2019 Crowd Watch

[SLRBRONCOS]

Brisbane pax - 27,905

 

[steeden.]

At the broncos you have to elect the games and you get allocated the seats for them. You can also call them and swap it over 48hours before kick off.

Depends what membership? The 4 game Flexi is a turn-up-and-scan situation, no reservation required

 

[Timmah]

There seems to be some kind of myth in the last 24 hours that the Storm ANZAC Day game always sells out? It's only filled(ish) AAMI twice since it began with 28k, otherwise the crowd has hovered between 20k and 24k from memory. So yesterday was in the lower end of that scale - probably because of a later kickoff I'd imagine. Anyone coming over from the MCG would've been waiting around a lot longer and that could've been off-putting, especially when everyone has gotten used to it starting at 7pm.

Having said all that, I reckon it is high time it alternated with NZ.

 

[adamkungl]

There seems to be some kind of myth in the last 24 hours that the Storm ANZAC Day game always sells out? It's only filled(ish) AAMI twice since it began with 28k, otherwise the crowd has hovered between 20k and 24k from memory. So yesterday was in the lower end of that scale - probably because of a later kickoff I'd imagine. Anyone coming over from the MCG would've been waiting around a lot longer and that could've been off-putting, especially when everyone has gotten used to it starting at 7pm.

Having said all that, I reckon it is high time it alternated with NZ.

The late kickoff was an odd choice. No doubt made for Aus TV viewers as always but likely hurt the crowd and the NZ viewers. Game finished at almost midnight in Auckland!

 

[Timmah]

The late kickoff was an odd choice. No doubt made for Aus TV viewers as always but likely hurt the crowd and the NZ viewers. Game finished at almost midnight in Auckland!

Purely and simply a TV choice - normally it'd not fall on a Nine broadcast night and start at 7 on Fox, but it fell on Thursday night which is an NRL slot so it got that treatment.

Thankfully with 2020 being a leap year we skip Friday and go straight to Saturday next year - I do wonder what they'll do with kickoff times and whether we might see a 3pm Roosters-Saints game?

 

[Valheru]

Warriors should definitely host it every 2nd year.

When it falls on a week day and NZ host they could either start the game at 2PM (4 in NZ) or 6PM (8 in NZ)

Thankfully with 2020 being a leap year we skip Friday and go straight to Saturday next year - I do wonder what they'll do with kickoff times and whether we might see a 3pm Roosters-Saints game?

Pretty sure that last time it was on a Saturday they made a day of it and played 4 games at 2, 4, 6 and 8PM EST. I expect the same next year. It would be the perfect opportunity for NZ to host TBH

 

[Perth Red]

Keep it in Melbourne, great profile for the sport in enemy territory and draws a 20k plus crowd which is unlikely in Auckland. Its kind of a shame that it is against the Warriors as a NZ game on Anzac day would be good.An NRL kokoda game played in PNG on the nearest weekend to ANZAC would laso be a worthwhile investment by the game.

 

[Timmah]

Keep it in Melbourne, great profile for the sport in enemy territory and draws a 20k plus crowd which is unlikely in Auckland. Its kind of a shame that it is against the Warriors as a NZ game on Anzac day would be good.An NRL kokoda game played in PNG on the nearest weekend to ANZAC would laso be a worthwhile investment by the game.

20k plus crowd unlikely for Auckland for an event match? Get a grip.

Also intrust super cup has png part of Anzac day already. Burleigh v hunters at pizzey Park.

Not sure it's viable to play for premiership points in PNG tbh

 

[azza29]

Pretty sure that last time it was on a Saturday they made a day of it and played 4 games at 2, 4, 6 and 8PM EST. I expect the same next year. It would be the perfect opportunity for NZ to host TBH

Would not mind that at all - three day weekend would make it easier any Storm fans who want to travel over as well.

 

[siv]

So in 2019

A poor round aggregate was 107,077 in Round 4

And a good round aggregate was 140,721 over Easter Round 6

Lets see how things compare

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Depends what membership? The 4 game Flexi is a turn-up-and-scan situation, no reservation required

That’s if you have the ga four game Flexi. When I bought a reserved four game membership for a family member I had to elect the four.

 

[thorson1987]

Would not mind that at all - three day weekend would make it easier any Storm fans who want to travel over as well.

Not sure on VIC but in NSW when ANZAC Day falls on a Sat or Sun we don't get a 3 day weekend. Only when it's a Fri or Mon.

 

[sempmrh]

There seems to be some kind of myth in the last 24 hours that the Storm ANZAC Day game always sells out? It's only filled(ish) AAMI twice since it began with 28k, otherwise the crowd has hovered between 20k and 24k from memory. So yesterday was in the lower end of that scale - probably because of a later kickoff I'd imagine. Anyone coming over from the MCG would've been waiting around a lot longer and that could've been off-putting, especially when everyone has gotten used to it starting at 7pm.

