Gold Coast Suns outdraw Gold Coast Titans

[Carbine Chaos]

Apartently they are going to setup a team in WA and want to play games in Adelaide....maybe they should focus on the areas they are struggling to keep as NRL territory rather than focusing on pointless tasks which they've already tried and failed countless times

No, get out of our state!

It's enough that we have to put up with the Force dudding up our state with their ineptitude, don't tell me we have to endure a second Thugby team here too...

I can't stand rugby, don't even know why, just find it unwatchable and a blight on the sporting community!

Go Suns!!!

 

[mediumsizered]

This was always going to happen. Aussie Rules supporters on the Gold Coast are far more passionate about their footy than League supporters. Although the League followers will always outnumber Aussie Rules supporters on the Gold Coast, they will be less inclined to attend Titans' games than their Aussie Rules counterparts will be to attend Suns' games.

 

[shoe]

hahaha nrl suck. Can't wait till their whole competition folds.

Naaaah, there needs to be a sport that meathead bogans can enjoy.

*stirs pot slowly*

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

Naaaah, there needs to be a sport that meathead bogans can enjoy.

*stirs pot slowly*

Nascar - remember the South Park episode

 

[Pie eyed]

Nascar - remember the South Park episode

A true classic.
Cartman's logic was impenetrable.

 

[shoe]

Nascar - remember the South Park episode

Classic

Not all of us were born with a plastic spoon in our mouths.

 

[fabulousphil]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/06/27/327635_gold-coast-titans.html

Actually, the story by Phil Rothfield is a very reasonable one, when considering the usual garbage put out by RL journos.

I did think this quote by a punter was funny though - "The NRL is never going to beat the AFL, it should be happy with the niche it has."

Made me laugh as the GC is RL heartland

There was also a poll in the DT on who will win the code war on the GC, which i found interesting, as you would imagine that in the main it would be RL fans voting.


The Titans and rugby league 26.8% (376 votes)
The Suns and AFL 48.68% (683 votes)
There's room for both codes 24.52% (344 votes)

 

[mxett]

Fabulousphil have you got a link for that poll? That's amazing and must be a real worry for the NRL.

 

[fabulousphil]

Fabulousphil have you got a link for that poll? That's amazing and must be a real worry for the NRL.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-the-gold-coast/story-e6freyar-1226082479652

Hope the poll will appear with the link

 

[Scroater]

I travelled up for the game and would estimate that we had at least 20% of the crowd there.(going by the blue) Get to all home games and pick an interstate game every year to go to. Also get along to Melbourne Storm games every now and then so am not really into the US V THEM mentality.

Wore a differnet Bulldog item each day, whether it be hat, shirt, windcheater etc, and lost count of the times someone pulled me up and asked, "Who do the Bulldogs play this week?"

In regards to the TITANS, it wasn't until the day before the game that I found out they were actually playing at home. The game started at 5.30pm so they weren't against each other and you can basically see the grounds from each other.

Someone mentioned about the migration to QLD from other states. That would be mainly retirees because there is no-one in their right mind between 18 and 45 who would lift stumps and move there with the high cost of living.

Game day
A lot of red and gold worn but it was mainly young people. I don't recall seeing mid to old aged people wearing GC colours whereas a lot of the Bullies were families , older people and 20's on a weekend away.

The seats are the same colour and it is tough to work out if anyone was sitting in them.

After the game and walking through Broadbeach and the casino, I again lost count of how many people pulled me up and asked, "Who did the Bulldogs play?"

At the moment it is all new and glitzy. The team has some good players and should improve as time goes by. The problem with the crowd will be, IF THEY DON'T.

 

[jasonwilde]

It's just a superior sport. Not much more to say really.

No, you can also add the RL is played by talentless meathead rapists (see Matty Johns) and that they don't have two cents to rub together. No support from women and the sport is dying slowly.

(Stirs pot and waits for LU faithful)

 

[Tas]

My concern is what happens after the honeymoon period where the AFL pouring money into the region (ie free tickets), etc dries up and the tokenism of the new Suns club wears off.

The region does not have a good track history for any sport of supporting clubs that do not perform. I hope my fears are unfounded but the Bears pulled some decent crowd numbers for games in 1987/88 given the state of the stadium and the general level of match attendances of that era.

 

[fabulousphil]

My concern is what happens after the honeymoon period where the AFL pouring money into the region (ie free tickets), etc dries up and the tokenism of the new Suns club wears off.

The region does not have a good track history for any sport of supporting clubs that do not perform. I hope my fears are unfounded but the Bears pulled some decent crowd numbers for games in 1987/88 given the state of the stadium and the general level of match attendances of that era.

I have no idea how strong grass roots football was back in the old Bears days, but at a guess it is much stronger now.

