Did anyone go to the Melbourne/Warriors match?

[I_LUV_AFL]

There have been many Storm supporters saying that the 'official' crowd of 12,500 was way off the mark with thousands of supporters still lined up outside with 10 minutes already played. They are also saying the crowd was pretty much capacity and that they ended up just opening the gates and letting a few thousand extras stand to watch.

I didn't see the game or any highlights and I am wondering if this is the case.

 

[tugga]

There have been many Storm supporters saying that the 'official' crowd of 12,500 was way off the mark with thousands of supporters still lined up outside with 10 minutes already played. They are also saying the crowd was pretty much capacity and that they ended up just opening the gates and letting a few thousand extras stand to watch.

I didn't see the game or any highlights and I am wondering if this is the case.

I was there.
I was surprised when the crowd of 12,874 was displayed on the big screen. Except for a few seats in the Lazarus Stand, all seats had a bum on it.
Standing room was pretty packed, but nowhwere near capacity. Could have squeezed a few more thousand in, which I wouldn't have minded as the two chicks standing next to me were more than acceptable.
I thought there was more there yesterday than in round 1 when they had 13,500 so go figure.
Lots of Richmond and Carlton fans there wearing their Storm jerseys and their AFL caps obviously heading off to the game across the road later on at 5pm. Was good to see actually. There's room for both codes here.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I was there.
I was surprised when the crowd of 12,874 was displayed on the big screen. Except for a few seats in the Lazarus Stand, all seats had a bum on it.
Standing room was pretty packed, but nowhwere near capacity. Could have squeezed a few more thousand in, which I wouldn't have minded as the two chicks standing next to me were more than acceptable.
I thought there was more there yesterday than in round 1 when they had 13,500 so go figure.
Lots of Richmond and Carlton fans there wearing their Storm jerseys and their AFL caps obviously heading off to the game across the road later on at 5pm. Was good to see actually. There's room for both codes here.

I don't know if there is any truth in it but apparently some clubs underestimate their crowds for tex benefits. Is that correct? Either way, it wouldn't make sense to do it in Round 2 and not Round 1. Strange as everyone I have spoken to has said that the crowd was much bigger then the round 1 crowd yet a lower 'official' crowd.

 

[tugga]

Not sure about the tax question Tutaki. Can't help with that one.
There certainly did seem more there. I estimated 15,000 at half time and was shocked when the final tally came up.
Nevertheless, if we can average 13,000 all season, then it's a really good stepping stone for our club. The new stadium will attract more people.
Also, I hope the NRL continue to schedule our games so they don't clash with AFL games. I went and saw both the Storm and Richmond yesterday and I suspect I wasn't alone there. Ideally an AFL game at 2pm and Storm at 5.30pm is what I'd hope happens more often than not.

 

[sainter]

I thought a crowd of nearly 13,000 for a midday start was fantastic.

I arrived 5 minutes before kickoff and went straight in with my membership but the queues on the east side of the ground stretched back to Swan St. I imagine it was a similar situation on the west side.

I've always wondered about how many supporters we've lost who've given up on waiting in line after deciding that they are better off going to a pub than lining up only to see half the game anyway.

When we have the 5:30 kickoffs and the AFL crowd rocks up just before kickoff the queues are usually enormous as well.

Something for the club to consider I think.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I thought a crowd of nearly 13,000 for a midday start was fantastic.

I arrived 5 minutes before kickoff and went straight in with my membership but the queues on the east side of the ground stretched back to Swan St. I imagine it was a similar situation on the west side.

I've always wondered about how many supporters we've lost who've given up on waiting in line after deciding that they are better off going to a pub than lining up only to see half the game anyway.

When we have the 5:30 kickoffs and the AFL crowd rocks up just before kickoff the queues are usually enormous as well.

Something for the club to consider I think.

I would imagine the facilities would be better for fans with the new stadium but it must be of some concern to Storm management in the mean time. Fans don't deserve to be waiting outside the ground for too long. The Storm should play some of their 'marquee' games at the MCG, or Telstra Dome. Opinions?

 

[tugga]

I thought a crowd of nearly 13,000 for a midday start was fantastic.

I arrived 5 minutes before kickoff and went straight in with my membership but the queues on the east side of the ground stretched back to Swan St. I imagine it was a similar situation on the west side.

