Just out of interest fellas, I not looking at it from a kiwi fan's point of view as many here would be happy to see Super go. I was at super games for years in Aus, from 1997 until 2019 I can say I was at more games that the Reds played in Qld than I missed, also followed them to a few away game etc, and kind of believe the drop off fans (that I saw) and interest really seemed to happen with expansion to extra teams. Early years there was packed crowds at Tahs/Reds matches (and Brumbies a little less), but as Reds struggled for a few years , there were barely decent crowds at the Tahs games.
I not sure what answer is by any means, but clinging to a 1 game in 2021 ( crowd of 41600 not 52000, that was in 2011 against Crusaders ) where there was a good crowd isn't answer. The rest of that year there were piss poor crowds Rebels had crowds of under 5000, there were hardly and crowds over 10,000 (including the qualifying final) . The second biggest crowd in Aus was Reds ve Crusaders that year. Force crowd numbers were almost double for kiwi matches than for Super Au in 2021.
I personally wouldn't go into a panic if super did go, and my only concern is the ability of players being able to be held onto with no money coming in from tv deals to pay them.
I bet if Wallabies win Bledisloe or WC you would see crowds increase in a big way.
Probably it's maybe a difference of outlook, when any team I support etc is getting beaten, I look to them to get better (and boy my team in club rugby in Aus and here in the Naki was/are classic cases), and many here believe the answer is perhaps find an easier comp so they can win?