Month: October 2022

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 22/10/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

Barcelona fans take legal action over Lionel Messi’s transfer to PSG

Tim Winton urges Fremantle Dockers to drop Woodside Energy sponsorship

After The NBA Japan Games 2022, Japanese Fans Are Hungry For More

Indonesia to demolish football stadium after deadly stampede

Minnesota United Relies on RTS Intercoms to Create Ultimate Fan Experience

Golden State Warriors and Chase Center elevate immersive fan experiences with Aruba Wi-Fi 6E

How FIFA and Roblox Are Collaborating to Elevate the World Cup Fan Experience

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert discusses viewership, streaming, Brittney Griner, and more

Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, unveiled its 2022 State of Gaming report

A-Leagues announce partnership with Komo Technologies

DoorDash launches in-stadium ordering with Golden State Warriors

Soccer Qatar World Cup will have areas for drunk fans to sober up, chief says

ICC unveils world first digital experiences that take fans closer to the game

StatusPRO and Green Bay Packers bring NFL PRO ERA experience to fans at 2022 London Games

Amazon One Technology Growing At Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena

L.O.L. Surprise! kicks off FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 collaboration

The Golden State Warriors Have Become the World’s Most Valuable Basketball Brand Thanks to 3 Factors

With an offseason to prepare, Kraken expect better game-day experience for fans

Technology Innovations of the 2022-23 NBA Season

Meta debuts first Premier League sports apparel for avatars with LFC

Innovating For The Sports-Crazy Customer

ICC T20 World Cup starts, ICC launches 5 amazing innovations to take cricket fans closer to the LIVE MATCH ACTION

Titans, Nashville Strike Deal for $2.2 Billion Domed Stadium, per Report

Sohrob Farudi on redefining the level of control in the fan experience

Brooklyn Nets Debut the Brooklyn Way

‘#1 Sabres fan’ gets special game-day experience for her 80th birthday

6 emerging threats and trends in venue security

LA Clippers Launch ClipperVision, With Six Different Live Streams Available Direct-To-Consumer

Building The Best Matchday Menu in Sports

Climate Pledge Arena extends use of Amazon One service

Optus Stadium introduces plastic-free cups for all drinks as WA moves to ban and replace single-use items

Immersal’s 5G AR horse racing tech bids to enhance at-track experience

NEW GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY ROLLING OUT ACROSS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

5 technologies to redefine the consumer journey for the FEC of the future

NFL’s ‘Por La Cultura’ campaign seeks inclusivity; league addresses controversial logo

Two Fresno State fans injured by falling glass after coach punches out press box window

Dolphins Clever Stadium Design Has Created A 30° Temperature Difference Between Home & Away Sidelines

MOST EMBARRASSING STADIUM PROPOSAL FAIL EVER, OR ELABORATE HOAX? YOU DECIDE

Scottish nightclub relies on ravers body heat to generate venue’s power

Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been crowned for having the best sports stadium food

Hong Kong Sevens: 23,000 tickets sold but stadium food ban ‘reducing demand’

12 Old-Fashioned Ballpark Foods You’ve Got To Try at Least Once

LFC tackling antisocial and criminal behaviour

How to build a fanbase from nothing in 2022

NBA venues go big on Zippin powered checkout-free stores

Which Team Has the Most Expensive Beer in the NBA This Season?

This NBA Team Helped Erect a Vegan Concession Stand at Their Home Stadium

Frito-Lay Kicks Off FIFA World Cup™ Campaign with Globally Inspired Flavors and Unique Digital Fan Experience

Every NBA team’s Super Fan

Rakuten becomes the NBA’s secret weapon for winning fans in Japan

How the Milwaukee Bucks fan experience is changing, including the beer: Q&A with Peter Feigin

F1 Arcade venue offering fans the ultimate racing-themed experience set to open in London

