Expansion A 2nd NRL team in Melbourne...

[littleduck]

A 35,000 capacity Stadium that they dont warrant on the crowds they have averaged over ten years and WE suckers the VIC taxpayers are paying for!

I don't think it's unjustified for the second largest city in Australia to house the Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Victory in a modern boutique purpose built football venue. The Dome and MCG are useless for all but the big drawing one-off show-piece games, and Oly Park is an archaic relic of the past.

They played at Telstra Dome for a season a few years back and still only got 10,000 to the games and couldnt run back to OP quick enough.
A bigger stadium will make no difference to the unwanted Storm in Melbourne.

A bigger purpose built (rectangular) "football stadium" with all the modern comforts and ease of access will make a huge difference. The only excuse for the Storm for poor crowds then will be themselves, ie form and ladder position and marketing.

Your arguement dosent hold water the Victorian cricket team plays some of its games at the MCG and still gets only a few hundred spectators (same as at the Junction Oval) but when the very popular 20/20 was played there this year a big crowd turned up.

.

If a sport is on the nose like Thugby is in Melbourne it wouldnt matter where you play people will still not come and to think the Bracks Govt fell for this bullshit to the tune of $300 million of our money..

.

 

[Prince Imperial]

They are working towards profitability and the new stadium is one of the last pieces in the jigsaw puzzle so that external factors are not hindering growth. In other words, with a world class stadium to attract fans, there will be no justifiable external excuses for poor crowds other than internal factors such as form and ladder position.

However, profitability just doesnt rely solely on crowds. The Storm require FTA exposure to become a long-term profitable enterprise and that looks about as likely in the near-term as Michael Fitzpatrick and Michael Searle enjoying an early morning short black at a trendy Coffee Bar in Broadbeach.

I agree there will no longer be any excuses. Bear in mind that having a swanky new stadium does not necessarily better financial returns as the costs of operating and renting it are often far greater. Look at Telstra Dome for some of the Vic Clubs and the Melbourne Tigers NBL team who had to retreat from Rod Laver Arena to a smaller venue for financial reasons. Even the Roar were seriously considering a move to Ballymore a year ago because of the costs of playing at Suncorp. Unlike many NRL clubs that are blessed with poker machine windfalls, the Storm would be a long away off financial stability without large scale propping up from News Ltd.

 

[littleduck]

I agree there will no longer be any excuses. Bear in mind that having a swanky new stadium does not necessarily better financial returns as the costs of operating and renting it are often far greater. Look at Telstra Dome for some of the Vic Clubs and the Melbourne Tigers NBL team who had to retreat from Rod Laver Arena to a smaller venue for financial reasons. Even the Roar were seriously considering a move to Ballymore a year ago because of the costs of playing at Suncorp. Unlike many NRL clubs that are blessed with poker machine windfalls, the Storm would be a long away off financial stability without large scale propping up from News Ltd.

All true, but bear in mind if a football club isn't offering the sporting public all the modern comforts and atmosphere at a modern stadium they've come to 'expect', then you aren't competing seriously for repeat business like your competitors.

Nobody can seriously argue against the reality that when Melbourne Storm and Victory are able to attend a purpose built football stadium and provide Victorians the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere NSWmen and QLDers have come to expect from being up close and personal to the field of play.... then repeat business is far more likely.

 

[fishmonger]

as likely in the near-term as Michael Fitzpatrick and Michael Searle enjoying an early morning short black at a trendy Coffee Bar in Broadbeach.

I've never heard him called Michael before - I think he was probably christened Mike .....

PS: I would be very suprised to see the Melbourne Storm will draw more than a 15,000 average this year with or without a new stadium. (Unless, that is, that the Herald Sun donates the entire sport section to them every week - but wait a minute they already do that ...)

 

[littleduck]

I've never heard him called Michael before - I think he was probably christened Mike .....

PS: I would be very suprised to see the Melbourne Storm will draw more than a 15,000 average this year with or without a new stadium. (Unless, that is, that the Herald Sun donates the entire sport section to them every week - but wait a minute they already do that ...)

