Based on what exactly, the hope a new stadium will automatically transfer into to more fans at the game, I hope it does, but hope means nothing when attemptng to debate a point you are trying to make.
We think it will mate. Thing is, when trying to garner interest amongst AFL types, who are used to the facilities at the 'G & Etihad, it is extremely difficult to convince them to stand in the gravel, in the rain at Olympic to watch a game that they are either only part time fans of or not quite sold on yet.
Our new stadium will do wonders in changing this.
Big matt
I understand that Melbourne is an important part of the competition (but no more important than any other side) But we prop them up and the return is we get to play, sorry mate cant swallow that. A johnny come lately franchise is not the jewel in the NRL crown you think it is.
Tradition and history along with expansion is the way forward. If a team cannot survive without being propped up by every other club, they should suffer the same fate as clubs that were not the benefactors of news ltd's generosity (& possible value of future tv rights is not a jusification to continue to prop them up). You cannot have one rule for one club, and a different one for others.
Balmain, Wests, StGeorge, Illawarra, Perth, Adelaide etc
On St George - St George
chose to merge without anyones prompting, so we cannot include them in that list.
With other clubs like Balmain, Wests, Norths, the argument for why Melbourne is more important to the future of the game is very simple. Does the existence of the Wests Tigers rather than Balmain/Wests as stand alones hurt RL in Sydney? No. Sure there are people like me who have had trouble in the past supporting the JV, and some who refuse to but at the end of the day, this is a dying breed of people. Hell, I saw kids at games this year that were born post the merger & could never have seen the traditional clubs play a game in first grade. These kids do not have any connection bar maybe through family to Balmain or Wests, they are legitimately Wests Tigers fans first. Over the long term, those of us who have that connection will continue to dwindle, and those who don't will continue to increase.
It's a reality that for the most part has led even someone like me who DESPISES the concept of mergers, (particularly in the case of Balmain) to accept what has been done and look to the future.
However, when we look at Melbourne, does Melbourne folding due to a lack of support from the NRL hurt RL in Melbourne? Yes. If Melbourne fold, you quite simply kill any chance of the game ever succeeding in this city. To continue to grow the game, grow the tv rights and ensure a stronger future for the comp - Clubs like Melbourne MUST be supported for as long as neccesary.
FWIW ... i would also include Newcastle in that list. the Knights folding would be disasterous.
