2025 Crowd Watch

[newc18]

Calling themselves just the Dolphins feels to me like they want to leave the door open for a change to Redcliffe Dolphins in the future. If they had become the Brisbane/Moreton Bay/South Queensland Dolphins (or anything else) out the gate it would probably never happen.

They will most likely revert back to Redcliffe but I'm not convinced it's the right move long term. I've always been of the opinion that they should have gone with North Brisbane or Moreton Bay.

I assume you advocate for all clubs in all sports that carry a suburban, but traditional name to abandon their roots too because the original suburb they represented is too small for you?

Brisbane only has two clubs, Sydney has eight. My hope was that the newest team in the NRL would represent a larger population than just Redcliffe, especially if we aren't adding another Brisbane team anytime soon.

That's a bit pedantic. Everything on the peninsula is Redcliffe. Dolphin Oval (Kayo) isn't even in the suburb of Redcliffe.

It's just my opinion. That's the whole point of these forums. Would be pretty boring if we all agreed on the same shit.

 

[wgd]

Brisbane only has two clubs, Sydney has eight. My hope was that the newest team in the NRL would represent a larger population than just Redcliffe

They definitely represent more than just Redcliffe. Seems as soon as you are north of the river, the number of Dolphins jerseys you see increases the further you go.

 

[steeden.]

100%. It's a suburb of around 10,000 people on the edge of Brisbane. The team needs to represent something bigger. If you have to have the name Redcliffe, make it something like Moreton Bay-Redcliffe Dolphins at minimum.

That’s disregarding that Redcliffe was its own shire/town/city for over 100 years, and had a history that pre-dates Brisbane

 

[yakstorm]

If the Phins were to adopt the Redcliffe name at the NRL level I don't think that suddenly prevents them from representing a larger area.

I mean the Knights represent more than just Newcastle, the Titans more than just the Gold Coast and the Storm more than Melbourne. In fact, outside of the Cowboys & Warriors, all the NRL clubs have a connection to an area broader than just their geographic title.

Honestly I doubt that anyone who has already adopted them would be phased and as for the next generation, they have zero issues adopting sporting teams named after cities/towns they can't even point to on a map.

 

[RedVee]

More sections have been released at Suncorp Stadium for Tonga v Samoa. On Level 5, the Samoa supporter bays now run from bays 528 - 533, with 534, 535 and 526 also been released on the northern side of the ground. In the south, 517 has been added to the three Tonga supporter bays.

The first seven rows of Bays 601 & 602 have also been put on sale in the Western Grandstand. At a conservative guess, it looks like we're at around 22K sold for the game.

For Eden Park, the red dots represent what seats are still left to sell in the two sections currently on sale. There is some encouraging movement on the sideline, though hopefully this match sees some improved sales now that teams are starting to get named.

View attachment 106917

Aren’t these supporters known for just rocking up on the day?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

The only thing I don't like about the Dolphins is being called, The Dolphins. It's too much like super union in the day where you had teams with names from where they were in South Africa, NZ and co, to the lions and whatever. I had no idea. It also so helped turn me of S12 or whatever plus their smug fans. The Dolphins need an area in their name. I don't care what you canetoads decide. But make it happen.

 

[yakstorm]

Aren’t these supporters known for just rocking up on the day?

Tongan and Samoan fans definitely have a reputation of buying late, which is very promising for the Suncorp match, considering how many tickets have already been sold. I'd prefer for Mt Smart & Eden Park to move a few more in pre-sales before the week of the game, if for nothing else so more of the ground is opened up.

 

[bazza]

Redcliffe is just too limiting financially. Such a small area and one that doesn't sing to the rest of Brisbane where they will draw there supporters from.

yes - teams that limit themselves to tiny geographical areas can never be popular like the Green Bay Packers, Arsenal, Chelsea or Everton

 

[Dogs Of War]

yes - teams that limit themselves to tiny geographical areas can never be popular like the Green Bay Packers, Arsenal, Chelsea or Everton

Green Bay packers is just a historicial oddity, when the pro game in the USA was looked down on, and the college game was where it was at. Like the rest of the clubs you named, success has helped them solidify the support and really they are the state team, as that state doesn't really have large citys and would be the NFL version of the Nth Qld Cowboys. You will never see another Green Bay packers in American Sport.

While the english soccer teams, given two are in London proper and have existed forever and been successful, which attracted a lot of money, while Everton is for everybody who doesn't want to go for Liverpool and has been very successfull missing only 4 season in the top flight. Also one of their monikers is the Dogs of War.

I think you built a decent strawman arguement bringing up 100 yr old clubs who have been in the top league to compare to a club that has been around for 3 yrs in the top flight. Maybe a better comparision is when South Africian Super Rugby teams decided to drop their locations and just go by the Sharks, Bulls etc. It was ok for those who were really into the game, but for casuals it was like where the hell are these clubs from.