United Center unveils new fan experience ahead of Bulls, Blackhawks home openers

LA Clippers offer live in-market NBA games on new DTC platform

MLB Walk-Up Music Spurs New Category in Stadium Sound Systems

Next Woman Up: Kristi Johnson, Director of Security for the Arizona Cardinals

Dubai launches first ever World Cup fan zone for social influencers

ESPN bets big on TikTok to become ‘home of hockey’ for Gen Z fans

How to leverage sports communities for brand engagement

NSW pubs and clubs to expand use of facial recognition technology in gaming areas from 2023

NFL kicks off ‘greening’ project, plants 57 trees at Phoenix park ahead of Super Bowl

Simply The Best: Allianz Stadium Fan Experience Review, Sydney, Australia 02/09/2022

The post-COVID19 game-day fan experience continues to evolve for sports fans with global venues new and established adding exciting enhancements to drive fan-first smart stadiums that provide positive experiences and memorable moments for fans.

Recent global developments to enhance the match-day experience of fans has seen venues such as Manchester’s Etihad Stadium introducing self-service beer taps for convenience, New York’s Citi Field trialling biometric facial recognition ticketing for entry into the ballpark and Seattle’s T-Mobile Park adding palm scanning technology at their “Walk-Off Market” snack bars to eliminate lines. Further developments have seen trials of in-seat hot dog drone deliveries, weapons detection gunshot localisers and sustainability initiatives like tower gardens, which produce stadium-grown food for use in venue concessions. These are just some of the developments that illustrate the lengths that venues are going to in order to enhance the fan experience and get fans off the couch at home and back into venues in the post-pandemic sports world.

Sydney’s spectacular new state of the art Allianz Stadium is Australia’s latest major venue that has this fan first thinking and the fan experience at it’s core with a raft of impressive modern features providing an exceptional game day experience for fans. In my latest fan experience review here for AUS Leisure, I take a look at the impressive features of the redeveloped Allianz Stadium from the grand opening on September 2nd at the Sydney Roosters rugby league match day to highlight how they are achieving best practice fan experience and the lessons that other venues can learn to improve and enhance their own venue fan experiences.

Transport

Starting the fan journey from the CBD to Allianz Stadium in the Moore Park entertainment precinct was a seamless and quick experience via the brand new Sydney Light Rail network that took less than 15 minutes and was free with game day tickets. This free match-day travel to and from the venue could also be used on other public transport modes such as nearby trains and buses while the venue itself features dedicated new electric car charging stations and bike racks as well as only being a short and easy 25-minute walk from the city.

Accessibility

One of the reasons for the redevelopment was that the previous venue provided a poor spectator experience by not being able to cater for different user groups as well as not meeting modern amenity standards around accessibility. It was good then to see that this is certainly a stadium for everyone as there has been significant increases (2300%) to space and seating for wheelchair and companion areas, the addition of gender neutral toilets as well as a 170% increase in female toilets to 600. This represents a commitment to improving facilities for fans in terms of minimising wait times but is also good to see that all fans are being equally catered for especially with the rise of both women’s sport and female attendances at venues.

Welcome and Way-Finding

Arriving early to soak up the atmosphere outside the ground it was evident that a focus on designing clear way-finding solutions had been implemented to enable fans to see where their entrance was. There are detailed, easy-to-understand maps located throughout the outside concourse area, clear signage for gate numbers across each stand along with engaging customer service staff acting as backpack billboards featuring gate entrance and venue information. Heading through the turnstiles into the venue (or when getting a pass out to exit) was seamless and efficient by simply scanning the QR-coded ticket however what really stood out on entry was the pleasant greeting, positive attitude and smile from the staff which has long been identified by fans as one of the most important factors in creating a positive match day experience.

Seating

One of the clever features of the stadium redevelopment that fans will appreciate inside the venue is the 360° open concourse. The 300% increase in the public area concourse enables fans to walk around the venue while always staying connected to the game even while grabbing F&B items or accessing toilets or just wanting to see the game from another angle. The four levels of seating that comprise the 42,500 seats are set on a thrilling steep rake, offer clear sightlines of the pitch no matter where you’re seated and are positioned closer to the field of play than the previous seating plan to maximise the atmosphere and fan experience. The noise that was created from fans seemed to reflect back into the seating bowl as a result of the stadium design, which in turn added to a louder and more intense experience for spectators.

