2025 Crowd Watch

[Steel Saints]

The NRL itself are not going to invest in a stadium. To do so, they'd have to divert a lot of revenue to finance it, and then for upkeep. Thing is, at least 50% or more of the NRL's revenue must be spent on player wages via grants to the clubs. Then you have to take out it own operation costs (e.g. travel for teams, payment of referees, accommodation etc), and the funding for the local and state leagues that they distribute. As such they do not have that much spare revenue to divert to a stadium build, let alone stadium upkeep. Its economically unfeasible for them.

The NSWRL were looking at building its own stadium in St Peters back when Bill Buckley was its Chair. The SCG Trust effectively kyboshed it by making Buckley a member and glad handing him, so the NSWRL abandoned the plan. Thuis the boat has sailed since that 1960s proposal, and it won't be coming back.

NRL undervaluing themselves in tv rights over the last 25 years or so hasn't helped. Firstly the NRL was part owned by Fox, so Fox and the NRL were negotiating with themselves.

Secondly Dave Smith only completed the FTA component in 2015 and finally the NRL and PVL signed an extension with Fox during Covid lockdown. So it's fair to say, the NRL has left money on the table, maybe enough money to have invested in their own stadium.

 

[Captain Apollo]

NRL undervaluing themselves in tv rights over the last 25 years or so hasn't helped. Firstly the NRL was part owned by Fox, so Fox and the NRL were negotiating with themselves.

Secondly Dave Smith only completed the FTA component in 2015 and finally the NRL and PVL signed an extension with Fox during Covid lockdown. So it's fair to say, the NRL has left money on the table, maybe enough money to have invested in their own stadium.

So what? Any extra money they might have gotten would have gone to the players anyway.. The CBA pretty much spells that out. It costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars to build a decent sized stadium, and upkeep isn't cheap. I mean if it was so easy, why do you think the Sharks home ground is in such a pitiful stats since it started it's redevelopment in 2020! Anyways, I won't go on as I feel we are going off topic of the thread

 

[Wb1234]

Rain has been torrential in inner western Sydney

Dogs will be lucky to get 20k if this doesn’t ease up

 

[Steel Saints]

So what? Any extra money they might have gotten would have gone to the players anyway.. The CBA pretty much spells that out. It costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars to build a decent sized stadium, and upkeep isn't cheap. I mean if it was so easy, why do you think the Sharks home ground is in such a pitiful stats since it started it's redevelopment in 2020! Anyways, I won't go on as I feel we are going off topic of the thread

In recent times the extra money has gone towards purchasing hotels. The RLPA has agreed for the NRL to amass up to $300 million worth of assets. In the past, the extra money would have gone to the players, but the code did learn some tough lessons during the pandemic.

As for the Sharks home ground, that's another discussion, but not on this thread. And yeah, going way off topic.

 

[eels4lifee]

The NRL should cancel today's game for the safety of players and fans, it's beyond ridiculous outside

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

If there's 10k or more at the game tonight it should go down as the best crowd of the season

 

[ouwet]

While tonight's crowd will be small the good news is the game against Parramatta level 4 has opened already... the game is 2.5 weeks away!

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[yakstorm]

More people at Accor than I thought there would be. Cold, wet & windy on a night where the roads & public transport are terrible, couldn't think of a worse experience.

 

[eels4lifee]

While tonight's crowd will be small the good news is the game against Parramatta level 4 has opened already... the game is 2.5 weeks away!

Predicting over 60k for this, considering Parra and dogs win every game up till then

 

[yobbo84]

Anyone at the footy tonight deserves a medal.

 

[Gobsmacked]

More people at Accor than I thought there would be. Cold, wet & windy on a night where the roads & public transport are terrible, couldn't think of a worse experience.

Yet for the die hard dogs fans, there's no place they'd rather be.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Anyone at the footy tonight deserves a medal.

They should have special coupons they give out at the exit for $20 off the next home game set aside for nights like this.

 

[eels4lifee]

They should have special coupons they give out at the exit for $20 off the next home game set aside for nights like this.

Miserable night like this every Adult deserves a free beer courtesy from the NRL

 

[It's Been Done]

54mm since 9am at Olympic Park (as at 9:20pm) and just getting over 10k I've heard over the PA is a supreme effort

 

[user_nat]

If there's 10k or more at the game tonight it should go down as the best crowd of the season

Wasn't there 40k+ at Suncorp for both Broncos Dogs and Phins Broncos in pretty similar conditions?

 

[ouwet]

Wasn't there 40k+ at Suncorp for both Broncos Dogs and Phins Broncos in pretty similar conditions?

There was 10000 Bulldogs supporters at that brisbane game... I dont see 10 Dolphins supporters here.

 

[user_nat]

There was 10000 Bulldogs supporters at that brisbane game... I dont see 10 Dolphins supporters here.

I'd believe there is legitimately 0 Dolphins supporters there (although maybe some bandwagoners jumped ship towards the end). Point was more it's hardly the biblical flooding crowd of the year.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

There was 10000 Bulldogs supporters at that brisbane game... I dont see 10 Dolphins supporters here.

There were not 10,000 Bulldogs supporters at the Broncos game, that would be half of the entire lower bowl which was not at all the case, and Suncorp is predominantly reserved by Broncos ticketed and flexi members.

Probably 4-5k, which was a good effort in any case. Your crowds are good, and your bandwagon is good, but best to steer clear from over-exaggerating/crediting your club for other crowds

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Weren't the Bulldogs going to challenge the Broncos for crowd averages this year? Not with crowds like that. We've turned up through all sorts of torrential conditions at Suncorp many times me the last couple of years

Also Brisbane teams are the Bulldogs daddies