Free buses to Newcastle Knights home games in 2019

On the back of record membership numbers in 2018, Newcastle Knights turn their attention to breaking home crowd records and they’re bussing in fans to do so.

MEMBERS jumped on board with the improved Newcastle Knights in 2018 and now this season the club has its sights on getting them to the ground.

The club finished 2018 with a record membership mark of a touch over 18,000, which came off the back of stronger on-field performances and a move off the bottom of the ladder.

Now boasting a squad with enough top talent to test the competition, Knights CEO Philip Gardner is confident that membership growth will convert to bums on seats.

An improved Knights team drew the second highest crowd average in 2018. Pic: Getty Images

“The all-time record for the Knights is an average of 22,000, that’s our goal, we want to beat that this year,” Gardner said.

“The support of the Newcastle community, the Knights fans, we think that’s doable … The fans of the Knights are pretty special, if they see them having an effort, see them being in there with a chance week in, week out, they’ll come.”

It all starts round one when they host Cronulla Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium the Friday night of opening weekend.

Knights fans are known for their dedication to their team and 2019 offers them the most hope they have had in years.

Mitchell Pearce made an impression in his first game for Newcastle, kicking them to victory. Pic: AAP

Newcastle had the second-highest average attendance in 2018 (18,974) behind Brisbane and big crowds early helped them along.

Last year 23,516 people were there in round one to watch new recruit Mitchell Pearce steal a one-point win over Manly.

With even more big names in the side this year, the hope is the crowd will be bigger too.

“Weather will play a big part, but if we get good weather and, as you know God loves the Knights, if that all happens we expect to beat last year’s crowd,” Gardner said.

A new initiative in the Newcastle area will make it easy for them to get there.

Newcastle Transport has partnered with the Knights to offer a free bus service to members and ticket holders for all home games in 2019.

It will all play a part in chasing that attendance record.

“That’s why this initiative around the buses is so important for us,” Gardner said.

“We’ve got to make it as easy as possible to get to the stadium and as easy as possible to get home and we can break that 22,000 number.

“With good performance on the field, with support of the town and the team, I think we can get there.”

Originally published as Free buses to Newcastle Knights home games in 2019