The vibrant and unique art design of the seats by Indigenous artist Tony Albert is titled ‘Two Worlds Colliding’ and really makes you feel like you’re sitting right on top of the action while the innovative design of the diagrid roof also sees 100% of the seating area now undercover (up from only 30% previously) to offer weather protection for spectators which again illustrates a commitment to the fan-first vision of the venue. Rooster’s member Alan Katzmann agreed and added, “The stadium is terrific. I sat in the members stand on level 4 west and found it easy to get around with great viewing areas to mingle with friends and I felt very comfortable throughout” while Easts diehard Jane Cook also stated that “the atmosphere was phenomenal as I felt so close to the turf from my seats in the Chookpen members area”.

Architecture and Design

Designed by Cox Architecture and constructed by John Holland on the site of the original Sydney Football Stadium, the $874m venue transformation was delivered on time and features a host of innovative architectural design elements, exciting active spaces and art for spectators and the local community to engage with that highlight the venue’s iconic architectural identity.

The precinct around the stadium features an accessible open-air fitness space with gym equipment and a basketball court on a visually striking sports surface while there are also sculptures, audio art, a wind-screen and seating areas with historic moments from the ground carved into them that add to the fan experience on game days as well as also being a creative use of public space for the community to utilise all year round. A signature of the architecture are the 980 bronze coloured fins that form an elegant curtain wall surrounding the external façade of the venue while native vegetation has been used to increase shade and reflective roofing has been installed to add a heat mitigation solution to keep fans cool and comfortable inside the venue which further highlights a focus on putting fans and the environment first.

Food and Beverage

Merivale Group is the exclusive ‘hospitality experience’ partner of the venue and has clearly brought it’s culinary expertise into the stadium with a host of interesting gourmet selections as well as the standard footy fare that is expected of fans. The inclusive design of the menu features over 350 food and beverage options for fans to chose from across 64 outlets ranging from pork belly tacos and veggie burgers to margarita seltzers and independent craft beer from local Sydney breweries while the addition of more F&B outlets, self service ordering stations, a 30% increase in the counter lengths of bars and the use of mobile backpack beer servers all saw service times sped up and queues alleviated to enable fans to get back to their seats.

A highlight of the first match day at the venue was the generous offer for fans that saw 49% off the price of all beverages while F&B prices were seen to be on par with other venues for standard stadium fare with items such as water ($5), hot chips ($5.50) and soft drinks ($4.80) actually being cheaper than other Australian venues. It was also good to see the inclusion of combo meals, non-alcoholic beer and dietary needs being taken into consideration however ‘stadium sauce’ was being sold for the outrageous price of $2.90 in one snack bar (although for research purposes I tried it and it was actually delicious!).

Overall it was clear that the quality and diversity of the stadium grub on show at Allianz Stadium is a step above and puts this on another level in terms of the stadium food and beverage that is currently available in other Australian stadiums.

Fan Engagement

The Sydney Roosters put on a spectacle on the field for the 41,906 fans in attendance winning 34-6 (NRLW) and 26-16 (NRL) while off the field their fans and members were also winning with sponsors and staff both delivering a spectacular effort in storytelling and fan engagement. Roosters Fan Engagement manager Ryan Chant highlighted that “Returning home to Allianz Stadium provides us with an array of new opportunities to engage with our members and supporters” and this was evident asoutside the ground there were relevant sponsor activations for fan of all ages plus live entertainment while the pre-game build-up featured an emotional scene of two young fans embarking on their journey home to the venue. The hype reel, player entrance and big screen visuals, amplified by the impressive JBL loudspeakers, increased the intensity of the atmosphere while all fans were given free commemorative flags and TRY cards on entry before Aussie band The Presets kicked off the pre-game show with a pumping gig that had fans up in their seats.

Conclusion

The redeveloped Sydney Football Stadium is the result of years of collaborative teamwork amid COVID lockdowns and government restrictions and is a spectacular venue that fans both deserve and should be proud of due to its forward-thinking modern facilities that elevate the atmosphere and puts them closer to the action than ever before.

