Even non-soccer fans were interested in the Liverpool game, just for the spectacle.That doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Again, the combined memberships of Victory and City make up about 1% of the population. So, where are all these people that fill the MCG every time Liverpool, Juventus, or Manchester City (soon enough) come to town, coming from? Yes, Victory has done very well with its supporter base since the league started. But the Melbourne market isn't even close to being tapped. And if Melbourne City is able to offer its members things like discount/priority tickets to watch when Manchester City and New York City come to town, along with a consistently better product than Melbourne Victory, the difference in membership totals between the Melbourne teams will close rapidly. If a Melbourne City membership guaranteed a season ticket holder a seat at Etihad to see Melbourne City v Manchester City, the club would probably get a few thousand additional members right there.
Probably go close to filling the G if the Dallas Cowboys came to town, but I don't see a Melbourne NFL franchise working too well.