“One of the most intriguing aspects of the media audience is that most media audience’s don’t exist”- Sue Turnbull. Compared to that of a highly visible and audible audience of a Nation Rugby League (NRL) match. Generally referred to as a crowd, NRL games mostly attract an audience of those fan’s whose two team’s are playing or have a generally interest in rugby league where the audience exist in a specific place (stadium) and time.
How I found the experience?
I found the experience interesting as most fan’s divide themselves in cluster’s around the stadium of those who support the same team splitting the game’s audience into two sides. This divide adds to the experience of watching the game live with the audience often being more vocal (cheering and booing) at different times depending on their teams performance or the result at the end of the game. What I also found intriguing is that an audience is an experienced shared between those present but the experience can differ for individual’s depending on their team’s result . Having direct coloration on how the individual interpreted the experience of the match. What else I became fascinate with is the idea that not all NRL follower’s will turn up to a match with scattered viewing due to the ability to watch the game from home for those can’t travel. Another factor is the variety of matches being played at different times and places throughout the weekend with matches being held Thursday through to Sunday. I also found during my experience their is minimal use of electronic device’s with the audience’s direct attention on watching the outcome of the game resulting in no distracted viewing of multiple screen’s. When in comparison to watching the game live on television from home the audience can afford to use electronic device’s as it provide’s replay’s and extended commentary allowing the audience the opportunity to have split attention.
Negative’s
The only negative’s from this experience is depending on your positioning within the stadium that sometime’s the viewing of the action can be difficult . For example if you are positioned on the southern end of the ground action on the northern end can be tough to see but most stadium’s will provide a large television to make viewing easier for this reason. Another negative can also be the blocking of view from another member in the audience and although rare and often momentary it can sometime’s lead to the missing of live action.
Unspoken rule’s of the audience
One of the biggest unspoken rule’s that I found when attending an NRL match is when your team win’s you stay back after to cheer the team song. Also sledging is allowed through out the game even when a player is taking a conversation. Lastly another unspoken rule is that most of the time the audience tries to hold off using the toilet’s until half or full-time.
But overall I throughly enjoyed my experience and the atmosphere an audience can provide to an NRL game.
Reference
highfieldonline.photo.blog 