2025 Crowd Watch

[Jamberoo]

Solution: build the Lions a 60k stadium...

Correction, a 63k stadium.

 

[SouthsCountry]

What about Albury-Wodonga? That is 100k population. Is that a lost cause for RL? That would be a good spot for an annual Raiders v Storm game. The NRL should help fund a proper ground there.

Will never happen. Upgrade to the local ground has been put on the backburner for 10 years.

There's a decent oval ground there, and the steep hill and grandstand make it okay for rectangular sports. Manly played Canberra there in 2015, but rain meant only 6,436 showed up.

Strange town though, they have more interest in the local Ovens and Murray Aussie Rules competition than the AFL or NRL. It is probably the strongest regional Aussie Rules comp in the country, like the equivalent of the Newcastle Rugby League. Lavington Panthers having to work their training around the NRL on a Thursday would be front page news in The Border Mail lol

Local rugby league has grown though, they have more sides than Wagga Wagga these days.

 

[Vlad59]

Will never happen. Upgrade to the local ground has been put on the backburner for 10 years.

There's a decent oval ground there, and the steep hill and grandstand make it okay for rectangular sports. Manly played Canberra there in 2015, but rain meant only 6,436 showed up.

Strange town though, they have more interest in the local Ovens and Murray Aussie Rules competition than the AFL or NRL. It is probably the strongest regional Aussie Rules comp in the country, like the equivalent of the Newcastle Rugby League. Lavington Panthers having to work their training around the NRL on a Thursday would be front page news in The Border Mail lol

Local rugby league has grown though, they have more sides than Wagga Wagga these days.

There has been some nice growth both sides of the border there for the last couple of years.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Broncos vs Warriors in round 17 has sold down to single seats. Luckily we won't have a stadium takeover due to our ticketed members owning most of level 3, 5, 6, and a chunk of level 7 east and south, but Wahs fans have seemingly jumped on and bought 2-3k in level 7 north after this weekend. 3pm Saturday suits the travel from the GC!

This game is a guaranteed 40-44k.

 

[Steel Saints]

I get all that but the MCG has said that they are not interested. Marvel got great Storm crowds during the soccer WWC. You are much, much closer to the action than the MCG and it is also vacant that weekend. MCG is terrible with under 45k. The early SOO games at Marvel were awesome in terms of atmosphere and viewing, much better than MCG.

Storm played at Marvel during WWC because AAMI Park was unavailable. The last time they played at Marvel or Docklands was in 2010. Maybe the next time the Storm play at Docklands is when AAMI Park gets an upgrade.

 

[yakstorm]

Kennel has just sold out for Thursday's Bulldogs match, there doesn't look to be many seats left in the reserve sections on the western side of the ground either, though some still maybe getting held back.

Round 13s match between the Rabbitohs v Warriors is showing some encouraging signs this far out with the Warriors bandwagon also ramping up. Whilst still plenty of seats to move, the game is trending ahead of Rabbitohs v Roosters.

 

[Jamberoo]

Storm played at Marvel during WWC because AAMI Park was unavailable. The last time they played at Marvel or Docklands was in 2010. Maybe the next time the Storm play at Docklands is when AAMI Park gets an upgrade.

My point is that they did not play at the MCG during the WWC, because Marvel is a better option, just like it would be if they want to take a game to a larger venue during Gather Round.

 

[Bulldog2020]

My point is that they did not play at the MCG during the WWC, because Marvel is a better option, just like it would be if they want to take a game to a larger venue during Gather Round.

Surely the AFL wouldn't agree to that

 

[yakstorm]

Surely the AFL wouldn't agree to that

AFL will happily take money from anyone, plus as part of their agreement with the Vic Government, they can't really refuse the Storm.

 

[SouthsCountry]

There has been some nice growth both sides of the border there for the last couple of years.

Wagga Wagga is a great option, has a great stadium at Geohex Park, with great lighting. 10k sellout easy, they would watch any code any night there.

Wagga's decline from a local standpoint though is concerning. From 4 Div 1 clubs (Group 9) and 6 Div 2 clubs (Kennedy Shield) in the 90s down to just three in Group 9 today.

Could start a thread on it.

