I was in Melbourne last month and I can tell you that the crowds and atmosphere there are fantastic. In fact the game which I went to 76,000 turned up and that was just a regular round fixture. Melbourne is also a big city which has to support 9 clubs in the competition but that doesn't stop it from generating huge attendances. You know? Where fans actually turn up and place bums on seats?

It's called Aussie Rules and unlike Rugby League it doesn't need to obsessively waffle away ad nauseam about TV ratings as if somehow that makes up for the embarrassment of rows upon rows of empty seats and zero atmosphere at NRL games in Sydney and elsewhere.

There's a few minor factors that contribute, but you are indeed correct.

What amazes me that with these massive tv ratings rl has over afl who has the biggest tv deal?

Keith you should look for an Aussie Rules forum if that is how you feel mate, you will get plenty of bites I am sure.

I am not really fussed on what AFL does to be honest or the culture Melbournites have watching
their game, maybe it suggests they have little else to do on a weekend compared to other places.
They average 60k and that is a huge number, its -6 % down this year so far and it was -6% down last year.

Good TV ratings for Rugby League is a positive for our code any way you look at it, TV ratings translate to revenue. Those same ratings will be what sees more English players moving to the NRL and staying in the code rather than moving to Union (or AFL)

Most Clubs do not have rows and rows of empty seats unless you think a Club team should fill the Olympic Stadium or the Football Stadium, that's hardly realistic.

That TV deal is about to change though Sheldon, its been locked in on a long term deal since 2005 with channel nine.
It should be around double that amount this time, 1 billion or there abouts.

I know mate, if the nrl gets 1 billion that's 200 million behind afl.

More has to be done about membership and attendances, all i see on tv is adverts for afl and I have never received any info in the mail about membership for any of the 3 surrounding nrl clubs.

Anyway I'll leave it all here, i've done it to death on these boards before.

The Crowds have never been massive for Rugby League in Sydney, they are as high now as they have been for a long time.

Times are tough everywhere.
If you can hold on with what you have in most Sports today you are doing ok, there are so many other things competing for your time and money.
A family of 4 at the Broncos in a reasonable spot at the ground is $120, throw in $50 for a drink each and a Pie or Burger, its not a cheap family day out, you could go to one of the big Theme Parks on the Coast for the same amount. (or buy a weeks groceries in some cases)

And this is why clubs should promote their membership packages better.

A family of 4, in the good seats, for 14 games at souths is $855 they'll even let you pay monthly at $71.25.

Now if you want to sit in the cheap seats, and imo theres no bad seats in the suncorp or anz, you can pay for 2 adults and UP TO 4 kids $500 for the 14 games, $41.67 A MONTH.

Members also get a discount on food and drink.

That is a great deal, Souths have been active in promoting memberships more than most.

Brisbane don't really do any great deals as being a one team large City they don't have to, they can fill the place with young males having a night out with their mates.

The "family tickets" are for 1 Adult and 1 child to sell them at a higher rate.

I think it maybe a Sydney thing due the smaller crowds.

Roosters were doing a $100 season pass for this season but I didn't see it advertised, anywhere.

Quadrupling the sample size will only halve the error,

Once you get to sample sizes of about 3,000 there is really no need to increase it any further (Assuming your sample is random)

Probably, but there's also several major factors that contribute to the difference and the overriding major factor is passion for the game.


Exactly. And which code has teams in every major city in Australia?

I always feel sorry for Keith. It's like he is mentally trapped in rugby league, despite the fact he hates at the game at levels and in all countries.

I just hope someone can get to him to show him that he can just let the anger go, and do something he enjoys.

Give it up Keef

There's really no need for that response simply because you don't like what I have to say. I'm a rugby league fan first and foremost but I'm not blind to the inherent problems the sport appears unable to solve... embarrassing lack of bums on seats being one of them... comparatively speaking.


That's called sticking your head in the sand.


I've been to Sydney and Melbourne on countless occasions and they both offer a multitude of cultural and social attractions which compete for people's engagement and disposable incomes. Dismissing Melbourne as a social and cultural desert which has nothing else to offer apart from AFL is an ignorant, lazy and desperate effort to explain away Sydney's relatively poor NRL attendances.


I've no idea whether those stats are true or not but if they are then it's safe to conclude that NRL attendances in Sydney won't be competing with attendances like those in Melbourne anytime soon.


Correct, but they aren't translating to bums on seats in Sydney in anything like significant numbers. A semi-decent attendance of 30K at an NRL game in Sydney at ANZ looks embarrassing with all those empty seats and is not a good look on TV. I've read other excuses for poor attendances in Sydney like... oh, the weather was terrible, it was raining... well, the weather in Melbourne is more changeable than Sydney and it doesn't affect AFL supporters ability to turn up to games.

You know there's a problem with the sport when the focus and agenda becomes obsessed with TV ratings and how allegedly wonderful and positive they are. This is an argument which has crept into the thinking of insecure acolytes of Super League in recent years too.


The number of league players switching codes is insignificant and yet another insecure knee-jerk of the highest order.


Yes they do have rows and rows of empty seats along with sply occupied grassy knolls, unless it's the NRL equivalent of a local derby fixture.


It might not be realistic in Sydney but it's realistic in Melbourne at the MCG or Etihad. Those stadiums get filled for regular season AFL games.

Where do you live Keith?
Why do you care about Rugby League if you dismiss and disparage the Sport.

I do not care about AFL or Cricket or Soccer.... why should I?
I am only interested in what appeals to me, is that wrong too in your mind?

Why should I care if you think the Stadiums are empty or full? or if it bothers your mentality, everyone I know is comfortable with the state of the game and where it sits.

I am happy with the way things are, I would like England to sort themselves out and compete at Test level and win a series but that is outside of my control.

Anything else Keith?