Round 9 2013 NRL: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks V West Tigers, Allianz Stadium, Friday 10th May, 730pm,

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I heard a few people ringing up the radio bagging us for the poor crowd in Gosford the other week, wonder if they will be bagging the tigers for the crowd last night. Wasn't even 10000.

very very poor.

Its funny thought, there was alot of bitching about the time slot on tv for the game. couldnt crack 10K crowd at the game, why would they throw it on tv live, when there was a top 8 clash going on a few kms away

 

[Gards]

That's what happens when you take your suburban home games to a big stadium. Not only is it further for supporters to travel but they don't want to sit in a 3/4 empty stadium as opposed to a packed out local ground

 

[JimBob]

That's what happens when you take your suburban home games to a big stadium. Not only is it further for supporters to travel but they don't want to sit in a 3/4 empty stadium as opposed to a packed out local ground

Aren't the Tigers doing it because they're desperate for money? (I think teams get paid 100k to take games to Allianz).

 

[evertonshark]

That's what happens when you take your suburban home games to a big stadium. Not only is it further for supporters to travel but they don't want to sit in a 3/4 empty stadium as opposed to a packed out local ground

How fars Leichhardt from the sfs, like 5 km's or something ? I'd still go watch the sharks at homebush every week if they moved there even though I hate that ground.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

How fars Leichhardt from the sfs, like 5 km's or something ? I'd still go watch the sharks at homebush every week if they moved there even though I hate that ground.

This is what i was saying last night. For me, having to travel 4 hours to a Sharks game, 2 if i went to it in Newy, to travel from the Shire to Homebush, Parra, Leichardt, SFS i'd never have a problem with. The problem with sydney is people are that sick of the busy roads by the time they get home, they dont wanna get back out on them

 

[Gards]

Aren't the Tigers doing it because they're desperate for money? (I think teams get paid 100k to take games to Allianz).

I believe you are correct that they are getting 100k and that's why the Sharks do a similar thing with Gosford, NZ ect. However need to way up loss of ticket sales volume, merch, less home ground advantage ect

Even rough cut figures if you assume just GA ticket pricing of say $20 each and that playing at your suburban ground would net you maybe another 5,000 fans (total from both teams) there's $100k right there. There must be more to it...

How fars Leichhardt from the sfs, like 5 km's or something ? I'd still go watch the sharks at homebush every week if they moved there even though I hate that ground.

Yea mate I'm not too phased on travelling for games either but alot of people are. Leichardt isn't that far from the SFS as the crow flies but consider the difference from the locals that would usually chill out at home, pop into their fav local pub and head on over to their teams home ground not far away knowing their route, where they are gunna park/sit ect. Change that to the SFS and suddenly you've got alot more Sydney traffic to contest with, less certainty on parking and a longer night/afternoon. Thinking from a families point of view, they might be thinking save time and money by staying at home on the tele

 

[evertonshark]

This is what i was saying last night. For me, having to travel 4 hours to a Sharks game, 2 if i went to it in Newy, to travel from the Shire to Homebush, Parra, Leichardt, SFS i'd never have a problem with. The problem with sydney is people are that sick of the busy roads by the time they get home, they dont wanna get back out on them

Yeah i'm sure people have their reasons for not going to games but look at the afl. Their crowds are awesome.

 

[Gards]

This is what i was saying last night. For me, having to travel 4 hours to a Sharks game, 2 if i went to it in Newy, to travel from the Shire to Homebush, Parra, Leichardt, SFS i'd never have a problem with. The problem with sydney is people are that sick of the busy roads by the time they get home, they dont wanna get back out on them

We are sick of the busy roads mate. It's not the distance itself it's the type of driving being a slow and sometimes dangerous crawl through a cluster **** of cars
It's stressful and exhausting and feels like a waste of ones valuable free time.

Personally I would prefer 3+ hours on a long but freely moving drive as opposed to a 2hr drive averaging 2km/h and being surrounded by equally as stressed out people with road rage

Drive on our roads at 3am and Sydney is great. You can get anywhere quite quickly. But do it at peak hour then get used to the sight of your cars dashboard

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

We are sick of the busy roads mate. It's not the distance itself it's the type of driving being a slow and sometimes dangerous crawl through a cluster **** of cars
It's stressful and exhausting and feels like a waste of ones valuable free time.

Personally I would prefer 3+ hours on a long but freely moving drive as opposed to a 2hr drive averaging 2km/h and being surrounded by equally as stressed out people with road rage

Drive on our roads at 3am and Sydney is great. You can get anywhere quite quickly. But do it at peak hour then get used to the sight of your cars dashboard

Lol the typical 'i hate sydney streets' talk. People choose to live there.

 

[evertonshark]

I believe you are correct that they are getting 100k and that's why the Sharks do a similar thing with Gosford, NZ ect. However need to way up loss of ticket sales volume, merch, less home ground advantage ect

Even rough cut figures if you assume just GA ticket pricing of say $20 each and that playing at your suburban ground would net you maybe another 5,000 fans (total from both teams) there's $100k right there. There must be more to it...



Yea mate I'm not too phased on travelling for games either but alot of people are. Leichardt isn't that far from the SFS as the crow flies but consider the difference from the locals that would usually chill out at home, pop into their fav local pub and head on over to their teams home ground not far away knowing their route, where they are gunna park/sit ect. Change that to the SFS and suddenly you've got alot more Sydney traffic to contest with, less certainty on parking and a longer night/afternoon. Thinking from a families point of view, they might be thinking save time and money by staying at home on the tele

Yeah I know what you mean Gards, everyone would have their reasons for not going to the footy but as someone who drives from the hunter valley to all sharks home games and quite a few away games it seems a bit funny to me.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I hate sydney traffic too, hence why i dont go down there unless i have to. But i reckon if i lived in sydney i'd suck it up for the sake of going to a game.

