Will we get an NRL Grand Final at the MCG?
Roar Guru
By Michael C, 22 Sep 2009 Michael C is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- AFL, NRL, Roy Masters, Rugby Union
167 Have your say
Back in 1907, Sean Fagan tells us, Australian Football was doing okay business in Sydney and was looking set to ‘swamp’ the amateur rugby union.
Along came rugby league and the “rugby union authorities refused to give the NSWRL access to the SCG or Sports Ground, and Australian rules officials graciously vacated the Agricultural Ground for two weekends, allowing rugby league to kick-off. It was a fatal mistake for Australian rules.”
Interesting then to read Roy Masters’ article in the Monday SMH about the possible playing of the NRL Grand Final outside of Sydney, or NSW for that matter.
He puts the MCG as an option for consideration, but then Stephen Gough from the MCG indicates that the AFL has a standing booking for the week after should there be a drawn Grand Final and subsequent ‘replay’.
Gough stated: “The AFL would have to change the rule for the NRL to have its grand final at the MCG.”
Masters observes: “The chances of the AFL denying itself another $15 million gate, while giving a break to a rival, are zero.”
Students of history would suggest the AFL would be raving lunatics to give another code a ‘break’ like that!
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Robbo said | September 22nd 2009 @ 6:52am | Report comment
I’m sorry. Was that your article? Here I was thinking that was the introduction for your article!
Michael C said | September 22nd 2009 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Tried to keep it short — and leave it more open for discussion than anything – - I didn’t need to go burning people on the RL tab.
Paul J said | September 22nd 2009 @ 7:35am | Report comment
Interesting point but i think the NRL & AFL grand finals will stay in Sydney & Melbourne for the immediate future. Plus the NRL now has a 90,000 capacity stadium in Sydney and when the NRL grand final sold out in 1 day the NRL will be in no hurry to move it.
Redb said | September 22nd 2009 @ 7:43am | Report comment
ANZ capacity is about 83,000. See no reason to move either GF.
Dogs Of War said | September 22nd 2009 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Given that the NRL would be the next day (Sunday), even if their was a replay, there is no reason why the NRL GF couldn’t be played at the MCG.
Redb said | September 22nd 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Agree. There might be a mad scramble for lines to be drawn up,etc but on the off chance the GF was a draw you would think it would still be possible on the Sunday.
Be good for Vic tourism like the SOO with predominantly NSW and QLDers.
Call me old fashioned but traditions should be preserved, surely the NRL arent that hard up for cash.
Redb
Dogs Of War said | September 22nd 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
It’s not just about the cash (though that is good), it’s recognising that their are other states who would love to host the event, and that because Sydney has always hosted the decided, doesn’t mean that it is the best thing for the game. Traditionally Rugby League had the Grand Final on a Saturday, then that moved to Sunday, then it moved to night time Sunday, traditions can be created. Other sports like the NFL move the Superbowl around each year, and part of that is how they celebrate the occasion (not just money).
I am sure that part of the NRL GF bidding process will be how the city decides to celebrate the event, by having streets parades (which the NRL used to have before Super League), and exposure in the city, you can generate interest in those that may normally not be interested in such an occasion.
May also see cities create better infrastructure to host such an event, places like Perth and Auckland may want to upgrade their facilities so they can hold such and event (I am sure that other events like Internationals and SoO would also be considered down this route, and also have already been sold to the highest bidder).
Bring it on I reckon. People become more attached to a sport when that excitement of the big occasion can be celebrated locally, and I am sure the tradition will change to one where the event moves around the country and people look forward to their turn coming around, and the state governments make sure they throw enough money at the event to make sure it hits their town.
AndyRoo said | September 22nd 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
The SuperBowl moves arround each year and the ECL does too, it creates afestival atmosphere and a GF would be great in Melbourne as a once off.
But surely Brisbane and NZ deserve it first
Mushi said | September 22nd 2009 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Yes but the super bowl is for a sport played in 31 different cities the NRL realistically is played in only 4 that have a stadium and population large enough to warrant consideration.
