Rugby League fans struggle to identify with Homebush

Statistics produced by R2K (Return to Kogarah) reveal that the Bulldogs have struggled to consistently attract supporters to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct since they abandoned Belmore Sports Ground in 1998.

The Bulldogs, who relocated to Homebush in 1999, have played the majority of their Sydney home games at Telstra Stadium while a small proportion of their home matches have been staged at the more diminutive Sydney Showground.

In the nine seasons since their relocation to Homebush, the Bulldogs have averaged just over 16,000 supporters per match despite the exemplary facilities on offer at Homebush and a successful period in the Bulldogs' history.

While an average attendance of 16,000 may sound quite acceptable in rugby league circles, it should be remembered that Telstra Stadium's capacity is 83,500 and it previously held 110,000 spectators before the $80 million reconfiguration of the venue in 2002.

Despite Telstra Stadium's claim that it's "Australia's Home Ground", R2K believes that St.George-Illawarra will struggle to find any home ground advantage at the colossal venue and that crowds won't flock to Homebush as a result.

It is very evident that Dragons supporters are less than satisfied with how the next stage of the OKI Jubilee Stadium upgrade has been handled and the Dragons will need to produce some exceptional performances on the field if they are going to attract more than mediocre attendances at a venue which St.George supporters struggle to identify with.

While the Dragons are yet to announce which fixtures they are allocating to Homebush next season, apart from the Roosters' ANZAC Day clash, it is expected that a number of the matches will be against teams that also use Telstra Stadium as a home venue such as the Wests Tigers, Parramatta and the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs' crowds at Homebush since 1999: