Sigh.
Try reading what I wrote, then go back and look at the data. The 20k figure you're citing includes all of Melbourne's 2023 home games.
Not all Melbourne's 2023 home games were played at MRS.
Only nine were played at MRS in 2023 for an average of 17,072.
One of Melbourne's "home" games was played at Lang Park during Magic Round. It drew 50,183 on 6 May.
Another two games were played at Docklands. Those games averaged 23,639.
Don't take my word for it.
See for yourself.
Melbourne have been taking "home" games to Brisbane for years. It's how they boost their average.
They take one game a year to Brisbane. They have done this for at least a decade. It helps them boost their attendances.
In 2022 they took a "home" game against Penrith to Lang Park for Magic Round. That year they played 11 games at MRS for an average of 15,831.
In 2019 Melbourne played 11 games at MRS with an average attendance of 16,104.
They took a "home" game against Parramatta to Lang Park for Magic Round.
Before Magic Round began, Melbourne took an annual game to Lang Park. It was played alongside a Manly "home" game in a double header. In 2018 and 2017 Melbourne played the Titans at Lang Park as the "home" team.
In 2018 the Storm averaged 16,036 at MRS over 11 games.
In 2017 they averaged 16,034 at MRS over 11 games.
In 2016 the Storm took a home game against the Cowboys to Lang Park. That year they averaged 14,963 at MRS over 11 games.
Are you starting to see the picture yet?
Are you saying that a Melbourne team playing at a shit venue in inner Melbourne is the same as a Brisbane team playing at a shit venue 100km away on the Gold Coast?
That takes some mental gymnastics.
Bears didn't become a strong team until 1996. Storm were strong from the day they entered the NRL.
You are one doing the mental gymnastics mate. You are suggesting that a team that averaged 10k over its lifetime had greater support than a team that has averaged more. I don’t know why you are arguing this but that is what you are arguing.
Most importantly, has the Storm’s supporter base improved or not? You can avoid that question as much as you want but it seems like it has so that is all that’s really relevant yeah. It supports my argument and not yours.