Expansion won't happen anytime soon

[ash the bash]

Only question; how many games at Dolphins Oval??

Trial games, season 1 game with a game up in Sunshine coast. Unless Dolphin Oval gets an upgrade to 20-25k which I highly doubt.

Rest of the 10 home games at Suncorp. As the Dolphins have stated with selecting a name other than Redcliffe they will try and appeal to as much of SEQ along with their traditional area's,

 

[The Great Dane]

Don't disagree, any bid they choose will affect the Broncos/Titans in some way or another.

Well out of the current or known potential bids atm, say a Ipswich/logan NRL club would affect the Titans more than the Dolphins. From a geographical/catchment perspective Dolphins would represent the bid furthest from Titans catchment. In the same token a Bombers bid would be city central exactly as the Broncos. Firehawks could have a point of difference from the Broncos if they go along the representing "southside" angle.

Catchments don't mean shit anymore, and haven't for decades.

If whoever gets the license comes along with money and/or with better opportunities they'll suck some of the talent from their neighbours catchments at a young age. The vast majority of sponsors will go with the team that they can afford and think will get them the most exposure for their buck. The vast majority of corporates will back the team they can afford and has the most prestige.

Basically no matter whom gets the license (if there even is a license to get), they'll all effectively be competing in the same market in most regards, and how close, or far away, they are from each other in said market will have little to no impact on that competition in most regards (the only major exception being fans).

So at the end of the day Dolphins, Firehawks, Bombers, etc, it doesn't matter, any of them will directly compete with both the Broncos and Titans locally and the other clubs on the national stage.

 

[The Great Dane]

Only question; how many games at Dolphins Oval??

Zero!

There's no way they can justify playing NRL games at a ground that will only hold 11.5k.

That shouldn't even be big enough to hold their average home support, let alone away fans, and if it is then they shouldn't be allowed anywhere an NRL license.

 

[The Great Dane]

Rest of the 10 home games at Suncorp. As the Dolphins have stated with selecting a name other than Redcliffe they will try and appeal to as much of SEQ along with their traditional area's,

Which won't work...

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Moreton Bay Dolphins and Brisbane Firehawks should both be added.

Broncos to rebrand as the Brisbane Spooners, finishing last each year and making a fortune selling wooden spoons at K-Mart. Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver can be their spokesmen.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Interesting comments on the expansion of the English game by Mark Evans on this podcast, the basic principles apply to Australia also:

Pick up from 20th minute

 

[Pippen94]

Trial games, season 1 game with a game up in Sunshine coast. Unless Dolphin Oval gets an upgrade to 20-25k which I highly doubt.

Rest of the 10 home games at Suncorp. As the Dolphins have stated with selecting a name other than Redcliffe they will try and appeal to as much of SEQ along with their traditional area's,

Parra play game at Darwin, Cowboys play at Cairns - what's difference??

 

[Pippen94]

Which won't work...

Dolphins still around & stronger than ever. Meanwhile crushers long gone.
I know who I'd put money on

 

[Pippen94]

Trial games, season 1 game with a game up in Sunshine coast. Unless Dolphin Oval gets an upgrade to 20-25k which I highly doubt.

Rest of the 10 home games at Suncorp. As the Dolphins have stated with selecting a name other than Redcliffe they will try and appeal to as much of SEQ along with their traditional area's,

Basic stadium - should be easy to upgrade to 17.5k - perfect size for nrl

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Dolphins still around & stronger than ever. Meanwhile crushers long gone.
I know who I'd put money on

No matter which bid gets the nod, The Great Dane will whinge and claim it's not neutral enough or cover a large enough area.

 

[The Great Dane]

Parra play game at Darwin, Cowboys play at Cairns - what's difference??

The difference between Barlow Park and Dolphin Stadium is about 6.5k seats and the fact that there isn't an equivalent of Suncorp stadium just down the road like there is Brisbane.

