14,342

[Heeney2Franklin]

I don't think the large majority hate you, or even wish ill upon your club.

However you are owned by a private base and made a decision to stay in Melb and be profitable. That is your challenge - the AFL made it quite clear that you have to stand on your own 2 feet and your membership accepted this challenge.

It is of course natural that a figure of 14K is going to sound some warning bells - especially amongst those of us who think there are too many clubs representing the area of Melb.

I hear the equalisation, draw etc - however 14 thousand to any AFL game is a bit of a disgrace.

I want a team in Tassie and one on the GC ...I'd also like the comp not to exceed 16 teams. How the cards fall is the question.

I think the current Administration of NMFC is well aware of the challenge they face when they turned down the GC offer, the challenge for NMFC is to produce sustainable figures not just for one calendar year but for the next 5-10 years.

The problem is their past Administration ****ed things up so badly that the damage is almost inrepairable they were a powerhouse during the 90's had argurably one of the greatest players of all time to market everything should of pointed to NMFC being a powerhouse on and off the field in current times.

Had Brayshaw/Arocca been at the helm during that time i can almost guarantee North would be in a much healthier position finance wise.

 

[Crosby87]

Re: 13,342

Play it at Arden St. next time and charge $5 per car.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

Re: 13,342

When Hawthorn were down and playing crap in 2004, they got 11k against Port.

We are down and playing crap and got 14k.

Its not great, its not ideal and its not something we're happy with./ But it can, and will, change.

 

[campbell]

Re: 13,342

Play it at Arden St. next time and charge $5 per car.

nah, even suburban venues up here charge 10.00 per car.

 

[BLPC08]

Re: 13,342

Looked a lot less than 10,000 - I think someone at the AFL has fudged the numbers

 

[fairdinkum]

Re: 13,342

Looked a lot less than 10,000 - I think someone at the AFL has fudged the numbers

At the game, were you?

 

[Moo]

The members. It was a historic vote that was passed near-unanimously late last year (one dissenter amongst hundreds). The effect was that the shareholders handed their shares back and they were cancelled as the club's constitution was changed. It is now a member-owned club like most (all?) others.

You're forgiven, I'm sure footy news doesn't always get through to Al Ain. I missed a stack of footy news when I lived in Dubai a little while back. Only got to Al Ain once, don't think I could've lived there.

Yep it is a little bitty town but it does have a ***** load of oil dollars and I am a cheap IT ho so what can you do.

In regards to the ownership, I thought this was the case which I classify as you being in private hands?

We are basically Govt owned via the WAFC, I calssify the Roos as privately (ie not Govt or AFL controlled).

 

[serenityNow]

Re: 13,342

It is typical Bigfooty though. Port has next to none of the ex-pats in Melbourne, most follow Adelaide as they came out earlier than Port.

North gets 14,342 against Port.

Melbourne gets 14,129 against Crows.

Where were the threads about Melbourne's crowds?

Not that I care to draw attention to Melbourne, it is the lack of consistency which is irritating. When Bulldogs or Melbourne do something equally as poor you hear nothing, everyone whines like a stuck pig if it is us. Saints are rampaging and we are almost around where they are with members, if we were unbeaten and were struggling to pass bottom four club for members and playing interstate people would be all over us like a cheap suit.

We don't give a shit what your half-arsed opinion on our future is. Get it through your thick heads.

Melbourne played a sunday twi-light game against the crows....IN SHOCKING WEATHER, also the Dee's have been firmly entrenched at the arse end of the ladder for some time....and won very few games.


The Kangaroos played under a roof on a saturday night. Have played finals in recent seasons and their fans know they need to turn up.

Piss poor supporter base.......piss poor.

 

[Papa G]

Re: 13,342

Wrote this on another thread before the weekend.....

.....North Melbourne's whole business model is reliance of opposition supporters to rock up and bank roll their existence. This is their whole freaking problem and that is why they are ****ed. Melbourne are the same.