Allianz Stadium’s fan-first approach has significantly raised the bar on every aspect of the fan experience from accessibility and design to seating and food and beverage and represents a new era in Sydney’s sports and entertainment stage that will create memorable moments for fans, boost the local economy and place the capital in a prime position to attract major international and local events into the future. Put it on your list of sporting game day’s to experience and you won’t be disappointed.

BIO:

Blair Hughes is an award winning, globally respected fan engagement specialist who helps clients in the sports, music and craft beer industries grow their fan bases, improve fan experiences and create new business and revenue opportunities. You can follow him on Twitter at @MrBlairHughes or at www.MrBlairHughes.com.

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 15/10/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ 24

Cambridge United to establish ‘fan led’ Shadow Board 

ICC launches world-first for cricket: Digital collectibles to be created as iconic moments happen

Penguins Have One Of NHL’s Most Dedicated Fan Bases: Study

Budget caps, cranes and confusion: F1 risks losing new fans after latest chaos

Australian Open 2023 targets record 900,000 fans

Google deal would see Daniel Levy complete Tottenham Hotspur Stadium naming rights masterstroke

LATEST STADIUM DRONE FOOTAGE | New aerial views of Everton Stadium progress

OnCore Golf, FANS XR and MetaFORE.golf establish collaboration to bring state-of-the-art fan engagement technology to golf

FIFA reveals sites for World Cup fan viewing parties

The uniqueness of the K-Pop fan experience

How Minnesota United, RTS Create Ultimate Fan Experience at Allianz Field

Real Sociedad launch their Fan Tokens with unique experiences

UK bans 1,300 fans from England, Wales at World Cup

Breakers give fans long-awaited homecoming victory

Fifa, Budweiser hosting fan fests across globe during Qatar World Cup

Football club and sponsor come together to present special gift to disabled fan

Does College Football Have An Engagement Problem?

Midges invade stadium ahead of Los Angeles Chargers-Cleveland Browns clash

Indonesia stadium disaster: only four paramedics were on standby inside grounds

Fan Leader Network playing a key role in promoting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

We are learning from the IPL, says NBA Asia chief Ramez Sheikh

Digitization and Artificial Intelligence: A Home Run Combination for Sports Heritage and Fan Engagement

Here are the most expensive NHL arenas for the full hockey experience

Bathurst 1000 fans celebrate return to Mount Panorama on Brock anniversary

WATCH: Korean fans’ spine-tingling celebrations after Ulsan’s insane K League comeback

Optus branding to be taken off Optus Stadium as telco battles after hack

Growing women’s basketball fan community highlighted at recent World Cup in Sydney

New offering allows K-pop fans to engage with idols via distributed ledger technology

Minor league baseball draws 30.9M fans, down from 41.5M in ’19

Bombers respond to plans to rip up memberships

International Fans Angered As Postseason Games Blacked Out On MLB’s Streaming Service; League Responds

Minecraft Star Dream Meets His Screaming Fans for First Time

‘We need to apologise’: Game so bad fans leave before overtime as $245m flop booed mercilessly

LEVIS STADIUM: GO SAFELY GAME PLAN

SailGP: Building a more sustainable and inclusive future for international sailing

FC Dallas unveils player tunnel mural created by Dallas artist

NBA 2K League, Australia’s National Basketball League announce agreement to launch expansion team, NBL OZ Gaming

Major tournaments in future will need cooling technology: expert

Dodgers Fans Turning to Secondary Market to Get Past Padres ‘LA Ban’

Future of TV Briefing: A Q&A with Major League Baseball’s CRO about the league taking bigger swings in streaming

UConn offering fans free basketball tickets if they buy football tickets first

Kobie Marketing previews 2022 consumer research findings

State Farm Stadium gets new technology just in time for the Super Bowl

Penguins, Aramark Sports + Entertainment Announce New Dining Additions

MLB PLAYOFF TEAMS DEBUT NEW FOOD Yankees Unveil ’62’ Burger!!!

