2019 Crowd Watch

[yakstorm]

Melbourne has a lot more of an 'attendance' culture than Sydney when it comes to sport, so I don't feel like, even if the Storm have a number of poor years, their crowds will just fall away.

Yes they'll take a hit, however one thing the Storm has done well is they've taken advantage of this positive period to grow their base, which will protect them in poorer seasons on the field.

As for the Storm hitting a regular 20K average, they're still a way off... the reality is, at MRS, their average is now around the 16.5K mark...

• 2015: 13,355
• 2016: 14,963
• 2017: 16,034
• 2018: 16,036
• 2019: 16,506*

If they miraculously get almost 22K for the Cowboys game (maybe people will come out for the Minor Premiership presentation), that will get them to 17K for the year at home, with the rest of their average boosted by Queensland matches.

 

[bazza]

I think the Storm have built a decent base
I would hope soon that they would be able to hype up a few games to get the casuals in for 1 or 2 sell outs per year

 

[carcharias]

It happens to every team.
Storm will get a turn at being shit.
Crowds will fall and I won’t be surprised if they fall dramatically.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I think the Storm have built a decent base
I would hope soon that they would be able to hype up a few games to get the casuals in for 1 or 2 sell outs per year

You make a good point. They've built their average attendances from rock bottom in 2005 of 8,898 to 18,788 this season. It was always going to be slow progress but we are heading in the right direction. If they go through a rough few seasons their averages will obviously dip but they are too well established now to go back under 10k IMO. There will be peaks and troughs but they should be able to continue a general upward trend. averaging 25k in about 10 - 15 years is a fantastic result IMO and that would mean they've overtaken the lower drawing Melbourne AFL clubs.

 

[greenBV4]

I think the Storm have built a decent base
I would hope soon that they would be able to hype up a few games to get the casuals in for 1 or 2 sell outs per year

The ANZAC game already sells out most years, and some smarter scheduling would help with a few other sell outs. For Melbourne, smarter scheduling is admitting the Storm will always loose out for crowds directly against most (if not all) AFL games. Plus there's this week, AFL has the week off, but what is being played at AAMI park? not the Storm, instead theres a AFLX Legends game..

 

[carcharias]

 

[Burns]

Great news for the Sharks. I genuinely wonder what the crowd will be as the maximum capacity seems to change?

Also, ticket sales for Newcastle are bad. Not surprising.

 

[carcharias]

Great news for the Sharks. I genuinely wonder what the crowd will be as the maximum capacity seems to change?

Also, ticket sales for Newcastle are bad. Not surprising.

It’ll be choc o blok
Every half arsed bandwagoner will be sniffing around.
I’m sure scomo will be sucking up again.

 

[taipan]

View attachment 32569

Fastest sell out of a Shark's match in its 52 year's history.

 

[VictoryFC]

It happens to every team.
Storm will get a turn at being shit.
Crowds will fall and I won’t be surprised if they fall dramatically.

Agree. If Storm ever have a period of 5 years where theyre proper shethouse, theyll probably drop to 10-13k average. Thats not a problem though as long as the good years keep nudging 20k.

 

[taipan]

It’ll be choc o blok
Every half arsed bandwagoner will be sniffing around.
I’m sure scomo will be sucking up again.

I wonder if Elle trots back to have a gander? That would be worth the price of admission.
Let the bandwagon trains roll ,form a circle and vanish the hordes from the south.Lick Sticky's Vikies.

 

[horrie hastings]

They have seating at Brooky???

yep, milk crates.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

Another year, another ~15k league wide crowd average. 15 seasons in a row now where the crowd has averaged between 15-17k. No growth, only stability.

The myth about increased memberships driving bigger crowds has been entirely debunked - it's barely made a lick of difference. Clubs seem to still be solely reliant on good years boost attendances and seem to be incapable of using that to then have the floor lifted on their numbers permanently once bad years come around. We're getting new stadiums, transport has and will be improved, tickets prices adjusted, food and drink, etc etc. Still don't see it making too much of a difference.

There needs to be a monumental change of the image and culture within the fans of the game and the game itself. We're not doing enough to appeal to wider demographics and bigger audiences. We need bolder, smarter, and more ambitious people than who we currently have at the helm to get that done. At the moment we're just stuck in the mud, revving as hard as we can, thinking that we'll eventually get out.

