2025 Non AFL Attendance, TV, Finance etc

[Diogenes]

The 600K who watched the Warriors Vegas game is more than 10% of the New Zealand population.
Is the long, slow, painful but thoroughly enjoyable death of Australian rugby union being repeated in NZ?
For me it makes much greater sense that the next NRL club should be NZ2 rather than Perth

 

[The Educator]

The 600K who watched the Warriors Vegas game is more than 10% of the New Zealand population.
Is the long, slow, painful but thoroughly enjoyable death of Australian rugby union being repeated in NZ?
For me it makes much greater sense that the next NRL club should be NZ2 rather than Perth

Hmmm, sounds like a delusional rugby league fan take

League is no where near union in NZ

They apparently made a small profit and the Vegas Toursim wants them to extend their deal looks like it will continue. Guess long term goal is to get 0.5% subscribe to their streaming service. Which is possible in the future. AFL should try do something in London

"Apparently".....which when V'Landys is in the vicinity has no credibility

 

[Aussie in exile]

The 600K who watched the Warriors Vegas game is more than 10% of the New Zealand population.
Is the long, slow, painful but thoroughly enjoyable death of Australian rugby union being repeated in NZ?
For me it makes much greater sense that the next NRL club should be NZ2 rather than Perth

It's not going to happen.

 

[Macca180]

Hmmm, sounds like a delusional rugby league fan take

League is no where near union in NZ



"Apparently".....which when V'Landys is in the vicinity has no credibility

Yeah Union is the biggest sporting code in New Zealand.

But Rugby League is the biggest sporting code in Australia.

Link here:

No.1 sport in Australia & the Pacific: 'A lot to be proud of'

Rugby League has reaffirmed its standing as the No.1 sporting code in Australia and the Pacific after record breaking attendances, viewership, participation, revenue and assets.

www.nrl.com

And Peter V'Landys even said so.

 

[Diogenes]

Yeah Union is the biggest sporting code in New Zealand.

But Rugby League is the biggest sporting code in Australia.

Link here:

No.1 sport in Australia & the Pacific: 'A lot to be proud of'

Rugby League has reaffirmed its standing as the No.1 sporting code in Australia and the Pacific after record breaking attendances, viewership, participation, revenue and assets.

www.nrl.com

And Peter V'Landys even said so.

V’Landys actually said No 1 sport in Australia and the Pacific. He may be justified in this, considering the combined support in NZ, PNG and the islands would likely overshadow AFL support in Australia alone.

 

[The_Wookie]

V’Landys actually said No 1 sport in Australia and the Pacific. He may be justified in this, considering the combined support in NZ, PNG and the islands would likely overshadow AFL support in Australia alone.

he may have, but the data provided by the NRL doesnt give that on any front except television rating averages.

 

[Diogenes]

he may have, but the data provided by the NRL doesnt give that on any front except television rating averages.

True but "support" is not defined and may be outside any metric.

 

[The_Wookie]

True but "support" is not defined and may be outside any metric.

annnnd then we're into roy morgan territory. Or the question of whether samoa supports league or just...samoan sport. A bit like when the Matildas play - do these people really support Football...OR do they hop on the Tillies bandwagon

 

[Diogenes]

annnnd then we're into roy morgan territory. Or the question of whether samoa supports league or just...samoan sport. A bit like when the Matildas play - do these people really support Football...OR do they hop on the Tillies bandwagon

Agree with all that. I guess the only definite from this is that under V’Landys the NRL is taking the Pacific seriously and I believe it would be far more successful and sustainable to forget Perth and get another Pacific team - NZ2 would have the best chance.

 

[Philhawk]

Not worth quibbling over Roy Morgan statistics, but as a huge fan of both codes it’s just shocking to me how little vision is displayed by AFL leadership.

Vegas, whatever your thoughts on it, is great advertising for the code. Significant tv ratings increases only help solidify the concept long term.

PNG introduction is a huge risk, but again solidifies the future of the code in the pacific region among die hard locals.

If, as expected, Vlandys is able to convince the new WA gov to gift money to the code to help fund a new WA team, the AFL should replace their leadership and actually install someone with long term thinking.

 

[Cmarsh]

Not worth quibbling over Roy Morgan statistics, but as a huge fan of both codes it’s just shocking to me how little vision is displayed by AFL leadership.

Vegas, whatever your thoughts on it, is great advertising for the code. Significant tv ratings increases only help solidify the concept long term.

PNG introduction is a huge risk, but again solidifies the future of the code in the pacific region among die hard locals.

If, as expected, Vlandys is able to convince the new WA gov to gift money to the code to help fund a new WA team, the AFL should replace their leadership and actually install someone with long term thinking.

