Talking Footy

League converts #FIREUP
January 17, 2014 5:19 PM



League converts #FIREUP

"It's definitely our best year so far and we're tracking about 11 per cent ahead of where we were this time last year."
GC SUNS General Manager of Marketing, Fan Development and Community, Kelly Ryan

Die hard rugby league fans on the Gold Coast are openly swapping their allegiance, with many Gold Coasters preparing to #FIREUP this season according to Mermaid Waters resident Carlee Raabe.

A once hard-core Brisbane Broncos supporter, Raabe was first introduced to “Australia’s Game” after watching her first Gold Coast SUNS match at Metricon Stadium in 2011, and claims she hasn’t looked back since.

"I went to a SUNS game when I first moved to the Coast in 2011 and I didn't understand it," Raabe told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

"But someone explained it to me and three games later I was hooked.

"I haven't followed the Broncos since 2011 and I've been a full AFL convert since I was first introduced to the SUNS. My weekends now revolve around going to Gold Coast SUNS games and watching other AFL games on television."

And it seems Raabe isn’t the only Gold Coaster experiencing the premier match-day experience at Metricon Stadium.

Yesterday the Gold Coast SUNS membership figure stood at 8,430, and GC SUNS General Manager of Marketing, Fan Development and Community – Kelly Ryan said support was on the rise.

"It's definitely our best year so far and we're tracking about 11 per cent ahead of where we were this time last year," Ryan said.

"No doubt the performance of the team at the end of last season is helping ... and people that were sitting on the fence or watching from afar are starting to jump on board.

"We had 12,500 members last season and our aim is for more than that this year."

http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2014 ... rts-fireup

Phelpsy wrote:

From someone who lives here, that article is a good reflection of how things are here. On the radio I heard the presenter saying something similar, that he was a rl follower and went to a game and enjoyed the atmosphere so much he went back with his family. He was spruking saying how he loves it and that you just don't get that atmosphere at an nrl game...Origen aside I suspect ...this is the marketing tool the AFL has, atmosphere at the game. That's why I support giving away tickets for both codes .,. Get them along and they might enjoy it. For what it is worth , I'll be going to my first ever rl game this year with a work colleague broncos at that.,.. And she and her husband will come to a suns game. Looking forward to it .

Phelpsy wrote:

Nope, this guy is from Sydney. I can tell you the suns are a major brand on the coast ... I think bigger than the lions in Brisbane going by the media. Not sure why that would be a problem. AFL is easily the second code on the coast and growing very fast. In saying that gold coasters are fairly apathetic about their sport and if they're doing okay them they jump on board. In saying that, there is a feel that the suns are Gold Coast as the locals have watched them grow ... Gold coasters have grown with them through the early years. Football is alive and well on the Gold Coast. Surfing rules over all that by the way lol