Titans first game

[Quidgybo]

given we are battling the Lions for crowd attendances its in the game interests to have the Broncos and Titans crowd attendances high.

Absolutely. But on some occasions - such as the Titans debut match coinciding with the traditional Broncos/Cowboys match (both games likely draw crowds of 40,000+) - it isn't always going to be possible to accomodate the needs of both teams. We can schedule as much as possible to avoid clashes and ensure both teams get the highest attendances possible but some times we'll have to maximise one attendance at the expense of the other. And that balance shouldn't always favour the Broncos and it shouldn't always favour the Titans. Sometimes the Broncos crowd might have to take a hit and vice versa. That said, I'll repeat what I said before - a little healthy competition never hurt anyone. It'll keep both teams on their toes.

Leigh.

 

[gcbronco]

Absolutely. But on some occasions - such as the Titans debut match coinciding with the traditional Broncos/Cowboys match (both games likely draw crowds of 40,000+) - it isn't always going to be possible to accomodate the needs of both teams. We can schedule as much as possible to avoid clashes and ensure both teams get the highest attendances possible but some times we'll have to maximise one attendance at the expense of the other. And that balance shouldn't always favour the Broncos and it shouldn't always favour the Titans. Sometimes the Broncos crowd might have to take a hit and vice versa. That said, I'll repeat what I said before - a little healthy competition never hurt anyone. It'll keep both teams on their toes.

Leigh.

With regard to the Titans, when exactly will they have to take a hit for the Broncos if they will be playing mostly on the Gold Coast and at times for their bigger matches in Brisbane?

 

[JW]

Honestly, in the interest of really cementing the game up here and putting the Lions down even further I REALLY believe that the Broncos and Titans shouldn't both have home games on the same weekend wherever possible.

Think about it - one NRL game on either the coast or Brisbane EVERY weekend... it'd be a brilliant idea, would ensure massive crowds and the continued growth of the game for at least the first season of the Titans.

Hit the nail on the head.

Having weekends free of NRL matches in SEQ on any given weekend from next year onwards kind of defeats the purpose of introducing another team in that region.

It's the sort of stance that the AFL would certainly take should they introduce new teams into SEQ or Sydney many years down the track.

By having the two teams home games seperated, you increase exposure for the game and the clubs individually, you potentially increase the gate for both clubs and you block out the chance of giving the AFL a freee ride on any giving weekend.

Of course, with the draw set up the way it is, it may not be as simple as this, but its what the NRL should be looking at implementing whenever possible.

 

[Quidgybo]

Honestly, in the interest of really cementing the game up here and putting the Lions down even further I REALLY believe that the Broncos and Titans shouldn't both have home games on the same weekend wherever possible.

Seriously, it's ONE game - their debut game. Of course for the rest of the season and future seasons to come we should try to alternate their matches with the Broncos. That's just common sense and I haven't seen anybody suggest otherwise.

Leigh.

 

[gcbronco]

Seriously, it's ONE game - their debut game. Of course for the rest of the season and future seasons to come we should try to alternate their matches with the Broncos. That's just common sense and I haven't seen anybody suggest otherwise.

Leigh.

Not all debut teams play a home game in the first round, Storm played Illawarra away in 1998, theres no reason they couldn't play their debut home match in round 2? I don't see it necessary to have all 3 Queensland teams locked into playing in the South East Corner of Queensland for the first round. Are you going to tell me that if you were to move the match back a round, you couldn't maximise your crowds for both matches by doing so? If the Broncos were away 2nd round that would give the Titans all the market to draw for that match.

 

[Quidgybo]

With regard to the Titans, when exactly will they have to take a hit for the Broncos if they will be playing mostly on the Gold Coast and at times for their bigger matches in Brisbane?