Having said all that, I reckon it is high time it alternated with NZ.

I think the off year in 2015 where the Warriors hosted their own ANZAC Day game while Storm faced Manly at AAMI Park had an effect on the momentum the yearly Melbourne game had been building. That game against Manly only drew about 13k. From 2016 onwards crowds have been between 21k and 25k.

Anecdotally, I saw less Warriors fans in my area than I have in past years.

 

[Marlins]

I think tradition is key to moving forward for the Storm. The Anzac Day game should definitely stay in melb’s, but played earlier. I like the idea of a Good Friday clash against the roosters. That game has loads of potential.
Maybe opening against the bronc’s each season could spark a good tradition, just not on a Thursday night. If they could do something like the blackout/Anzac event, for those two other games as well, each would feel like an event.

 

[Perth Red]

I think tradition is key to moving forward for the Storm. The Anzac Day game should definitely stay in melb’s, but played earlier. I like the idea of a Good Friday clash against the roosters. That game has loads of potential.
Maybe opening against the bronc’s each season could spark a good tradition, just not on a Thursday night. If they could do something like the blackout/Anzac event, for those two other games as well, each would feel like an event.

I think this is the key, less plod games and more events. Make it so that fans see them as must attend. Maybe less home games would mean each one could be worked up as an event and something special?

 

[azza29]

Not sure on VIC but in NSW when ANZAC Day falls on a Sat or Sun we don't get a 3 day weekend. Only when it's a Fri or Mon.

Looks like you’re right, no day in lieu for us either.

 

[greenBV4]

It was only 4k down on last year, and from what I noticed there could have easily been 4k less kiwis there last night compared to last year, throw in the later start and there's your reasons for a lower crowd (and it wasn't a bad crowd)

The reason it's in Melbourne is the large number of kiwis/islanders that live in Melbourne and usual attend, they definitely get much much more support down here than any other side

I doubt there's many Victorians that follow NRL living in Auckland that would attend

 

[Slater1]

I think this is the key, less plod games and more events. Make it so that fans see them as must attend. Maybe less home games would mean each one could be worked up as an event and something special?

So you think it's wise to have LESS games in an expansion market in a year?

As a Melbourne Storm supporter living in Melbourne there is 11 opportunities for me to see my team play in my city each season.

Where as IF I was a Sydney Roosters fan living in Sydney I have 16 opportunities to see my team play in Sydney alone, plus another three only a few hours train/drive away in other parts of NSW.

It is important that Melbourne Storm keeps their home games in Melbourne (IMO we shouldn't sell a home game to Queensland each year either, but that' a separate discussion).

I think tradition is key to moving forward for the Storm. The Anzac Day game should definitely stay in melb’s, but played earlier. I like the idea of a Good Friday clash against the roosters. That game has loads of potential.
Maybe opening against the bronc’s each season could spark a good tradition, just not on a Thursday night. If they could do something like the blackout/Anzac event, for those two other games as well, each would feel like an event.

I agree with this 110%.

Storm have their consistent 15k supporters that will turn up week-in, week-out but to maintain crowd numbers and increase them you have to get the casual fans INTERESTED in the match that's coming up.

There was minimal hype on Storm social media and in Melbourne media about The Good Friday game being Cooper Cronk's "first game back in Melbourne". An Annual Sydney Vs Melbourne clash on a particular date/event (whether it's Good Friday, Opening Round, whenever) would get the 'theatre'-style casual fans there on an annual basis.

The Anzac Day clash WAS a sell-out when it first started-- but ever since they switch to a game against Manly in 2015 the momentum has stalled. I'd hate to see it disappear out even further if the game only happened in Melbourne ever second year.

The City of Melbourne demonstrates that it can get a decent crowd to anything if you put a good story around it-- the NRL just needs to create those narratives better.

 

[Diesel]

Terrible crowd at ANZ. I don’t blame the fans. It’s a terrible time slot which the NRL have to acknowledge & whatever they think is the value for selling this game, it’s doing irreparable damage. This game should be sold as an afternoon game.
Also now fans in Sydney can see what a proper game day experience is at a proper rectangular stadium, expect to see ANZ crowds drop

 

[Diesel]

I think tradition is key to moving forward for the Storm. The Anzac Day game should definitely stay in melb’s, but played earlier. I like the idea of a Good Friday clash against the roosters. That game has loads of potential.
Maybe opening against the bronc’s each season could spark a good tradition, just not on a Thursday night. If they could do something like the blackout/Anzac event, for those two other games as well, each would feel like an event.

A game kicking off at 10pm NZ time and finishing at midnight does NOTHING for the game in NZ.
Channel 9 and the NRL are responsible for the disregard of the game and it’s fans.
So what if there are 80000 people next door at the same time, the infrastructure can cope.