As Monday draws closer and the final Parramatta Eels game is played at our beloved home ground of Parramatta Stadium, everyone will no doubt be pondering their times at our ground.

I was there for the first game back in 1986 in a brand new Ken Thornett Stand seat as history was happening and will be there for the last game this Monday. So many memories come flooding back as I was mulling over the stats and remembering games like the 2001 near riots against the Bulldogs. I still swear to this day they said “better make this game a draw or there was going to be massive issues”. Our biggest ever victory was in 2003 vs the Sharks with a 74-4 score line in very bad weather. Putting 68 points on the mighty Broncos in 2007 was a highlight. The list goes on and on. We have all been there in the good times and the bad times – late 80’s and early 90’s and yes 2016.

As a Captain’s Club member I had the opportunity to do a tour a few weeks ago. I checked out the media centre, corporate boxes and dressing sheds. But the part that got me was walking down that tunnel onto the hallowed turf.

This is where it hit me. Yeah OK the other stuff in the tour was good to see but this is what I have always wanted to do. The feeling of walking down that tunnel was sensational. No one was cheering for me but I could imagine how it would feel with a packed house cheering you on. Seeing the blue and gold flags waving. The blue and gold army cheering. In the silence it cut through me. Imagine running out to it.

Even when I walked out to the middle and just looked around at an empty stadium, the feeling was just incredible. I walked out there alone and just took it all in.

Rabb’s view from the commentary box.

So as we head into Monday night’s final game of 2016 and at Parramatta (Pirtek) Stadium, I ran some figures of every Parramatta Eels game played at our beloved ground from 1986 to our game against Manly in Round 22, 2016.

The Eels have played a total of 343 games at the Stadium. Four of those games were away games when the Roosters used Parramatta Stadium as a home base in 1986/87 and Tigers in 1994/95.

So let’s look at the stats.

Yes over four and a half million people have sat and watched the Eels play at Parramatta Stadium.

So all in all we did have a slight advantage playing at home. Considering the lean years from 1987 to 1996, then from 2010 to 2013, this might be surprising to some people. We have not qualified for finals series in more than half of the seasons at Pirtek. The win percentage is better than half and points for and against is also in the positive.

Now let’s move to our opposition. Who cringed at playing at Parra and, well, who didn’t?

And what is more thrilling then watching the Eels score tries?

Here are some of our scoring records.

Largest Crowd

27,243 v South Sydney, 17 August 1986

I hope you have enjoyed looking at these stats from the past 30 years. I just really wanted to stick with team stats and show what the club has achieved at this great ground.

Hope you can all make it out there Monday night and experience history.

Many thanks to Champion Data and Rugby League project for providing stats.

Stats courtesy of Champion Data. All these stats and more can be viewed on our match centre at http://mc.championdata.com/nrl/ including live game stats. Or download the Telstra Sportsfan app and/or Triple M NRL app.

– Colmac

Champion Data

Follow @championdatanrl

mc.championdata.com/nrl/

Apps: Telstra Sportsfan, Triple M NRL

Credit to the Parramatta Eels for images used.

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