments are rubbish.
The ACtAFL nowadays, is a complete joke. 6 teams and no one goes to watch it anyway.
AFL isn't try to destroy those codes, what a stupid statement to make.
It's expanding yes, but not trying to take over.
Any accusations that Victoria is insular with their sports is garbage.
I have lived in Canberra for 26 years, and I can tell you, RL people are the most insular supporters in Australia.
People brought up on RL, don't follow AFL. Simple as that.
They think its GAYFL, Tight Shorts etc etc.
I am reminded everyday of the hatred by RL people towards AFL and Aussie Rules.
arakaan
Premiership Player
Ah the good old stereotyping. I grew up 2 mins from Leichhardt oval. Go to almost every Wests Tigers game in Sydney. Strange that I enjoy AFL then.
It's funny on here I'm reminded every day of the hatred by AFL people towards Rugby League and the NRL.
- Banned
- #94
Who can't follow a simple statement - you .
Really , it's as simple as that .
You really are flogging dead horses with these excuses
why nrl is not supported to the same degree as AFL .
Just admit it and you'll be bigger for it .
Were talking about all the excuse made .
Got it . The excuses . I'll repeat it for you so you don't waste
time eroneously replying yet again .
You really are flogging dead horses with these excuses why nrl is not supported to the same degree as AFL .
Just admit it and you'll be bigger for it .
Ah the good old stereotyping. I grew up 2 mins from Leichhardt oval. Go to almost every Wests Tigers game in Sydney. Strange that I enjoy AFL then.
It's funny on here I'm reminded every day of the hatred by AFL people towards Rugby League and the NRL.
BS, your in the minority pal!
- Moderator
- #96
ROFL
Even if he is, it still makes your lie that no Rugby League fan follows Aussie Rules, as bullsh!t.
I would want the Carlton and Richmond boards to vote against development into Western Sydney for the time being. Getting one's house in order is far more important.
These two teams - more than any others - have been disadvantaged by all the AFL equalisation/drafting/salary capping etc rules that they fiddle around with. One year priority pick, next year priority pick is pick 18 etc.
Of course a lot of their recent misfortune is due to poor decision making and recruiting as well. But the average Carlton and Richmond fan isn't keen on seeing new teams while their teams are seemingly permanently anchored in the bottom 8. Finals football for both teams would be a huge fillip for the game.
These two teams - more than any others - have been disadvantaged by all the AFL equalisation/drafting/salary capping etc rules that they fiddle around with. One year priority pick, next year priority pick is pick 18 etc.
Of course a lot of their recent misfortune is due to poor decision making and recruiting as well. But the average Carlton and Richmond fan isn't keen on seeing new teams while their teams are seemingly permanently anchored in the bottom 8. Finals football for both teams would be a huge fillip for the game.
Idiota, That's NOT what i said, re-read my post!
I agree that expose will help, but I think the first step should be ensuring more games are shown on Sydney TV. It seems Sydneysiders like to stay at home rather than go to the matches, so getting as many games on the box as possible should be a priority.
True. I for one think Aussie Rules is a much better game for spectators, so the weather, transport etc, while playing a part, aren't the main reasons. Aussie Rules gets bigger crowds than Rugby League where ever it is played, even in places like Sydney where it is a relatively minor sport, simply because it is more fun to watch.
Having said that, I always like playing Rugby League more than Aussie Rules.
- Moderator
- #100
Even after reading it again, you still come out as a liar.
Despite being brought up on Rugby league I still follow Aussie Rules. I'm not sure why you nut cases keep saying stupid things like that, because at the end of the day, you end out looking like fools.
