Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has admitted there is no "magic bullet" in the fight to arrest the alarming crowd slide in Super Rugby as the Brumbies look to avoid a potential $100,000 financial hit this weekend.
Australia's only Super Rugby finalists recorded their second lowest home crowd averages in history this year (8509) and are pleading with fans to support them in their quarter final clash with the Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
The Brumbies are begging fans to support the team against the Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong
Regular season home game attendances across Australia's four teams fell one per cent to 10,450. The Waratahs were Australia's top drawcard but were still poor by their own standards, welcoming an average of just 13,069 through the gates for eight games spread across the Sydney Cricket Ground, Bankwest Stadium, Brookvale Oval and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
The Reds averaged 11,352 – despite the Crusaders drawing their best crowd in two years (17,676) – and the Rebels also struggled. The Shute Shield's Manly vs Warringah northern beaches derby two weeks ago drew more than 8000 to Manly Oval.
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Sydney-based NRL teams are averaging crowds of 15,899 so far this season, with the Roosters (21,499) and Cronulla (12,034) the outliers, according to website afltables.com. In the AFL the Swans are averaging 31,136 per game, while GWS are averaging 11,535.
Castle acknowledged the trend was a concern and said while competition reforms expected in 2021 would help there was no easy fix.
"Obviously its a concern. Its a concern for sport across Australia really. Theres a lot of codes, particularly in the Sydney market, are finding that its quite challenging," she said. "Theres no magic bullet, its about a lot of hard work.
"The conference formula is probaly not ideal, it creates confusion and thats why were going to a straight round robin in the new broadcast deal.
"It's a combination of working closely with the clubs, making sure were communicating well the upsides with fans, and working with our broadcasters in Fox [Sports] to make sure theyre doing all they can to help us, which they're really open to."
The poor crowds are putting enormous pressure on teams' finances. For the Brumbies, a home finals match should be good news, giving the team an on-field advantage and the business an opportunity to rake in extra cash through ticket sales.
Brookvale Oval has been a hit with Waratahs fans for two seasons in a row. Credit:AAP
However, the Brumbies have to pay $75,000 to the Sharks as per a Super Rugby agreement to give visiting teams a share of the finals prizemoney.
The size of the Brumbies' prizemoney, however, will depend on how many people turn up to Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
A low crowd would mean dipping into theirRead More – Source
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has admitted there is no "magic bullet" in the fight to arrest the alarming crowd slide in Super Rugby as the Brumbies look to avoid a potential $100,000 financial hit this weekend.
Australia's only Super Rugby finalists recorded their second lowest home crowd averages in history this year (8509) and are pleading with fans to support them in their quarter final clash with the Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
The Brumbies are begging fans to support the team against the Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong
Regular season home game attendances across Australia's four teams fell one per cent to 10,450. The Waratahs were Australia's top drawcard but were still poor by their own standards, welcoming an average of just 13,069 through the gates for eight games spread across the Sydney Cricket Ground, Bankwest Stadium, Brookvale Oval and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
The Reds averaged 11,352 – despite the Crusaders drawing their best crowd in two years (17,676) – and the Rebels also struggled. The Shute Shield's Manly vs Warringah northern beaches derby two weeks ago drew more than 8000 to Manly Oval.
Advertisement
Sydney-based NRL teams are averaging crowds of 15,899 so far this season, with the Roosters (21,499) and Cronulla (12,034) the outliers, according to website afltables.com. In the AFL the Swans are averaging 31,136 per game, while GWS are averaging 11,535.
Castle acknowledged the trend was a concern and said while competition reforms expected in 2021 would help there was no easy fix.
"Obviously its a concern. Its a concern for sport across Australia really. Theres a lot of codes, particularly in the Sydney market, are finding that its quite challenging," she said. "Theres no magic bullet, its about a lot of hard work.
"The conference formula is probaly not ideal, it creates confusion and thats why were going to a straight round robin in the new broadcast deal.
"It's a combination of working closely with the clubs, making sure were communicating well the upsides with fans, and working with our broadcasters in Fox [Sports] to make sure theyre doing all they can to help us, which they're really open to."
The poor crowds are putting enormous pressure on teams' finances. For the Brumbies, a home finals match should be good news, giving the team an on-field advantage and the business an opportunity to rake in extra cash through ticket sales.
Brookvale Oval has been a hit with Waratahs fans for two seasons in a row. Credit:AAP
However, the Brumbies have to pay $75,000 to the Sharks as per a Super Rugby agreement to give visiting teams a share of the finals prizemoney.
The size of the Brumbies' prizemoney, however, will depend on how many people turn up to Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
A low crowd would mean dipping into theirRead More – Source
