2025 Crowd Watch

[Vlad59]

Definitely not yet, but if they continue to grow at the rate they are it could happen quicker than you think.

2025 - 21,609 So far.
2024 - 19,849
2023 - 18,264
2015 - 13,355

Theoretically if they grow the same again 2025-2035 they’re there.

That’s the thinking that is required. A state of the art 50000 capacity rectangular stadium for the three codes is what is required to cope with international football and rugby, state of origin and the Storm. A city of 5 million relying on a 28000 stadium for the appropriate accommodation of these three codes is embarrassing. (And no the afl owned Marvel is not the answer). We have to be more aggressive and ambitious about pushing our code in a growing market. Storm crowds will continue to grow.
The flog ballers are doing everything they can to get larger stadiums for larger crowds in our markets. We’d be fools not to do the same.

 

[Jonty]

Don’t you mean Allan Akbar!

That too.

 

[Steel Saints]

What’s with the sudden growth?
More tv exposure in the Melbourne market?

I remember when the storm were winning comps with slater, smith and Cronk they only averaged about 14k

One of the possible reasons is Melbourne's population growth. When the Storm entered the comp in '98, Melbourne's population was just over 3 million. Today, the population is over 5 million.

 

[yakstorm]

Despite the impact of Origin, it's looking like an okay round for crowds.

Bulldogs v Broncos at Accor is trending for 20K+ with less than 1,000 reserve seats left in the lower bowl. I'd be surprised if Level 4 doesn't go on either today or tomorrow.

Raiders v Dragons is possibly the most at risk of a low crowd, though at the moment it's trending better than Raiders v Dolphins. Hoping for 15-16K at least.

Cowboys v Storm has been down to pretty much single tickets for a couple of weeks now. This one will be a sellout, question is when will they call it.

Roosters v Wests Tigers is selling reasonably well. Bays like 30 - 32 & 16 - 17 which are often a good barometer for interest in the game, are down to single seats. I'd say it's trending towards 17-18K at the moment, but wouldn't rule out a bigger crowd, even against a depleted Wests Tigers.

Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs is set to be another sell out with rain the only thing that will stop a 17K crowd being announced.

 

[Trifili13]

One of the possible reasons is Melbourne's population growth. When the Storm entered the comp in '98, Melbourne's population was just over 3 million. Today, the population is over 5 million.

A team with a winning culture basically since inception over 25 years ago, population growth, any spin off from the Rebels struggling and probably hard work from within the club to market themselves in a city of 5mill population. All would add up to a growing crowd number. Not wanting to be too harsh, but you can say why it has taken them so long to get to a 20k average with all the positive drivers in their favour. The issue will be when they transition away from Bellamy, will the people within the club be able to carry on the success? Hopefully the don't fall into a hole like Manchester United when Sir Alex retired with the greedy owners running it as a business first and football club second which after over a decade of negligence sees them where they are now.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

That’s the thinking that is required. A state of the art 50000 capacity rectangular stadium for the three codes is what is required to cope with international football and rugby, state of origin and the Storm. A city of 5 million relying on a 28000 stadium for the appropriate accommodation of these three codes is embarrassing. (And no the afl owned Marvel is not the answer). We have to be more aggressive and ambitious about pushing our code in a growing market. Storm crowds will continue to grow.
The flog ballers are doing everything they can to get larger stadiums for larger crowds in our markets. We’d be fools not to do the same.

Completely agree mate. It helps us that Origin can be played on the MCG, but at the same time, it is short term thinking that does nothing to promote RL, fit for purpose infrastructure around the country. I'd rather Origin be played in a 55k-60k rectangular in Melbourne than 95k at the MCG.

Storm crowds continuing to grow are the key to pushing for a bigger stadium around 2040.

 

[azza29]

Not wanting to be too harsh, but you can say why it has taken them so long to get to a 20k average with all the positive drivers in their favour.

