Australasia Attendances : 2000-04

Despite predictions by some, the game of RL survived the upheaval of the ARL/Super League split. Attendances for the previous decade had averaged about 12,500 per team. Was the game now prospering?

For the year 2000, the merger of Sydney's Western Suburbs and Balmain clubs led to the formation of the Wests Tigers. Also, North Sydney combined with Manly to create the Northern Eagles (still referred to here as Manly). From a high of 22 teams in 1997, it was now down to just 14.

Brisbane won the league from the Sydney Roosters and did the double over them in the grand final. Brisbane's average match figure was 21,000 and the total average was 14,400.

2001 saw Sydney's Paramatta win the league from the Sydney Bulldogs. Newcastle then defeated Para in the GF. Average attendances dropped to 13,300 and no side managed to break the 20k mark.

In 2002, had the return of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, making it 15 teams. Sydney Bulldogs were punished for a salary cap breach that cost them 37 competition points. The New Zealand Warriors took the league title with Newcastle second. The Sydney Roosters won the GF over the Warriors. Brisbane and Newcastle had the best gates and the average passed 13,000.

For 2003, golden point extra time was introduced for league games (ridiculous in my view). Penrith surprised by winning the league and grand final double over the Sydney Roosters in both instances. Match attendances were close to 14,500 on average with Brisbane and the Bulldogs both bettering 20,000 on average.

2004 witnessed the Sydney Roosters win the league from the Bulldogs. The tables were reversed in the GF. Average attendances were nearly 14,700 and Brisbane closed in on the 30,000 mark.

The first in the series of 1990-94 can be seen by clicking here.
The next in the series for 2005-09 can be seen by clicking here.

NRL Attendances 2000-04
Rk	Club / Year	Tot	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
1	Brisbane	22815	28667	24326	20131	19710	21239
2	Newcastle	18108	17259	18298	18519	17553	18910
3	Sydney Bulldogs	16140	18032	21190	14160	14434	12886
4	Penrith	15005	17587	17771	11008	14353	14305
5	Sydney Rooster	14741	17593	16100	11449	12535	16029
6	Nth Queensland	14438	16696	14892	12133	12957	15511
7	Wests Tigers	13781	17503	13779	12704	12797	12124
8	Paramatta	13621	11766	11262	14088	16671	14320
9	New Zealand	13555	10171	16842	15756	12765	12239
10	St George	13537	15416	13061	12450	11829	14930
11	Cronulla	12959	12489	12892	13409	12409	13597
12	South Sydney	11898	11380	9524	14790
13	Canberra	11325	11116	13398	10348	9575	12186
14	Melbourne	10838	8886	9626	9088	11969	14622
15	Manly	10832	11203	10367	9331	10239	13019
	Total Average	13969	14670	14469	13084	13256	14366
	Total	2525512	2640690	2604501	2355184	2412528	2614655
			1.4%	10.6%	-2.4%	-7.7%	-8.0%