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AS the queues grew at the ANZ Stadium entrances on Good Friday and Easter Monday, there it was as plain as day. The solution to the NRL's early-season crowd problems: the day.
Turns out in an era when we have been conditioned by ratings-obsessed executives that sport is bigger, better and brighter under lights, people don't mind watching a decent game of footy in the afternoon. Hell, they might even bring the kids.
If you browsed this season's schedule you could have been forgiven for thinking NRL HQ was pitching the game exclusively to expat Transylvanians.
There were just seven games played before 5pm in Sydney in the first six rounds. There was only day game at the NRL's two least inadequate venues ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium.
RD HIGHS, LOWS AND BIG BLOWS
Fans were out on force for the early games over the Easter weekend. Source: News Corp Australia
You thought NRL fans looked depressed because of the video-refereeing debacles? They're actually suffering chronic serotonin deficiency after spending so much time in the dark.
Then came the Easter weekend and a welcome decree: Let there be (natural) light!
And lo, the crowds flocked to ANZ Stadium. Some 43,255 for the Bulldogs-Souths and an even more impressive 50,668 for Wests Tigers-Parramatta.
They were attendances that the games and, most particularly, the peerless battalion of modern gladiators who played them, richly deserved. That was obvious from the excited comments of players who clearly appreciated not having to play Origin or finals to perform before more than stalwarts and diehards.
Should the NRL play more daytime games?
Who knows, these same players might now work harder themselves to promote games realising what they have to gain. Excited fans, electric atmosphere, a real sense of occasion.
TIGERS AND EELS WANT EASTER MONDAY SLOT
Yes these were games between in-form teams and both were played on public holidays. But given a lot of people leave town or make other plans on long weekends, this can be a double-edged sword.
The obvious reason for the stellar turnouts was that both games had extremely convenient 4pm kick-offs — late enough to enjoy the earlier part of the day, early enough to take the family. And, to their credit, the NRL and ANZ Stadium seized upon the fortuitous scheduling.
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Both games were heavily promoted and both offered discounted ticketing for families. For those who mocked NRL chief executive Dave Smith when he talked about "jumping castles'' at games early in his tenure, there were also some kid-friendly activities. Turns out you might not need to know what Cam Smith looks like to get a crowd to watch him.
The brilliant afternoon crowds shone a harsh light on night sport — at least for the family demographic. They put into context the problems of getting children in and out of stadiums late at night, the cost of feeding them — essential at night, less so during the day. Especially if they are already full of Easter eggs.
Night matches also emphasise the inadequacies of poor or unsuitable stadiums more than afternoon games. Who wants to fight the traffic to be cold, uncomfortable and — with a family — and feel unsafe, when you can be home in front of the TV?
The big crowd gave the Easter Monday game an electric atmosphere. Source: Getty Images
That, of course, is where you are supposed to be if sports administrations are to yield their multi-million media rights deals. Yet, this season, the NRL and AFL have both found falling attendances aren't necessarily because more people are watching on TV.
Not coincidentally, the AFL also had its best attendance on Monday — 80,222 for the Geelong-Hawthorn game. Held during the day.
The NRL can build on its daytime momentum with the St George-Roosters Good Friday clash at 4pm at ANZ Stadium. Even allowing for the fact many Roosters fans don't travel out of their own shadows without rewriting their wills and getting a full set of vaccinations, that should draw at least 35,000.
Hopefully this will set off a few light bulbs in the heads of NRL administrators. Which in turns leads to a few less light bulbs being used at games.
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