Fireworks, flame-throwers and horses. It's time for the ACT Brumbies and Rugby Australia to try something different and the two organisations only need to look at one of their biggest rivals for proof new sparks can ignite fan support.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Brumbies crowd levels dropped to a record average low when 6311 people turned up to watch them beat the Pretoria Bulls on Friday night.
The predictable excuses were rolled out. It was a cold Friday night on a long weekend in Canberra. They're flimsy reasons for not attending games, but there's a hidden message: Australian rugby has become stale.
The Super Rugby franchises need an injection of cash from Rugby Australia and the game's governing body, SANZAAR, to reinvigorate the match-day entertainment.
BRUMBIES NEWS
Give clubs money for fireworks at kick-off and let the Brumbies run horses on to the pristine Canberra Stadium turf. Give the fans something different. Why? Because it works.
Just look at the Canberra Raiders and the way they've captured the market in recent years. The Viking Clap, the horn before games, reconnecting with old players, reconnecting with fans and giving supporters something more than a game of rugby league.
It wasn't that long ago the Raiders got 6000 people to their last home game of the 2015 season. They're average now? 14,000. Why? Because it's more than just a game, it's an experience.