Gus Grills NRL Boss over Stadiums | Wide World of Sports

[@MERCURYSUNSET]

The average crowds for premiership matches back in 1957 was a 10,000. These averages bounced around from 8,000 to 13,000 over the next 40 years . NRL hit 13,000 and above for average crowds 23 years ago from 1999 . Topped out at around 16,000 in 2009 / 2012 and back to 15,000 per match this year. So basically , average Rugby League premiership crowds have grown by 5,000 from 10,000 to 15,000 over 65 years . Fix the small suburban grounds , get them up to safety , preserve them as they are now with new seating to replace the old seating , new railings etc . Rugby League has more than enough time to " Aspire " to 40 to 50,000 per game . League will be lucky to ever top 20,000 average per home game .There is nothing worse than small crowds at the bigger stadiums throughout the year .

[@jacksonloram7887]

I think it's a bit harsh to bash the NSW government for wanting to prioritise the flood reliefs and homes being destroyed over Rugby League Stadiums. That being said, why was funding for the new Penrith Stadium granted? Guessing it's for their growing fanbase?

[@DabDabGoose]

It's bs spin, they have the money but have deflected it, never trust a politician they agreed to this years in advance and this was already the cheaper option.

[@jacksonloram7887]

@@DabDabGoose You do realise the agreement was made in 2017? Before the drought, 2020 bushfires, covid and now the floods. I'd love to see grounds like Leichhardt, Brookvale and Shark Park upgraded (I don't support those teams) but far out I think we have a bit more priorities going on at the moment

[@hoggers7572]

With all the diplomatic roles that the Govt are paying for their isn't money for anything else

[@scottwilliam6141]

They made a agreement to invest in stadiums, in return for keeping the grand final in Sydney. They broke the agreement. The floods thing is a furphy.

[@jacksonloram7887]

@@scottwilliam6141 I live on the sunny coast so if Brisbane gets the grand final I'll be happy lol. Just seems a bit suss for the NRL to whinge about funding when there's other issues going on

[@missybilly7777]

Gus has always got his dukes up looking for a fight the grumpy smurf 😆

[@editzz_4nrl186]

I agree with what Gus said about the Top 2 clash at a regional ground. I was so confused when they played the Test match at Wollongong. So many people missed out on a ticket.

[@70Dazky]

it's not a Sydney based competition anymore you need to relocate at least 5 clubs out of sydney and spread them around the state and interstate.

[@lostinspace699]

NO...

[@kamelkadri2843]

Finally someone said it, WTF Perth has 0 teams and Sydney has far more than needed

[@poppinc8145]

At least two Sydney clubs need to be merged into one.

[@ewokssfan1642]

​@@poppinc8145 No they don't. If you want change they need to Make more teams outside of Sydney.

[@npd6225]

From the whole Rugby League community - please stop playing games at the Olympic Stadium… it’s literal poo.

[@cringle3681]

Please gus.. dont act like nsw grounds are pulling more than 8k ppl..

[@theseafoodandvapesource944]

Abdo reminds me of a lying American democrat politician. Classic gaslighting and what about the hand gestures?

[@samiam7241]

unilke those honest and very truthful Republican politcians lmao

[@coreyjohnston9195]

We want a Hillsborough here in Australia ? Fix them up

[@chadchadderton]

hillsborough tragically happened because of TOO MANY fans, league can’t get enough for anything on that level to happen

[@jasonedwin7021]

I'm with the Premier on this one, the stadium upgrades can wait,

[@signo3105]

Agreed

[@joshwade6268]

100% agree, but the issue is the deal was made back in 2017. Government seems to just be leaning on the disasters to seek sympathy and be excused for the bs. Funding for the disasters 100%, but I can also see where the NRL is coming from.

[@jasonedwin7021]

It's a simple question of what's more important right now,

[@TheBlackguard]

Agreed. ICAC first.

[@banjopiggottwright1802]

NSW Government should've of followed through with their promise with funding the suburban grounds (i.e. Leichhardt Oval, Brookvale Oval, BlueBet Stadium, Belmore Sportsground) as they DO need renovations in the name of safety of all patrons at the ground as well as overall gameday experience. However I also think that the NRL needs to foot the majority of the bill if they want big stadiums like CommBank Stadium, SFS or Stadium Australia.