There is no new WA govt. Roger Cook is still there and has already said he won't be giving the NRL any money like PVL wants.

And what additional long term thinking do you expect from the AFL? There is the Tasmania and Northern states markets that are being expanded to.

Are you suggesting the AFL should have gone to PNG and Las Vegas?

 

[Philhawk]

There is no new WA govt. Roger Cook is still there and has already said he won't be giving the NRL any money like PVL wants.

And what additional long term thinking do you expect from the AFL? There is the Tasmania and Northern states markets that are being expanded to.

Are you suggesting the AFL should have gone to PNG and Las Vegas?

A new government, as in based on the results. Don’t take the words of a politician when they’re in campaign mode. I’d be shocked if an offer isn’t put on the table by Cook to Vlandys by end of year.

For starters, this opening round was a disaster and the concept has done nothing to support the code in the northern states.

Tasmania is brilliant, but Dillon had nothing to do with it and is likely to botch the entry timeline the longer the stadium details take to work out.

I’d like to see some better long term thinking around games played in the Sunshine Coast/Darwin, not to mention a proper plan for GWS.

It’s a travesty how poor the crowd was yesterday despite how absolutely brilliant the Giants team actually are. I have a small personal connection to the Giants off-field and you’d be shocked at the number of free tickets that were handed out yesterday.

There is a growing fury from fans and teams surrounding the completely compromised nature of the draft and fixture and this is the kind of sentiment that sees apathy engender itself.

Lead, don’t follow. Following is all the current AFL administration is good at attempting.

 

[kalex6251]

this opening round was a disaster and the concept has done nothing to support the code in the northern states.

assuming ive correctly understood where you were going with this - you would then agree

1. the rescheduled dolphins v rabbitohs game was a b@llsup of monumental proportions

2. the PR disaster of forcing dolphins players to play interstate - leaving family friends and loved ones behind to fend for themselves - was a b@t$hit crazy move by the spiv?

 

[Philhawk]

assuming ive correctly understood where you were going with this - you would then agree

1. the rescheduled dolphins v rabbitohs game was a b@llsup of monumental proportions

2. the PR disaster of forcing dolphins players to play interstate - leaving family friends and loved ones behind to fend for themselves - was a b@t$hit crazy move by the spiv?

Gonna be pretty unpopular here, but it was a disaster for the players and their families from an ethics perspective, but superb from a continuity perspective. I don’t see how that’s not controversial take.

 

[kalex6251]

Gonna be pretty unpopular here, but it was a disaster for the players and their families from an ethics perspective, but superb from a continuity perspective. I don’t see how that’s not controversial take.

well in that case

1. crowd and tv ratings for swans v hawks were both superb (crowd was certainly better than anything the nrl has seen this early in the season - and will likely be better than most - if not all - of the nrl '25 season)

2. crowd (havent seen tv ratings) for giants game was ... again .... superb

which begs the question ... why was your immediate instinct to label the afl opening round a 'disaster' - without qualification?

you may call your take controversial .... id suggest incomprehensible is closer to the mark (with hint of inconsistency and perhaps hypocrisy thrown in for some added spice)

 

[The_Wookie]

Weekend Attendance

#Aleagues
City/Bulls 3,569 at Aami Park
AdlUnited/Roar 8,082 at Coopers Stadium
WUnited/Phoenix 3,993 at Ironbark Fields
Victory/Mariners 8,206 at Aami Park
Jets/AuckFC 6,130 at McDonald Jones

#AFL
Swans/Hawks 40,310 at the SCG
Gians/Pies 19,248 at Engie Stadium

#nbl Grand Final Game 1
Hawks/MelUnited 5,491 at WIN EC

#NRL
Roosters/Panthers 23,226 at Allianz
Tigers/Knights 13,160 at Campbelltown
Rabbitohs/Dolphins 6,738 at Commbank
Dragons/Bulldogs 16,211 at Jubilee
SEagles/Cowboys 17,375 at 4Pines PArk
Storm/Eels 23,369 at Aami Park
[Vegas doubleheader previous wknd 45,209]

#WNBL Grand Final
G1 Spirit/Fire 2,086 at REA
G2 Fire/Spirit 5,465 at Townsville EC

Data: http://aleague.com.au, http://afl.com.au, http://nbl.com.au, http://wnbl.basketball, http://nrl.com and http://austadiums.com [@au_sport]

 

[Angus Young]

Yeah Union is the biggest sporting code in New Zealand.

But Rugby League is the biggest sporting code in Australia.