Buffalo Next: Sabres, Bisons use technology to reduce long stadium food lines

A Decade of Dramatic Change in Digital Customer Experience

Rams team up with La Brea Bakery to provide fans enhanced gameday experience

MLB Playoffs Bring Specialty Concessions To Ballparks

Red Bull make fan’s day after being bullied by Lewis Hamilton fans

Washington Wizards first NBA team to launch Arabic social media platforms

Wittenmyer: Cubs among trendsetters in openly bilking sports fans

Oriole Park home to the best sports stadium food according to new report

Brisbane Roar A-League Fan Experience, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD 8/10/22

A glorious Saturday arvo game day homecoming at Suncorp Stadium for Brisbane Roar FC against Macarthur FC today.

0-0 in the end but a thoroughly enjoyable game day back at Lang Park with a big crowd and a pumping atmosphere. A real shame that there are only three games here for the 22/23 season.

Well done to the Roar for putting on $1000 bar tab for members pre-game and for the supporter groups and fans for organising the march to the stadium.

FAN ENGAGEMENT FRIDAY: NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 07/10/2022

A weekly recap of some of the interesting stories and developments from the educational to the random in the world of fan engagement/experience, stadium/venue news, fan behaviour and psychology, customer service plus much more. Enjoy.

FANS HQ 23

ASM GLOBAL RE-APPOINTED SUNCORP STADIUM MANAGER

Here’s your chance to get a piece of Aloha Stadium

Uber Pies, beers to your seat at the G: Footy fans could soon get Uber to deliver pies and beer to their seats at the MCG or Marvel stadium under a stadium shake-up.

Several fans left injured after Chilean club stadium’s roof collapses during open training, video surfaces

Crypto’s Hold on Formula 1 Sponsoring Gets Tested in Singapore

Indonesia soccer stampede kills 125 after police use tear gas in stadium

Qatar Foundation: bridging the accessibility gap at the FIFA World Cup

Scottish FA and PTI Digital power personalised fan experiences

After lengthy Covid delay, NBA resumes global outreach with Japan preseason games

LaLiga teams up with Snapchat for content partnership

DRS INTRODUCED TO BBL AND WBBL

10 Tech Trends For 2022 NFL Season

GWS fades in land of the NRL giants While the junior rugby league numbers have dipped in other regions western Sydney is an area where the game’s grip has only solidified.

How has personalization improved digital sports marketing?

Digital customer experience top of mind for PGA Tour

Fabric Is Helping Teams and Leagues Augment Their Venue Experience With Real-Time, Location-Specific Fan Content Including Trivia, Polls

Dodger fan celebrates 100th birthday at his first Dodger game

Interning with the Chiefs gives a glimpse of a future in sports

How Birmingham 2022’s tech operations created a blueprint for more sustainable Commonwealth Games and multi-sport events

Here is a taste of the new food, technology coming to AT&T Stadium in Arlington

Coors Light, Tide Cleaners offer to do laundry for college football fans

Indonesian police: Narrow stadium gates slowed people fleeing deadly football stampede

New Gen3 Mustang revealed in Bathurst

Sydney United 58 fan gets life ban for Nazi salute at Australia Cup final

Marlins Deploy Genetec AutoVu to Elevate Fan Experience

‘Worst game day experience bar none’: Fans fume over cricket ‘farce’

Fans charged over alleged missiles at Blackpool v Blackburn Rovers game

MLB hits a 25-year low in unrestricted attendance

Future of Soccer in the US: Is MLS Poised to Challenge the Established Giants?

Packers will give British football fans some of the Lambeau Field experience

Twitter targets sport with ‘mix and match’ multimedia posts and immersive video

Sustainability and sport in the spotlight at 2022 Sport Positive Summit

Next Woman Up: Gabrielle Valdez Dow, VP of Marketing and Fan Engagement for the Green Bay Packers

Golden State Warriors and Chase Center Elevate Immersive Fan Experiences with Aruba Wi-Fi 6E

Rugby League World Cup 2021 teams up with Wor Flags to produce iconic display at tournament opener

Helping Rovers fans to kick the habit!

