Brisbane3 - What is needed to make it a successful bid?

[flippikat]

A lot will depend on this next tv deal. If it shows increased content equals significantly increased revenue then going past 20 teams in next decade is a possibility. Performance of the three expansion clubs over next ten years will also be factor. Titans have generally been sht for years. if we dont see the three expansion clubs perform on field it could impact the games appetite to add more clubs.

Going to be interesting to see if nz2 or SEQ4 is NRL’s priority for place 20.

The thing with going past 20 teams is that there's a limit to how many distinct timeslots there are in a weekend - which may help in cases like NZ 2 (and NZ 3), Adelaide and Fiji that are not in the same as NSW/Qld.. as they can help to fill some of the timeslots that don't pull crowds in NSW/Qld.

 

[Billythekid]

The thing with going past 20 teams is that there's a limit to how many distinct timeslots there are in a weekend - which may help in cases like NZ 2 (and NZ 3), Adelaide and Fiji that are not in the same as NSW/Qld.. as they can help to fill some of the timeslots that don't pull crowds in NSW/Qld.

I'd also add that whilst you ultimately need the money to justify expansions you can't ignore the need for more talent. We've seen this bite the AFL and AFLW in the bum and I can only imagine that problem will get worse expanding to TAS and Perth again.

NZ2 much like PNG has the potential to deliver a lot more talent to the game which is very important. We need the game to remain a good product on the pitch.

 

[marlins2.0]

I'd also add that whilst you ultimately need the money to justify expansions you can't ignore the need for more talent. We've seen this bite the AFL and AFLW in the bum and I can only imagine that problem will get worse expanding to TAS and Perth again.

NZ2 much like PNG has the potential to deliver a lot more talent to the game which is very important. We need the game to remain a good product on the pitch.

Makes sense why they put so much emphasis on pathways and development with the bids.

 

[Pippen94]

I'd also add that whilst you ultimately need the money to justify expansions you can't ignore the need for more talent. We've seen this bite the AFL and AFLW in the bum and I can only imagine that problem will get worse expanding to TAS and Perth again.

NZ2 much like PNG has the potential to deliver a lot more talent to the game which is very important. We need the game to remain a good product on the pitch.

Let broadcasters pay for expansion. If they want Brisbane that's where team will be. Pouring money into clubs like gws and gold coast like AFL do is a waste.

 

[i0Nic]

Let broadcasters pay for expansion. If they want Brisbane that's where team will be. Pouring money into clubs like gws and gold coast like AFL do is a waste.

The big reason afl do that is because of broadcasters. They sell the idea that they’re national competition with two teams in Australia’s 2 of 3 biggest cities rather than just the one. However, I’m sure the broadcaster can see how poorly rating those games are.

so they keep funding them even though they’re giant turds without any meaningful support base

 

[Pippen94]

The big reason afl do that is because of broadcasters. They sell the idea that they’re national competition with two teams in Australia’s 2 of 3 biggest cities rather than just the one. However, I’m sure the broadcaster can see how poorly rating those games are.

so they keep funding them even though they’re giant turds without any meaningful support base

Broadcasters wanted more games. AFL wanted to Sydney

 

[James Rick]

The big reason afl do that is because of broadcasters. They sell the idea that they’re national competition with two teams in Australia’s 2 of 3 biggest cities rather than just the one. However, I’m sure the broadcaster can see how poorly rating those games are.

so they keep funding them even though they’re giant turds without any meaningful support base

Lions and Suns had poor ratings in 2025 despite both sides making the finals. If the AFL decide to put another team in Brisbane it'll cost them more than the Suns to keep the team afloat, but how can they be a national competition when they don't have a team in the nation's capital city Canberra?

 

[RL The greatest game]

Let broadcasters pay for expansion. If they want Brisbane that's where team will be. Pouring money into clubs like gws and gold coast like AFL do is a waste.

They will remain financial blackhole for vicky kicky house for eterity and will grow year on year.