Victorian's complaining about "low drawing interstate sides" is a bloody joke. Guess what? For Brisbane and Sydney and the Perth and Adelaide teams barring 1 home game a year each, every single home game is against a ****ing "low drawing interstate side".

It's meant to be a national competition. As the home team you are meant to supply the supporters. North supporters will deflect blame for the 15,000 that'll rock up to Etihad on Saturday as somehow being Port's fault. No, most Port supporters live 800 km away and can't get to the game.

Adelaide and West Coast and to a lesser extent Fremantle have a massive core of member's that will go week in week out and seriously put even the big Melbourne clubs to shame. Brisbane, Sydney and Port have 22-30k that will generally come regardless of who they are playing.

Melbourne and North, for 2 club's that on the brink, have 12-15,000 that fit this category. That's their problem and it isn't changing soon. The benchmark for playing a "low drawing interstate team" should be around the 25,000 mark, North and Melbourne can't do it. With GC and West Sydney coming in, their will be more of these types of games and these clubs will become more and more unviable.

 

[Hawkk]

Re: 13,342

The new stadium will only work if it has to have a seating capacity of between 20k - 25k almost exclusively reserved seating and overall capacity no greater than 30k. The new stadium must earn at least enough to equal current returns and cost of building a new stadium.

Problem is, the smaller clubs won't build their support base WITHOUT having significant affordable General Admission seating at the new stadium

Its a catch 22, the clubs need to play at smaller venues (and fill it) to garner the necessary reserve revenue and match reciepts to survive but they won't grow their attendances unless they play games at venues with large reserves of affordable seating (MCG)

 

[Hawkk]

Re: 13,342

When Hawthorn were down and playing crap in 2004, they got 11k against Port.

We are down and playing crap and got 14k.

Its not great, its not ideal and its not something we're happy with./ But it can, and will, change.

Fair wack

The problem for North though is that they don't make money out of these games in the good times either, their best crowd against Port Adelaide in Melbourne is only 22,118 (non finals) which is a cause for concern

 

[legend166]

Re: 13,342

Wrote this on another thread before the weekend.....

.....North Melbourne's whole business model is reliance of opposition supporters to rock up and bank roll their existence. This is their whole freaking problem and that is why they are ****ed. Melbourne are the same.

Victorian's complaining about "low drawing interstate sides" is a bloody joke. Guess what? For Brisbane and Sydney and the Perth and Adelaide teams barring 1 home game a year each, every single home game is against a ****ing "low drawing interstate side".

It's meant to be a national competition. As the home team you are meant to supply the supporters. North supporters will deflect blame for the 15,000 that'll rock up to Etihad on Saturday as somehow being Port's fault. No, most Port supporters live 800 km away and can't get to the game.

Adelaide and West Coast and to a lesser extent Fremantle have a massive core of member's that will go week in week out and seriously put even the big Melbourne clubs to shame. Brisbane, Sydney and Port have 22-30k that will generally come regardless of who they are playing.

Melbourne and North, for 2 club's that on the brink, have 12-15,000 that fit this category. That's their problem and it isn't changing soon. The benchmark for playing a "low drawing interstate team" should be around the 25,000 mark, North and Melbourne can't do it. With GC and West Sydney coming in, their will be more of these types of games and these clubs will become more and more unviable.

I've said this before, but it seems there's a pretty sizable football base in Victoria that cares more about sticking it to their co-workers and friends when they beat their team than they do actually watching their own team play whoever.

 

[Bollox]

They knew the problems when they knocked back the GC offer...all they can do now is whinge and hope circumstances change.

By the time they realise that ACTING like a strong club isnt the same as BEING a strong club it'll be too late. Complaining about pre-existing stadium deals..whinging about how the AFL "treat them"...acting tough by changing bank accoutns...NONE of it is actually achieving anything except smoke and mirrors for the presdient and ceo. Rearragning the deckchair stuff whilst also spending other peiople's money on a white elephant.