Salary cap dramas and COVID-19 didn't help but #1 reason is that Melbourne is overwhelmingly an AFL town. It's ingrained in the culture to the point where most people don't even think about other sports (apart from cricket maybe). They love their footy club and that's enough.

 

[Vlad59]

A team with a winning culture basically since inception over 25 years ago, population growth, any spin off from the Rebels struggling and probably hard work from within the club to market themselves in a city of 5mill population. All would add up to a growing crowd number. Not wanting to be too harsh, but you can say why it has taken them so long to get to a 20k average with all the positive drivers in their favour. The issue will be when they transition away from Bellamy, will the people within the club be able to carry on the success? Hopefully the don't fall into a hole like Manchester United when Sir Alex retired with the greedy owners running it as a business first and football club second which after over a decade of negligence sees them where they are now.

Yep I get that. But that’s just contingent on storms success or failure and that’s not the argument for or against the stadium. In a market of 5 million people which has three rectangular codes present, all of which have the ability to attract crowds easily of over 50000 to premium events, why would you not have a rectangular stadium to accomodate them?

 

[newc18]

I don’t see AAMI Park being upgraded anytime soon. All the talk down there atm is about upgrading the MCG and the what the future of Marvel Stadium will be.

We would need pressure from all the rectangular sports to get some change. Whilst the NRL, Soccer, and Union are content playing their event games at these oval stadiums, there will be no ambition to build anything bigger than AAMI Park from the Victorian Government.

 

[newc18]

Despite the impact of Origin, it's looking like an okay round for crowds.

Bulldogs v Broncos at Accor is trending for 20K+ with less than 1,000 reserve seats left in the lower bowl. I'd be surprised if Level 4 doesn't go on either today or tomorrow.

Raiders v Dragons is possibly the most at risk of a low crowd, though at the moment it's trending better than Raiders v Dolphins. Hoping for 15-16K at least.

Cowboys v Storm has been down to pretty much single tickets for a couple of weeks now. This one will be a sellout, question is when will they call it.

Roosters v Wests Tigers is selling reasonably well. Bays like 30 - 32 & 16 - 17 which are often a good barometer for interest in the game, are down to single seats. I'd say it's trending towards 17-18K at the moment, but wouldn't rule out a bigger crowd, even against a depleted Wests Tigers.

Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs is set to be another sell out with rain the only thing that will stop a 17K crowd being announced.

I have seen a few people online who are on this Lions tour say they want to catch some NRL and AFL games whilst in Australia. Bulldogs vs Broncos was one that was mentioned as its the day before the Lions game against the Waratahs.

 

[Trifili13]

Yep I get that. But that’s just contingent on storms success or failure and that’s not the argument for or against the stadium. In a market of 5 million people which has three rectangular codes present, all of which have the ability to attract crowds easily of over 50000 to premium events, why would you not have a rectangular stadium to accomodate them?

Unfortunately the counter argument from AFL is they can play these games at the MCG so don't waste taxpayers money on a rectangular stadium that might get filled once or twice a year. And with most voters being AFL supporters, we can all guess the outcome of what politicians will do - upgrade the MCG.

Wasn't there also something when AAMI was being built it could only have a certain capacity or when the AFL acquired Marvel that there was a max capacity for any other new stadium or has that changed?

 

[Vlad59]

Unfortunately the counter argument from AFL is they can play these games at the MCG so don't waste taxpayers money on a rectangular stadium that might get filled once or twice a year. And with most voters being AFL supporters, we can all guess the outcome of what politicians will do - upgrade the MCG.

Wasn't there also something when AAMI was being built it could only have a certain capacity or when the AFL acquired Marvel that there was a max capacity for any other new stadium or has that changed?

Then we need the three codes to aggressively lobby government to get a fit for purpose stadium for three international football codes in a major capital city. It’s only as difficult as you choose to make it.