The GC is heading towards a population of around 600-700k of people, and is still growing quite fast, combined with a junior grass roots comp, that is around the same size as the local RL comp, it has a good a chance as any.

Throw in Southport Football club, and their financial reserves, combined with a great stadium, and stadium deal (similar to Geelong, as i understand it), and visiting southern footy fans, the future looks OK ATM.

Having said that, there will also no doubt be down times as well.

 

[CursoryMercenary]

Fantastic stuff, next year GWS will outdraw some of the Sydney NRL sides for sure, especially if Israel keeps slotting them through.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

My concern is what happens after the honeymoon period where the AFL pouring money into the region (ie free tickets), etc dries up and the tokenism of the new Suns club wears off.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no free tickets for the Suns games.

It's also worth noting that the Suns are bearing down on 15,000 members and given it's only a 25,000 seat stadium, things look good.

 

[10571z]

My concern is what happens after the honeymoon period where the AFL pouring money into the region (ie free tickets), etc dries up and the tokenism of the new Suns club wears off.

The region does not have a good track history for any sport of supporting clubs that do not perform. I hope my fears are unfounded but the Bears pulled some decent crowd numbers for games in 1987/88 given the state of the stadium and the general level of match attendances of that era.

Bears were around at a time when suburban football still existed and collingwood had 20,000 members.

And the suns will be really good in the next couple of year. Honestly i wouldn't be suprised if they made the top 8 next year. With lots of teams sliding such as brisbane,port,saints,bulldogs, adelaide and gws to be uncompetitive.

 

[Tas]

I have no idea how strong grass roots football was back in the old Bears days, but at a guess it is much stronger now.

The GC is heading towards a population of around 600-700k of people, and is still growing quite fast, combined with a junior grass roots comp, that is around the same size as the local RL comp, it has a good a chance as any.

Throw in Southport Football club, and their financial reserves, combined with a great stadium, and stadium deal (similar to Geelong, as i understand it), and visiting southern footy fans, the future looks OK ATM.

Having said that, there will also no doubt be down times as well.

I think their population is growing rapidly but if you look at the census data, the vast majority of new residents over the last few census periods the vast majority have come from other areas in Queensland, which is contradictory to the premise that they have a large pro-AFL population because they have a lot of people from Vic, SA and WA.

So in terms of demographic the region is still fairly hostile you would think given Rugby is their primary winter sport, tv ratings suggest it is by a significant margin.

My concern is that if the drop-off for the Titans is as severe as it is, given they were one of the top clubs last year, if the AFL isn't artificially inflating crowd numbers at Suns game what is the ballpark in terms of real supporter base. Because the economic model for a small stadium is to have demand much greater than supply and have severely over-priced seating to compensate for a lack of numbers. This is the successful Geelong model.

I am not sure what stakehold Southport has, if any, in the Suns. They make most of their money from pokies, not sure why they would put any of their blood money into a different football club.

 

[Simple Jack]

My concern is what happens after the honeymoon period where the AFL pouring money into the region (ie free tickets), etc dries up and the tokenism of the new Suns club wears off.

The region does not have a good track history for any sport of supporting clubs that do not perform. I hope my fears are unfounded but the Bears pulled some decent crowd numbers for games in 1987/88 given the state of the stadium and the general level of match attendances of that era.

You grossly underestimate picks 1,2,3,5+a shitload of other first rounders, +massive salary cap and they could just take all the players from last years draft when they were 17.

Besides that, this is an important growth area, the AFL will guarantee that the Suns win at least 1 flag within 10 years. If they fail to do it with the players they have (I think there is very little chance of them failing) then watch them get some more salary cap, or have the free agency rules 'relaxed' for a player who wants to go there or similar.

After a flag or two this decade, the AFL will probably let them go like any other club, and if theyll probably have an unsucessful period around 2023, but by then the AFL will have hoped to have grown the product in the area with strong grassroots support and they may be able to support it.

 

[10571z]

There is no way the suns will fail. AFL is a good product simple as that. Obviously people arent exactly intrested in rugby up there as they are getting 12,000 to there games. Wait till all the little kids start nagging there parents to get along ect and it grows

In 2 years metricon will sell out every week.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

I think their population is growing rapidly but if you look at the census data, the vast majority of new residents over the last few census periods the vast majority have come from other areas in Queensland, which is contradictory to the premise that they have a large pro-AFL population because they have a lot of people from Vic, SA and WA.

So in terms of demographic the region is still fairly hostile you would think given Rugby is their primary winter sport, tv ratings suggest it is by a significant margin.