Eventually something will give..the members and fans collectively dont seem to care much by their actions and they are still reliant on members and fans of other clubs. Poor onfield results this yr could bring it all to a head.

 

[The Zebra]

Well that was a nice read on a Monday morning.

Some observations:

1. Interstate fans need to get over themselves. As much as you obviously want to be, you are not Victorian, accept it and move on.

2. The amount of whinging about how much North supporters whinge is quite amazing. Must be a 10:1 ratio between people telling us to stop whinging and people actually whinging.

3. The crowd was disappointing, but expected. We have a core attending base of about 15-16 thousand. Add in poor form, lack of kids at the game, etc and that probably dipped to about 13.5 k on Saturday night. We need to get that up to a consistent 20k as our first goal. Success obviously plays a big role, but there are plenty of otehr factors. the last admin disenfranchised North supporters is so many ways. It was obvious to many North supporters on bigfooty - if you are interested (and the way most of you swarm around these threads, you obviously are) go and do a search on the North board. Type in Aylett, Walsh, sponsorship - things like that and you will see how bad it was.

But was is the word. Brayshaw and Arocca are putting massive focus on reconnecting with our fans. It will not be easy, but it will happen, and along with fixed stadium deals, things will be ok. We are in good hands now, so keep your panties on, because we are not going anywhere.

 

[Doctor Jolly]

Well that was a nice read on a Monday morning.

Some observations:

1. Interstate fans need to get over themselves. As much as you obviously want to be, you are not Victorian, accept it and move on.

The last thing we want to be is Victorian. In fact we want to remove the archiac Victorian-centric aspects of the AFL as fast as possible.

2. The amount of whinging about how much North supporters whinge is quite amazing. Must be a 10:1 ratio between people telling us to stop whinging and people actually whinging.

1:10. I'd say. You're whinging is now turning the public against you.

3. The crowd was disappointing, but expected.

How does "expected" make it ok ?

We have a core attending base of about 15-16 thousand. Add in poor form, lack of kids at the game, etc and that probably dipped to about 13.5 k on Saturday night. We need to get that up to a consistent 20k as our first goal. Success obviously plays a big role, but there are plenty of otehr factors. the last admin disenfranchised North supporters is so many ways. It was obvious to many North supporters on bigfooty - if you are interested (and the way most of you swarm around these threads, you obviously are) go and do a search on the North board. Type in Aylett, Walsh, sponsorship - things like that and you will see how bad it was.

My kids have been going to saturday night games since they were 3. sat night games are fine for kids. They love it.

You wont progress anywhere, while you have the blame-someone-else mentaility. (Past leaders).

IMO, history will judge past presidents who looked at the gold coast will be seen as visionaries, and Brayshaw and Aroca known as the ones who backed the club into a corner where the outcome becomes out of their hands.

If their is an analogy, South melbourne took the "GC offer", and although shafted later by the VFL, the club and history remained in tact. Brayshaw is taking the "Fitzroy" route...where the board/members will have no say. They will be merged/shifted/dropped at the whim of the AFL and other clubs.

But was is the word. Brayshaw and Arocca are putting massive focus on reconnecting with our fans. It will not be easy, but it will happen, and along with fixed stadium deals, things will be ok. We are in good hands now, so keep your panties on, because we are not going anywhere.

I cant see Eithad stadium situation changing. Its locked in contract. Not that 14,000 will make any money there anyway. I cant see any new grounds being created appart from Princess Park (which you already tried, and failed at), or Skilled....good luck with that.

Brayshaw brings a public face to North, which can be a good thing, but at the moment all his is doing is wafting along with public opinion which are costing the club. He lacks direction and a plan. He's much more a media personality than a President.

 

[DaVe86]

As bad the the stadium deals are for Victorian clubs...as much as i feel sorry for the Roo's for having to pay this debt....as much as i despite the AFL for making such terrible deals for the Vic clubs who have to play at etihad...