Well after we're past the debut match you could ask exactly the same question for the Broncos, when will they have to take a hit for the Titans? I'm just suggesting that there may be such occasions and the needs of the Broncos should not always take precedence. Sometimes the Broncos might have to take a hit to allow the Titans to maxmise their crowd by moving a match to Suncorp. And sometimes the Titans might have to take a hit by being denied a venue transfer for a big drawing match to allow the Broncos to maxmise their crowd. Hopefully, smart scheduling will allow us to avoid most of these clashes.

Leigh.

 

[gcbronco]

Well after we're past the debut match you could ask exactly the same question for the Broncos, when will they have to take a hit for the Titans? I'm just suggesting that there may be such occasions and the needs of the Broncos should not always take precedence. Sometimes the Broncos might have to take a hit to allow the Titans to maxmise their crowd by moving a match to Suncorp. And sometimes the Titans might have to take a hit by being denied a venue transfer for a big drawing match to allow the Broncos to maxmise their crowd. Hopefully, smart scheduling will allow us to avoid most of these clashes.

Leigh.

Considering the likelyhood that the Broncos won't be playing any home games on the Gold Coast it seems to me that the only side your asking to make the real concessions for are the Broncos. The Titans get the best of both worlds, the Broncos won't play games in their fan base area (although people will go to Broncos from the Gold Coast, like myself, its not as great as the capacity to draw from Brisbane for Titan matches in Brisbane), but can travel upto Brisbane to draw from the Broncos League fanbase area, if they can't they still have their area largely untouched from being drawed to Broncos games.

 

[Quidgybo]

Not all debut teams play a home game in the first round, Storm played Illawarra away in 1998, theres no reason they couldn't play their debut home match in round 2? I don't see it necessary to have all 3 Queensland teams locked into playing in the South East Corner of Queensland for the first round. Are you going to tell me that if you were to move the match back a round, you couldn't maximise your crowds for both matches by doing so? If the Broncos were away 2nd round that would give the Titans all the market to draw for that match.

I still can't believe we're wasting this much time arguing about a once off situation. You're right it's not necessary but it is desirable to have a team "born" in front of their own fans. That supports having the match on the Gold Coast but in recognition of the shear number of fans who will want to attend, they will hold it Suncorp. And to accomodate that home birth and to maxmise attendances for both games you could equally play the Broncos away and have them play the Cowboys in round 2. But in the absence of that accomodation, the Titans are happy to cop the hit to ensure their home birth, the Broncos can look after themselves, and we're still going to see two very nice crowds. Come round 2, life will go on.

Leigh

 

[gcbronco]

I still can't believe we're wasting this much time arguing about a once off situation. You're right it's not necessary but it is desirable to have a team "born" in front of their own fans. That supports having the match on the Gold Coast but in recognition of the shear number of fans who will want to attend, they will hold it Suncorp. And to accomodate that home birth and to maxmise attendances for both games you could equally play the Broncos away and have them play the Cowboys in round 2. But in the absence of that accomodation, the Titans are happy to cop the hit to ensure their home birth, the Broncos can look after themselves, and we're still going to see two very nice crowds. Come round 2, life will go on.

Leigh

Exactly what hit are the Titans are taking from moving their first round game from Carrara to Suncorp Stadium? None they can double their capacity and money making alone, its realistically impossible for the Titans to be worse off by moving games up to Suncorp stadium from Carrara Stadium, on the otherhand if its on the same round as a Broncos home game it can have a serious hit on the Broncos crowds. I'm prepared for the Broncos to take a hit like this for other games, but a game like the Cowboys which holds great potential for the Broncos to maximise their season averages in attendances you need to consider is it in the best interests of both clubs, not just the Titans.

 

[Quidgybo]

Considering the likelyhood that the Broncos won't be playing any home games on the Gold Coast it seems to me that the only side your asking to make the real concessions for are the Broncos. The Titans get the best of both worlds, the Broncos won't play games in their fan base area (although people will go to Broncos from the Gold Coast, like myself, its not as great as the capacity to draw from Brisbane for Titan matches in Brisbane), but can travel upto Brisbane to draw from the Broncos League fanbase area, if they can't they still have their area largely untouched from being drawed to Broncos games.

