Should the Storm move their preliminary final to the MCG?

Amen

The Anzac match used to have NZ warriors and the expats would turn up - how many NQers would come down or live in Melburne. But there could be an agreement reached on the contract but apparently the money goes to the NRL

Joe, I totally agree with your reasoning and I deliberately left out the pros and cons of a move away from AAMI park to concentrated solely on a great opportunity to draw a massive crowd for an NRL match . As Wookie points out , as both stadiums are owned by the gov it could be simply a matter of asking the question to move. As a non Victorian , I dare to dream, not just of a Storm victory but a massive crowd . If a Thurston led cowboys demolish the Sharks today with the same attacking flare as shown against the Broncos , then I think the code deserves the exposure of the MCG .

You've made a good point here, but few will acknowledge it. The MCG is the preferred stadium for Victorian sports crowds - theres an aura about the place that draws people into the historic venue. The right promotion and the right pricing, coupled with perfect timing - no afl finals of any kind - and you could have shot for a 50k attendance easy enough. Aim high my friends, its called growing the game. Publicty alone from using the G would be huge.

Aami Stadium was the size it is, for the same reason all major victorian stadiums are a certain size. it prevents white elephant stadiums from emerging. Anything over 30k goes to Docklands, anything over 50k goes to the MCG. This way all three stadiums get a fair and decent amount of usage.

The Aleague werent forced to play at Aami under any contract they had. They had an inflexible date and didnt want to play at MCG either.

both stadiums owned by the Victorian Government. I dont think there'd be too much trouble getting them to move.

Jonathan Thurston would be a massive drawcard, they'd possibly be more popular down there than Sydney teams. Sharks aren't a draw anywhere

A sold out AAMI park is probably financially better than a 40k MCG organized on short notice.

The NRL should do this, the NRL should do that, the NRL should be chasing the rainbows pot of gold, blah blah blah. Let`s be a little realistic hey,when did the NRL and the Storm know that the Storm would be playing a preliminary final in Melbourne next Saturday night, like you and I they found out last Friday night. As for there is an empty stadium over there they could use, apart from their contractual set ups with the AAMI stadium administration, the MCG stadium administration would have contractual set ups too, both of these groups would have their own set ups which would include among many things sponsor/advertising deals,catering rights, liquor distribution rights and the list goes on down to public transport arrangements etc. Sometimes what appears to be simple, is often complicated.

Yes, it will still have empty seats at AAMI even though the joint only holds 30k. What makes the NRL people think the AFL and MCC would allow them on to rip up the turf the week before a GF anyhow? C'mon man!

Worst idea on this website in a while.

Exactly!

I think it would be a risky move to play at the MCG. The team have prepared and played all season at AAMI. Cronks kicking game is integral to their success and he and Green would be very familiar with AAMI park and its conditions. With the closeness of the competition this year they need every edge they can get and moving to MCG would introduce more unknowns. I would prefer they play at AAMI and get the best possible chance of another GF. That would do more for the game than moving the prelim.

The game will be played at AAMI park! Why ? Because it's so much easier to watch a chance go by rather than grabbing it with both hands. After all we are the game that relied so heavily on the pokies for so long, why should we have a crack the money was always there. You see no one in rugby league ever realised that was , is a bigger word than if. Would we pack out Etihad or the MCG? I don't know, but could there ever be a better time to find out.

Fair enough. I still don't think 60k would be achieved though...possibly due to the opposition - neither Sharks or Cows would stir significant interest. And moreover, a 30k packed AAMI is exactly what the Storm would want for a home final.

AAMI Park was built to accommodate no more than 30K because the Victorian Government would have had to pay Etihad Stadium a huge subsidy if it could hold more than that. Another Jeff Kennett cock up. As to changing to the MCG - no way. The MCG is a terrible ground to watch rectangular based games. And Melbourne people love big events - they will not consider a Storm semi final a "major" event like SOO. 25K plus will be a great effort.

The storm have used Etihad before and had good gates there. This would be a better alternative than MCG as it would create a better atmosphere and fans are closer to the action. A 3/4 full Etihad is better than a half full MCG.

I agree that AMMI is a little small. I think the Storm will outgrow it at some point and maybe not that far off.