14,000 people!!!!!!!!! That is a disgrace. Where are the fans? The Roo's are meant to have double the members than this. Even if 30% of members don't go...and factor in atleast 3 thousand opposition supporters...they shouldve still got 20+.


So as cruel as it sounds...the Roo's can complain as much as they want about their terrible deal....but you have to have the bums on seat to backup the argument. Let's face it, it costs a lot of money to keep a ground running, and it is not sustainable if only 1 fifth of the ground is filled.

Kangas have to get bums on seats.


What annoys me is that the Roos in their history have always proven that they are at their best when the chips are down. No doubt it has been a bad start to the year...but the Roos proved yet again that they are never to be written off.


It was such a fantastic game. Shame on all you Kangaroos fans that didn't go because you missed a fantastic performance. Your side played their guts out and defied the odds...but you were not their to see it.

Here you have your management on their knees trying to keep this club alive...but the fans do not turn up. How are they supposed to win their fight to stay alive if the fans are not there to support.


If North Melbourne is going to get a better stadium deal...if North melbourne is going to stay alive....then the fans have to respond by lifting attendances.

I know Port don't draw a crowd...but with the amount of members you guys have, surely atleast 20K could've got to the game.

 

[rb214]

1:10. I'd say. You're whinging is now turning the public against you.

You as supporters are forcing its death by not taking one of those alternatives. Once again you may like to blame us, but the buck stops with you.

The thing that most people including North supporters and certainly including the "Scum" on this website don’t get is none of this crap on Big Footy matters.

Having Doctor Jolly or some other goose on a Football Forum say you club has to go means nothing. These people are not a representation of the broader Football Public; they are merely people with too much spare time that like to fight keyboard battles.

Do you think Andrew D or James Brayshaw or anyone who actually matters would take this crap seriously?

Their opinion means nothing, I saw one Swan supporter Grayham I think his name was trying to recruit a Carlton supporter into barracking for Norths demise by saying your club is too powerful you don't need to be associated with North. It’s all a bit sad.

So North supporters please don't let these keyboard experts annoy you. For all you know you could be debating with a 17 year old kid who is doing an Economics assignment and is now suddenly an expert in the harsh realities of running a Football Club.

Or a Swan supporter who is so desperate to feel more apart of the AFL that they think by getting rid of North they will be taken more seriously.

The reality is 99% of the Football community in Victoria would hate to see North disappear. 99% of the Football Public in Victoria couldn’t really give 2 shits about the finances of Clubs or the AFL expansion.

They like to watch Footy; they love the rivalry of Vic Footy and genuinely don't wish bad on any other team’s supporters. They know what it's like to love your club and don't take enjoyment in the idea of a club folding.

What you have on this site are rather crap stirrers that like getting a rise or Schadenfreudes who may have some major insecurities about themselves.

Please don't label all interstate supporters with the same brush, the vast majority appreciate clubs like North and its mainly those who are jealous of the Vic football rivalries that wish ill of clubs like North.

Another matter to tread cautiously with is Sydney Supporters. There are a number of these knobs out there who like to cheer the demise of North and I know it's irritating. The majority are like nerdy kids at school trying to get into the cool club desperately baying for blood so they can get closer to the cool circle.

However there are a number of great ex South Supporters who must be insulted by these morons who have been through the heartache of having there club relocated. If they have been able to find a connection with Sydney good on them, its the least they deserve. We must be careful not to paint all Sydney people with the same brush and sink to the level of these desperate types.


All that matters is we get these Stadium deals right so profits can be made over the full 22 weeks of Football. We might lose a bit by getting 17,000 to a Port match but make plenty by getting 30,000 to a Saints match

Worst case scenario we will start playing a a smaller Vic stadium like PP and make money. All that is holding us back is that.

30,000 memberships are good and sponsorship is great. We have a 10 million dollar base being built at Arden Street and a good young list.

Remember only a fool enters a fools argument.