 

[wests1]

As a Wagga local, I can tell you that it wouldn’t matter when a game is played, it’d sell out.
There are a few funny things about the game locally.
1. There are still big junior numbers (eg Brothers U10s has 37 players! - and it’s one of four Wagga clubs). They just drop off a cliff at U16 level. I think for most body types playing Aussie Rules once you come up against men seems less daunting.
2. The old RL/RU class split becomes more a RL/AFL split.
3. The actual NRL competition is massive here. No doubt people would dispute me, but I’d guess that in the last five or so years it’s become twice as big as the AFL in town. I know a number of people who have played Aussie Rules but support the NRL.

 

[Jamberoo]

Surely the AFL wouldn't agree to that

They already did last year. They like money. They run a stadium and want is used.

 

[ouwet]

Shocking day in Sydney today!

I hope the game tonight gets 10,000+ but not sure it will.

Unfortunately, all the ingredients are in play for a small crowd - Thursday Night, Shocking Weather (40mm + Rain), Origin/Injury affected & with all the origin/Galvin news you would barely know a game is on tonight.

The only saving grace is from ticket sales/Members etc 15K + is easily on the cards but have a feeling a lot won't show.

 

[SouthsCountry]

As a Wagga local, I can tell you that it wouldn’t matter when a game is played, it’d sell out.
There are a few funny things about the game locally.
1. There are still big junior numbers (eg Brothers U10s has 37 players! - and it’s one of four Wagga clubs). They just drop off a cliff at U16 level. I think for most body types playing Aussie Rules once you come up against men seems less daunting.
2. The old RL/RU class split becomes more a RL/AFL split.
3. The actual NRL competition is massive here. No doubt people would dispute me, but I’d guess that in the last five or so years it’s become twice as big as the AFL in town. I know a number of people who have played Aussie Rules but support the NRL.

Group 9 is flying this year...very good crowds and a lot of publicity. More people follow Group 9 than the Riverina or Farrer Leagues, rugby league is a much bigger spectator sport at a local level.

 

[Steel Saints]

Here is the thing. Last week there was a full round, plus women's origin was on a Thursday night. This week there is only five games, and a Thursday night game is still scheduled. But it would've made more sense for the women to play tonight and not last week. I think Nine only showed two fta games.

So why was women's origin held last week and not this week with a reduced round?

 

[eels4lifee]

This rain is relentless it just doesn't wanna stop

 

[Theknightsrule7]

Poor decision having a Thursday night game on a 5 game round.

Dogs vs Dolphins should have been Sunday at 2pm or 4pm.

Tonight's game will struggle to crack 10,000 I think.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Here is the thing. Last week there was a full round, plus women's origin was on a Thursday night. This week there is only five games, and a Thursday night game is still scheduled. But it would've made more sense for the women to play tonight and not last week. I think Nine only showed two fta games.

So why was women's origin held last week and not this week with a reduced round?

Yeah good point! Would have helped for Origin build up and hype. Have the men's squads in attendance ect .
Would have given the women's origin a bit more of a platform.

 

[Captain Apollo]

The NRL itself are not going to invest in a stadium. To do so, they'd have to divert a lot of revenue to finance it, and then for upkeep. Thing is, at least 50% or more of the NRL's revenue must be spent on player wages via grants to the clubs. Then you have to take out it own operation costs (e.g. travel for teams, payment of referees, accommodation etc), and the funding for the local and state leagues that they distribute. As such they do not have that much spare revenue to divert to a stadium build, let alone stadium upkeep. Its economically unfeasible for them.

The NSWRL were looking at building its own stadium in St Peters back when Bill Buckley was its Chair. The SCG Trust effectively kyboshed it by making Buckley a member and glad handing him, so the NSWRL abandoned the plan. Thuis the boat has sailed since that 1960s proposal, and it won't be coming back.

 

[Jamberoo]

The NRL itself are not going to invest in a stadium. To do so, they'd have to divert a lot of revenue to finance it, and then for upkeep. Thing is, at least 50% or more of the NRL's revenue must be spent on player wages via grants to the clubs. Then you have to take out it own operation costs (e.g. travel for teams, payment of referees, accommodation etc), and the funding for the local and state leagues that they distribute. As such they do not have that much spare revenue to divert to a stadium build, let alone stadium upkeep. Its economically unfeasible for them.

The NSWRL were looking at building its own stadium in St Peters back when Bill Buckley was its Chair. The SCG Trust effectively kyboshed it by making Buckley a member and glad handing him, so the NSWRL abandoned the plan. Thuis the boat has sailed since that 1960s proposal, and it won't be coming back.

Correct.
i would suggest that, without government funding for construction and upkeep, that there is only one stadium in Australia that is truly profitable (MCG).