Parramatta to take NRLW games into suburbia to find more fans in 2024

Parramatta will take a hint from the Sydney Swans’ AFLW team to re-engage with their NRLW fans next season.

Sydney Swans have the highest home crowds in the AFLW and now Parramatta want a slice of the action.

The Eels will take two NRLW home games to Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville next season to encourage the local western Sydney community to engage with top grade women’s rugby league.

The Swans have deliberately created a community atmosphere at home games, which are split between North Sydney Oval and Henson Park and they now average 4,637 fans through the gates every week.

And now the Eels want to create the same feel for Granville as the cultural hub for the club’s biggest footprint in their women’s development program.

“We want to spread the game as much as possible, and playing a couple of games at Commbank and a couple at Granville Park gives us a good balance,” says Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos.

“It allows us to connect with the community a bit differently as well.

“It’ll be a different vibe, at a boutique stadium and culturally it will be a bit different as well, in terms of food offerings and how we create a community experience.”

Granville Park, where the Eels will play two NRLW home games in 2024. Picture: Eels Media

Last season the Eels had just two home games at Commbank Stadium, and found it hard to create a good experience for fans for stand-alone games in an empty stadium.

A suburban ground offers a different feel that Sarantinos believes will actually help the women’s game grow, as well as attract better crowds when the season kicks off as expected in July next year.

The full NRLW draw for 2024 is set to be announced on Monday.

“Creating that positive environment and creating an experience that people want to be a part of, that’s the first step, and if crowds grow from there, that’s great,” he said.

The goal is to create a precinct for women’s football at the Eels at Granville Park, which is where the NRLW side currently trains but will also be the base of the club’s Harvey Norman Premiership and Lisa Fiaola Cup teams.

The Eels are looking to turn Eric Tweedale Stadium (Granville Park) into a women’s footy hub. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

It’s a nod to the golden age of the club too, as the site where the of Eels teams trained back in the 1980s.

The ground has a capacity of around 5000 and is undergoing upgrades to bring it up to broadcast standard, with the help of Cumberland Council.

“We’re thrilled to be able to host women’s rugby league matches at the Eric Tweedale Stadium, and support the growth of women’s sports into suburban areas for the community and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Lisa Lake.

“Council’s strong partnership with the Parramatta Eels NRLW paved the way for women’s rugby league earlier this year, and it’s great to see that their games will be televised right here at their home ground, which will hopefully inspire and encourage the next generation of local athletes into rugby league.”

Originally published as Parramatta to take NRLW games into suburbia to find more fans in 2024