 

[rb214]

As bad the the stadium deals are for Victorian clubs...as much as i feel sorry for the Roo's for having to pay this debt....as much as i despite the AFL for making such terrible deals for the Vic clubs who have to play at etihad...


14,000 people!!!!!!!!! That is a disgrace. Where are the fans? The Roo's are meant to have double the members than this. Even if 30% of members don't go...and factor in atleast 3 thousand opposition supporters...they shouldve still got 20+.


So as cruel as it sounds...the Roo's can complain as much as they want about their terrible deal....but you have to have the bums on seat to backup the argument. Let's face it, it costs a lot of money to keep a ground running, and it is not sustainable if only 1 fifth of the ground is filled.

Kangas have to get bums on seats.


What annoys me is that the Roos in their history have always proven that they are at their best when the chips are down. No doubt it has been a bad start to the year...but the Roos proved yet again that they are never to be written off.


It was such a fantastic game. Shame on all you Kangaroos fans that didn't go because you missed a fantastic performance. Your side played their guts out and defied the odds...but you were not their to see it.

Here you have your management on their knees trying to keep this club alive...but the fans do not turn up. How are they supposed to win their fight to stay alive if the fans are not there to support.


If North Melbourne is going to get a better stadium deal...if North melbourne is going to stay alive....then the fans have to respond by lifting attendances.

I know Port don't draw a crowd...but with the amount of members you guys have, surely atleast 20K could've got to the game.

Spot On, great post.

Saturday night was a piss por effort. Last year we got 22,000 to the G for a 1pm game and this year 8,000 dropped off because of poor form. Myself included.

Not good enough.

 

[MarkT]

That's the sort of crowd that gives you no bargaining power and forces you to have the AFL negotiate for you and therefore be subject to their objectives rather than you own. Eugine gets it.

 

[Roosurgence]

Re: 13,342

Heard on ch10 that it will be around a $150k loss


I just don't get north melbourne supporters - there club is on an abyss and they cannot be bothered turning up for a game. Yet we will continue to cop backlash from north supporters on these boards because we criticise the club.


What a disgrace

Because the people you are criticizing on here are the ones who actually go to the games. Your critisism is falling on deaf ears.

14K is a bloody shocking crowd, but in reality we were never going to get to 20K let alone the 32K break even point.

The fact that we have been playing crap football, fixtured at Jihad (which stands for Shitville) Stadium on a Saturday night against Port Adelaide we were always going to struggle.

I'm guessing most people took the easy option and sat at home and watched it on Foxtel, which is a pity because they missed a great game of footy.

 

[Lach72]

Re: 13,342

.

I'm guessing most people took the easy option and sat at home and watched it on Foxtel, which is a pity because they missed a great game of footy.

...and here is the crux of the argument...

 

[Larry the Liquidator]

As a Port fan living in Melbourne, I was at the game. It was like being at a Sheffield Shield game. I was at the corresponding game in 2004 at the TD and the crowd that day seemed alot bigger.

 

[Roosurgence]

Re: 13,342

...and here is the crux of the argument...

But whats the point of arguing it on here? The majority of people who post on here and the North board actually attend our games.

We as supporters and members are just as frustrated as anyone.

 

[Roosurgence]

As a Port fan living in Melbourne, I was at the game. It was like being at a Sheffield Shield game. I was at the corresponding game in 2004 at the TD and the crowd that day seemed alot bigger.

Port at the dome has always produced shocking crowd numbers for us.

We seem to attract more at the "G".

I was at the game, so I can't comment on what it looked like on TV, but in the past i remember the stadium letting people upgrade to Level 1 seating for nothing to make the crowd look better. I noticed this year that this didn't happen as there were quite a few people on Level 3 on the wing.

 

[maryjames]

Re: 13,342

there was about 8 thousand there.. noway was there 14plus., and i was chatting to a north fan and when and he is so over his team , and saying they should had moved to goldcoast.. he is even changing teams to support goldcoast..