My concern is that if the drop-off for the Titans is as severe as it is, given they were one of the top clubs last year, if the AFL isn't artificially inflating crowd numbers at Suns game what is the ballpark in terms of real supporter base. Because the economic model for a small stadium is to have demand much greater than supply and have severely over-priced seating to compensate for a lack of numbers. This is the successful Geelong model.

I am not sure what stakehold Southport has, if any, in the Suns. They make most of their money from pokies, not sure why they would put any of their blood money into a different football club.

As little as I know abut rugby league, the Titans have gone on a spending spree this year for next season so they're seemingly banking on on-field success from next season. Still, they're a shyte 'club'*!

* Privately owned, I might add.

 

[Cudi_420]

Gold Coast, and Queensland in general, has always been one to embrace AFL. They don't hate and criticise it like Sydney folk, who really only dislike AFL because it's from Melbourne.

No surprise that they know the rules and appreciate the sport. Gold Coast Sharks are very big.

 

[10571z]

I hope next year the afl sets up gold coast with 2 games against GWS, Port, Brisbane, adelaide.

Try and get some constant wins happening and possibly a top 8 berth. Seriously they lost to dogs by 70 odd then 22 thats improvement.

 

[AllSport]

Let's not get to ahead of ourselves after outdrawing the Titans after one game as the winds can change pretty quickly if the Titans were to rebound next year and when the Sun's honeymoon period expires is when we can really see if the Suns can stand up in the Gold Coast. It's possible for both teams to get along without killing each other off they can thrive together.

Let's go back to the Brisbane Lions during there premiership years there was those who proclaim QLD as a AFL state through this infamous thread.
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166449

Now the premierships stop coming and the Lions hit rock bottom unfortunately, the moral of the story is not to jump to conclusions and declare premature victory as it will come back to bite you. Who knows what will happen in the next 5 years for both clubs who know both could be in top 4 with big crowds for both living happily ever after. We don't know I hate people deathriding other codes and I'm am a Leaguie also we can all get along.

 

[fabulousphil]

I think their population is growing rapidly but if you look at the census data, the vast majority of new residents over the last few census periods the vast majority have come from other areas in Queensland, which is contradictory to the premise that they have a large pro-AFL population because they have a lot of people from Vic, SA and WA.

So in terms of demographic the region is still fairly hostile you would think given Rugby is their primary winter sport, tv ratings suggest it is by a significant margin.

My concern is that if the drop-off for the Titans is as severe as it is, given they were one of the top clubs last year, if the AFL isn't artificially inflating crowd numbers at Suns game what is the ballpark in terms of real supporter base. Because the economic model for a small stadium is to have demand much greater than supply and have severely over-priced seating to compensate for a lack of numbers. This is the successful Geelong model.

I am not sure what stakehold Southport has, if any, in the Suns. They make most of their money from pokies, not sure why they would put any of their blood money into a different football club.

From what i understand Southport sponsors and has a fair say in the running of the GCFC, because of it's financial clout.

In regards to demographics, what you say is probably correct, the vast majority of new residents dont come from the southern states any more, but from NSW, NZ, O/S and other parts of QLD, so that is a concern, as they are primarily rugby orientated, but our game has a great habit of "converting " or embracing new people, and people who come to new cities, areas and countries are usually more open to try new things than people who dont.

Every club and area has it's problems, GCFC will not be alone there.

If i was the AFL, i would be more concerned about PAFC ATM.

25,000 seat stadium is perfect.

 

[Simple Jack]

Let's not get to ahead of ourselves after outdrawing the Titans after one game as the winds can change pretty quickly if the Titans were to rebound next year and when the Sun's honeymoon period expires is when we can really see if the Suns can stand up in the Gold Coast. It's possible for both teams to get along without killing each other off they can thrive together.

Let's go back to the Brisbane Lions during there premiership years there was those who proclaim QLD as a AFL state through this infamous thread.
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166449

Now the premierships stop coming and the Lions hit rock bottom unfortunately, the moral of the story is not to jump to conclusions and declare premature victory as it will come back to bite you. Who knows what will happen in the next 5 years for both clubs who know both could be in top 4 with big crowds for both living happily ever after. We don't know I hate people deathriding other codes and I'm am a Leaguie also we can all get along.

In that 'infamous' thread as you put it, here is the very first reply to the OP

will be interesting too see the crowds after it appears their era of dominance is over.

Most of us here in AF land are reasonably balanced and analytical, unlike those fine, refined, gentlemen on LU.

I think that a difference is the Suns are a start up club, who are well promoted, have campaigner to gather interest, and will have lots of early success. The Bears were pretty much none of these things, and then they merged with a Victorian club before getting some support with premierships.

Even so, you may be right and it will be interesting to see how they go when they start to slide (after they peak in 6-8 years) and if the crowd and grassroots support that has been invested in, holds strong.