2025 Non AFL Attendance, TV, Finance etc

[Johnny Bananas]

And in Fairfax's reporting on the matter,

However, the government never intended to enter into a joint-venture arrangement with the NRL, nor be involved in the day-to-day running of the club. The state government felt that the NRL should have continued to negotiate with a private consortium headed up by Cash Converters boss Peter Cummins. Those talks broke down after the bid team opted not to offer a license fee, at a time when Rugby League Central sought a figure of about $20 million.

The NRL need WA more than WA need the NRL. Asking for a licence fee is a silly move.

 

[kranger]

 

[mephisto_red]

And in Fairfax's reporting on the matter,



The NRL need WA more than WA need the NRL. Asking for a licence fee is a silly move.

Except it wasn’t a licence fee. It was 120m over 10 years for junior development and a COE. The rest was a request to upgrade the dilapidated HBF which would be used by 3 codes and is meant to be WA’s premier rectangular venue. For such a cashed up state and emerging international city, that is a venue that surely is well overdue for an overhaul regardless of any nrl team.

NRL’s huge demands amount to not much more than requesting a modest upgrade to an old stadium to be used for multiple professional sports.

As opposed to, for example, a demand to build a high end roofed stadium built on a waterside peninsula that costs over $1B, as well 12m yearly payments to the afl.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Except it wasn’t a licence fee. It was 120m over 10 years for junior development and a COE. The rest was a request to upgrade the dilapidated HBF which would be used by 3 codes and is meant to be WA’s premier rectangular venue. For such a cashed up state and emerging international city, that is a venue that surely is well overdue for an overhaul regardless of any nrl team.

NRL’s huge demands amount to not much more than requesting a modest upgrade to an old stadium to be used for multiple professional sports.

As opposed to, for example, a demand to build a high end roofed stadium built on a waterside peninsula that costs over $1B, as well 12m yearly payments to the afl.

How hard is to understand that the NRL needs Perth but Perth doesn't need the NRL, but Tasmania needs the AFL and the AFL doesn't need Tasmania??

 

[The_Wookie]

Except it wasn’t a licence fee.

It was originally the license fee that saw the consortium removed from the equation,

It was 120m over 10 years for junior development and a COE. The rest was a request to upgrade the dilapidated HBF which would be used by 3 codes and is meant to be WA’s premier rectangular venue. For such a cashed up state and emerging international city, that is a venue that surely is well overdue for an overhaul regardless of any nrl team.

Except this is a venue that was literally just upgraded for the Womens World Cup.

NRL’s huge demands amount to not much more than requesting a modest upgrade to an old stadium to be used for multiple professional sports.

As opposed to, for example, a demand to build a high end roofed stadium built on a waterside peninsula that costs over $1B, as well 12m yearly payments to the afl.

 

[The_Wookie]

How hard is to understand that the NRL needs Perth but Perth doesn't need the NRL, but Tasmania needs the AFL and the AFL doesn't need Tasmania??

it comes down to

• WA Gov thinks an NRL team would be nice but not something they desperately need
• Tas Gov thinks they deserve an AFL team and have been desperately trying to get one for decades and the deal was the only way that was going to happen. WA just isnt there yet for the NRL.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Except it wasn’t a licence fee.

Nonsense. Read the post you're quoting before you respond to it.

 

[mephisto_red]

It was originally the license fee that saw the consortium removed from the equation,

Correct but that’s apples and oranges now with this most recent iteration.

It’s obvious something changed for the wa gov after initial discussions were had with the nrl and following all the more recent seven-related media outlets blowing steam about the massive nrl demands and cash cow comments.

Except this is a venue that was literally just upgraded for the Womens World Cup.

It had a 32m upgrade which was little more than just overdue maintenance.

 

[mephisto_red]

it comes down to

• WA Gov thinks an NRL team would be nice but not something they desperately need
• Tas Gov thinks they deserve an AFL team and have been desperately trying to get one for decades and the deal was the only way that was going to happen. WA just isnt there yet for the NRL.

afl or afl-interested parties have certainly had a major influence on both expansion attempts that’s for sure

 

[The_Wookie]

afl or afl-interested parties have certainly had a major influence on both expansion attempts that’s for sure

oh bullshit. Take the conspiracy thing back to LU.

 

[The_Wookie]

Correct but that’s apples and oranges now with this most recent iteration.

It’s obvious something changed for the wa gov after initial discussions were had with the nrl and following all the more recent seven-related media outlets blowing steam about the massive nrl demands and cash cow comments.


It had a 32m upgrade which was little more than just overdue maintenance.

It had capacity upgrades and more just 10 years ago. It is MORE than adequate for a regular rugby league team at 22k capacity - which is greater than the leagues average attendance last year.

 

[mephisto_red]

It had capacity upgrades and more just 10 years ago. It is MORE than adequate for a regular rugby league team at 22k capacity - which is greater than the leagues average attendance last year.