[@andrew_l1900]

Yeah mate f$&k hospitals, schools, businesses and families ruined by fires, floods and lockdowns. What we need to prioritize spending of taxpayers money on is stadiums…..🤦🏼‍♂️

[@Shingo777jnr]

But where were you sitting, Gus? 3x

[@matthewnicholls5496]

The NRL just bought a pub for 25 million yet won't fix their grounds and want the taxpayer to pay? I which I had a business that could do that!

[@scottwilliam6141]

You realise other codes use these facilities? It’s not up to the NRL to build public infrastructure

[@DabDabGoose]

Pub = 25 million, Stadiums = 600 million plus.

[@matthewnicholls5496]

@@scottwilliam6141 If it is public infrastructure the state government can kick the Tigers out of Leichhardt Oval? That Manly doesn't get the cash for selling the naming rights to 4 Pines? Pull the other one!

[@matthewnicholls5496]

@@DabDabGoose Won't cost 600 million to fix Leichhardt. Just build a better fence!

[@DabDabGoose]

@@matthewnicholls5496 it's for 3 stadiums, Shark park especially needs a big upgrade.

[@daveb3987]

I'm with Gus, we should be aspiring to filling big grounds. Having the new SFS is outstanding, a proper rectangular ground with what appears to be a much better roof and viewing lines. Want smaller grounds? Move to regional areas.

[@andale_andale]

But the arenas never get a quarter of the crowds it’s expected. South’s vs Roosters at ANZ should be packed but both ends are spotless. Newcastle, Manly and Wests always sell out

[@daveb3987]

@@andale_andale ANZ Stadium is a terrible place for Rugby League. The sight lines are bad, and most seats are too far from the action. The old SFS basically had no cover from the rain. Whereas the new Parramatta stadium is really the first decent rectangular stadium in Sydney and has proven that good venues are important to the growth of the game. I’m all for a few select proper first class stadiums provided by the government spaced across the metro area, beyond that I think it’s ridiculous the NRL expect every small suburban ground to be upgraded.

[@chadchadderton]

@@andale_andale newcastle don’t sell out… and they normally aren’t that close to sell out either…

[@mitchellbarnard4285]

When will it happen?

[@jackdanielss]

Abdo is great

[@deaddropholiday]

There are way better stadiums in the English FOURTH division.

[@waredarmy]

only NRL thinks playing games at suburban dumps is a good idea! No ambition if you think 14k is the best the game can do. Stadiums are getting smaller? What a load of BS!

[@Tylar122]

Nah he has a point. It’s true, the UFC apex, Alegiant stadium, Geodis are all way smaller then traditional stadiums but considerably more modern.

[@TheBlackguard]

They’re trying to make the games more exclusive by pumping the loyal fans for more money. Their mission hasn’t been to grow the game, so much as it’s been to monetise the game even more.

[@Tylar122]

@@TheBlackguard Totally wrong takes all round.

[@daveb3987]

"We have 9 clubs in Sydney" - that would be 8.5 mate.

[@tyzon00800]

Given the dishonesty of Gus and the dogs , he should keep low for the next 2 years , embarrassing for the club and major sponsors

[@brentondean2094]

This bloke is a knob, Parramatta and roosters grounds aren't multi purpose,a complete waste of money,they should be spending on the suburban grounds but once again the government only realised that once they waste hundreds of millions

[@DabDabGoose]

Parramatta stadium was worth it though because it's shared with Wanderers and Parra Average the 2nd highest attendance in the league, the SFS though is s total waste of tax payer money and is a complete joke since the stadium was fine before, not like Roosters come close to selling that out ever.

[@bretloyd8097]

@@DabDabGoose bull.

[@DabDabGoose]

@@bretloyd8097 whats bull everything I said is true.

[@bretloyd8097]

@@DabDabGoose not worth the money.

[@DabDabGoose]

@@bretloyd8097 you going to make an argument or make me lose braincells?

[@frankkoutsioukis280]

Play finals / rep games big stadiums Regular season local stadiums And screw the dolphins

[@anippere]

What an absolute load of rubbish! If that deal with the NSW government was documents, signed off on and done correctly then this wouldn't have been an issue. For Abdo to say it was documented would mean that the NSW government would not have been able to backflip. So V'landys has dropped the ball completely and they know it. They also know that the grand final would always be played in NSW due to prior agreements and the fact that if they did move it to QLD that they would be sacked for their incompetence.

[@JJSPARROW1978]

Just say the stadiums have covid & need replacing. They'll find money then.