There are two team's in SE Queensland, so of course there's going to be an overlap in crowds and fanbases. It's niave to think that the presence of the Titans either playing solely on the Gold Coast or with some games in Brisbane won't affect the Broncos. Or vice versa. If the Broncos didn't exist then the Titans crowds could reasonably expect to draw better. In that respect they will also take a hit, the only difference is we don't have the before and after as a comparison. It is an inevitable effect of two teams in close proximity. As with the Titans, the Broncos could chose to play some games on the Gold Coast if they wished to take advantage of the larger potential fanbase - whether they do or not is entirely their business just as the Titans decision is entirely theirs. But apart from that, as I've already pointed out, the Broncos have had 20 years of near exclusivity to secure their fan base. While we can schedule things to minimise conflicts, if they can't handled a little competition, that's their problem.

Leigh.

 

[Quidgybo]

Exactly what hit are the Titans are taking from moving their first round game from Carrara to Suncorp Stadium?

It is one game that represents a once off situation - the Titans debut. If you wish to discuss the merits of Titans matches at Suncorp in general then fine. But if you wish to continue focusing on this one match then I'll happily discuss it further in the context of the entire season once the draw is released. Until then I see no point in further wasting our time trying to draw a long straw based on the scheduling of one, extraordinary, weekend.

Leigh.

 

[gcbronco]

As with the Titans, the Broncos could chose to play some games on the Gold Coast if they wished totake advantage of the large potential fanbase - whether they do or not is entirely their business just as the Titans decision is entirely theirs.

And what advantage does playing home games for the Broncos pose from a financial and crowd figure capacity have over playing games at Suncorp Stadium? Does it provide the same benefits in moving matches that the Titans will benefit from moving matches to Suncorp Stadium? No and its naive to suggest otherwise and you know as well as I do that the Titans will have no concerns of taking hits in their core fan base ABOVE what they would have to contend with the Broncos playing at their normal home base. Bottomline is that the Titan's will not have to sacrifice largely anything towards the Broncos because of it, but the Broncos will have to when both teams matches clash in Brisbane.

I do not blame the Titan's for this as its a natural existance of both clubs being in the area, I will say however its a duty of the NRL as well as the Titans and the Broncos to make sure its workable for all involved, in this instance its a rare match that the Broncos enjoy, a local encounter with a Queensland club and its the type of match that you need serious consideration for as to the impact of such a move will have, we at best get two of these matches (one of which has been developed as a traditional match in round 1) and your already wanting to impact on one of them, meanwhile the Titans can just as easily get two home matches against both clubs and then play both in Brisbane and be unaffected especially if they play the Cowboys when the Broncos are away. They will also play Sydney clubs a lot more frequent for home matches then the ability for the Broncos to field local derbies so it makes more sense for the Titan's in this instance to workaround that. I don't see the problem with the Titan's playing in the second round at Suncorp Stadium as their first home match, it works out equal for both teams and gives both teams their best opportunities to draw their strongest crowd for both matches. Given that the Titan's benefit the most in moving games away from their home base to Suncorp Stadium then their rivals, its a fair hit compared to that your expecting the Broncos to take.

But if both are played in round 1 I will accept that decision, my stance is one of making sure the NRL look at the impact it has on both sides, not just the positives it can produce for the Titans.

 

[innsaneink]

The club hasn't even started yet and you are calling them arrogant!! You are kidding. Give them a break and let them decide their own destiny.

They want a home game in Rd 1. No probs there....makes a lot of sense, being new and all.

Them wanting to play it though at their newest, nearest rivals home, potentially costing that club $0.25m - thats arrogance of the highest order.

 

[Deacon]

Yep, it's already been covered. A double header doesn't make economic sense in a ground that small (!) given the crowds the matches could be expected to attract individually. You'd get one 52,000 sell out crowd instead of 2 x 40,000+ (80,000 for the weekend). Even if each match only drew 30,000 (unlikely) you'd still be better off playing them separately.