 

[Gards]

Yeah i'm sure people have their reasons for not going to games but look at the afl. Their crowds are awesome.

I'm not discounting the fact that AFL manage their sports promotion better than the NRL and that AFL is also played in NSW & other states but the public transport system in Melbourne kicks the **** out of Sydneys although Melbourne's roads themselves are starting to get worse with congestion. Just saying - it's possible that a small part of those great crowds is that the fans in those parts of the country don't feel like getting to a game is going to be like the Lord of the Rings treck to Mordor.

It's an inescapable fact that Sydney is the most expensive city in the world and that the population of it exceeds it's infrastructures primitive capacity

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

It's an inescapable fact that Sydney is the most expensive city in the world and that the population of it exceeds it's infrastructures primitive capacity

So why live there?

 

[evertonshark]

I'm not discounting the fact that AFL manage their sports promotion better than the NRL and that AFL is also played in NSW & other states but the public transport system in Melbourne kicks the **** out of Sydneys although Melbourne's roads themselves are starting to get worse with congestion. Just saying - it's possible that a small part of those great crowds is that the fans in those parts of the country don't feel like getting to a game is going to be like the Lord of the Rings treck to Mordor.

It's an inescapable fact that Sydney is the most expensive city in the world and that the population of it exceeds it's infrastructures primitive capacity

Try driving from the hunter and having to re-arrange work for Friday and Monday night games and congested roads in Sydney would be the least of your worries. I still have to drive on them too once I get into Sydney.

 

[Gards]

Lol the typical 'i hate sydney streets' talk. People choose to live there.

My 3+ hour smooth drive comment wasn't in regards to your situation, was just an example.

People do chose to stay living here whether that's cause they want to or it's not practical to leave, e.g. family, work commitments ect is different for everyone.
Sydney is a good city but it's also why those of us living here get passionate about the governments ineptitude at tackling a problem that is only getting worse and is ruining the place!

It is not winging for the sake of winging - it took me 2 hours to drive 10km from my work to my home the other night and that is not rare. Do it every day like some poor basterds and see how you feel. But are you going to pick up and move your whole life over it? Not everyone would.

Yeah I know what you mean Gards, everyone would have their reasons for not going to the footy but as someone who drives from the hunter valley to all sharks home games and quite a few away games it seems a bit funny to me.

That's fair enough, I don't think I have ever really let logistics stand in the way of me getting to a Sharks home or away game within the state. If I want to go, I will be motivated and excited to do so despite the travel time.
However the NRL does need more afternoon games. Saturday and Sunday around 2-3pm, well outside of the busiest peak hours at night so travel is a heap easier (at least to the game). Plus watching footy in the sun is the best.

 

[Gards]

Try driving from the hunter and having to re-arrange work for Friday and Monday night games and congested roads in Sydney would be the least of your worries. I still have to drive on them too once I get into Sydney.

I know mate, this conversation isn't about Sharks fans not putting in the effort as some of them go through many hoops to get themselves to games and that's great.
It's just that the NRL and the clubs need to put some more thought into scheduling and venue management to give fans less reasons/barriers to not attending live games

$ Value is another valid issue that they need to address

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

My 3+ hour smooth drive comment wasn't in regards to your situation, was just an example.

People do chose to stay living here whether that's cause they want to or it's not practical to leave, e.g. family, work commitments ect is different for everyone.
Sydney is a good city but it's also why those of us living here get passionate about the governments ineptitude at tackling a problem that is only getting worse and is ruining the place!

It is not winging for the sake of winging - it took me 2 hours to drive 10km from my work to my home the other night and that is not rare. Do it every day like some poor basterds and see how you feel. But are you going to pick up and move your whole life over it? Not everyone would.



That's fair enough, I don't think I have ever really let logistics stand in the way of me getting to a Sharks home or away game within the state. If I want to go, I will be motivated and excited to do so despite the travel time.
However the NRL does need more afternoon games. Saturday and Sunday around 2-3pm, well outside of the busiest peak hours at night so travel is a heap easier (at least to the game). Plus watching footy in the sun is the best.

Theres problems which need to be fixed by the governments (local, state, federal) everywhere but man. Not just sydney.

Why there isnt a saturday arvo 4pm game I dont know.
Ive said all along in 9 were serious about having the best NRL coverage they would have tried to get a saturday night live game, and played sundays game live.

1 live game and 2 delayed telecasts a week, as well as a 1.5 hour long bogan fest Foot show, plus the sunday footy shows is not the best league coverage around.

Foxtel has it all over 9. Show all games, 5 live, the other 3 on delay, some form of footy coverage every night, as well as good pre-game viewing and some under 20s.

Friday nights arent practical, I get that. But when practicality stops people from getting to a game an hour away every week, this is what i guess doesnt help us out in a way. imagine last night if Sharks supporters packed out the stadium (obviously not a sell out, but completely outnumber the opposition supporters) at an away game

 

[Gards]

So why live there?

I'm sure you don't think Taree is perfect but you don't just pack up your life (literally) and move elsewhere

Every city or town has it's negatives it doesn't mean we can't air our concerns or frustrations

 

[sharks2010]

:topic

 

[evertonshark]

I know mate, this conversation isn't about Sharks fans not putting in the effort as some of them go through many hoops to get themselves to games and that's great.
It's just that the NRL and the clubs need to put some more thought into scheduling and venue management to give fans less reasons/barriers to not attending live games

$ Value is another valid issue that they need to address

Unfortunately when tv dollars pay for the game the nrl aren't worried about the practicality of fans to attend games. Just whether people are watching at home. Personally I hope Thursday night games don't become a regular thing for this reason.