 

[i0Nic]

Lions and Suns had poor ratings in 2025 despite both sides making the finals. If the AFL decide to put another team in Brisbane it'll cost them more than the Suns to keep the team afloat, but how can they be a national competition when they don't have a team in the nation's capital city Canberra?

That’s true. They try to pull the wool over people’s heads with their ‘national game’ talk but the reality is that afl rates very poorly in nsw and qld, which just shows general interest is low. How can it be a national game when most people in two of the three biggest states in Australia don’t care about it? They try to say look we have 2 teams in Sydney and 2 in SEQ because the sport is popular when we can see it isn’t. Then they also use Auskick numbers to inflate their participation, even though the majority of those kids don’t care about afl they’ve been signed up at school.

afl is just a well structured corporate machine, forcing a perception of a national game when it isn’t, because it’s good for their business. They make their competition rigged by giving way more concessions to expansion teams just to artificially make those clubs successful. But the cracks are showing, they’re looking more and more desperate.

Putting another team in Brisbane is something that the afl would love to do but it makes zero financial sense.

They will put a team in Canberra, and they’ll do ok in that smaller market but it won’t add many new afl fans they’ll just get the folks that go to Canberra gws games going there instead.

Afl peaked, they couldn’t take advantage of league imploding in the late 90s and now league is only on an upward trajectory with way more room for growth. Nrl is more real, not corporate woke nonsense like the afl. This resonates with people too.

where are the next generation of afl players coming from? wa afl participation has dropped. League can tap into the pacific islands and nz and England. Their games on field product is already shaky, there is a clear divide between the top teams and bottom. When they add Tasmania and then likely Canberra it will only worsen.

let’s not even mention aflw that shamble of a competition.

 

[James Rick]

That’s true. They try to pull the wool over people’s heads with their ‘national game’ talk but the reality is that afl rates very poorly in nsw and qld, which just shows general interest is low. How can it be a national game when most people in two of the three biggest states in Australia don’t care about it? They try to say look we have 2 teams in Sydney and 2 in SEQ because the sport is popular when we can see it isn’t. Then they also use Auskick numbers to inflate their participation, even though the majority of those kids don’t care about afl they’ve been signed up at school.

afl is just a well structured corporate machine, forcing a perception of a national game when it isn’t, because it’s good for their business. They make their competition rigged by giving way more concessions to expansion teams just to artificially make those clubs successful. But the cracks are showing, they’re looking more and more desperate.

Putting another team in Brisbane is something that the afl would love to do but it makes zero financial sense.

They will put a team in Canberra, and they’ll do ok in that smaller market but it won’t add many new afl fans they’ll just get the folks that go to Canberra gws games going there instead.

Afl peaked, they couldn’t take advantage of league imploding in the late 90s and now league is only on an upward trajectory with way more room for growth. Nrl is more real, not corporate woke nonsense like the afl. This resonates with people too.

where are the next generation of afl players coming from? wa afl participation has dropped. League can tap into the pacific islands and nz and England. Their games on field product is already shaky, there is a clear divide between the top teams and bottom. When they add Tasmania and then likely Canberra it will only worsen.

let’s not even mention aflw that shamble of a competition.

Not to mention their crowd numbers and membership numbers they always harp on about when they hand out tickets and memberships in cereal boxes. Does anyone really believe the Swans are the biggest club in Sydney?

 

[siv]

The thing with going past 20 teams is that there's a limit to how many distinct timeslots there are in a weekend - which may help in cases like NZ 2 (and NZ 3), Adelaide and Fiji that are not in the same as NSW/Qld.. as they can help to fill some of the timeslots that don't pull crowds in NSW/Qld.

Play 2 games Friday 8pm with one replayed at 10pm

Play 2 games at Saturday 7:30pm one replayed at 9:30pm

Even 2 at 4pm Sunday is possible again replayed later at 6:30 or 8:30

Not hard. Pretty easy to broadcast all games live too

 

[Ozzi_78]

I’ve always wondered why 12pm isn’t ok for a kickoff on the eastern seaboard.

Saturday could be;
12pm, 2 , 4 , 6 and 8

 

[flippikat]

I’ve always wondered why 12pm isn’t ok for a kickoff on the eastern seaboard.