Link here:

No.1 sport in Australia & the Pacific: 'A lot to be proud of'

Rugby League has reaffirmed its standing as the No.1 sporting code in Australia and the Pacific after record breaking attendances, viewership, participation, revenue and assets.

www.nrl.com

And Peter V'Landys even said so.

You must have something wrong with your brain if you think NRL is the biggest sport in Australia.

The delusion is remarkable.

 

[Philhawk]

well in that case

1. crowd and tv ratings for swans v hawks were both superb (crowd was certainly better than anything the nrl has seen this early in the season - and will likely be better than most - if not all - of the nrl '25 season)

2. crowd (havent seen tv ratings) for giants game was ... again .... superb

which begs the question ... why was your immediate instinct to label the afl opening round a 'disaster' - without qualification?

you may call your take controversial .... id suggest incomprehensible is closer to the mark (with hint of inconsistency and perhaps hypocrisy thrown in for some added spice)

Let’s address them individually,

1) Would the crowd have been better or worse if it were part of any other round? I’d think no. That’s the premise here. Not whether or not it would rate.

2) Again, see above. Also consider collingwood factor.

Now let’s consider the intangibles.

Was it a smart idea to give the Storm a free run at an empty weekend in Melbourne for live sport?

If we’re gonna analyze tv ratings, did the % of viewers of both games increase in the states we are choosing to focus on (NSW and Qld), or was it just more Victorians tuning in out of boredom that their own teams weren’t playing?

What’s success here again?

 

[The_Wookie]

On Nine the first four matches of the season had an aggregated audience of 2.62m – up 17% from 2.329m in 2024.

Vegas Opener rated 715,000 (down 10% from 796,000 in 2024) – and consolidated to 718,000.

Thursday Night rated 789,000 (BVOD 130,000) with a reach of 1.893m (up from 505,000 in 2024). This was standalone as the AFL was cancelled due to a cyclone.

Friday Night rated 600,000 (BVOD 90,000) with a reach of 1.441m. (Up from 576,000 in 2024).

Sunday Afternoon rated 516,000 (BVOD 70,000) with a reach of 1.366m (up from 452,000 in 2024)

In NZ, SkyNZ reported that Warriors fans tuned in in huge numbers for their initial game, with 402k people watching the Raiders v Warriors match from Las Vegas on Sky and free-to-air on Sky Open. A further 91k watched on Sky Go and 64k on Sky Sport Now. For further details on the Vegas ratings including overseas broascasts, please see here.

Data for Foxtel, including Kayo and set top boxes, is not available at this time and may not be in the future. Data for skyNZ outside of Vegas maches is also not available.

Crowds and Ratings - NRL Round 1, 2025 - SportsIndustryAU

Round 1 of the 2025 NRL season was attended by 145,288 including 45,209 attendees in Las Vegas for the season opener, this figure is down 21% on the 183,554

footyindustry.com

 

[Aussie in exile]

A mind blowing contract

Josh Allen: Buffalo Bills quarterback agrees contract extension worth up to $330m (£255m).

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen agrees a new contract extension until 2030 worth up to a reported $330m (£255m) that will make him one of the highest paid players in NFL history.

www.bbc.com

 

[Angus Young]

A mind blowing contract

Josh Allen: Buffalo Bills quarterback agrees contract extension worth up to $330m (£255m).

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen agrees a new contract extension until 2030 worth up to a reported $330m (£255m) that will make him one of the highest paid players in NFL history.

www.bbc.com

Imagine earning all that money after choking for 100 years.

Good for him.

 

[Angus Young]

Let’s address them individually,

1) Would the crowd have been better or worse if it were part of any other round? I’d think no. That’s the premise here. Not whether or not it would rate.

2) Again, see above. Also consider collingwood factor.

Now let’s consider the intangibles.

Was it a smart idea to give the Storm a free run at an empty weekend in Melbourne for live sport?

If we’re gonna analyze tv ratings, did the % of viewers of both games increase in the states we are choosing to focus on (NSW and Qld), or was it just more Victorians tuning in out of boredom that their own teams weren’t playing?

What’s success here again?

Imagine if the AFL actually tried to win the big wank fest about the first weekend and played big games in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne at MCG etc etc

 

[Diogenes]

I just don't get round Zero - because the NRL is down 2 games for the weekend, putting extra games into NSW and Qld is going to produce a big increase in support. Really?

 

[kalex6251]

I just don't get round Zero - because the NRL is down 2 games for the weekend, putting extra games into NSW and Qld is going to produce a big increase in support. Really?

as a LU regular, your ignorance is of little surprise

 

[Diogenes]

as a LU regular, your ignorance is of little surprise

That's true but can you explain the reasoning to me