Redcliffe most likely to be the next expansion team according to the Telegraph

[Perth Red]

I love these discussions about being too small or too close to another club

Ever been to Everton & Liverpool soccer stadiums ?

1 maybe 2 km max between them

Difference is epl has fans that are passionate and wouldn’t miss a game come hell or high water. They also play in one of the biggest sports comps in the world with MASSIVE tv money and global sponsorship opportunities. 100 yearsbplus of rivallary and large stadiums they could both afford to fund themselves. Apples and oranges

They also operate in a population catchment of over 2million people.

 

[siv]

Difference is epl has fans that are passionate and wouldn’t miss a game come hell or high water. They also play in one of the biggest sports comps in the world with MASSIVE tv money and global sponsorship opportunities. 100 yearsbplus of rivallary and large stadiums they could both afford to fund themselves. Apples and oranges

They also operate in a population catchment of over 2million people.

You've written a article for the Sydney derbies

Anyway there are more than just 2 teams in this catchment with Blackpool just over the river

 

[mongoose]

Would redcliffe face the same challenges as Manly and cronulla. Isolated communities with small populations? Seems it is a bit of an out on a limb suburban area, what is its realistic catchment population (not distance to other places per se but people that would identify with a Redcliffe dolphins side)?

Yes I think it would be a similar scenario if they completely based themselves at Redcliffe. An idea would be to rebrand Redcliffe to Moreton Bay Dolphins. They could still have their HQ in Redcliffe, they can train at Redcliffe and obviously be backed by the Leagues club there. Maybe play some lower drawing games there - i.e. Newcastle, Canberra, Penrith but the rest has to be played at Suncorp.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Would redcliffe face the same challenges as Manly and cronulla. Isolated communities with small populations? Seems it is a bit of an out on a limb suburban area, what is its realistic catchment population (not distance to other places per se but people that would identify with a Redcliffe dolphins side)?

I think they'll be fine mate - there are many fans here starving for something that is not the Broncos. They represent QLD RL, traditional RL clubs and the old BRL given their history. That will be very appealing to many RL fans. I will be on board they day they are given the nod if it happens and I live in Logan (basically the opposite end of Brisbane). And that is coming from someone that is not and has never been a Dolphins fan. The brand is highly respected here though.

 

[Perth Red]

You've written a article for the Sydney derbies

Anyway there are more than just 2 teams in this catchment with Blackpool just over the river

Haha, oh yes the behemoth that is Blackpool town

If Sydney derbies were drawing regular 50k like the Liverpool derbies you’d have a good point. However when they are drawing 10k, you don’t,

 

[Perth Red]

I think they'll be fine mate - there are many fans here starving for something that is not the Broncos. They represent QLD RL, traditional RL clubs and the old BRL given their history. That will be very appealing to many RL fans. I will be on board they day they are given the nod if it happens and I live in Logan (basically the opposite end of Brisbane). And that is coming from someone that is not and has never been a Dolphins fan. The brand is highly respected here though.

Cheers interesting to hear and I guess yet more example of why they need to be based at Suncorp to attract the disenfranchised non broncos fans from right across Brisbane.

 

[flippikat]

Yes I think it would be a similar scenario if they completely based themselves at Redcliffe. An idea would be to rebrand Redcliffe to Moreton Bay Dolphins. They could still have their HQ in Redcliffe, they can train at Redcliffe and obviously be backed by the Leagues club there. Maybe play some lower drawing games there - i.e. Newcastle, Canberra, Penrith but the rest has to be played at Suncorp.

Yep, I think on a similar tack to Freemantle in the AFL.. they play at the same stadium as the West Coast Eagles, yet have a non-Perth name.

Moreton Bay Dolphins playing out of Suncorp, with the odd heritage game at Dolphin Oval (much like how the Bulldogs have 1 or 2 games per year at Belmore) would be great. Same goes for Ipswich.

 

[MugaB]

Bit of a stretch but if Morton bay dolphins doesn't stick as a name, would "South Queensland Dolphins" work?
I can't see that happening tho, but its a broader name for a new brand, especially if Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast aren't names that they are going with

 

[flippikat]

Bit of a stretch but if Morton bay dolphins doesn't stick as a name, would "South Queensland Dolphins" work?
I can't see that happening tho, but its a broader name for a new brand, especially if Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast aren't names that they are going with

Makes sense to me.. it sets up a rivalry with North Queensland too (North v South clash!)

 

[magpie_man]

Could some sort of joint-venture between the eastern Brisbane QRL clubs (i.e. Redcliffe, Easts & Wynnum-Manly) work?
A brand new club (e.g. Moreton Bay Marlins) with a broader catchment and backing.
I worry that Redcliffe going it alone may alienate many of the other RL/QRL fans in Brisbane.

 

[Timbo]

Yes I think it would be a similar scenario if they completely based themselves at Redcliffe. An idea would be to rebrand Redcliffe to Moreton Bay Dolphins. They could still have their HQ in Redcliffe, they can train at Redcliffe and obviously be backed by the Leagues club there. Maybe play some lower drawing games there - i.e. Newcastle, Canberra, Penrith but the rest has to be played at Suncorp.

I really like that idea - I had a similar thought with a Western Corridor team, 9 at Suncorp and 3 at Toowoomba. But I think Redcliffe has more upside.

 

[Perth Red]

I really like that idea - I had a similar thought with a Western Corridor team, 9 at Suncorp and 3 at Toowoomba. But I think Redcliffe has more upside.

