Jim05 wrote:Tell me this isnt true North fans. Was told be a senior North player that the game was moved from AO to Prospect because the president was worried about Norths poor form and their ability to attract a decent crowd.
Half true - the problem with AO is that the hosting club needs 4000 minimum crowd just to break even after catering and match costs etc are deducted. Clubs make more $$$ at their own home grounds where they retain all the catering / bar $$$.
You would think North vs. Nwd would get a decent crowd - always seems to in the past at either Nwd or Prospect but you also have to factor in weather etc plus form. Whilst we are on "form", the North "bandwagon" got sold at the end of 2008 and is not looking likely to come back in the foreseeable future so our crowd numbers have dropped off!
Re AO - with the upgrade it will well be well beyond SANFL teams in the future to play games their as the Govt will need to grab as much as they can to recover cost associated with the upgrade so you can imagine how much the costs will be just to open the ground and the concessions.
Also playing at a big stadium 50,000 seater (as it is with AAMI now), how much atmopshere do the grounds lack with a small crowd. Even 10,000 crowd at a finals double header looks and sounds like the game is played in a empty stadium.
Just wait until the Foxtel Cup "blockbuster" between North and Labrador at AAMI on the 21st of May. Being played after an AFL game and kicking off at 5.10 - you would be lucky if there are 500 there!