Irrelevance of the NRL/Melbourne Storm in Victoria

[Beaussie]

Gee whiz, consistently in finals and snaring their fair share of premierships, yet still irrelevant in their home city/state.

Now reduced to begging AFL fans and officials to attend a game and still expectations are low.

My god, can't even sellout pissy AAMI Park with no AFL to compete against. Give it up already NRL.

For years it has been a running joke that if you Google “Melbourne Storm’’ you are more likely to get a weather report than anything about the NRL’s southern franchise in the local media.

So the Storm are attempting to maximise their rare scheduling advantage. Not only is McLachlan invited, so too are his many constituents.

Members of all AFL clubs can get half-priced tickets to the Brisbane and Cronulla games and the Storm are increasing the pre-game entertainment to “maximise the experience’’.

In the face of fierce competition the Storm are proud of the “strong niche’’ they have carved in Melbourne. Membership is up from 15,000 to almost 18,000. While crowds have been flat, the club opened with three Monday night games. The average is expected to rise with at least 18,000 expected on Friday night and well over 20,000 for the Sharks game.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... 8e36ca78f1

[Fred]

Seems a decent crowd if they get that many

[Swans4ever]

There is a lot of casual Storm supporters in Melb

[Beaussie]

To not be able to sellout the pissy little AAMI Park on AFL free weekends in sports mad Melbourne when you're on top of the ladder says it all. Irrelevant to most Victorians despite years of constant on field success. Surely the Storm franchise must be running with massive losses off field.

[Swans4ever]

To not be able to sellout the pissy little AAMI Park on AFL free weekends in sports mad Melbourne when you're on top of the ladder says it all. Irrelevant to most Victorians despite years of constant on field success. Surely the Storm franchise must be running with massive losses off field.

I think they sell a lot of merchandise as in Rebel sports, sport smart etc etc that's virtually the only footy gear they have - I wouldn't say irrelevant as they regularly give interviews on SEN and 3AW but not a priority - so my guess they are mainly casual supporters may go to a game once in a while or buy a jumper or sticker, watch on tv if nothing better, but not enough to buy a membership or regularly attend matches. Much the way the Swans were in the 80's those fans fall off in hard times, as we have seen with the lions. The current Swans membership are more the kids who were given free passes in the 80's and have grown up with families of their own and are building generational support. Storm is still under 20 yrs old so we may be still 10 yrs away but I don't think they will fall over Be. I just don't see them being much bigger in the short term.

[Beaussie]

To not be able to sellout the pissy little AAMI Park on AFL free weekends in sports mad Melbourne when you're on top of the ladder says it all. Irrelevant to most Victorians despite years of constant on field success. Surely the Storm franchise must be running with massive losses off field.

I think they sell a lot of merchandise as in Rebel sports, sport smart etc etc that's virtually the only footy gear they have - I wouldn't say irrelevant as they regularly give interviews on SEN and 3AW but not a priority - so my guess they are mainly casual supporters may go to a game once in a while or buy a jumper or sticker, watch on tv if nothing better, but not enough to buy a membership or regularly attend matches. Much the way the Swans were in the 80's those fans fall off in hard times, as we have seen with the lions. The current Swans membership are more the kids who were given free passes in the 80's and have grown up with families of their own and are building generational support. Storm is still under 20 yrs old so we may be still 10 yrs away but I don't think they will fall over Be. I just don't see them being much bigger in the short term.

Fair enough. Living in Sydney I'll take your word on that. That being the case, the signs look good (membership, sponsorship, crowds) for GWS in only their 5th season despite leaguies and soccer fans always suggesting they're irrelevant.

[Swans4ever]

To not be able to sellout the pissy little AAMI Park on AFL free weekends in sports mad Melbourne when you're on top of the ladder says it all. Irrelevant to most Victorians despite years of constant on field success. Surely the Storm franchise must be running with massive losses off field.

I think they sell a lot of merchandise as in Rebel sports, sport smart etc etc that's virtually the only footy gear they have - I wouldn't say irrelevant as they regularly give interviews on SEN and 3AW but not a priority - so my guess they are mainly casual supporters may go to a game once in a while or buy a jumper or sticker, watch on tv if nothing better, but not enough to buy a membership or regularly attend matches. Much the way the Swans were in the 80's those fans fall off in hard times, as we have seen with the lions. The current Swans membership are more the kids who were given free passes in the 80's and have grown up with families of their own and are building generational support. Storm is still under 20 yrs old so we may be still 10 yrs away but I don't think they will fall over Be. I just don't see them being much bigger in the short term.

