ANZ Stadium half closed for Origin

[Ice777]

People would do well to remember it's been about four years since NSW last had both Origin matches...

And....


Shouldn't that be even more reason it should sell out?

 

[Quidgybo]

So, if Western Deck is closed and it holds 12,500 (out of a possible 83,500), that limits the potential maximum capacity down to 71,000.

No it doesn't. It just means the other 71,000 seats are sold first. If there's still demand after that then there's no drama opening the deck up again for further ticket sales or walk up attendees. But regardless of whether there is further demand or not the ARL get to showcase the sight on television of a sold out eastern stand and lower bowl - which in reality is the point of this exercise.

Leigh.

 

[dallymessenger]

Once Newcastle gets a stadium with a capacity approaching 40k I think it would be worth taking the second NSW game up to the Hunter.

That would result in only one game in Sydney while still preserving home ground advantage. It would also be a worthy reward to a Rugby League-mad part of the state. It's worth remembering it isn't Sydney v Brisbane.

At the moment 26k isn't big enough for an Origin match, but I can see a day when taking Origin to Newcastle makes sense.

Cheers.

very good point.

queensland coudlve done the same thing with Gold coast if it had been 35,000 +.

i think queensland and nsw should only get 1 game each year, and the other game is played on neutral territory amongst the following :

1. melbourne
2. perth
3. adelaide.
4. auckland or other nz cities.

what better way to grow RL in these areas than by giving them a blockbuster game like this

 

[Quidgybo]

Once Newcastle gets a stadium with a capacity approaching 40k I think it would be worth taking the second NSW game up to the Hunter.

I've been arguing this for years. Origin is NSW vs QLD, not Sydney vs Brisbane. No argument from me that the capitals should get first dibs but if they can't sell out even one match then really we should be looking to give other areas in these states a chance to see the games. Regional centres like Newcastle and Townsville were the game's most loyal supporters through the dark days of Super League. In my opinion they've earnt the right to slice of the next level of games - especially when an existing host city shows itself unwilling or unable to sell out even one match.

Leigh.

 

[brendothejet]

f**k me we have some doomsayers on here.

Someone said, didn't we learn our lesson from the Test match?

Stop reading the telegraph you nongs. People will just get their tickets on the day or at the ground on the night itself.

Because Sydney has larger capacity venues, unlike QLD, we don't need to sleep in front of the ticketek office for a week to get a seat.

 

[Quidgybo]

very good point.

queensland coudlve done the same thing with Gold coast if it had been 35,000 +.

i think queensland and nsw should only get 1 game each year, and the other game is played on neutral territory amongst the following :

1. melbourne
2. perth
3. adelaide.
4. auckland or other nz cities.

what better way to grow RL in these areas than by giving them a blockbuster game like this

I disagree. Origin's strength is the tribal rivalry and hatred developed over decades of interstate football between the two states. Take Origin outside Queensland and NSW and you lose that passion in the stadium. Sure, it's a big match but it isn't *your* team at war. It's two essentially foreign teams. Test football (and the Tri-Nations) is the natural vehicle for showcasing the rep game outside the traditional states. It gives the locals in Melbourne or in Perth or wherever an implicit and immediate home team to get passionately behind. It doesn't matter whether they've never watched a game of RL in their life, it's still *their* boys out there fighting for *their* country. In my opinion any "spare" Origin matches would be much better used to reward the regional centres of NSW and QLD that have supported the game in such extraordinary numbers over the last decade and a half.

Leigh.

 

[hellteam]

agree with everything you said quidgybo. just need better stadiums in newcastle in townsville

 

[Timbo]

Once Newcastle gets a stadium with a capacity approaching 40k I think it would be worth taking the second NSW game up to the Hunter.

That would result in only one game in Sydney while still preserving home ground advantage. It would also be a worthy reward to a Rugby League-mad part of the state. It's worth remembering it isn't Sydney v Brisbane.

At the moment 26k isn't big enough for an Origin match, but I can see a day when taking Origin to Newcastle makes sense.

Cheers.

Agree wholeheartedly. Once the Western Grandstand is re-built, EAS should have a capacity in the low 30,000 range. Temporary seating behind the goals at either end should take it to 35-ish.

In the year when NSW gets two games, it should be:

Game 1-EAS
Game 2-Suncorp
Game 3-ANZ

 

[Timmah]

Which means they should sell both out!!

If not, take the first one to Melbourne maybe.

The point to be made there is that the concept of having two Origin matches here hasn't been greatly pushed to the public.

Call it a cop-out but you're all again subscribing to the doom, this time not based on media scrutiny but on a completely unsubstantiated rumour. ANZ management would be absolute fools not to prepare for a near-capacity crowd.

Having said that, they could make the fugging tickets cheaper :x

 

[innsaneink]

No it doesn't. It just means the other 71,000 seats are sold first. If there's still demand after that then there's no drama opening the deck up again for further ticket sales or walk up attendees. But regardless of whether there is further demand or not the ARL get to showcase the sight on television of a sold out eastern stand and lower bowl - which in reality is the point of this exercise.

Leigh.

Rumour.