We have to get away from the games in suburbs thinking, it is too limiting. You’d never get freo thinking we’ll play 9 games at state of the art Perth stadium and 3 games Fremantle oval because that’s our area. Why? Because they want 40k fans at games and to have the best corporate facilities to be able to sell $10mill worth of boxes.

 

[Timbo]

We have to get away from the games in suburbs thinking, it is too limiting. You’d never get freo thinking we’ll play 9 games at state of the art Perth stadium and 3 games Fremantle oval because that’s our area. Why? Because they want 40k fans at games and to have the best corporate facilities to be able to sell $10mill worth of boxes.

Jesus Christ you're a pest.

A - Toowoomba is not a 'suburb', it's a completely different city to the west of Brisbane.
B - The Bronco's currently average 35,000 at Lang Park, so it's completely reasonable to assume the Dolphins will be averaging 40,000 off the bat and selling every corporate box in the venue. Dolphin Stadium is already halfway to being a very good club stadium. Should Redcliffe be admitted I dare say there will be funding from the Queensland Government to turn it into a ground that can host 2-3 home games each year against low-drawing out of state sides. Nobody is suggesting they play the Broncos or the Cowboys there. But a full house of 15,000 against the Raiders or Knights on a Saturday afternoon would be better than 9,000 at Suncorp.

 

[flippikat]

We have to get away from the games in suburbs thinking, it is too limiting. You’d never get freo thinking we’ll play 9 games at state of the art Perth stadium and 3 games Fremantle oval because that’s our area. Why? Because they want 40k fans at games and to have the best corporate facilities to be able to sell $10mill worth of boxes.

Fair point.. however I think ONE game at their historical home ground per year would be a good thing to have though for the local (suburban) community to rally round - whether that's a pre-season trial like Souths with 'Return to Redfern', or a lower-drawing game in the regular season like how Bulldogs take a game to Belmore these days - or even one preseason AND one regular season game.

 

[Perth Red]

Jesus Christ you're a pest.

A - Toowoomba is not a 'suburb', it's a completely different city to the west of Brisbane.
B - The Bronco's currently average 35,000 at Lang Park, so it's completely reasonable to assume the Dolphins will be averaging 40,000 off the bat and selling every corporate box in the venue. Dolphin Stadium is already halfway to being a very good club stadium. Should Redcliffe be admitted I dare say there will be funding from the Queensland Government to turn it into a ground that can host 2-3 home games each year against low-drawing out of state sides. Nobody is suggesting they play the Broncos or the Cowboys there. But a full house of 15,000 against the Raiders or Knights on a Saturday afternoon would be better than 9,000 at Suncorp.

If a Brisbane side is likely to only get 9k to games at Suncorp we shouldn't be expanding there!

 

[Perth Red]

Fair point.. however I think ONE game at their historical home ground per year would be a good thing to have though for the local (suburban) community to rally round - whether that's a pre-season trial like Souths with 'Return to Redfern', or a lower-drawing game in the regular season like how Bulldogs take a game to Belmore these days - or even one preseason AND one regular season game.

No problem with a pre season game but its sad our ok ambitions are 10-15k at any regular game for a new club in a city we keep being told is desperate for a second team. Think big, achieve big! Its the one reason I like the Bombers bid, they arent interested in being a small suburban mentality set up reliant on pokie machines to make up for lack of fans.

 

[Timbo]

No problem with a pre season game but its sad our ok ambitions are 10-15k at any regular game for a new club in a city we keep being told is desperate for a second team. Think big, achieve big! Its the one reason I like the Bombers bid, they arent interested in being a small suburban mentality set up reliant on pokie machines to make up for lack of fans.

Right, but there is a difference between ambition and reality. This club is not going to draw Bronco's numbers off the bat, regardless if it's the Dolphins or the Bombers. Especially against out of state teams with little support in Brisbane.

By your logic, shouldn't the Pirates be looking to base themselves out of Optus Stadium? Why play at the 22,000 seat stadium when we can bump the seats in at Optus? Think big, achieve big! There will be 65,000 fans there from day one!

Right?

 

[adamkungl]

Still think the best idea here is a Brisbane club that represents all Queensland Rugby League (in contrast to the Broncos who were kind of dropped in over the old league), without being tied to any one club. Playing out of Suncorp full time.

Redcliffe or Ipswich both sound like valid options too, if they play out of Suncorp at least 50% of the time.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Cheers interesting to hear and I guess yet more example of why they need to be based at Suncorp to attract the disenfranchised non broncos fans from right across Brisbane.

Whichever option the NRL go for - that has to be their mission statement, if they actively seek that base they will be very well supported.

 

[Perth Red]

Right, but there is a difference between ambition and reality. This club is not going to draw Bronco's numbers off the bat, regardless if it's the Dolphins or the Bombers. Especially against out of state teams with little support in Brisbane.

By your logic, shouldn't the Pirates be looking to base themselves out of Optus Stadium? Why play at the 22,000 seat stadium when we can bump the seats in at Optus? Think big, achieve big! There will be 65,000 fans there from day one!

Right?

If we were rl mad city with one club then I’d agree! You think the dockers thought, why play at subiaco when we are starting up, might as well play at north freo oval.

Don’t expect them to avg 34k but I would expect them to be up around the 18-20k or you’d have too question if Brisbane does actually want another club.

Your Pirates analogy is just stupidity. If we avg 16k year one we will be doing better than the majority of sydney clubs who have had 50-100 years to build a fan Base!