Fair enough. Living in Sydney I'll take your word on that. That being the case, the signs look good (membership, sponsorship, crowds) for GWS in only their 5th season despite leaguies and soccer fans always suggesting they're irrelevant.

They are certainly getting of a following each year down here I see GWS jumpers all the time at footy training

[leagueiscrap]

To not be able to sellout the pissy little AAMI Park on AFL free weekends in sports mad Melbourne when you're on top of the ladder says it all. Irrelevant to most Victorians despite years of constant on field success. Surely the Storm franchise must be running with massive losses off field.

I think they sell a lot of merchandise as in Rebel sports, sport smart etc etc that's virtually the only footy gear they have - I wouldn't say irrelevant as they regularly give interviews on SEN and 3AW but not a priority - so my guess they are mainly casual supporters may go to a game once in a while or buy a jumper or sticker, watch on tv if nothing better, but not enough to buy a membership or regularly attend matches. Much the way the Swans were in the 80's those fans fall off in hard times, as we have seen with the lions. The current Swans membership are more the kids who were given free passes in the 80's and have grown up with families of their own and are building generational support. Storm is still under 20 yrs old so we may be still 10 yrs away but I don't think they will fall over Be. I just don't see them being much bigger in the short term.

Fair enough. Living in Sydney I'll take your word on that. That being the case, the signs look good (membership, sponsorship, crowds) for GWS in only their 5th season despite leaguies and soccer fans always suggesting they're irrelevant.

thats the point they are only 5 seasons old & based in the middle of league heart land & have been easy beats up untill now

pretty funny when you compare GWS to the storm who have been consistently successful since their inception into the NRLOL playing, based & training at AAMI accross the road from the MCG. in the mean time the A league has had the victory and city start up and over take the storm

[Fred]

Has there been in growth in aussie rules clibs in western sydney or even the amount of age divisions. Dont think there has been much growth in rl in victoria if you look at tge comp there it is near on one leauge for the state with maybe a dozen teams at best. I think the set up of storm was all wrong as they did bugger all grassroots work when they came on. I hear it is a bit better now but nothing compared to the work done by the AFL. In saying that the set up of gws was not great.

[AFLcrap1]

Lols growth in WS
Depends on what propaganda you read .
Since the last report that showed how much crap was sprouted there has not been mention of another .
The man who did the report is now on the AFLOL payroll .
He won't be telling the truth anymore .

[Swans4ever]

Lols growth in WS
Depends on what propaganda you read .
Since the last report that showed how much crap was sprouted there has not been mention of another .
The man who did the report is now on the AFLOL payroll .
He won't be telling the truth anymore .

Yawn..........yes yes whatever you say crapper (it's easier to just agree with him he can't seperate himself from NRL propaganda and think for himself, I'd hate to be responsible for him necking himself if he ever accepted reality).

[AFLcrap1]

Is it at all possible for you topmost in a thread with something that is close to on topic .

Either post some proof of growth in WS ...or piss off
You've derailed about 6-7 threads today with your off topic bullshit

[Swans4ever]

Is it at all possible for you topmost in a thread with something that is close to on topic .

Either post some proof of growth in WS ...or piss off
You've derailed about 6-7 threads today with your off topic bullshit

Errr no if you look above I responded to the threa you went off topic with your usual RL propaganda - can't help yourself can you- yah flog!

[AFLcrap1]

Fuck off dickhead I replied to Fred
He asked the question
You then ranted about your usual off topic crap
About RL propaganda
I never mentioned RL you dumb ****

[leagueiscrap]

Has there been in growth in aussie rules clibs in western sydney or even the amount of age divisions. Dont think there has been much growth in rl in victoria if you look at tge comp there it is near on one leauge for the state with maybe a dozen teams at best. I think the set up of storm was all wrong as they did bugger all grassroots work when they came on. I hear it is a bit better now but nothing compared to the work done by the AFL. In saying that the set up of gws was not great.

Not sure about the leagues but a good indication is the amount of kids being drafted by clubs that are from nsw and qld. There is a for ever increasing number.

Really funny when you compare it to the storms case there has been around 2 or 3 from Victorian to play for the storm and around 6 or 7 to have ever played league for any club in around 100 year's