It's an unpopular subject in NRL but it is time for tough calls to be made and for some teams to shift their homes.
The recent crowds in Sydney for finals games have been appalling. When you have two sydney teams playing in Sydney for a final it should be a sellout. That is just a must.
The NRL has sat on their hands long enough and need to start to try and nationalize the game.
The competition isn't strong enough for expansion. There needs to be relocations.
A team needs to shift to the central coast. For me this should be Manly
A team needs to shift to WA, to also take advantage of the hole left by the ARU's decision to disband the Force. (Possible teams for this, Tigers, Panthers, Sharks, Bulldogs, Dragons, Easts, Souths)
For me Sydney should only have 4 or 5 teams
Parramatta
A Sydney team (Rabbits or Roosters)
A Northern region team. (Eagles)
A Southern team, (either Bulldogs, St George, Cronulla)
A far West team (Tigers or Penrith)
Newcastles crowds have been good considering they got the spoon.
Broncos get a good crowd
Titans will when they play well.
Nth Qld get people driving from hundreds of miles to attend the games.
You can't have a National game with over half the competion in 1 city.
Time to grow up Todd
Replies
The reason the crowds are down is family's simply can't afford the ripoff prices,parking and food prices.
It's cheaper to stay at home have a BBQ and drink premium beer at a much lower price.Cowboys,titans,warriors crowds have dropped off to.
Crowds are appalling because really who is going to drag a family to a game that starts at 745pm, costs a fortune, grid lock to get there gridlock to get out and can't get home before midnight. You want to see crowds, easy schedule games at 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Refereeing improvements sure wouldn't hurt either
If the 2 games were played at Brookie and Ronson Field they would have both been sellouts and the atmosphere, at the ground and on the tele, would have been outstanding.
The NRL play out of the cavernous super stadiums because they have deals with them - they get big money for it - it won't be changing.
TV ratings were outstanding and that's what brings in the dollars these days - and thus the most important figures. The problem is the TV product is damaged by the shots of all the empty seats at the grounds. Todd should be able to see this and realise that the week one semi's should ALL be played at home grounds for the good of the product. He should be speaking with ANZ and Allianz stadiums about the issue and coming to an arrangement moving forward. He won't though - he's too busy telling coaches to grow up.
Semis played in big empty stadiums - poor product on tele and at the venue.
Semis played at packed suburban grounds - great product on tele and at the venue.
The Sharks sit right in the middle of the dragons territory. The Perth Sharks makes sense to me now that the Force are gone. They could still have an association to Cronulla similar to how the Swans still have an association with South Melbourne. Love their sharks in Perth too (it's the reason I rarely swim there when visiting my wife's family unless we are at Rottnest).
It's the clubs fault for setting high prices during the year and making people like me accustomed to watching on my 170cm Tv with a beer that's not $10 and mid strength . Why would I spend $200 to go to the footy and drink shite beer and shite food ? The club gives me zero incentive to. So when the finals roll around I'm already happy in my big chair at home watching it .
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