id really love to see the NRL trial a midday Saturday or Sunday game in and around Sydney (not just a NZ one) over a Sunday night game. Fans want more day games, it's a winter sport, why are we playing so much of it in freezing conditions that are not family friendly. you can attract the family a lot more, can take the kids for a day out (they are the future crowd), use that as your promotional angle, discounted family passes. The NRL wouldn't be so reliant on TV $$ if they could attract more bums on seats week in week out. We all know it's not easy to take the family along to all these night games, especially those who travel to games. You'd get better playing conditions, public transport would be a much safer option during daylight leaving the games and you wouldn't be getting home at the crack of midnight. Ensure every club gets at least one home game in this slot against a nearby rival, and each can really market the 'bring the family' angle. People would still tune into Fox if they have it i'm sure and it leaves a little breathing space between super saturday or the sunday arvo 9 game, it'd give fans a chance to get home before the 9 game too if it were a sunday. For those who do watch many of the games, it can be a long haul on the couch watching back to back games and if your team plays the last one, sometimes those pre game beers take their toll!. we have a whole weekend, why not use it. NRL take some responsibility for bringing in income and not relying so much on broadcasting and killing the atmosphere at games by having so many empty seats.
i know alot of junior footy is on at that time, but with some forward planning it could work, reduced games in that local comps that week the 'NRL comes to town', host clinics with ex players on training fields and get those kids who'd usually be playing, along to the game, then host a few junior games after the NRL one through the afternoon. imagine the kids joy of playing on the same field after watching a big game.