NBA releases new Azure-powered app to personalise fan experience

Liverpool have ‘responsibility to fans’ to explore new technologies like NFTs, says head of digital

IMMERSIVE AT&T STADIUM TECHNOLOGY TAKES FAN EXPERIENCES TO ANOTHER LEVEL

How the NFL is using technology to enhance the fan experience

2022 NRL Grand Final Fan Experience, Penrith Vs.Parramatta, Accor Stadium, Sydney, 2/10/22

On Sunday morning at 2am I left Brisbane to head down to Sydney for the NRL Grand Final between Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium in Homebush, Sydney.

Leaving home at 3am I hit Brisbane Airport, parked the car and excitedly boarded my 5am flight to Sydney to head to an NRL Grand Final, my first GF since 2018 at the Olympic Stadium.

In the lead up to the big event I produced a match day fact sheet for my fellow NRL fans which went down a hit in our NRL community. I miss match day programs so tried to make it reminiscent of Big League Magazine (RIP) to have a physical keepsake from the big day.

I hit Sydney by 8am taking into account day-light savings time and made my way to my hotel, stopping to check the front covers of the local papers all promoting the major event.

By 12pm I was making my way out to the venue and here is a run down on the day from my fan experience and fan journey perspective.

Transport:

My fan journey from Central Station to Olympic Park and the game at Accor Stadium could not have been quicker or more seamless. Free travel on public transport was included with every ticket and the journey out to the venue from Central via train took under 25 minutes. From there it was such a simple walk to the venue fan precinct and entry gates. It’s always very accessible and it was good also to see the colourful NRL team bunting and presentation at Central Station and Olympic Park Station which added to the atmosphere. Staff were helpful and eager to engage with both sets of fans to ensure they all had a good day.

Unfortunately I was unable to take the gorgeous old cab or Routemaster bus out to the game but don’t they just look outstanding!

Ticketing:

It pays to be an NRL member. I purchased my ticket as soon as NRL members tickets went on sale. I was able to get a discount, buy first and choose where I wanted to sit. I was surprised members got a further discount which was nice to see. I purchased the cheapest tickets I could at $49 which I thought was a bargain. Many fans on social jokingly said my seat was rubbish however I beg to differ. We were front and centre with a birds eye view. Not every fan can afford to go or be close to the action and this price point was all that I could afford anyway. Entry through the gates was seamless and efficient however I did go through very early in the day so had no troubles scanning in. Bag searches were conducted and a hello and smile along with eye contact was received on entry as well which was pleasant to see.

Fan Zone/Fan Engagement:

The fan precinct was absolutely pumping when I arrived after midday with fans of both teams as well as neutral rugby league fans like myself all having a wonderful, fun, safe time together at the bars and within the outside fan zone area.

The bars were going off with live music, DJ’s and beers flowing with the sun out and the atmosphere sparkling with positivity from the fans. It was such a fun vibe and moment to be in.

The merchandise tents were doing a roaring trade with special event tees and hats as well as Penrith and Parramatta gear selling like hot cakes at the multiple merchandise sites around the venue.

The fan engagement and event presentation was top notch and included loads of fun activations for kids, families and fans of all ages such as:

  • competitions
  • pass the ball
  • face painting
  • giveaways
  • trivia
  • photo opportunities (NRL Steeden ball/NRLW)
  • size me up
  • colouring in
  • trophy photos
  • virtual kick and photo activations

Everyone was having such a brilliant time in the fan zone with the lines moving really well throughout the two hours I spent going from activity to activation….obviously, didn’t do the face painting or colouring in but I can see how much fun my daughter will have when I bring her down for a grand final in a few years time.

The event presentation looked impressive with colourful lighting, banners and bunting throughout the venue and surrounds. There was also plenty of food truck gourmet options outside the ground as well as astro turfed areas, roving entertainers (the 70’s disco crew on stilts- they were outstanding!), craft beer bars and plenty of spaces to sit and take in the festivities.