The nrl want new clubs with appropriate facilities just like the afl. The nrl also has other expansion options so maybe both parties will miss out here because of various internal and external forces on this deal.

 

[The_Wookie]

The nrl want new clubs with appropriate facilities just like the afl. The nrl also has other expansion options so maybe both parties will miss out here because of various internal and external forces on this deal.

well they are going to need them. And if expansion doesnt happen in Perth they can blame themselves for over reach and taking the WA Gov for granted.

 

[mephisto_red]

well they are going to need them. And if expansion doesnt happen in Perth they can blame themselves for over reach and taking the WA Gov for granted.

Or maybe the WA Gov can blame themselves for fumbling this and going to the media to save face for political gain instead of working it out behind closed doors

 

[The_Wookie]

Or maybe the WA Gov can blame themselves for fumbling this and going to the media to save face for political gain instead of working it out behind closed doors

Its not the WA Governments job to look after the NRL, indeed if the NRL wants a team in Perth and wants Government assistance then it has to fit with their prorities.

As Cook points out, most of the reporting and speculation is originating from the east coast, and Vlandys is no stranger to talking to the media. Cook has decried east coast media speculation since at least November to Parliament.

If a Perth NRL side fails to get off the ground, the NRL have no one to blame but themselves

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Or maybe the WA Gov can blame themselves for fumbling this and going to the media to save face for political gain instead of working it out behind closed doors

What face is there even to save? It's not as if there's criticism coming from the WA electorate and even the opposition leader, Zempalis, is criticising it not for failing to get it done but because too much was already done and they spent money and effort exploring this.

I know you're an NRL troll but you've got to be more creative than just chest thumping and stating logic that's no different to just "NRL good"

 

[Angus Young]

afl or afl-interested parties have certainly had a major influence on both expansion attempts that’s for sure

Get a life.

 

[budge27]

Good crowd at Optus today for the NRL double header - 31,347

 

[kranger]

I think it is important to note, that since 2018 (when Perth Stadium opened) this is the first year Perth has had more than one NRL event on.

In recent years, it has only been the state of origin or the double header or a stand alone game at the smaller Perth Rectangle Stadium. In 2025, Perth is hosting all three.

This means visitors from over east, are probably choosing one event to make the trip for, weakening the crowd between each event. It also means local event goers, are only picking one of the rugby league events, most likely the State of Origin.

So getting over 30,000 rugby league supporters in Perth should be considered impressive. When it comes to AFL and NRL games being played in cities that don’t have a local team, (think Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Coffs Harbour etc.) no where else ever gets a crowd that big, remotely close to that big.

Here is the rugby league crowds in Perth over the years.

1989 - NSWRL x 1 - 21,922
1990 - NSWRL x 1 - 23,566
1991 - NSWRL x 1 - 18,680
1992 - NSWRL x 1 - 15,560
1993 - NSWRL x 2 - 20,436 + 18,053
1994 - NSWRL x 2 - 16,712 + 13,864
1995 - Reds x 11 - 13,390 avg
1996 - Reds x 11 - 8,262 avg
1997 - Reds x 9 - 8,776 avg
1998 - nil
1999 - NRL x 1 - 8,236
2000 - nil
2001 - nil
2002 - nil
2003 - nil
2004 - nil
2005 - NRL x 1 - 13,293
2006 - nil
2007 - nil
2008 - nil
2009 - NRL x 1 - 15,197
2010 - NRL x 1 - 13,164
2011 - NRL x 1 - 15,371
2012 - NRL x 1 - 15,599
2013 - NRL x 1 - 20,221
2014 - NRL x 2 - 12,014 + 20,267
2015 - NRL x 1 - 20,727
2016 - NRL x 2 - 13,142 + 11,109
2017 - NRL x 2 - 11,433 + 6,258
2018 - NRL DH - 38,824
2019 - Origin - 59,271
2020 - nil
2021 - nil
2022 - Origin - 59,358
2023 - NRL DH - 45,814
2024 - NRL x 1 - 20,027

2025 -
NRL DH - 31,347
NRL x 1 - tbd
Origin - tbd

Only one team averaged more than 24,000 in the NRL last year.

 

[Rob]

I think it is important to note, that since 2018 (when Perth Stadium opened) this is the first year Perth has had more than one NRL event on.

In recent years, it has only been the state of origin or the double header or a stand alone game at the smaller Perth Rectangle Stadium. In 2025, Perth is hosting all three.

This means visitors from over east, are probably choosing one event to make the trip for, weakening the crowd between each event. It also means local event goers, are only picking one of the rugby league events, most likely the State of Origin.

Origin certainly draws tourists but I don't think NRL games get more than a handful coming over.
The key for big crowds in Perth is to turn it into an event, people over here love that. If you play too many games then it'll lose that event feel and you'll be left with NRL diehard only, of which there aren't many. They've probably missed a trick with no NRL team based here now, there are a lot of disillusioned West Coast fans looking for something else to do.