I've always wondered about how many supporters we've lost who've given up on waiting in line after deciding that they are better off going to a pub than lining up only to see half the game anyway.

When we have the 5:30 kickoffs and the AFL crowd rocks up just before kickoff the queues are usually enormous as well.

Something for the club to consider I think.

Agree.
I wasn't a member last year and the first game i went to was a 5.30pm kickoff straight after the Richmond-Dogs game. Missed the first 25 minutes.
Get straight in now with my membership card, but the lines are horrendous.
the beer line as bad too

 

[Gman]

Tugga question.

How do you rate the atmosphere between both codes?

Do you get involved in both games in a similar way or is one more relaxed than the other??

Just curious to read yr view as watching two different codes back-to-back would be interesting

 

[tugga]

Tugga question.

How do you rate the atmosphere between both codes?

Do you get involved in both games in a similar way or is one more relaxed than the other??

Just curious to read yr view as watching two different codes back-to-back would be interesting

Good question Gman.
In recent years I've become disillusioned with AFL and the path it's taking. Soft rule interpretations and the style of keepings off that coaches employ has turned me off AFL to an extent. Plus, I barrack for Richmond. Not exactly got a lot to cheer about have I?
So last year I went to a couple of Storm games purely because they were on straight after the AFL games I attended. I really enjoyed them. I like the hustle and bustle of league and when you can see a game open up before your eyes and predict what's going to happen even on the 2nd tackle...it's great. And the tackling is ferocious which is something that is fast disappearing from AFL.
I don't profess to know a lot about the game, but I reckon I've now self-taught myself probably 90% of the rules and what there is to know.
I probably get a little more involved in a crowd particpation level at the AFL. I've followed my team for 30 years now. it's entrenched and in the blood.
At the Storm games I stand up, have a couple of beers and prefer to watch the game unfold rather than get overly vocal.
Having said that, I'll celebrate a try along with the best of them.
The thing that really lured me to rugby league was the effort that the Storm put into making a day or night at the footy, enjoyable for everyone. My 6½ year old daughter would rather go to a Storm match than a Richmond match. They have a few jumping castles at the back, free face painting, she laughs at the Storm Man and she really enjoys watching the cheerleaders and the dancing girls (dad does too ).
I like league so much now, that I bought a membership, have been to both home games this season and plan on going every week and have even booked a couple of short holidays to coincide with Storm's away games against the Broncos and the Cowboys later in the season.
The other thing that I find attractive about league and Storm in particular is that you can go to a game and 95% of the people are barracking for the same team as yours. You rarely have to put up with some arse clown baiting opposition players and supporters. There's a real feeling of solidarity at Olympic Park. Like it's us versus those 'bastards' from Sydney who want us out. Melbourne Victory games offer a similar feeling.
It's gotten to the stage now where I'd rather watch a good game of league even on tele than a bad game of AFL. That was unfathomable 18 month ago.
That's it. This post is way too long.

 

[Aucklander]

I asked my wife when the crowd was posted "Why do they lie about the total?"

For mine, there looked way more than the official crowd posted. The long cues at the food outlets and the lengthy delays in getting into the ground are a sure sign of a (much) larger than normal crowd.

Thank heavens we'll have a decent venue in the not too distant future.

 

[Queensl@nder]

