NEWS Crowd ban could last six months; Broncos 'bunker' down

[Porthoz]

The entire 2020 NRL season could be played behind closed doors after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that the ban on outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people could last at least six months.

Morrison addressed the media on Wednesday morning to announce a raft of new restrictions aimed at combatting the spread of coronavirus in Australia.

He said all non-essential indoor gatherings of 100 people or more will be banned in Australia and the ban on outdoor gatherings of 500 or more people would last at least six months.

The NRL's opening round was played last weekend with fans in attendance but the ban on large gatherings will see round two played at closed stadiums with no fans.

"Whatever we do, we’ve got to do for at least six months,” Mr Morrison said.

"Whether it is the AFL, the NRL or any others, that's a decision for them to make in accordance to rules that have been established."

Broncos 'bunker' down
The Broncos have their own ‘bunker’ ready to be utilised should players be told to go into a lockdown situation as a group in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The NRL is investigating the feasibility of moving all 16 clubs to a single location to keep the competition going but Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold said the club had its own quarantined area to house players across the road from its Red Hill training base.

“What I do know is that we are in a great situation here. We have locked down the Cyril Connell Centre and we have 30-odd bunk beds in there that we have got ready if for whatever reason the competition has to go into isolation or be locked down,” he said.

“We have had that quarantined since before last weekend in preparation for something like this.”

COVID-19 NRL updates: Theme rounds back for revamped season

NRL news as it happens on the developing situation regarding the COVID-19 global pandemic.

www.nrl.com

 

[theshed]

They should just set up a couple VR cameras around the stands and out a speaker on each seat so people can “spectate” and cheer form home. Problem solved.

 

[mitch222]

Ill be pissed if this lasts more than a month. Nine and Fox will be licking their lips as there should be a massive increase in viewership

 

[Super Freak]

Ill be pissed if this lasts more than a month. Nine and Fox will be licking their lips as there should be a massive increase in viewership

It will in the short term, but people will start to lose interest pretty quickly.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

They should just set up a couple VR cameras around the stands and out a speaker on each seat so people can “spectate” and cheer form home. Problem solved.

Would fucking love this. Something you can also do is set up Oculus Bigscreen to stream the footy on the big screen then change the audience to an arena full of people

 

[Thelmus]

Would fucking love this. Something you can also do is set up Oculus Bigscreen to stream the footy on the big screen then change the audience to an arena full of people

There was a black mirror episode where people performed in a talent show in front of a visual crowd. Imagine looking into a crowd and seeing people's broncoshq icons out there. Between sproj's Japanese banana bender and yowie dude's king of the north ones I'd probably forget the game and stare at the crowd if there were 50000 more like them.

 

[Dazza 92]

yeh......lack of a crowd will be a bit of a novelty at least for this round....

I know both AFL & NRL are having discussion with ESPN etc about broadcasting games into other markets...

If they are doing it throughout the US i reckon they just broadcast 2019 season in its entirety, nobody would know any different but at least there were crowds last year..!

 

[Sproj]

yeh......lack of a crowd will be a bit of a novelty at least for this round....

I know both AFL & NRL are having discussion with ESPN etc about broadcasting games into other markets...

If they are doing it throughout the US i reckon they just broadcast 2019 season in its entirety, nobody would know any different but at least there were crowds last year..!

Play any game from Sydney from this year or last year and the result is the same, you wouldn't know any different.

The noticeable differences will be in the AFL where they actually do get crowds.

 

[Dazza 92]

Play any game from Sydney from this year or last year and the result is the same, you wouldn't know any different.

The noticeable differences will be in the AFL where they actually do get crowds.

Agreed...AFL will be way way worse without the parochial hum coming from the stands...

 

[mrslong]

A Patriots game last year had a technical glitch with the audio from the crowd failing to telecast. It was horrendous viewing, so awkward!

But...first world problems. I'd rather have footy with no crowds than no footy.

 

[Dazza 92]

A Patriots game last year had a technical glitch with the audio from the crowd failing to telecast. It was horrendous viewing, so awkward!

But...first world problems. I'd rather have footy with no crowds than no footy.

...Here here..too true...

Things could be worse; we could all be New Zealand Warriors fans for 2020..!

 

[john1420]

It will in the short term, but people will start to lose interest pretty quickly.

Why do you think that @Super Freak ?
What does having a crowd add to the TV experience?
I know my opinion might change after Fri night, but I don;t feel any different when watching on TV, a game in NSW with a near empty stadium vs a a full house Suncorp.
But near empty and actually empty may be different I guess.
I mean I guess I can see how it might be not as good to an extent, but not so as to put me off the game. That's all :)

 

[Broncos Maestro]

There was a black mirror episode where people performed in a talent show in front of a visual crowd. Imagine looking into a crowd and seeing people's broncoshq icons out there. Between sproj's Japanese banana bender and yowie dude's king of the north ones I'd probably forget the game and stare at the crowd if there were 50000 more like them.

It is from Season 1 Episode 2 - 15 million merits.
Maybe that episode scarily predicted the need for ‘social distancing’ and the use of technology of recreating groups of people.

 

[DigitalDaz]

The real issue here is ticket sales revenue. I doubt that the NRL will survive at all if the lockout goes for six months. It could be the end of many of the strugging clubs like Cronulla and Wests Tigers. Worst case scenario, the NRL won't survive at all.

 

[Kimlo]

Best case scenario, the NRL won't survive at all.

Fixed

 

[BroncsFan]

I wonder how the impact would be felt on the Broncos as well.

There is no doubt that we are rich, but we have the highest crowd attendances, up there with highest memberships and I'd say we'd have one of the highest sponsorship investments going around.

However, ticket sales are gone, memberships may or may not be paid back... and if the NRL were to stop altogether does that start to impact on sponsorship... and of course the grants from the NRL.

I'm not sure how much cash in the bank we have, but I'd imagine we'd have some of the highest expenses running as well with the size of the support staff, investment into the Clive Berghoffer and leasing fees for Suncorp stadium.

Being owned by News might help (or they could sell us...) and I'm not sure how the public listing could help or hinder as well.

Just a thought in regards to how a big club like us may be impacted given I'd imagine a fair chunk of our revenue hinges on actually playing games.

To me the "safer" clubs may be those with private owners (depending on how rich the owner is they can prop them up), clubs with other revenue streams (leagues clubs.. although people aren't spending money) or clubs with assets to loan against (I believe Sharks own their stadium).

 

[Mustafur]

I hope the NRL goes Bankrupt, the game is too big to not keep going. All it will mean is a new Mob will take over and chances are they are not the NSWRL in disguise like the current NRL.

 

[heartly87]

I think the best bet for clubs would be to launch a money drive. Treat it like war bonds and ask your supporters to buy memberships or virtual tickets. I know it sounds bad but if supporters know the game will die then we should invest to save the game.