This year at Oly Park they'll average no more than about 12 I reckon.

The first year at the new Football Stadium however, I believe provided they remain ultra competitive (no reason why not being a young team with the best coach), if the stadium is 35k capacity (or is it 25k?), they will average about 20k and the Victory about 25-30k.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

As a one eyed RL fan who wants the NRL to expand, who in their right mind would call for a second team in Melbourne?

I know LD likes to think he can get an decent augment up and going, but the guy is off his clock.

Mars to LD, there are at least 10 places who deserve RL teams before Melbourne need a second, and before you say "it's only showing how WS will be with AFL", the two codes are completely different, they have 100+ years of history everywhere, we don't.

Stop being a dope.

 

[RUNVS]

Mars to LD, there are at least 10 places who deserve RL teams before Melbourne need a second, and before you say "it's only showing how WS will be with AFL", the two codes are completely different, they have 100+ years of history everywhere, we don't.

Stop being a dope.

Plus the AFL is spending alot of money in Western Sydney at grassroots level to increase support while the NRL isnt doing the same thing in regards to Melbourne.

 

[littleduck]

As a one eyed RL fan who wants the NRL to expand, who in their right mind would call for a second team in Melbourne?

I know LD likes to think he can get an decent augment up and going, but the guy is off his clock.

Mars to LD, there are at least 10 places who deserve RL teams before Melbourne need a second, and before you say "it's only showing how WS will be with AFL", the two codes are completely different, they have 100+ years of history everywhere, we don't.

Stop being a dope.

I dont believe in a 2nd Melbourne team. I was applying an argument that local rivalries and derbies grow support.. and if it does, it would surely apply to RL in Melbourne. But I dont support a 2nd Melbourne team now, or ever.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

I dont believe in a 2nd Melbourne team. I was applying an argument that local rivalries and derbies grow support.. and if it does, it would surely apply to RL in Melbourne. But I dont support a 2nd Melbourne team now, or ever.

I know that LD, instead, why not mention somewhere where the game has a chance to do that like NZ or Brisbane?

These guys here will use anything they can against you, don't give them the ammo.

 

[littleduck]

I know that LD, instead, why not mention somewhere where the game has a chance to do that like NZ or Brisbane?

These guys here will use anything they can against you, don't give them the ammo.

Clearly, a West Brisbane/Ipswich team and a Sunshine Coast team, as well as a 2nd NZ team in Wellington, as well as a relocation of a Sydney team to the Central Coast, are preferred options to Melbourne Adelaide or Perth, but not necessarily int hat order.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Clearly, a West Brisbane/Ipswich team and a Sunshine Coast team, as well as a 2nd NZ team in Wellington, as well as a relocation of a Sydney team to the Central Coast, are preferred options to Melbourne Adelaide or Perth, but not necessarily int hat order.

I'd bite the bullet and bring in WA and SA by 2010, 2012 I'd have CC and Wellington (Christchurch).

Any Sydney team who can't pay the bills beforehand has the opportunity to move to one of these areas, but I'd rather the Bears get what they are entitled too, the CC.

 

[littleduck]

I'd bite the bullet and bring in WA ... by 2010

Not a bad idea at all.

I'd bite the bullet and bring in .. SA by 2010

Never.

I'd bite the bullet and bring in .. by .. 2012 I'd have CC.

As an additional team from NSW??? No way. Never.

I'd bite the bullet and bring in .. by .. 2012 I'd have .. Wellington (Christchurch).

Excellent idea.

Any Sydney team who can't pay the bills beforehand has the opportunity to move to one of these areas, but I'd rather the Bears get what they are entitled too, the CC.

It's a backwards step to try to right all the wrongs of the past, such as NS Bears being forced to bend over and take it up the kaizerlsauten.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Not a bad idea at all.

Of course, it makes sense.

Never.

Why not?

In their first year with no promotion and a crap side, they averaged over 15,000, I think there is a market in Adelaide, most sports teams do well in SA, it's a credit for them being true sports fans.

As an additional team from NSW??? No way. Never.