Good question Gman.
In recent years I've become disillusioned with AFL and the path it's taking. Soft rule interpretations and the style of keepings off that coaches employ has turned me off AFL to an extent. Plus, I barrack for Richmond. Not exactly got a lot to cheer about have I?
So last year I went to a couple of Storm games purely because they were on straight after the AFL games I attended. I really enjoyed them. I like the hustle and bustle of league and when you can see a game open up before your eyes and predict what's going to happen even on the 2nd tackle...it's great. And the tackling is ferocious which is something that is fast disappearing from AFL.
I don't profess to know a lot about the game, but I reckon I've now self-taught myself probably 90% of the rules and what there is to know.
I probably get a little more involved in a crowd particpation level at the AFL. I've followed my team for 30 years now. it's entrenched and in the blood.
At the Storm games I stand up, have a couple of beers and prefer to watch the game unfold rather than get overly vocal.
Having said that, I'll celebrate a try along with the best of them.
The thing that really lured me to rugby league was the effort that the Storm put into making a day or night at the footy, enjoyable for everyone. My 6½ year old daughter would rather go to a Storm match than a Richmond match. They have a few jumping castles at the back, free face painting, she laughs at the Storm Man and she really enjoys watching the cheerleaders and the dancing girls (dad does too ).
I like league so much now, that I bought a membership, have been to both home games this season and plan on going every week and have even booked a couple of short holidays to coincide with Storm's away games against the Broncos and the Cowboys later in the season.
The other thing that I find attractive about league and Storm in particular is that you can go to a game and 95% of the people are barracking for the same team as yours. You rarely have to put up with some arse clown baiting opposition players and supporters. There's a real feeling of solidarity at Olympic Park. Like it's us versus those 'bastards' from Sydney who want us out. Melbourne Victory games offer a similar feeling.
It's gotten to the stage now where I'd rather watch a good game of league even on tele than a bad game of AFL. That was unfathomable 18 month ago.
That's it. This post is way too long.

You should get a Award for the best post ever on bigfooty, well done.

Your comments made the hair on my neck standup.

 

[Ancient and Loyal]

Good question Gman.
In recent years I've become disillusioned with AFL and the path it's taking. Soft rule interpretations and the style of keepings off that coaches employ has turned me off AFL to an extent. Plus, I barrack for Richmond. Not exactly got a lot to cheer about have I?
So last year I went to a couple of Storm games purely because they were on straight after the AFL games I attended. I really enjoyed them. I like the hustle and bustle of league and when you can see a game open up before your eyes and predict what's going to happen even on the 2nd tackle...it's great. And the tackling is ferocious which is something that is fast disappearing from AFL.
I don't profess to know a lot about the game, but I reckon I've now self-taught myself probably 90% of the rules and what there is to know.
I probably get a little more involved in a crowd particpation level at the AFL. I've followed my team for 30 years now. it's entrenched and in the blood.
At the Storm games I stand up, have a couple of beers and prefer to watch the game unfold rather than get overly vocal.
Having said that, I'll celebrate a try along with the best of them.
The thing that really lured me to rugby league was the effort that the Storm put into making a day or night at the footy, enjoyable for everyone. My 6½ year old daughter would rather go to a Storm match than a Richmond match. They have a few jumping castles at the back, free face painting, she laughs at the Storm Man and she really enjoys watching the cheerleaders and the dancing girls (dad does too ).
I like league so much now, that I bought a membership, have been to both home games this season and plan on going every week and have even booked a couple of short holidays to coincide with Storm's away games against the Broncos and the Cowboys later in the season.
The other thing that I find attractive about league and Storm in particular is that you can go to a game and 95% of the people are barracking for the same team as yours. You rarely have to put up with some arse clown baiting opposition players and supporters. There's a real feeling of solidarity at Olympic Park. Like it's us versus those 'bastards' from Sydney who want us out. Melbourne Victory games offer a similar feeling.
It's gotten to the stage now where I'd rather watch a good game of league even on tele than a bad game of AFL. That was unfathomable 18 month ago.
That's it. This post is way too long.

Welcome aboard Tugga

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

You should get a Award for the best post ever on bigfooty, well done.

Your comments made the hair on my neck standup.

I'd go for post of the year for sure, maybe even best post ever as you said. True feelings with no bias whatsoever. I haven't seen an unbiased post in ages.

 

[Catters]

Tugga, your post has inspired me to come out of hiding.

Swap Richmond with Geelong, and Brisbane with Gosford, and you've almost summed it up for me too!

I've grown up in an AFL obsessed family with a mother who didn't understand Rugby and was bemused how any women could follow it. Well she is a paid up member this year and accompanied me on the road trip to Canberra last week.

We are so disheartened with what has happened / is happening at Geelong, and the AFL in general, that the Melbourne Storm is now our number 1 team and if there is ever any clash with GFC and Storm games, the boys in purple would win out.

Just the way the Storm treat their fans makes you feel a real part of the Club. You always feel that the players really do appreciate their supporters, e.g. the time they take doing the thank you laps after the game, compared to the Geelong players who just can't wait to leave the field, even when they do actually win.

