The furphy that Melbourne has poor crowds

[Senor M]

Each Vic club’s biggest home crowd against GC.

Carlton = 39,597 (2024)
Richmond = 38,508 (2015)
Collingwood = 36,913 (2012)
Essendon = 33,710 (2011)
Hawthorn = 31,331 (2019)
Geelong = 30,087 (2013)
Melbourne = 27,013 (2015)
Western Bulldogs = 22,499 (2019)
St Kilda = 21,078 (2012)
North Melbourne = 19,819 (2014)

To be fair to the Tigers; we’ve only played the Suns 3 times in their history at the MCG.

The 2015 game mentioned; R12 2016 on a cold winters afternoon when Richmond were 13th after starting the season 1-6 and in the final round of 2024 when Richmond had already won the spoon and it was confirmed Dusty wasn’t playing his “farewell” game.

A competitive Richmond/GC game at the G would be closer to 50k

 

[Outtatym]

We need to have a genuine discussion about moving Demons games to Marvel Stadium.

Why? It's their home ground. Clubs can play wherever they want.
If they're not running at a loss playing there, who cares? The crowd would have been sub 20k at marvel.

 

[ep12]

The problem is simple, people have expectations that we would have bigger crowds because we play at the MCG and have had success in the last 5 years. They would point to Collingwood's/Carlton's/Richmond's crowds but the reality is that Collingwood probably have 4 times the fan base and the other two are 3 times as big.

The other massive issue is that people only see what is on the TV whereas 80% of our supporters sit in the MCC/Olympic Stand which are the non-TV camera side of the ground and so the crowd looks far smaller than it is.

We get our right whack when the figure drops to 16k like it did late last year but 24.5k against the Suns was an above average crowd.

It also does not help that our first 3 home games at the G are against GWS, Gold Coast & Fremantle which are the 3 lowest drawing sides in Melbourne.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Streisand effect, the thread.

 

[Cleavy]

The problem is simple, people have expectations that we would have bigger crowds because we play at the MCG and have had success in the last 5 years. They would point to Collingwood's/Carlton's/Richmond's crowds but the reality is that Collingwood probably have 4 times the fan base and the other two are 3 times as big.

so then are we saying that Melbourne supporters don't have the same level of passion as the other big Victorians teams? (to either buy a membership and/or go to the games)

 

[north_lad]

We need to have a genuine discussion about moving Demons games to Marvel Stadium.

No we don't

 

[Rotayjay]

24,000 is a shit crowd in this racket.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Bonkers thread.

"We don't have poor crowds."
Posts a poor crowd as evidence.
Uses a solitary game as supposed vindication.

10/10 BF.

 

[Cyclops]

Bonkers thread.

"We don't have poor crowds."
Posts a poor crowd as evidence.
Uses a solitary game as supposed vindication.

10/10 BF.

I'd format that as a greentext, but Bigfooty turns it into a quote.

<Be me
<Small crowd inspector
<inspecting the MCG
<Dees vs Suns, fml
<Melbourne supporter sees me, starts ranting
<"You wanna see a small crowd, head over to Docklands"
< whatever, justdoingmyjob.exe
<look inside
<its a small crowd

 

[jdisc]

 

[jdisc]

to be fair the attendance numbers would be higher if the seagulls had to buy tickets

 

[Cyclops]

 

[Cyclops]

giga chad

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[jdisc]

 

[Shane Heard]

Melbourne have poor crowds and so do Essendon

Yeah nah..you’re incorrect there

 

[Pistol Night]

Today against Gold Coast at the MCG there was an attendance 24,506 at the MCG, a 1:20 start, not really a great time for families with Saturday sport, Melbourne, not one of the large Victorian clubs, admittedly playing very poorly atm.

Thursday night, Essendon (a large Victorian club) v Port Adelaide at Marvel, 25,114 attended.

Melbourne continue to get crap about crowds but none say a word about Essendon.

Melbourne are a unique club, not born or based in a suburban area, we are the MCG.

Considering our terrible form the attendance today would suggest that 'Melbourne supporters don't turn up' is absurd.

We get that at training

 

[Sentinel]

If it's so important to show people in the crowd, why don't they turn the cameras around for Melbourne MCG games and have them on the other wing to show the MCC reserve? There are always plenty in the members stand for Dees games, at least until half time.

 

[Mofra]

TV ratings and streams matter far more these days than game attendances. That's the AFL cash cow now.

 

[jdisc]

View attachment 2267453

Yeah nah..you’re incorrect there

agree on your broader point RE Essendon, but these stats are misleading

 

[Shane Heard]

agree on your broader point RE Essendon, but these stats are misleading

Misleading hey?

Ok dear.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

View attachment 2267453

Yeah nah..you’re incorrect there

25K in a prime time slot is crap

 

[Pistol Night]

25K in a prime time slot is crap

Especially when there’s **** all snow on the ground yet. No excuses

 

[jdisc]

Misleading hey?

Ok dear.

Yes, misleading.

You're looking at averages across all games, including away games. As a metric for judging team support.

If GC play in a packed out MCG against Collingwood and their season average attendance goes up it doesn't mean their fan turn out has increased.

 

[Magma]

TV ratings and streams matter far more these days than game attendances. That's the AFL cash cow now.

yeah i mean covid proved exactly this. plus afl clubs are charging more and more for memberships and still getting record numbers. they really have the best of both worlds.

 

[Pistol Night]

yeah i mean covid proved exactly this. plus afl clubs are charging more and more for memberships and still getting record numbers. they really have the best of both worlds.

86 inch TV, fridge full of piss at 20% of the venue prices, mute Dwayne if he’s calling the game and it’s far more attractive