QLD Reds 2010

[chief]

All it takes is bus's from train stations to connect, say from Roma St, Central, Valley, Windsor and Bowen Hills. Easy as cake. I think one Skilled Park game a year, maybe 2. That is after they host a Rugby test match there. Just a small one say Wallabies vs Samoa, or Wallabies vs Fiji, or Italy. That could have fans interested in Rugby. I think a Reds game at Skilled Park would only attract 15,000. Maximum.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

The very fact it is at Ballymore is the reason I don't go.
Noddy is right - it's a bitch, particularly if you must use a car from the coast.
Public transport and you are home at midnight.

 

[RugbyReg]

rw, agree. I am a member of the Reds now and have been for a number of years. It is highly unlikely I would be if we played at Ballymore.

In saying that, they probably do need to go back there.

Wouldn't bother with the Gold Coast market for a long time. I reckon 15,000 is very generous. I reckon closer to 8 or 9k would be max for a S14/15

 

[chief]

The very fact it is at Ballymore is the reason I don't go.
Noddy is right - it's a bitch, particularly if you must use a car from the coast.
Public transport and you are home at midnight.

I was talking after a Test match had been played at the venue, all would be relying on if the Reds were successful as well.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

What I meant was from the coast you must use a car if you want to be home by a reasonable hour but therein lies the hassle - car is convenient but a hassle at ballymore whereas Public transport is also a hassle and gets you home next day

 

[Sully]

I loved watching Rugby at Ballymore, but I think what patrons expect from their day at the football has moved on. And ballymore can't live up to what they want and if you try and change it into that the locals are going to go postal.

The only real answer is to start winning more games.

 

[Ash]

Agree completely. I remember going to Ballymore on occasion back in the 90s, and it wasn't a particularly good ground (as in facilities, stands, etc) even then. A fortune needs to be spent to bring it up to scratch. And we used to drive to Souths then take a free bus, but even that was painful - once the bus got within 500m of Ballymore it was a traffic jam. And then it was the same when the game finished - the fight for the right bus and then waiting as it got out was awful.

Plus, playing half the games at Ballymore and half at Suncorp would majorly piss off box holders and the corporate ticket holders, and probably season ticket holders too, as Noddy indicated.

GC? Would be a bigger disaster than Ballymore. Only a few die hard supporters would make the trek down, you'd expect they'd be relying mostly on people from the GC. Tend to agree that it'd be maybe 8-9k tops if they did it any more than a once-off.

I agree completely with Sully: the only way is for the Reds to improve on the field and get a bigger crowd at Suncorp, sadly.

 

[Sully]

I'd go to Skilled park. I only live 10K from there!

 

[Redsfan]

I think the NRL has proved that once-a-season games at these old grounds, really playing (abusing) the nostalgia card, can work. Tigers at Leichardt, for example. At the very least, it'd help pay for the maintenance.

 

[HG]

I have been going to Ballymore since the late 60’s first with my parents then in the mid 70’s with mates.
I love the ground and the great memories it has for me. (I met my first true love there for that matter also my 2nd 3rd 4th shit just about at every game) I will be attending the game on Saturday and looking forward to Reds win.
In saying all the above Ballymore is not a ground you can go back to for a season. It does not have the corporate facilities’ required by the sponsors. Though I believe that a back to Ballymore game should be played every now and then (once a year would be fine).

 

[Ruggo]

I have been going to Ballymore since the late 60’s first with my parents then in the mid 70’s with mates.
I love the ground and the great memories it has for me. (I met my first true love there for that matter also my 2nd 3rd 4th shit just about at every game) I will be attending the game on Saturday and looking forward to Reds win.
In saying all the above Ballymore is not a ground you can go back to for a season. It does not have the corporate facilities’ required by the sponsors. Though I believe that a back to Ballymore game should be played every now and then (once a year would be fine).

I couldn't agree more. A game back at Ballymore each year will help install pride back into QLD that I think has gone missing a bit over the last few years.

Can i ask a few questions that hopfully sombody on here is quallified to answer.

Is the rent for Suncorp a fixed price or percentage based on gate takings? Who sets the ticket prices? would a lowering of prices to increase volume work?

A night out at the rugby is damm expensive. Sure the die hards will still keep turning up but to expand the market, a trip to the rugby needs to be more family friendly.

Just my thoughts.

 

[RugbyReg]

not sure about who sets the ticket prices, but I believe a portion would go to the QRU and a portion to Odgen, the venue operators.