Either the Bears or a relocated side, whatever comes first, imagine how many old RL fans the NRL would get back alone if the Bears were reinstated?

Excellent idea.

If the NRL had balls, this team would've been in 5 years ago and we'd be talking about a third team now.

It's a backwards step to try to right all the wrongs of the past, such as NS Bears being forced to bend over and take it up the kaizerlsauten.

But there is nothing stopping the NRL righting some of these wrongs as we have seen with the GC, you agree?

 

[Professor Knowall]

Just out of curiosity (rather than interest) aren't there any rugby league websites in this country of any interest. It seems there supporters have an immense need to climb aboard the Australian Football sites.

 

[jackmac7]

Just out of curiosity (rather than interest) isn't there any rugby league websites in this country of any interest. It seems there supporters have an immense need to climb aboard the Australian Football sites.

Yeah, they do get annoying when all you want to discuss is AFL with AFL fans.

But I don't mind a heated discussion from an outsiders perspective too.

 

[zero]

I'd bite the bullet and bring in WA and SA by 2010, 2012 I'd have CC and Wellington (Christchurch).

Any Sydney team who can't pay the bills beforehand has the opportunity to move to one of these areas, but I'd rather the Bears get what they are entitled too, the CC.

sounds great to me.

though it would be great if you could just wait for a western sydney AFL side before existing sydney NRL clubs start moving, merging and dying

 

[jackmac7]

I'd bite the bullet and bring in WA and SA by 2010, 2012 I'd have CC and Wellington (Christchurch).

Any Sydney team who can't pay the bills beforehand has the opportunity to move to one of these areas, but I'd rather the Bears get what they are entitled too, the CC.

The AFL already has a team in NSW and QLD yet it's being patient with proper lead-in's for the new teams for 2011 and 2012. And you want to go in gangbusters into uncharted water before the AFL sides are up and going with a set date of 2010?

You sound desperate, like your clinging on to one last hope.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

The AFL already has a team in NSW and QLD yet it's being patient with proper lead-in's for the new teams for 2011 and 2012. And you want to go in gangbusters into uncharted water before the AFL sides are up and going with a set date of 2010?

You sound desperate, like your clinging on to one last hope.

Are you a dope?

uncharted waters, the CC has been RL heartland for 100 years, Christchurch and Wellington have played RL just as long.

Perth and Adelaide got screwed by Murdoch, I don't know why AFL fans haven't given it to you, you embarrass them, and being an Aussie, you embarrass me with your stupidity.

 

[jackmac7]

Are you a dope?

uncharted waters, the CC has been RL heartland for 100 years, Christchurch and Wellington have played RL just as long.

Perth and Adelaide got screwed by Murdoch, I don't know why AFL fans haven't given it to you, you embarrass them, and being an Aussie, you embarrass me with your stupidity.

Your the dope mate.

If you couldn't figure out that I was refering to SA and WA as UNCHARTED waters than you are one dumb mother.

Arn't you the guy who's been getting burnt all week on this forum?

How's big Mal Malinga going?

What's your old saying again? Oh that's right...... SHIT HAPPENS

 

[jackmac7]

You put RL trolls to shame buddy.

 

[Johnny Utah #9]

A 2nd team??? Heck, if the Storm had 2 or 3 crap seasons they'd be lucky to pull 3000 people to a game.

I'd love to see the stats on the state/country of origin for people who attend Storm games, i reckon it'd be 30% ex-NSW/ACT, 30% ex-Qld, 30% - NZ/Sth Pacific islander and 10% Victorian.

I'd like to know how many players there are in the NRL from Vic, SA, WA and Tas because i reckon it'd be zero. Says it all doesn't it?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

You put RL trolls to shame buddy.

Don't see too many coming to your aid

 

[jackmac7]

Don't see too many coming to your aid

Because they don't need too.

 

[zero]

Because they don't need too.

hes right, we generally only have to wait two or three posts before shit happens and you make an ass of yourself, parraeels.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

hes right, we generally only have to wait two or three posts before shit happens and you make an ass of yourself, parraeels.

Every ****stick needs a cavalry and here it comes LOL