Frankly, the NRL shouldn't allow games to be played at TIO Stadium, and should tell the NT government to get back to them when they have built an appropriate venue.

Dolphins still around & stronger than ever. Meanwhile crushers long gone.
I know who I'd put money on

That's called a false dichotomy.

I wouldn't put money on either as both are/were bad ideas for different reasons and there are other, better, options.

Basic stadium - should be easy to upgrade to 17.5k - perfect size for nrl

They're upgrading it to 11.5k, there's no serious talk of it getting any bigger than that any time soon, and even if it was upgraded 17.5k that wouldn't be anywhere near big enough for an NRL club.

 

[Perth Red]

Parra play game at Darwin, Cowboys play at Cairns - what's difference??

the big difference is they get paid massive $’s to play there. You cant generate $30mill revenue playing at dolphin oval!

 

[Perth Red]

Basic stadium - should be easy to upgrade to 17.5k - perfect size for nrl

No it isn’t. To avg over 15k you need at least a 20k stadium and that’s before we talk about the major upgrade to corporate facilities it needs.

 

[The Great Dane]

No it isn’t. To avg over 15k you need at least a 20k stadium and that’s before we talk about the major upgrade to corporate facilities it needs.

25k min if we are being serious, especially since they are in Brisbane.

 

[siv]

Bennett needs a new coaching gig

So it might finally eventuate

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Why did they make the stadium only 11.5k?

That's perfect for a Queensland Cup Grand Final, but useless for an NRL team.

Are the foundations of the ground deep enough so extra tiers can be added to double its capacity to 23k?

 

[greenBV4]

Why did they make the stadium only 11.5k?

That's perfect for a Queensland Cup Grand Final, but useless for an NRL team.

Are the foundations of the ground deep enough so extra tiers can be added to double its capacity to 23k?

Because 11.5k is perfect for the second tier, trials, and as a training ground - which is how the club will use it

Foundations aside "just doubling it's capacity" would cost A LOT more money too, and likely have a handful more council permits to pass through

 

[The Great Dane]

Because 11.5k is perfect for the second tier, trials, and as a training ground - which is how the club will use it

Foundations aside "just doubling it's capacity" would cost A LOT more money too, and likely have a handful more council permits to pass through

If they were serious about it being an NRL venue they'd need to do a more than just double the capacity as well.

At the very least they'd need to add a bunch of corporate and media facilities, add extra amenities, maybe even upgrades to change rooms, and depending on the foundations and space on the plot it might even require a knockdown rebuild to achieve it.
It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, that the Dolphins don't have, and since it's privately owned getting taxpayers to fund it would be at best difficult, at worst dodgy as hell.

The idea of them playing NRL matches at Dolphins Stadium was a delusional fantasy from the start, and they never should have lead people to believe that they'd play games there, but I guess stupid things like that is just what tinpot suburban clubs do.

 

[Pippen94]

The difference between Barlow Park and Dolphin Stadium is about 6.5k seats and the fact that there isn't an equivalent of Suncorp stadium just down the road like there is Brisbane.

Frankly, the NRL shouldn't allow games to be played at TIO Stadium, and should tell the NT government to get back to them when they have built an appropriate venue.

That's called a false dichotomy.

I wouldn't put money on either as both are/were bad ideas for different reasons and there are other, better, options.

They're upgrading it to 11.5k, there's no serious talk of it getting any bigger than that any time soon, and even if it was upgraded 17.5k that wouldn't be anywhere near big enough for an NRL club.

Playing game in north enhances connection to local area & emphasizes point of difference.
Dolphins oval already upgraded to 11k - keep up

 

[Pippen94]

Why did they make the stadium only 11.5k?

That's perfect for a Queensland Cup Grand Final, but useless for an NRL team.

Are the foundations of the ground deep enough so extra tiers can be added to double its capacity to 23k?

Looks from design to be very easy to expand. Upgrade has been done piecemeal so imagine it was envisioned same for potential increase