AndyRoo said | September 22nd 2009 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
But if your prepared to give them a team in the comp and let them win the competition then you should be prepared to let them host it eventually Stadoum and Fan base willing.
Say on a team to state basis
i.e Vic gets it once every 16 Years
NZ ditto
QLD (Brisbane) 3/16 years
Sydney 11 out of 16 years
mushi said | September 22nd 2009 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
Why should you? Not trying to be aggressive with that just don’t understand why enter to the competition comes with the entitlement to host a grand final.
Also to the super bowl point part of the advantage is that no team is likely to have a home ground advantage, and also they are now discussing limiting the cities they send it to with stricter criteria
AndyRoo said | September 22nd 2009 @ 8:53pm | Report comment
You dont have to I guess
But it seems a bit strange that the NSWRL name has left us but only NSW hold the final. I don’t see the reasons why it can’t be spread around.
Are the Rugby league fans of say Brisbane and Auckland less worthy or not as important. Most fans have to watch it on tv anyway so it’s not like it hurts anyone.
But it would be huge for the game in say Brisbane and Auckland if they got it and would really make those cities feel accepted finally getting rid of that perceived NSW bias once and for all (admittedly that seems to eb disapearing anyway).
If Brisbane hosted the grand final that would give the NRL a lot of cred with the average queensland sports fan and show up the AFL’s Vic centric view.
TammyS said | September 22nd 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
I would like to see it in QLD. I think they would turn the grand final into an event. Grand final week in sydney is boring.
Rodney McDonell said | September 22nd 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
It’s only a matter of time before the GF does see the likes of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Auckland etc. To think it wont happen you’d be a fool. Rugby league has changed with the times perhaps more so than any sport. It has set out to be progressive from the very start in order to attract more fans and secure more moneys for the game and those who run it.
The NRL in the future will be auctioning off the GF to the highest bidder, perhaps with other stipulation attatched. However, we’ll see 1 state of origin a year make the move first as we’ve already seen – but it’ll (State of Origin) be officially auctioned off within the next 5 years or so I’d suggest.
oikee said | September 22nd 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
The thing about orign is no matter where its played , the game can attract good crowds.And queenslanders love to follow their team around the country each year, distance is no object for the fans. I think NZ would be a good place to play origin.
Perth would be good, if they had a decent stadium.
I need a holiday.
Michael C said | September 22nd 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
can you get a tax deduction on that??
AndyRoo said | September 22nd 2009 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Well the AFL grand final won’t be moving any time soon that’s for sure. Locked in to Melbounre until 2032 or such
oikee said | September 22nd 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
I agree with Tammy, they should have it in QLD 1st before ever going to Melbourne, nobody wants to play at a round feild, they cant even get 50 thousand to a league semi.
oikee said | September 22nd 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
I think league is going down a different pathway, probably have looked at the dollars to be made from taking games to other cities, same as the all-blacks /wallabies are doing. The bulldogs have shown what sort of extra income is available for taken games on the road, along with Souths and Cronulla. Eden Park NZ, has put up their hands for a origin game in the future.
I think league would be wise to stay away from Perth until the government gets serious about stadium. And origin at the new Melbourne bubble ground will be good if they can hold 50 thousand. Mate that new bubble stadium is going to be a cracker, going by the Titans full house the other day, the atmosphere was electric. You could feel it coming through the tele.
Jay said | September 22nd 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium has a capacity of approximatley 30000.
If the NRL really wanted to cash in on the grad final, make it a 3 game decider. I think Sticky mentioned it after the roosters lost to penrith. The yanks seem to do this with baseball, basketball, only their is a 7 game decider.
Dogs Of War said | September 22nd 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
The stadium in Melbourne has the capability to be expanded if required down the track (unlike the one on the Gold Coast). So who knows if it is filling out for the NRL and Soccer (and even Union), then that may happen.