If I needed any convincing about which sport I'm loving more, than going straight from OP to Telstra Dome answered it for me. Just couldn't get into the AFL game at all. Poor umpiring, poor skills, boring keeping offs play etc. I didn't even bother to change from my Storm gear into my Geelong stuff, which resulted in many questions as to the result and many happy people when I passed on the news of our victory.

With the way AFL is turning and the number of times people enquired as to the score I wouldn't be surprised if there are more people like us who are being drawn into a more exciting, physical game. And thankfully for us Melbourne play exactly that way.

I've waffled on a bit, so I'll crawl back under my rock now.

 

[Paul Kersey]

I went and enjoyed it. Will be back for the Panthers game.

 

[Philhawk]

Tugga and Catter - absolutely inspiring posts, my friends.

There's most definitely room in Melbourne for a wide range of sports and it's just great to see more people slowly getting more interested in League!

 

[Dasher39]

Tugga, that easily has to be one of the best posts I have read on this forum and I think you have summed up the feelings of a lot of Football fans out there in society.

I've always been a Storm fan since inception (I still remember sitting in IT class in 1998 printing out pictures of the Storm players!), but they were always a distant second when it came to teams I supported.

But as others have mentioned as the game of AFL slowly started declining (and the fortunes of GFC), the Storm became another option and it allowed me the chance to jump back onto the Storm bandwagon.

I love, as you and Catters mentioned, the way they treat their fans (them and MVFC too). After every game they stay out and thank their fans and it is much appreciated.

Like Catters, I struggled to really get into the GFC game. There was the odd moment where the passion came out, but in the end I was still more excited about the Storm win over the Warriors.

For the last few years I have spent my hard earned on travelling to watch GFC play. This year that's all changed. I'm going to my first Storm interstate game (in Gosford with Catters in fact) and I'm actually really looking forward to it. Nothing beats watching a team with passion, with genuine desire and a a team who appreciate their fans and I love the fact I can go to the game and watch a good, tough, physical battle. Something I cannot see at the AFL.

Slowly the Storm and Victory are fast becoming my preferred team to watch, which is sad because I love my footy, but the AFL and GFC have crushed the passion over a number of years.

I only wish more people could read your post!

 

[tugga]

Wow! Thanks so much everyone for the encouraging words. I actually thought I'd probably cop a slight caning for writing too much.
Quite refreshing to post on the RL board where people's opinions are treated with respect, unlike the AFL board from time to time.

 

[charliemurphy]

Just the way the Storm treat their fans makes you feel a real part of the Club. You always feel that the players really do appreciate their supporters, e.g. the time they take doing the thank you laps after the game, compared to the Geelong players who just can't wait to leave the field, even when they do actually win.

From my trips to OP over the past couple of years i've been able to tell that the Storm are big on their relationship building with the community. There are definately moving in the right direction. Add to the fact the Storm play an exciting brand of football, I can see them building a bigger and loyal supporter base in the coming years.

Its such a pity that OP is so run down, the new stadium cant come fast enough, and i am sure it has lost the storm a few supporters over the years.

 

[Red_and_white]

Apparently the capacity of Olympic Park has been reduced to about 16000, so that could make it appear as if there is more people in reality

they really need to get that new stadium

 

[tugga]

Apparently the capacity of Olympic Park has been reduced to about 16000, so that could make it appear as if there is more people in reality

they really need to get that new stadium

are you sure?
The final ever Melbourne Victory game against NZ pulled 18k late in the season.
I have a love/hate relationship with OP.
I love the atmosphere there. it's like a cauldron. I love the fact that I can stand up on the hill and mix with down to earth supporters. I love the walk along the Yarra from Flinders St station before the game seeing the mums and dads and kids walking along too.
I hate the queues. Even when you go to grab a beer while the game's still going, you stand in line for an eternity.
She's old and she's on her last legs, but she has a certain amount of style and grace.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I went and enjoyed it. Will be back for the Panthers game.

You might wanna give that game a miss as the Panthers will bring the Storm winning streak to an abrubt end. One thing is for sure, it will be bloody exciting.

Inglis, Jennings, Falau, Gordon, Slater, Wesser, Cronk, Gower, Turner, Lewis etc etc etc etc etc etc