If the ACT Brumbies' season came to a crashing halt but no one was there to see it, did it really happen?
The saddest part of the Brumbies' loss against the Melbourne Rebels 27-24 on Saturday night was that just 5283 fans turned up to watch it.
There were plenty of spare seats at Canberra Stadium.
Photo: AAP
It was the second lowest home crowd in Brumbies history and will set off alarm bells at the club's headquarters and in Super Rugby head offices.
It highlighted the declining interest in Super Rugby, which hasn't been helped by the Brumbies' disappointing losses, and the desperate need for a new stadium in Canberra.
Chilly and wet conditions led to the lowest crowd in the capital since 4000 fans turned up in torrential rain in 1999.
Advertisement
The Brumbies are in danger of recording their worst average crowd figures in 20 years.
"It's really sad to be honest, as a rugby union person," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.
"It was obviously a cold, damp evening. Everyone in this room and here tonight wants the game to be thriving. The reality is at the moment it isn't.
"Our form is playing a part of that and I've got to front up and take ownership of that 100 per cent. I'll never shy away from that.
"But it is a bit sad. I want our boys playing in front of 15,000 people – people I know care about them."
The masses of empty seats in the capital were a long way from the glory days of 20,000 fans packing in to watching entertaining rugby.
It spoke volumes for the state of Australian rugby, but most importantly it should be a wake-up call for the ACT government and continual delays on plans for a new venue.
A private consortium are lobbying the ACT government in a bid to fast-track plans for a new venue in the city and the Australian Sports Commission is preparing to sell land at the AIS.
Canberra Stadium has deteriorated into one of the worst spectator venues in Super Rugby or NRL- excluding the immaculate playing surface.
The Canberra Raiders are still holding on to their core Green Machine fans and growing members, but they face a test to keep people at the ground in the colder months.
Plans to build a state of the art venue in the city have stalled in recent years as the government foots the bill of the Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos clean up and builds light rail.
But if they don't act quickly, there might be no one left to fill a new stadium.
A new stadium close to the city in Adelaide has boosted attendances and building a venue with a roof in Dunedin saw numbers jump by almost 7000.
Winning games helps, but the Brumbies' crowds have been dropping off for almost a decade despite the team making the finals every year since 2013.
The lack of covered seating, cold nights and Canberra Stadium being isolated are the major contributing factors.
The Australian Sports Commission is preparing to sell a large chunk of land at the AIS campus in Bruce to fund sport and downsize its footprint.
That could pave the way for the ACT government to buy Canberra Stadium instead of paying $350,000 per year to rent the venue from the commission, a federal government body.
The ACT government is keen to buy the stadium, with an option to either sell the land in the future to raise revenue for a new stadium or redevelop the existing site.
It's understood the Brumbies need at least 7000 fans to turn up to cover costs. But their biggest average crowd dip since 1998 is set to hit their finances, despite the club doing everything to lure fans back.
The Brumbies slashed ticket prices and the cost of membership packages in the hope of getting fans back. Instead, frustrating rugby is turning them away as fans vote with their feet and watch from home.
AT A GLANCE
Super Rugby: MELBOURNE REBELS 27 (Tom English 2, Jack Maddocks, Semisi Tupou tries; Reece Hodge 2 conversions, penalty) bt ACT BRUMBIES 24 (Tom Cusack, Faalelei Sione, Rob Valetini tries; Wharenui Hawera 3 conversions, penalty) at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. Referee: Nic Berry. Crowd: 5283.
Comments disabled
Chris Dutton is a sports reporter at The Canberra Times.
Morning & Afternoon Newsletter
Delivered Mon–Fri.
