2025 Crowd Watch

[League Unlimited News]

Note: these figures exclude neutral venues, Magic Round and Las Vegas. Numbers in brackets are number of home games up to Round 10.

 

[Wb1234]

This is not said anywhere in the article. You have made this up 100%.

The mcg saying the ground wasn’t available was mentioned earlier in this thread

This isn’t the first time it was discussed on here

 

[Timmah]

The mcg saying the ground wasn’t available was mentioned earlier in this thread

This isn’t the first time it was discussed on here

No it wasn't. If you're certain it was, find the post, or failing that, an article that supports your claim.

The entire discussion to my understanding centres around the Storm's publicly stated desire to play a game at the MCG in future years during the AFL's Gather Round.

There was never any intention or statement from the club or anyone else - to my knowledge - that they wanted to do it this year or that they'd been knocked back this year.

 

[Wb1234]

MCG CEO said today that there in no room for a Storm game @ MCG. Said they use Gather Round to replace the turf and that their event calendar is full, and that they would only consider squeezing in other events that were like to fill the stadium.

@Timmah

 

[eels4lifee]

For some reason the MCG don't want Rugby League being played there, maybe they feel abit insecure that Rugby League is going to eat their lunch

 

[Wb1234]

No it wasn't. If you're certain it was, find the post, or failing that, an article that supports your claim.

The entire discussion to my understanding centres around the Storm's publicly stated desire to play a game at the MCG in future years during the AFL's Gather Round.

There was never any intention or statement from the club or anyone else - to my knowledge - that they wanted to do it this year or that they'd been knocked back this year.

NRL news 2025: Melbourne Storm in talks to play at MCG during future AFL Gather Round

The storm ceo is literally quoted here in this article

 

[Timmah]

f**k I am tired of the parochial nonsense here sometimes.

@Timmah

Sorry @Jamberoo, you've paraphrased inaccurately here. It has not been ruled out. From this article:

The venue also needs to leave time free between events for turf management.

“There have been no formal discussions about hosting an NRL match at the MCG in 2026,” the spokesperson said.

“However, the concept as we understand it would present challenges based on the heavy event schedule planned at the MCG over the next three years.”

The Victorian government won’t rule out making a future bid for the NRL grand final or helping the Storm secure an MCG home game.

“As Australia’s major events capital, we’re always working to secure major events that boost tourism and support jobs across the state,” a government spokesperson said when asked about the games.

For some reason the MCG don't want Rugby League being played there, maybe they feel abit insecure that Rugby League is going to eat their lunch

Per the above quotes, this is nonsense.

They played Origin II there last year in front of the biggest rugby league crowd in this country had seen since... the last time Origin was played there. and they squeezed it in on a Wednesday between AFL games played 4 days prior and 3 days later at the venue.

 

[Timmah]

NRL news 2025: Melbourne Storm in talks to play at MCG during future AFL Gather Round

The storm ceo is literally quoted here in this article

He is not quoted saying anything about the ground not being available for 2025, nor did he say he wanted it to have been done this year, which is what you have suggested.

I'm not even sure you know what you're arguing about anymore.

- You claimed the MCG said no to it being available this year.
- That claim is false and not supported by any evidence

 

[The_Wookie]

He is not quoted saying anything about the ground not being available for 2025, nor did he say he wanted it to have been done this year, which is what you have suggested.

I'm not even sure you know what you're arguing about anymore.

- You claimed the MCG said no to it being available this year.
- That claim is false and not supported by any evidence

Not to mention that the MCG Turf is normally replaced after the last summer concert and before the season starts, not 4 or 5 weeks into the season.

 

[Wb1234]

f**k I am tired of the parochial nonsense here sometimes.



Sorry @Jamberoo, you've paraphrased inaccurately here. It has not been ruled out. From this article:

The venue also needs to leave time free between events for turf management.

“There have been no formal discussions about hosting an NRL match at the MCG in 2026,” the spokesperson said.

“However, the concept as we understand it would present challenges based on the heavy event schedule planned at the MCG over the next three years.”