Leigh.

yer agree only other options i could see besides that would be

1.
Titans v Dragons
Broncos v ?
Separate days at Suncorp

2.
Titans v Dragons @ Suncorp
Storm v Broncos @ Telstra Dome (continuing to grow the game in mexico and GF replay)

or
3.
Titans v Broncos @ Suncorp and my prefered option

 

[Misty Bee]

Storm in a bloody teacup. Telstra, SFS, Belmore, SCG and Parramatta have ALL had seasons where the ground was shared - ALL YEAR! I can't see the problem with the Titans playing thre - if it lessens the Broncos crowd then the Broncos should ask why their fans are deserting them?

The NRL desperately needed a 16th team. They desperately needed another team from SE Q. Now, they have to ensure the Titans make every post a winner so that they can firmly establish them for the long term. They have a perfect opportunity to win a glut of fans with a good showing against League's most famous club.

Brisbane will whinge about everythnig the Titans do, believing that a region of almost $2million people can support only 1 club (tell the Knghts, Raiders, Cowpats and all the Sydney clubs). Brisbane killed their predecessor. The Titans know who their enemy will be. Garnering support in their homeland, to me, makes good sense.

Go Titans. Northern NSW's best RL side!

 

[mattyg]

Trust Brisbane to kick up a stink about it. They should deal with it. There are 4 games a week in Sydney on most occasions, most of the time 2 are on the SAME day. They can't schedule these 2 games on the same day, I can't see how its going to take too much away from Brisbane's crowd figure.

The Brisbane arrogance comes out once again in this case. Im sure the NRL would much rather 2 x 40,000 crowds rather than 1 x 45,000 and 1 x 20,000 crowd. Not everything is about you Brisbane, premiership or not.

IMO put Titans v Dragons on Friday night to open the season, and Brisbane v Cowboys on Sunday, which in fact drew about 46,000 odd this year. Deal with the competition you poor broncos. This is where you begin to hate Brisbane again.

 

[_Johnsy]

Fancy brisbane having a whinge as soon as another se qld team starts aggressivley off the field. Booo Hooo. I will fly down from townsville to see the boys go around. Love it, stick it to em titans.

 

[innsaneink]

Trust Brisbane to kick up a stink about it. They should deal with it. There are 4 games a week in Sydney on most occasions, most of the time 2 are on the SAME day. They can't schedule these 2 games on the same day, I can't see how its going to take too much away from Brisbane's crowd figure.

The Brisbane arrogance comes out once again in this case. Im sure the NRL would much rather 2 x 40,000 crowds rather than 1 x 45,000 and 1 x 20,000 crowd. Not everything is about you Brisbane, premiership or not.

IMO put Titans v Dragons on Friday night to open the season, and Brisbane v Cowboys on Sunday, which in fact drew about 46,000 odd this year. Deal with the competition you poor broncos. This is where you begin to hate Brisbane again.

How the f**k are the Broncos being arrogant?

Theyre only defending what rightfully is theirs.

 

[mattyg]

How the f**k are the Broncos being arrogant?

Theyre only defending what rightfully is theirs.

Please tell me how many games were played at Telstra in Rd 1 this year?? It was 3. Not to mention other Sydney games being played that weekend. You don't see Tigers kicking up a stink about money they might be losing. If brisbane's fans are loyal they aren't going to lose any of them.

The Broncos are being arrogant. An extra 5,000 odd fans for Brisbane's figures beats about an extra 20,000 fans from the opening weekend of 2007?? I can't understand the logic. The NRL are within their rights to schedule 2 games at Suncorp in one weekend. Next we will see Brisbane complaining because GC have a home game rostered on the same weekend as a Brisbane home game. :roll:

 

[_Johnsy]

What is rightfully theirs ?? Did the broncos build Suncorp. Have the NRL always ensured the premiers open the new season?

This stinks of the broncs doing what is best, All for us and stuff what is best for rugby league.

INK - When is the last time the broncos made any concessions for the good of the game?