Venue:

After I had my fun in the fan zone I headed into the venue and up the ramp to my seats in section 606. I forgot how steep this venue gets and you really have to pace yourself, especially if carrying a tray of beers so I was glad I had my weetbix in the morning as when I made it to my seat I was able to take in my impressive view of the ground. For $50 I was very impressed with my seat purchase and settled in for a while with a cold bevvie to take in the NRL State Championship (Penrith defeated Norths Devils 44-10), NRLW Grand Final (Newcastle won 32-12 over Parramatta) and then the pre-game entertainment before the main match.

It was outstanding to be a part of a new Australian crowd record for the NRL Women’s competition as close to 43,000 fans set this record to watch the Grand Final. Well done to everyone for being inside the venue to watch this moment.

When I went down to get a beer and pie at 6pm the lines were unfortunately really bad with up to 100m of people waiting in lines in both directions and no real line management or idea for fans of where lines started or ended or went for food or drinks so I unfortunately gave up and didn’t get to eat anything at the venue and only bought the one beer in the end. This was probably the most disappointing thing about the fan experience as I love nothing more than getting a pie and a beer but it was just too busy and after 20 minutes in a line that wasn’t moving I decided to give up. The venue staff however should be commended because I saw how hard they were working for fans and they were smiling and being positive. It’s always hard for a venue when at capacity to service every fan efficiently and we have to remember that venues are still getting back into their groove post COVID too so while it was disappointing to not be able to get F&B I can also understand the challenges.

Beers were $10.50-10.90 and included Stone and Wood craft beer. I wasn’t able to see more of the food on show but I heard there was a special event day burger which sounded good!

Pre-Game Entertainment:

Being a huge Cold Chisel fan I was really excited for Jimmy Barnes to be performing as part of the pre-game show and he was absolutely brilliant bringing all the hits and having fans rocking out to the classics. The other performers were equally impressive and the Welcome to Country and National Anthem were also big highlights with the Indigenous man doing the WTC doing such a fine job talking about respect.

The crowd singalong’s of fan favourites like ‘Sweet Caroline’ and ‘Horses’ were quite funny to see while the multiple on field sponsor fan engagement activations at half time were run smoothly and provided some laughs. I feel for the ladies kicking the goals in that competition, it’s bloody hard in the footwear that fans bring to a game not realising how oily the turf is!

The pitch invader that ran on and tried to scale the posts was brilliantly nabbed by security and venue staff and ushered off the field. Thankfully this idiot will now be fined and banned and did not cause any player injuries. Well done to the venue staff here for quickly sorting this out. These people don’t belong in our NRL community.

Exit:

Once the game was over with Penrith winning 28-12 over Parramatta we made our way back down the ramp and out to the train station to head back into the city. Transport home could not have been more easy and seamless with the lines moving fast and free transport making it simple to get home and end the night safely. I will add that when I asked a cabbie how much it was to get to the city he remarked $150 and told me the meter was off. Very dodgy behaviour and not what fans expect or deserve to see for the fan experience. No sooner had I told him that was ridiculous and unfair for fans, he was swarmed by transport cops or transit enforcement officers (unsure who they were) who heard me talking to him and ordered him to pull over however he did not want to and continued trying to drive away which was quite dangerous as it was packed with fans around him. I commend these officers because they saw that this was wrong and not what fans expect from transport companies.

A big shout out to the National Rugby LeagueAccor Stadium and everyone involved for putting on an outstanding #NRLGF day in Sydney today.

I had such a fun day participating in all the activations, catching up with the NRL community and just being back at the venue for the first time in a few years.

Fantastic event presentation, fan journey, #FanEngagement, fan atmosphere and entertainment. Seamless free travel on public transport, craft beers, food trucks, happy, positive and helpful staff and a brilliant loud atmosphere all made for an epic day.

Well done Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels National Rugby League Club fans too.

NRLGF Match Day Fact Sheet 2022

I deeply miss physical match day programs at the NRL so I produced this one-off free NRL grand final fact sheet for myself and fellow fans for the big day. Sadly print media is dying a slow death and soon there won’t be any match day programs from the English football to the cherished AFL Record….hopefully that time is still some time away.

It went down such a hit with fans in our NRL community and I ended up running out of the 50 copies I printed, all of which was just for a bit of a laugh, to have a physical keepsake memory to take away from the game.

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