An NRL wish list for 2014 - by Anna

A lot has been written and said this year about the state of the game and why fans are disillusioned with the NRL.

Below is my wish list for supporting the greatest game of all.

Match scheduling

I would love to attend more NRL matches on a Sunday afternoon.

If you support a high profile NRL club like I do you would be lucky to attend an NRL match on a Sunday afternoon.  This year the club I support had only one Sunday afternoon match. Most matches were held on a Friday night. Supporters with young families are impacted by the night time matches with most choosing not to attend matches at all. With poor parking options, the late kick off time and a lack of transport infrastructure means that most families opt to not attend matches at all.  In Sydney it is a lot easier getting to a game on a weekend than on a Friday night after work. 

I would love to see all clubs have an equal share of the Friday night matches.   This will ensure an even level playing field for all NRL clubs when it comes to television exposure. And as a fan it would be good to watch on television other clubs on a Friday night besides the usual Brisbane, Bulldogs, Roosters or the Rabbitohs.  

Kick off time

It would be great if the NRL kick off for Thursday/Friday evening matches can commence as intended for at 7:30 pm.

This year I attended many matches that were held either on a Thursday or Friday night. A Thursday night match that I attended earlier in the season didn’t kick off until 8:20 pm. I only live 12 km distance from the ground and I didn’t arrive home until well after 11:00 pm.  I also attended one of the State of Origin matches this year and that match didn’t start until 8:15 pm. The late kick off time is not fair to young families whom have to travel long distances to watch their heroes play.

Currently there is a 40-45 minute gap between the conclusion of the NYC match and the start of the NRL match.  This leaves those that watch the NYC matches idle for a long period of time.   Whilst the majority of the clubs provide adequate entertainment for the fans most would prefer the NRL kick off to be brought forward.

Match day costs

Transport costs should be integrated with match day tickets and memberships.

For fans that live in Sydney the cost of travel is expensive and cumbersome.

Why is the benefit of including transport cost within a ticket only offered for marquee matches? Surely the NRL on behalf of the Sydney based clubs can negotiate an arrangement with the NSW Government to help fans get to matches without the burden of waiting in queues.

If the A League clubs can integrate transport costs with their fans memberships why can’t the NRL clubs do the same?

The cost of entry for most of the “away matches” is expensive. A few years ago if you were a season ticket holder you could attend an away match for the low cost of $8.00.  

There should be a benefit for fans with a membership at any of the NRL clubs to pay a standard cost to attend an away match lets say $15-20 for a single ticket, and $30 for the price of a family ticket.

Food and beverage costs at a football match can be quite exorbitant at the larger venues. I understand that venues need to make money but there needs to be a middle ground that makes all stakeholders happy.

NRL Merchandise

I would love to see a broader range of NRL merchandise offered to female fans.

At best female fans have the option of purchasing a ladies jersey and a polo top. The NRL has an extensive female supporter base; it would be great if there were more options to pick from. It would be even better if female supporters can provide input or feedback as to what they want.  The NRL is missing out on a lucrative market.

The cost of merchandise can be quite steep. The cost of a polo top at a minimum can set back a fan $80.  An NRL jersey is about $160. A great sight on television and at the game is seeing a sea of colour in the grandstands. Recently I attended the A League Sydney Derby match and it was a wonderful sight to see fans in the stands wearing their team colours

Final Wish: Less of Sonny Bill Williams and the Burgess Brothers

I would love to hear and read less of SBW and the Burgess family.

For season 2013 the NRL fan was provided an avalanche of articles, radio reports and interviews relating to Sonny Bill Williams and the Burgess Brothers.  In particular on channel 9 we were given a cheesy insight to Sonny Bills inner thoughts on his comeback match to watching everything about the Burgess. 

Surely there are a lot more stories to tell or write about besides these guys. Dear Channel 9 enough already.

What is your NRL wish list for season 2014?

 

Love,

 

@LadiesWhoLeague