2025 Crowd Watch

[SLRBRONCOS]

I don't want to be dramatic...

But!

I'd literally rather die than watch the Broncos at an oval when the glorious structure that is Suncorp and the surrounding precinct is just down the road.

 

[reanimate]

This is a hill RL people need to die on. Governments would love to just build one major multipurpose stadium per city to save money. If RL happily continues to accept Accor in its current state and then starts playing on Brisbane's Olympic oval, large rectangles will just never get built anymore. The argument will be that ovals suit all sports. This view will be feverishly backed by AFL and cricket. And RU and Soccer will do nothing to help us fight.

100%.

Other than clashes for big events where Suncorp is booked out, eg a soccer World Cup or a Union World Cup, RL should act like that venue doesn’t exist and refuse to use it.

If the Loins and cricket never fill it, that’s their problem.

 

[chrisD]

olympic park as dogs supporters is most soulless place in sydney, took close to hour to get on train and there is nothing to do there outside very overpriced pub

compare that to melbourne where multiple trams/train lines close to city and you can even walk it.

And it's crap viewing and atmosphere within the stadium. I'll travel overseas and interstate to follow my team but only attend that stadium when I'm forced for GFs.

 

[newc18]

One thing I've learned since getting into the NFL is our obsession over capacity is weird and stems mainly from the AFLs obsession about the MCG.

Suncorp would be fine as a 60,000 seat stadium. Accor would be fine as a 70,000 seat stadium. Bigger doesn't mean better.

 

[nko11]

29k in line for tickets at 10:52am. Hopefully a fair amount for the Melbourne game. Have a feeling most would be Suncorp. Genuienly think they could have sold 100k+ tickets to this game if they had the capacity.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

View attachment 106489

29k in line for tickets at 10:52am. Hopefully a fair amount for the Melbourne game. Have a feeling most would be Suncorp. Genuienly think they could have sold 100k+ tickets to this game if they had the capacity.

Absolutely agree. Was 44,000th in queue when I joined at 9:50am, down to 8900 now.

 

[Jamberoo]

This is a hill RL people need to die on. Governments would love to just build one major multipurpose stadium per city to save money. If RL happily continues to accept Accor in its current state and then starts playing on Brisbane's Olympic oval, large rectangles will just never get built anymore. The argument will be that ovals suit all sports. This view will be feverishly backed by AFL and cricket. And RU and Soccer will do nothing to help us fight.

We are already there. By 2030 the largest stadium in every major city will be oval. ACCOR has shown that multi purpose stadiums are no good for any code. The only time that Rugby League (or any other rectangular sport) should ever play at the new Brisbane oval is if/when Suncorp gets a full knockdown and rebuild, hopefully straight after the Olympics.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Broncos have sold out out all general public seats, only a few accessible seats left (not available to general public).

A few thousand seats left in Melbourne but they'll easily sell them out by Friday.

Edit: all accessible only seats were sold out by midday

 

[steeden.]

We are already there. By 2030 the largest stadium in every major city will be oval. ACCOR has shown that multi purpose stadiums are no good for any code. The only time that Rugby League (or any other rectangular sport) should ever play at the new Brisbane oval is if/when Suncorp gets a full knockdown and rebuild, hopefully straight after the Olympics.

At least when we do have to decant from Suncorp for a redevelopment Vic Park has good public transport. Gabba was shocking for those 3 games we had there

I could see a world where Ipswich’s admission as Team 20 is tied into a Suncorp redevelopment. Assuming Ippy and Reddy play 80% of their games there that would be 2.6FTE of NRL teams, plus the Reds, plus Origin/Tests/Roar/concerts.

business case stacks up far better than Lions and Heat

 

[Captain Apollo]

In relation to the NRL Grand Final, any free to air network who winds up broadcasting it now or in the future is going to want a night time game. Reason is that, for FTA networks, Sunday nights is prime time for ratings and consequently for advertising rates charged. This that is where they make their money from, advertising. It also gives them a night where they know what its programming will be and thus able to save high rating shows to fill other dates.

I'm not condoning it pert se, but I can't see any FTA network changing from that view.

In relation to the NRLW Grand Final, I can't see it being a stand alone event in the short to medium term. Mainly this is due to the the crowd sizes that have been generated at stand alone NRLW fixtures. I'm sure a grand final would see a bigger crowd for the NRLW, but big enough to reach "break even" financially for the NRL, or even to make a profit? That's where I doubt it. As such, to save costs, the NRL will have the NRLW Grand Final on the same day and same venue as the NRL Grand Final.

 

[drcmuch]

For all our gripes about Sydney & Brisbane grounds, the joint that's bursting at the seams the most is Mt Smart.