As for your other point, a contact sports like League doesn’t need 3 game deciders, the NRL has more of a similarity to NFL than those other sports.
AFL on the other hand…
Luc said | September 22nd 2009 @ 10:11pm | Report comment
There was an article in the paper down here the other day (to do with the World Cup bids, I think) that said that although they had reinforced the foundations of the new statium to hold up to a 50,000 capacity, the costs of redoing the roof and stands would be prohibitively expensive to ever expand!
Brilliant planning that.
Dan said | September 22nd 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Has anyone been to see a game of Rugby Union or League at the MCG?!? I went in 2006 to the bledisloe and you’re so far from the action that you need a high powered telescope to see what’s happening! Watching Rugby codes at the SFS or Suncorp is immeasurably superior than watching it at the mammoth colosseum that is the MCG. It’s brilliant for the AFL, but for the Rugby codes you’d be better off holding the game at a boutique suburban ground…
Honestly, Masters may have cited it as a possibility that was flagged in a board room somewhere, but I doubt very few Rugby League fans would relish sitting a mile away from the action in the biggest match of the year. ANZ stadium is bad enough view wise without heading to somewhere that is designed for a completely different kind of game. Perhaps they could consider increasing the new rectangular stadium’s capacity to 60k at some point if the RL market in Victoria becomes truly successful and their crowds resemble brisbane’s, but not before then.
Michael C said | September 22nd 2009 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
The new rectangular stadium….going to 60K…the problem that got illustrated in the news last week (re FIFA WC ‘able’ stadia in Australia) is that while the foundations were designed to allow for an increase (to at least 50K) – the wonderful bubble roof with all it’s synchopating colours etc – - is unable to simply be hoisted and built under. So – we have a stadium with foundations that allow expansion and a state of the art roof that doesn’t.
….gee….was a state govt in charge of building it??
Dan said | September 22nd 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Wow, how extremely short sighted… Oh well, I suppose that just means it will be a long time before anything is done. But really, would Melbournians actually go anyway? I remember by clearly outnumbered by All Blacks fans at a merely 70% full MCG in 2006 for the bledisloe cup and if the place failed to attract less than 30,000 Melbournian Aussies for a game like that…
Robbo said | September 22nd 2009 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
This article did make me wonder what would happen if, say, Brisbane and the Titans/Cowboys both qualified for the final. I would support moving it to Suncorp under those circumstances – but not otherwise.
The Link said | September 22nd 2009 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
As a principle I like the idea of moving around the NRL GF. Brisbane will get first cab off the rank but no reason why Melbourne can’t host it in the next 10-15 years (BTW it should be at the G).
It would be a good point of differentiation for RL in Australia.
Dan said | September 22nd 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
The Link – you say it “should be at the G”. Why? Why on earth would you wish to expose Rugby League fans to such dreadful views of the action? Maybe we could send it to Millennium stadium in Wales – that would be far better for the fans.
The Link said | September 22nd 2009 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Why not? Its a 90-100k stadium, it gets the most fans in, maximising revenue and access for people. The game was played on Cricket grounds consistently for 80+ years, I can’t see why it shouldn’t be played there. These reasons, plus the prestigue of the G outweigh any downside on distance from the action.
Only other Melbourne options would be 50k Ethiad or the bubble and they are too small.
Dan said | September 22nd 2009 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
The point is that the SCG was the reasonably big ground available for 80 years. It isn’t anymore and when you have a choice between a stadium that holds 50K – like suncorp – and doesn’t offer one bad view in the house, with another that holds 100K but doesn’t have a single good seat (for the purposes of watching Rugby League), then you would think that the 50K option would be the way to go.
I know the MCG is a big ground, but I’ve been there to watch rugby and I wouldn’t pay a cent to be put through that again when I’d get a far better view from my local pub.
The Link said | September 22nd 2009 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Def Suncorp is the next option I agree. But if you take it to Melbourne it should be at the G, unless they get the bubble up to 50 – 60k