 

[Slater1]

Melbourne has a lot more of an 'attendance' culture than Sydney when it comes to sport, so I don't feel like, even if the Storm have a number of poor years, their crowds will just fall away.

Yes they'll take a hit, however one thing the Storm has done well is they've taken advantage of this positive period to grow their base, which will protect them in poorer seasons on the field.

As for the Storm hitting a regular 20K average, they're still a way off... the reality is, at MRS, their average is now around the 16.5K mark...

• 2015: 13,355
• 2016: 14,963
• 2017: 16,034
• 2018: 16,036
• 2019: 16,506*

If they miraculously get almost 22K for the Cowboys game (maybe people will come out for the Minor Premiership presentation), that will get them to 17K for the year at home, with the rest of their average boosted by Queensland matches.

The ANZAC game already sells out most years, and some smarter scheduling would help with a few other sell outs. For Melbourne, smarter scheduling is admitting the Storm will always loose out for crowds directly against most (if not all) AFL games. Plus there's this week, AFL has the week off, but what is being played at AAMI park? not the Storm, instead theres a AFLX Legends game..

It's a shame that the Storm are playing away this weekend when there's no real AFL in town, yet last weeks home game and next weeks final home game have/will have to directly compete with AFL games across the road.

The crowd for the Cowboys game will be down compared to what is expected due to the congestion of traffic/PT from the 90k+ crowd for the AFL qualifying final next Friday night.

 

[Headless Chook]

It’s an odd one as to why Membership growth across most of the clubs has continued to point upwards but crowds generally have not.

I’m an interstate member of the roosters living in the ACT. As s neutral, I go to as many raiders games as I can but at $30 a pop I can only go to so many. And signing up for a Raiders season ticket just doesn’t sit right with me.

Has there been any consideration to giving NRL club members cheaper tickets to away games?

 

[sempmrh]

The ANZAC game already sells out most years, and some smarter scheduling would help with a few other sell outs. For Melbourne, smarter scheduling is admitting the Storm will always loose out for crowds directly against most (if not all) AFL games. Plus there's this week, AFL has the week off, but what is being played at AAMI park? not the Storm, instead theres a AFLX Legends game..

To be fair, the NRL and AFL finals are out of sync this year - normally our last round is unopposed. I wouldn't be surprised if it was an oversight from the NRL.

If we're good enough to make it to week three of the finals with a home game I also wouldn't be surprised if the NRL is dumb enough to schedule us on the night of the AFL Grand Final.

 

[azza29]

It’s an odd one as to why Membership growth across most of the clubs has continued to point upwards but crowds generally have not.

I’m an interstate member of the roosters living in the ACT. As s neutral, I go to as many raiders games as I can but at $30 a pop I can only go to so many. And signing up for a Raiders season ticket just doesn’t sit right with me.

Has there been any consideration to giving NRL club members cheaper tickets to away games?

This isn’t just an NRL problem, most AFL clubs also have membership numbers well above their average attendance. I don’t think it’s a terrible thing, good way for clubs to maintain a revenue stream even if fans can’t get to games. Sort of offsets the scheduling issues as well.

 

[Perth Red]

This isn’t just an NRL problem, most AFL clubs also have membership numbers well above their average attendance. I don’t think it’s a terrible thing, good way for clubs to maintain a revenue stream even if fans can’t get to games. Sort of offsets the scheduling issues as well.

Nones saying it’s a bad thing, just that the anticipated growth in memberships leading to growth in attendances has not eventuated. On to plan C!

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Broncos tracking for 32-35k

 

[carcharias]

It’s an odd one as to why Membership growth across most of the clubs has continued to point upwards but crowds generally have not.

I’m an interstate member of the roosters living in the ACT. As s neutral, I go to as many raiders games as I can but at $30 a pop I can only go to so many. And signing up for a Raiders season ticket just doesn’t sit right with me.

Has there been any consideration to giving NRL club members cheaper tickets to away games?

I’ve missed a few games this year but get a membership every year.
I play soccer Sunday’s so that pretty much screws any Sunday footy games for me.

I feel as though I have done and still do my bit for my club.

I have kids too and sometimes I have to baby sit,

It’s just life.