 

[Steel Saints]

A team with a winning culture basically since inception over 25 years ago, population growth, any spin off from the Rebels struggling and probably hard work from within the club to market themselves in a city of 5mill population. All would add up to a growing crowd number. Not wanting to be too harsh, but you can say why it has taken them so long to get to a 20k average with all the positive drivers in their favour. The issue will be when they transition away from Bellamy, will the people within the club be able to carry on the success? Hopefully the don't fall into a hole like Manchester United when Sir Alex retired with the greedy owners running it as a business first and football club second which after over a decade of negligence sees them where they are now.

Initially playing at an athletics venue- Olympic Park didn't help. Capacity was small and a not a fit for purpose rugby league venue. Some may have wonderful nostalgia with Olympic Park. People in Brisbane may think the same thing with old Lang Park, but Suncorp takes it to another level or two.

As for post Bellamy era, the Storm may drop in the lower half of the ladder. But I don't think their core, die hard support will be drop down to an average of 8 to 10,000. You would like to think Storm's core suppprt is much greater than that.

 

[ouwet]

Bulldogs v Broncos at Accor is trending for 20K+ with less than 1,000 reserve seats left in the lower bowl. I'd be surprised if Level 4 doesn't go on either today or tomorrow.

Level 4 open now.

8 players missing which 100% will effect the crowd and what it might've got.

 

[Valheru]

People have been saying this fo the last 4 broadcast deals. They tried the Sunday night then changed it straight back.
You're kidding yourself if you think anything is going to change this time around. It's not perfect but there isn't really a viable solution.

There are plenty of viable alternatives

Even if we accept that for commercial reasons it will never not be Wednesday nights mid season, why not just do it 3 Wednesdays in a row and lessen the impact on the NRL season?

 

[Lakemba Dragon]

There are plenty of viable alternatives

Even if we accept that for commercial reasons it will never not be Wednesday nights mid season, why not just do it 3 Wednesdays in a row and lessen the impact on the NRL season?

I like the idea of 3 Wednesday nights in a row. Definitely lessen the impact on NRL.

The lead up to Origin 1 and 2 was quite flat. QLD put some life into the series by taking it to a decider.
I’m actually keen for it to finish and get on with the run home to finals.

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Level 4 open now.

8 players missing which 100% will effect the crowd and what it might've got.

Still a great sign. Assuming the weather holds, this should be comparable to the Roosters crowd and clock 30k+

 

[Steel Saints]

For Origin, just have it over three consecutive Wednesday nights. Split one round of footy across three weekends.

On Thursday in the lead up to Origin, have the women’s Origin. After the third men’s game, have under 19’s origin. That caters for four Thursday nights.

 

[Valheru]

For Origin, just have it over three consecutive Wednesday nights. Split one round of footy across three weekends.

On Thursday in the lead up to Origin, have the women’s Origin. After the third men’s game, have under 19’s origin. That caters for four Thursday nights.

Great idea

In an 18 team comp that's 3 NRL games per weekend which satisfies Channel 9s contract and each team has to play once and only once without origin players.

Having this period in July would allow the NRLW to feature for more content too.

 

[Valheru]

Despite the impact of Origin, it's looking like an okay round for crowds.

Bulldogs v Broncos at Accor is trending for 20K+ with less than 1,000 reserve seats left in the lower bowl. I'd be surprised if Level 4 doesn't go on either today or tomorrow.

Raiders v Dragons is possibly the most at risk of a low crowd, though at the moment it's trending better than Raiders v Dolphins. Hoping for 15-16K at least.

Cowboys v Storm has been down to pretty much single tickets for a couple of weeks now. This one will be a sellout, question is when will they call it.

Roosters v Wests Tigers is selling reasonably well. Bays like 30 - 32 & 16 - 17 which are often a good barometer for interest in the game, are down to single seats. I'd say it's trending towards 17-18K at the moment, but wouldn't rule out a bigger crowd, even against a depleted Wests Tigers.

Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs is set to be another sell out with rain the only thing that will stop a 17K crowd being announced.

Worth noting roosters/wests is a direct clash with the swans next door too which starts an hour earlier.