Odgen usually gets all the beverage rights.

I think it would be a portion rent plus the portion of tickets sold would effectively what the QRU would pay. Rent I think is based on a scale. For instance 5,000-10,000 people would be one cost, 10,000-19000 might be another, then 20,000-25000 is a little more. It it is sometimes better to get the smaller crowd, as if (for example) they get over 30,000 the QRU then has to bare the cost of oppening that third tier. That means more staff costs for ushers and merchandise stands, cleaners etc. I think they also have to pay a portion of ticket prices to the govt for free transport?

 

[Ruggo]

Cheers Noddy.

 

[Scotty]

I think Suncorp is around $50,000 (?) per game, so it would be a fairly big save moving back to Ballymore.

I have also heard that is the figure for renting Suncorp, and understand the Reds need around 22k in there to break even.

I'm looking forward to getting back to Ballymore, some of the best games have been there, mostly as the Reds were winning back then. I also remember a few great internationals played there, one in particular vs Ireland sticks out, mainly due to the atmosphere the Irish brought to the ground.

I'm also biased though, because I can walk to the ground from my place in Newmarket.

 

[liquor box]

not sure about who sets the ticket prices, but I believe a portion would go to the QRU and a portion to Odgen, the venue operators.

Odgen usually gets all the beverage rights.

I think it would be a portion rent plus the portion of tickets sold would effectively what the QRU would pay. Rent I think is based on a scale. For instance 5,000-10,000 people would be one cost, 10,000-19000 might be another, then 20,000-25000 is a little more. It it is sometimes better to get the smaller crowd, as if (for example) they get over 30,000 the QRU then has to bare the cost of oppening that third tier. That means more staff costs for ushers and merchandise stands, cleaners etc. I think they also have to pay a portion of ticket prices to the govt for free transport?

If it is over 5k then the team wears the travel costs of a few dollars per ticket, this rule applies to all QLD stadiums. This is why the Gold Coast Soccer team wanted to have a max of 4999 to a game to save money.

 

[liquor box]

All it takes is bus's from train stations to connect, say from Roma St, Central, Valley, Windsor and Bowen Hills. Easy as cake. I think one Skilled Park game a year, maybe 2. That is after they host a Rugby test match there. Just a small one say Wallabies vs Samoa, or Wallabies vs Fiji, or Italy. That could have fans interested in Rugby. I think a Reds game at Skilled Park would only attract 15,000. Maximum.

I wonder if Qld's would go to a neutral game, Tonga, Samoa, NZ or Fiji would have a lot of local supporters for a smaller stadium

 

[RugbyReg]

some of those 'smaller' games at big crowds at the 2003 RWC. Fiji v USA for eg.

 

[Pfitzy]

Yeah the big stadia are wasted on some of our games - Wallabies v Samoa in 2006 (2005?) was held at Homebush and would have been far better served going to the SFS.

 

[chief]

All it takes is bus's from train stations to connect, say from Roma St, Central, Valley, Windsor and Bowen Hills. Easy as cake. I think one Skilled Park game a year, maybe 2. That is after they host a Rugby test match there. Just a small one say Wallabies vs Samoa, or Wallabies vs Fiji, or Italy. That could have fans interested in Rugby. I think a Reds game at Skilled Park would only attract 15,000. Maximum.

I wonder if Qld's would go to a neutral game, Tonga, Samoa, NZ or Fiji would have a lot of local supporters for a smaller stadium

I've been saying for a while, I think an International match at Ballymore between Samoa, Fiji or Tonga would attract a very healthy crowd. The large polynesian based communities would certainly turn out in force, I reckon a good 15,000 would turn up. I myself would probably turn up. Could be a bit of a revenue booster for those struggling unions even.

 

[TOCC]

Have to wonder about the true value of these two matches, at least it got some much needed match fitness in there for Houston.

QAS Reds 2nd XV 90 (Luke Morahan 2, Poutasi Luafutu 2, Paul Doneley 2, Aidan Toua 2, Ben Lucas, Heath Tessman, Leroy Houston, Ed Quirk, Jake Kennedy, Liam Gill tries, Ben Lucas 5, Jono Lance 5 cons) def CASI 10

Premier XV 90 (Pama Fou 3, Toby White 2, Josh Fuimaono 2, James Rodley 2, Luke Bertini, David Feao, Damon Murphy, John Wilder, Nathanuel Gendle, tries, Michael Zovko 7, Ian Prior 3 cons) def CASI B 0