Saturday could be;
12pm, 2 , 4 , 6 and 8

NZ teams can help with that 12pm Saturday slot, as it's a nice, family friendly 2pm kickoff here

 

[Trifili13]

I’ve always wondered why 12pm isn’t ok for a kickoff on the eastern seaboard.

Saturday could be;
12pm, 2 , 4 , 6 and 8

Others on here might have another opinion but a 12 and 2 kick off on a Saturday would be impacted by people playing sport themselves or watching their kids play, shopping and doing stuff rather than sitting down to watch or go to the game.

 

[Ozzi_78]

Others on here might have another opinion but a 12 and 2 kick off on a Saturday would be impacted by people playing sport themselves or watching their kids play, shopping and doing stuff rather than sitting down to watch or go to the game.

Sure but I’d also say all other time slots have their own impact too. A 10pm timeslot for east coast isn’t much better

 

[Trifili13]

Sure but I’d also say all other time slots have their own impact too. A 10pm timeslot for east coast isn’t much better

Agree. The NRL's problem with adding more teams is finding tv slots to maximise viewers. Something has to give and I would say the broadcasters will have a big say of what suits them to get the best ratings given they are paying the big dollars.

 

[RL The greatest game]

ipswich grounds already getting upgraded as we speak. $40m stage 1 with more coming for stage 2 precint.
suncorp is being kept hush hush but apparently gov know whats required

nz coe and pathways funding would be great but whats chances nz gov invest into it.?

Id be hoping to turn a 40m upgrade into a 150m upgrade for Ipswich and a 500m upgrade of Suncorp to a 800-1B.

As for Nz anything is possible. If they want to get premium content out of te Kaha and drive tourism etc then investing into an nrl team like Perth have done might make sense.

Another option would be is to move union and soccer to the ANZ stadium which free's up space for Brisbane 3.

 

[marlins2.0]

2pm (NZ) on a Sunday is excellent timing, infact for years this WAS the go at Mt. Smart. Honestly 12pm (NZ) this time would work on a Sunday too. Saturday would hamper crowds.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

i think this has been stated heaps of times but

Thursday
Game 1 - 8pm (AEST), 6pm (AWST), 10pm (NZST)

Friday
Game 2 - 6pm (AEST), 4pm (AWST), 8pm (NZST)
Game 3 - 8pm (AEST), 6pm (AWST), 10pm (NZST)

Saturday
Game 4 - 1:30pm (AEST), 11:30am (AWST), 3:30pm (NZST)
Game 5 - 3:30pm (AEST), 1:30pm (AWST), 5:30pm (NZST)
Game 6 - 5:30pm (AEST), 3:30pm (AWST), 7:30pm (NZST)
Game 7 - 7:30pm (AEST), 5:30pm (AWST), 9:30pm (NZST)

Sunday
Game 8 - 2pm (AEST), 12pm (AWST), 4pm (NZST)
Game 9 - 4pm (AEST), 2pm (AWST), 6pm (NZST)
Game 10 - 6pm (AEST), 4pm (AWST), 8pm (NZST)

For maximum TV viewership numbers etc

All NSW teams, QLD teams + Raiders, + Storm can play in any of the 10 Game time slots.

Perth Bears
Predominant home games time slots:
Game 3, Game 6, Game 7, Game 9 and Game 10.

Alternative time slots:
Game 1 (more for away games), Game 5 (purely in colder months)

PNG Chiefs (humidity a factor. Basing on times in NQ Cowboys traditionally play and Darwin)
Game 1, Game 3, Game 6, Game 7, Game 9 & Game 10.

NZ Warriors & South Is
Predominant Home Games time slots:
Game 2, Game 4, Game 5, Game 6, Game 8 and Game 9.

Alternative Time Slots (if Monday is a public holiday):
Game 10.

Game 4 is a NZ specific time slot. 3:30pm local kick off time works well.
Game 10 is a WA specific time slot. 4pm local kick off works well.

 

[Ashburn]

I’d just have Warriors and NZ2 play every home game on a Friday 8pm NZT bro