Popularity of Rugby League in Victoria on the wane

Post by **Beaussie** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:25 pm

State of Origin, the apparent pinnacle of Rugby League, has gone over the years from the MCG to Etihad Stadium and now next season to AAMI Park. Notice the trend of moving to smaller and smaller stadiums in Victoria.

Why do they even bother? Clearly Victorians don't care for the game.

Melbourne Origin switch denied

Peter Badel
From:The Daily Telegraph
July 19, 201112:00AM

NSW rugby league boss Geoff Carr has hosed down speculation the Blues have made furtive attempts to move next year's Origin match in Melbourne to Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

A rumour sweeping league circles suggested Blues hierarchy wanted next year's series opener at AAMI Park shifted to Sydney to give NSW two home games in a desperate bid to end Queensland's Origin dominance.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... 6097093193

cooee · Post by **cooee** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:36 pm

I'd take a smaller rectangular stadium over a bigger oval stadium any day.

King-Eliagh · Post by **King-Eliagh** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:22 pm

Yeah me too. Rugby League suits a "tighter stadium" much like soccer does. Just look at the best fields in the UK. You want to be closer to the action other wise the atmosphere bums out. Its probably a good move by the NRL I think Beaussie.

By the way what have the crowds been like at these events in Melbourne?

TLPG · Post by **TLPG** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:08 pm

I just checked. There have been five SOO games in Melbourne. Three at the MCG and two at the Docklands.

MCG
87,161 (1994)
52,994 (1995)
25,105 (1997)
Docklands
54,833 (2006)
50,967 (2009)

If the NRL were truly after crowds then they would be saying "To hell with the tight stadium" and play it at the MCG.

But there's a feeling in the RL ranks that they won't pull the crowd!

King-Eliagh · Post by **King-Eliagh** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:53 am

Yes interesting thought TLPG especially with that 1997 crowd. But I gotta say that there's improvement in the latter games.

But if I were running the NRL I would also steer clear of the MCG because as I said the atmosphere would be shit there. Even I wouldnt bother going if it were there, far too big and distant from the action. Even if you bought the best tiks you'd be too far away, just like the olympic stadium in Sydney. That's probably the main reason for the big drop in crowds there.

Raiderdave · Post by **Raiderdave** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:43 am

King-Eliagh wrote:
Yes interesting thought TLPG especially with that 1997 crowd. But I gotta say that there's improvement in the latter games.

But if I were running the NRL I would also steer clear of the MCG because as I said the atmosphere would be **** there. Even I wouldnt bother going if it were there, far too big and distant from the action. Even if you bought the best tiks you'd be too far away, just like the olympic stadium in Sydney. That's probably the main reason for the big drop in crowds there.

Yeah , the smaller Etihad has been sold out once & near sold out on the 2nd occasion
MCG is a hole ....
awful
they won't have any trouble selling Etihad out again in 2012

King-Eliagh · Post by **King-Eliagh** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:52 am

So looks like 50,000+ again in melbourne? Well that's just dandy in what they call "AFL Heartland" dont you think :<>

Makes me think League is just as strong in Melb as AFL is in Syd

What about you TLPG and Beaussie? :P

Raiderdave · Post by **Raiderdave** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:15 am

King-Eliagh wrote:
So looks like 50,000+ again in melbourne? Well that's just dandy in what they call "AFL Heartland" dont you think :<>

Makes me think League is just as strong in Melb as AFL is in Syd

What about you TLPG and Beaussie? :P

whens the last time that silly little victorian oddity sold out anything in Sydney ?

know I'm serious

..... When was it ?

TLPG · Post by **TLPG** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:49 am

As I said in the other thread, SOO is an event in it's own right.

And if you lot think that the MCG has no atmosphere.......

Raiderdave · Post by **Raiderdave** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:11 am

TLPG wrote:
As I said in the other thread, SOO is an event in it's own right.

And if you lot think that the MCG has no atmosphere.......

for a sport played on a rectangle field

yep , its a dud venue
awful
should be struck off the list for union soccer & League

TLPG · Post by **TLPG** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:19 am

Incorrect. As much as I hate soccer, you never saw the World Cup qualifier and the crowd there then.

Raiderdave · Post by **Raiderdave** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:32 am

TLPG wrote:
Incorrect. As much as I hate soccer, you never saw the World Cup qualifier and the crowd there then.

& where was the World Cup final going to be held if we had got the bid

thats right

ANZ

a far better stadium for rectangle sports
in fact
better fullstop

TLPG · Post by **TLPG** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:43 am

Wrong. It was the MCG.

Raiderdave · Post by **Raiderdave** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:52 am

TLPG wrote:
Wrong. It was the MCG.

I don't believe you
prove it ....

TLPG · Post by **TLPG** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:58 am

Actually it was both, although the MCG was only mentioned for the final and not the semis unlike Olympic Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_ ... ld_Cup_bid

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Popularity of Rugby League in Victoria on the wane

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