And lastly, Redcliffe need to be looking at the money that gets thrown at clubs. For QLD clubs, it's going to be how do you compete with the Broncos. Having no name other than the Dolphins doesn't help when Corporates are deciding to put money into your club or players. And a moniker that is most inclusive does help. But one that seperates itself from the competion. Which is why I think Moreton Bay works best for the club. That's one broad reach, and one that isn't being utilied properly at this point and really could grow into a brand. Maybe the Green Bay comparison isn't so bad.

 

[yakstorm]

John Davidson reporting that Wembley sales are around the 50K mark

 

[i0Nic]

How are ticket sales going for pac champs, much movement now that the gf is done and advertising is ramping up?

 

[newc18]

John Davidson reporting that Wembley sales are around the 50K mark

They should have played this at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 65k is a great crowd but won't look as good in Wembley.

 

[yakstorm]

How are ticket sales going for pac champs, much movement now that the gf is done and advertising is ramping up?

Tonga v Samoa at Suncorp is selling great. Every bay on Level 6 and all of Level 5 north are now on sale, currently sitting around the 25K mark (potentially more) and on track to push towards 40K by game day.

NZ v Samoa at Mt Smart has had some movement and is around 8-10K at the moment. Western lower & southern lower is where most of the sales have been in the past week. Match needs some promo though.

Eden Park would be roughly the same, though also has the most time to sell.

In PNG, most of the main grandstand has been sold for the Kumuls games. Unfortunately three quarters of the ground is GA so the rest is a bit of a guessing game until sections sell out.

 

[drcmuch]

Tidying up stats for the season, noticed that every round had at least one crowd over 20k, even the short ones. That's also true for 2024 & 2023, though we had 5 rounds in 2022 where the biggest crowd was under 20k.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Ticketmaster Nabs Venues NSW Account

"By teaming up with Venues NSW, we’re streamlining the ticketing experience across some of the state’s most iconic venues."

themusic.com.au

Ticketmaster now has rights to Accor, Allianz, and Commbank.

Unfortunately I only just realised that Suncorp & Ticketek renewed their partnership last year for another 5 years. f**k.

 

[It's Been Done]

RIP physical tickets in Sydney then

 

[nko11]

Tonga v Samoa at Suncorp is selling great. Every bay on Level 6 and all of Level 5 north are now on sale, currently sitting around the 25K mark (potentially more) and on track to push towards 40K by game day.

NZ v Samoa at Mt Smart has had some movement and is around 8-10K at the moment. Western lower & southern lower is where most of the sales have been in the past week. Match needs some promo though.

Eden Park would be roughly the same, though also has the most time to sell.

In PNG, most of the main grandstand has been sold for the Kumuls games. Unfortunately three quarters of the ground is GA so the rest is a bit of a guessing game until sections sell out.

Would 100% recommend anyone near Brisbane to make the trek to Suncorp for Tonga v Samoa. Will be one of the best, if not the best atmosphere you will experience in Australian sport.

 

[Big Salad]

If the Phins were to adopt the Redcliffe name at the NRL level I don't think that suddenly prevents them from representing a larger area.

I mean the Knights represent more than just Newcastle, the Titans more than just the Gold Coast and the Storm more than Melbourne. In fact, outside of the Cowboys & Warriors, all the NRL clubs have a connection to an area broader than just their geographic title.

Honestly I doubt that anyone who has already adopted them would be phased and as for the next generation, they have zero issues adopting sporting teams named after cities/towns they can't even point to on a map.

Changing their name to Redcliffe has the potential to alienate potential supporters in other areas of Moreton Bay region council area. The council was formed from three previous distinct councils out of convenience when the mass council amalgamations happened 15 years ago, being the councils located between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast. The first mayor was the previous Redcliffe council mayor and the perception since the start has been that Redcliffe gets the lion's share of funding and attention from the amalgamated council. If they were to have a regional name then Moreton Bay would be a lot more inclusive.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Changing their name to Redcliffe has the potential to alienate potential supporters in other areas of Moreton Bay region council area. The council was formed from three previous distinct councils out of convenience when the mass council amalgamations happened 15 years ago, being the councils located between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast. The first mayor was the previous Redcliffe council mayor and the perception since the start has been that Redcliffe gets the lion's share of funding and attention from the amalgamated council. If they were to have a regional name then Moreton Bay would be a lot more inclusive.

Canterbury
Parramatta
Chelsea
Fremantle
West Ham
Everton
Tottenham

All disagree that carrying their traditional suburban name limits their attendance to people from that suburb, the premise is ridiculous.

Redcliffe Dolphins = one of the most famous sporting brands in Queensland.

Moreton Bay Dolphins = plastic name, made up to make Sydney folk feel better about the team name so it "appeals to a wider audience"

 

[Growthegame]

Moreton Bay Dolphins = plastic name, made up to make Sydney folk feel better about the team name so it "appeals to a wider audience"

Tainted everything you said above with this part of your post. Disagree that it will be a plastic name (I born and raised on the Sunshine Coast) & unnecessary to attack “Sydney folk” because of your own biases.