Sports Industry News – Monday, February 4th

3/2 Attendances

(thanks to Austadiums and their twitter feed at @au_sport)

• 2nd Test: Australia v Sri Lanka (d3). Crowd: 8,397 @ Manuka Oval
• A-League: Sydney FC d Melbourne City. Crowd: 13,029 @ Jubilee Stadium
• AFLW: Brisbane Lions d GWS Giants. Crowd: 2,850 @ Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex
• AFLW: Fremantle d Melbourne. Crowd: 1,800 @ Casey Fields
• AFLW: Kangaroos d Carlton. Crowd: 4,727 @ North Hobart Oval
• BBL: Perth Scorchers d Melbourne Stars. Crowd: 16,660 @ Optus Stadium
• BBL: Brisbane Heat d Adelaide Strikers. Crowd: TBA @ Adelaide Oval
• NBL: Melbourne United d New Zealand Breakers. Crowd: 9,026 @ Melbourne Arena
• NBL: Sydney Kings d Brisbane Bullets. Crowd: 8,089 @ Qudos Bank Arena

3/2 Television Ratings (thanks to mediaspy)

Sports week: Women’s sport rates well + @kayosports , @MacquarieSport

Read more: https://t.co/tAdmvyrv8I#Kayo #SuperBowl #AFLW #PatsvRams #AusSport #AusMedia pic.twitter.com/0L2Es2OQzg

— Mediaweek (@MediaweekAUS) February 4, 2019

Note: Foxtel Top 20 Cutoff was 36,000. Neither AFLW or A-league matches made the cut.

• BBL: Brisbane Heat d Adelaide Strikers. Fox – 202,000 & 270,000 (Fox Exclusive)
• BBL: Perth Scorchers d Melbourne Stars.  Fox – 203,000 & 88,000. Seven (metro) – 353,000 (S1 only, S2 not in top 20)
• 2nd Test: Australia v Sri Lanka (d3). Fox – 165,000, 209,000 & 270,000
• 2nd Test: Australia v Sri Lanka (d3. Seven (metro) – 327,000, 491,000 & 613,000

News

AFLW

• At the close of AFLW 2019 Round 1, AFLW attendances were down 20% (8,936) in total to 35,636 – despite an extra match, and down 36% (4,016) on average to 7,127, compared to round 1, 2018. And entry was free to all matches in both seasons.
• AFLW opening game at Geelong drew 1,400 less than last seasons opening game at Ikon Park, while Adelaides first game drew 4,000 less than their opening round fixture last season. Heat may have been a factor in some cases.
• AFLW opening match between Cats and Pies on Sat afternoon rated 375k nationally on Seven. The metro FTA rating for this match (271k) just outrated the national audience for last seasons Fri N opener between Carlton and Collingwood (270k). Narrowly up on Fox by 54k to 57k.
• Note the AFLW ratings numbers dont include streams – both saturday matches were shown via Kayo, 7plus and http://womens.afl .
• Seven West Media can reveal five WAFL clubs will field teams in the inaugural WAFL Women, or WAFLW, competition this year — Claremont, East Fremantle, Peel, Subiaco and Swan Districts.

A-league & W-league

• At the close of Round 17 of the 2018-19 Aleague, Attendances have dipped down -3.89% to 905,667 at an average of 10,655, compared to the same period in the 2017-18 season. All up, total attendance is down 36,705 on the same time last year.
• Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League clubs across Australia will provide registered junior players aged between 5 & 16 with special ticket offers to watch their heroes in action. When participants sign-up they will be asked what Hyundai A-League or Westfield W-League club they support and will be able to take up an individualised ticketed offer.

Cricket

• Even the most ardent fans of the willow on leather game will admit that this summer’s season of cricket has been deeply underwhelming. The question that is being asked in media industry circles is what that means for Foxtel – which has a lot riding on the sport.
• The Big Bash League grand final has been bumped from prime time as the possibility grows Melbourne will host the February 17 decider.

Rugby

• Rugby 7s – After a quiet turnout on day one on Friday, the crowds returned on the weekend with 19,000 coming through the gates on Saturday and close to a sellout on Sunday.
• RUGBY’S Super W competition will have an extra week as well as games shown live in its second season in 2019. “We’ve seen a 20 per cent increase in female XVs participation since Super W last year,” Castle said.