 

[Timmah]

Because Sydney has larger capacity venues, unlike QLD, we don't need to sleep in front of the ticketek office for a week to get a seat.

:crazy: brendo, stop it with the commonsense already :sarcasm:

 

[Quidgybo]

In the year when NSW gets two games, it should be:

Game 1-EAS
Game 2-Suncorp
Game 3-ANZ

It should be the other way around. The last thing you want is to leave the biggest stadium to a possible dead rubber. In a regional centre, any Origin match - even a dead rubber - will be novelty enough to sell out.

Leigh.

 

[Timmah]

I've been arguing this for years. Origin is NSW vs QLD, not Sydney vs Brisbane. No argument from me that the capitals should get first dibs but if they can't sell out even one match then really we should be looking to give other areas in these states a chance to see the games. Regional centres like Newcastle and Townsville were the game's most loyal supporters through the dark days of Super League. In my opinion they've earnt the right to slice of the next level of games - especially when an existing host city shows itself unwilling or unable to sell out even one match.

Leigh.

To be fair it's far easier to sell out Suncorp than ANZ due to sheer maths... 52,000 tickets are snapped up far quicker than 83,000. You also have a better stadium to accommodate that crowd that offers more comfort and viewing pleasure for fans. In that sense, you need to look at the fact that Suncorp will sell out far more and therefore QLD will be less likely to be forced to shift a game (and it will become measurably harder to move it to a regional city considering the biggest facilities are at Robina (27k) and Thuringowa (26k) and neither cater for 30,000.

I don't see any problem with the current venues and while it would be fun to see Origin at a regional centre like Newcastle I simply don't think it would work out for the best. Yet again the anti-Sydney crowd brigade is out in full force before a match. I hope you keep bleating like this right up until 9:30pm next Wednesday and then the crowd figure is in excess of 77,000. That will surely be a laugh.

 

[Timmah]

It should be the other way around. The last thing you want is to leave the biggest stadium to a possible dead rubber. In a regional centre, any Origin match - even a dead rubber - will be novelty enough to sell out.

Leigh.

You've killed your own argument with that word... it would be a novelty, and one that the ARL would be far less likely to gamble on. ANZ offer the money, security and facilities like noone else can and it's hard to see it moving away.

 

[Quidgybo]

I don't see any problem with the current venues and while it would be fun to see Origin at a regional centre like Newcastle I simply don't think it would work out for the best. Yet again the anti-Sydney crowd brigade is out in full force before a match. I hope you keep bleating like this right up until 9:30pm next Wednesday and then the crowd figure is in excess of 77,000. That will surely be a laugh.

But if it's not 83,500 (or whatever the capacity) why should people in Sydney get second dibs ahead of people from other parts of the state? Fans in th city are guaranteed a chance to attend an Origin match every year and virtually every year, not enough of them take up that chance to sell out even the one game. No one's arguing they should lose that guaranteed one game but until it is getting sold out regularly give someone else a go. It is after all a team representing the entire state, not just those fortunate enough to live in the capital. And it's hardly anti-Sydney to be pro giving somewhere else go every two or four years.

You've killed your own argument with that word... it would be a novelty, and one that the ARL would be far less likely to gamble on. ANZ offer the money, security and facilities like noone else can and it's hard to see it moving away.

You've got a strange grasp of logic if you think a factor that guarantees a sell out somehow kills the argument.

Leigh.

 

[herbert henry1908]

how would Newcastle react to $130 a ticket though?

not to mention the ticket prices could well be higher in Newcastle to try to make up for the loss of revenue from having 20K less people at the game.

 

[Quidgybo]

how would Newcastle react to $130 a ticket though?

For an origin match once every two or four years? They'd react by selling it out in about 20 mins.

Leigh.

 

[herbert henry1908]

But if it's not 83,500 (or whatever the capacity) why should people in Sydney get second dibs ahead of people from other parts of the state? Fans in th city are guaranteed a chance to attend an Origin match every year and virtually every year, not enough of them take up that chance to sell out even the one game. No one's arguing they should lose that guaranteed one game but until it is getting sold out regularly give someone else a go. It is after all a team representing the entire state, not just those fortunate enough to live in the capital. And it's hardly anti-Sydney to be pro giving somewhere else go every two or four years.

Leigh.

If newcastle could only get 40K people in the gate compared to a 70K crowd in sydney you are talking about a massive loss in revenue. Perhaps as much as $4 million dollars. It isnt all about sydney getting second dibs , the reality is Rugby League isnt in a strong enough position to turn its back on that kind of revenue.

 

[brendothejet]

Hmmm...

Qbo is usually spot on the money with his theories of RL. I guess having lived in Sydney all my life I am spoiled for SOO. It is always here. I think if it was taken away it would cause much unrest.

I think the problem here is that we are all trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. We are all saying what to do if Sydneysiders and those that travel to the capital for the game stop coming. The simple fact is, they wont.

 

[herbert henry1908]

For an origin match once every two or four years? They'd react by selling it out in about 20 mins.

Leigh.

meanwhile the ARL lose about $4 million in revenue.

its never going to happen.

and at the end of the day its not like Newcastle is that far from sydney. Many people would already travel down for the game.