The Victorian government won’t rule out making a future bid for the NRL grand final or helping the Storm secure an MCG home game.

“As Australia’s major events capital, we’re always working to secure major events that boost tourism and support jobs across the state,” a government spokesperson said when asked about the games.



Per the above quotes, this is nonsense.

They played Origin II there last year in front of the biggest rugby league crowd in this country had seen since... the last time Origin was played there. and they squeezed it in on a Wednesday between AFL games played 4 days prior and 3 days later at the venue.

Yeh that’ article makes it a lot clearer the mcg will be made available if the storm requests it lol

And I never said it was for this year

You’ve misinterpreted my post

 

[SouthsCountry]

Bulldogs v Swans H2H on Friday night, the city's 2 biggest INDIVIDUAL sporting clubs

I'm backing a rugby league win. 40k+ does the job

 

[eels4lifee]

Until the draws are done, they cant lock anything in.

Since the Storm will be top 4, they could probably play one of their home finals at the MCG. This will boost the crowd tremendously?

 

[Timmah]

Yeh that’ article makes it a lot clearer the mcg will be made available if the storm requests it lol

And I never said it was for this year

You’ve misinterpreted my post

If your post was misinterpreted it's because you weren't particularly clear. The below certainly seemed to imply that the MCG had made a decision about it this year.

Yeh good point about the storm

The death of the rebels have given them a nice bump in crowds

Shame the mcg wouldn’t allow them to take a game there during the afl magic round in Adelaide

That could’ve been a 40k crowd with ticket incentives

Either way, the MCG hasn't "not allowed" anything so the entire thing is moot.

 

[Wb1234]

If your post was misinterpreted it's because you weren't particularly clear. The below certainly seemed to imply that the MCG had made a decision about it this year.

Either way, the MCG hasn't "not allowed" anything so the entire thing is moot.

I could’ve been clearer sure

And the poster who said the mcg ceo wouldn’t allow it could’ve been more accurate too

But I didn’t “100 percent make it up”

 

[Jordan23]

Would love to know how many people buy tickets at the game as opposed to pre purchased.
I remember 10 years ago i would rock up to an away game and buy tickets at the gate. I’d never do that these .

 

[Warriors Fever]

Note: these figures exclude neutral venues, Magic Round and Las Vegas. Numbers in brackets are number of home games up to Round 10.

That St George average is a worry. They do have mostly Sydney sides for their remaining home games however.

 

[beave]

NQ sales for saturday look like it will get 19-20k again.

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

That St George average is a worry. They do have mostly Sydney sides for their remaining home games however.

The problem has to be Kogarah (i dont know Kogarah crowds fir this year, but i reckon its a good guess)…

they will average 10k there while the Roosters are at 24k in Moore park. I get the home suburb love, but the new Sfs is a direct train line away and it is accessible to people from other parts of the city

 

[T-Boon]

the MCG is a complete shit hole for sports other than cricket and fumble. I dont understand why storm want to play a game there - if it just purely about the number of fans you can get in isnt there like some horse racing track down there you could get more into.

 

[Valheru]

That’s a great article on Canterbury crowds. If they keep up this form and positivity about the club, 30,000+ is definitely on lock as an average crowd figure. It should also induce other Sydney clubs to look at ways to mobilise their fan bases on game days.

TfNSW will tomorrow release its guidance for game day transport options for the King’s Birthday game at Accor Stadium. Three weeks out from the comparable Good Friday game, TfNSW was planning for a crowd of approximately 45,000 which was ultimately 65,305 due to hype and excellent marketing. It will be interesting to see what figure TfNSW starts with tomorrow.

The thing that has mobilised dogs fans the most is being shit for 10 years and finally having a team worth turning up for. It's not a formula NRL clubs would look to follow.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they aren't a large supporter base but replicating the crowds this year is unrealistic and expecting it to happen will only lead to disappointment. See souths circa 2013 as another example of a short term burst after many years of failure.

If the dogs can turn this in to consistent 25k season averages over the next 5 years that would be a success.