 

[yakstorm]

In relation to the NRLW Grand Final, I can't see it being a stand alone event in the short to medium term. Mainly this is due to the the crowd sizes that have been generated at stand alone NRLW fixtures. I'm sure a grand final would see a bigger crowd for the NRLW, but big enough to reach "break even" financially for the NRL, or even to make a profit? That's where I doubt it. As such, to save costs, the NRL will have the NRLW Grand Final on the same day and same venue as the NRL Grand Final.

The cost of having Accor Stadium open for another 2.5 - 3 hours and needing to have enough staff on to staff all areas is more expensive than it would be to open up an Allianz or Suncorp for a potential 10K crowd.

The NRL keeps the NRLW GF as a curtain raiser at the moment to help raise the profile of the competition, not to save money. If it was about saving costs on GF day, the NRL would follow the AFL and just play the 1 game with no curtain raisers, but it has made a commitment to help boost the profile of the NRLW competition and it knows better than to create a war with the NSWRL & QRL by removing the state championship.

 

[newc18]

In relation to the NRL Grand Final, any free to air network who winds up broadcasting it now or in the future is going to want a night time game. Reason is that, for FTA networks, Sunday nights is prime time for ratings and consequently for advertising rates charged. This that is where they make their money from, advertising. It also gives them a night where they know what its programming will be and thus able to save high rating shows to fill other dates.

I'm not condoning it pert se, but I can't see any FTA network changing from that view.

In relation to the NRLW Grand Final, I can't see it being a stand alone event in the short to medium term. Mainly this is due to the the crowd sizes that have been generated at stand alone NRLW fixtures. I'm sure a grand final would see a bigger crowd for the NRLW, but big enough to reach "break even" financially for the NRL, or even to make a profit? That's where I doubt it. As such, to save costs, the NRL will have the NRLW Grand Final on the same day and same venue as the NRL Grand Final.

I like the idea of the having the NRLW GF either on the Friday or Saturday before the GF or if the NRL ever goes to a bye week before the GF, place it there. As for the venue, just follow the A-league model and have it at the highest ranked teams home ground, at least until the NRLW can packed out a neutral venue.

 

[undertaker]

For all our gripes about Sydney & Brisbane grounds, the joint that's bursting at the seams the most is Mt Smart.

I would really like to see how large of a crowd the Warriors would draw at Eden Park for matches such as on ANZAC Day or a finals match (especially in weeks 2 or 3 in the finals).

 

[Brutus]

This is a hill RL people need to die on. Governments would love to just build one major multipurpose stadium per city to save money. If RL happily continues to accept Accor in its current state and then starts playing on Brisbane's Olympic oval, large rectangles will just never get built anymore. The argument will be that ovals suit all sports. This view will be feverishly backed by AFL and cricket. And RU and Soccer will do nothing to help us fight.

Actually a very good point there.

Something has to be done though to get Suncorp's capacity increased and Accor rectangular.

Hopefully PVL can get creative.

 

[steeden.]

Actually a very good point there.

Something has to be done though to get Suncorp's capacity increased and Accor rectangular.

Hopefully PVL can get creative.

Magic round being moved elsewhere is the big stick they have for now

 

[steeden.]

 

[Brutus]

NRL GF day is perfect as is. Love the State Challenge. Would love to see Devils v Dragons this year. The battle of the 60's super powers. Dragons winning 11 in a row in the 50's and 60s and the Devils winning 6 in a row (59-64 plus 66 and 69).

Oh and the NRLW GF is great too.

 

[undertaker]

In relation to the NRL Grand Final, any free to air network who winds up broadcasting it now or in the future is going to want a night time game. Reason is that, for FTA networks, Sunday nights is prime time for ratings and consequently for advertising rates charged. This that is where they make their money from, advertising. It also gives them a night where they know what its programming will be and thus able to save high rating shows to fill other dates.

Although I agree with what you say re: Ch7 or 10 wanting a night GF if they were to pick up the NRL FTA broadcasting rights in the future, how is it that even though there were two years during the COVID era (2020-21) where the AFL experimented with scheduling their Grand Final kickoff in primetime on the east coast of Australia (and unsurprisingly, Ch7 got large tv ratings), GF kickoff reverted back to the traditional 2:30pm Saturday afternoon start in 2022 (where it has remained since then)? Saturday night not so lucrative as Sunday night?

 

[eels4lifee]

The Broncos and Queensland deserves a stadium that could hold 100k. Queensland is the Rugby League capital of Australia and the World. They have the most members in the NRL and the biggest support ever and they need a refurbished stadium to entertain all their loyal fans.