sainter
31 May 2006, 04:39
Saints swap could give Dogs windfall
Caroline Wilson
May 31, 2006
ST KILDA'S bid to move its round-14 clash with Collingwood from Telstra Dome to the MCG could result in the Western Bulldogs getting financial compensation from the Saints of up to $200,000.
The Bulldogs, who are scheduled to host the Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday July 9, almost certainly would lose money by switching their game to Docklands, while St Kilda could reap close to $500,000 by moving its home game.
The proposed home-and-away game swap was leaked to the AFL website yesterday but came as news last night to Bulldogs president David Smorgon, whose club played Collingwood in front of a record 68,000 crowd at the MCG last Friday in a match that drew massive television ratings.
"We have heard nothing about this," Smorgon said last night.
"But if St Kilda want to talk to us, then they know where to find us. Rod (Butterss, Saints president) knows my number.
"I will say that the Bulldogs love playing at the MCG and some of our games against the Kangaroos over the years have been among the best games of the year.
"No matter how both clubs are travelling, we could expect a Sunday afternoon crowd of between 35,000 and 40,000. I remember we played them in the last game of 1998 and I think we got about 68,000 that day."
While Smorgon would not be drawn on the issue of a financial settlement, he said his club would be prepared to meet St Kilda to negotiate a potential swap.
Neither Butterss nor his chief executive Jim Watts was available for comment last night.
In an example of how a flourish of the AFL fixturing pen can make or break a club's bottom line, the Saints could expect 75,000 to 80,000 to attend the clash with an in-form Collingwood should the game be moved — something most recently done in 2001 because the Telstra Dome surface was deemed unplayable.
That attendance could make the Saints a profit of between $400,000 and $500,000, whereas the club's agreement with the Docklands stadium gives it $40,000 to $50,000 for every game at that ground.
Given that St Kilda's profit could exceed 10 times that at the MCG, it seems unlikely that the Bulldogs would agree to switch the game without adequate compensation.
While Telstra Dome chief executive Ian Collins was unavailable for comment last night, his MCG counterpart Stephen Gough said that any move could only take place with the agreement of the AFL and the two home clubs.
"Could the MCG handle a change of fixture?" Gough said.
"Of course it could because we already have a match scheduled there on the same day. But ultimately, it would be up to the clubs concerned."
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/05/30/1148956348186.html
Saints consider switch
30 May 2006
Paul Gough
Exclusive to afl.com.au
St Kilda chief executive Jim Watts says he will discuss with the AFL the possibility of switching the Saints' upcoming home clash against Collingwood from Telstra Dome to the MCG in a bid to enable more supporters to see the game.
The clash is scheduled for the Sunday afternoon of round 14 at Telstra Dome on the same day as the Western Bulldogs play the Kangaroos at the MCG.
That clash is a rare MCG home game for the Bulldogs, who play their home games at Telstra Dome, but would only be expected to draw a crowd of about 30,000 - which could easily be accommodated at the 53,500 capacity Telstra Dome.
In contrast given the good form of both the Saints and the Magpies, their meeting could draw a huge crowd if moved to the MCG.
The Pies are in third place and the Saints' fifth after nine rounds and the two clubs have a history of drawing massive crowds at the MCG when performing well such as in 1992 when 80,060 fans saw their round 12 clash and in 1997 when 68,063 fans watched their round 18 meeting.
While the Saints have not put in a formal request to the AFL as yet, Watts said he would speak to the league about a possible switch.
"We will discuss it with the AFL to see if it's doable," Watts told afl.com.au on Tuesday.
"If the AFL thought it was in the best interests of football, we would be happy to play the game at the MCG and we would like as many of our fans as possible to be able to see the game."
Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann said the Magpies would be more than happy to have the game moved to the MCG, their home ground.
"It's not up to us, it's up to St Kilda as it is their home game but if they rang us and said we want to play the game at the MCG, we'd be up for it," he said.
With St Kilda members and reserved seat holders expected to take up the bulk of seating if the match remains at Telstra Dome, thousands of Collingwood fans face the prospect of missing out on seeing the match.
Swann said the Magpies were already averaging 59,000 per match this season - more than the capacity of Telstra Dome - with their last two MCG matches having drawn crowds of 69,819 and 67,920 against Geelong and the Bulldogs respectively - two teams with less support than the Saints.
Watts said a switch of the Saints-Pies game to the MCG would also fit in with the AFL's long-stated philosophy of maximising attendances.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane told afl.com.au there were a lot of logistical problems involved in switching two matches because it affected the seating, ticketing and corporate arrangements for four sets of supporters while adding that as of yet, the league had not received any request to transfer the Saints-Magpies' clash.
Watts said there were many potential problems that needed to be sorted out before the games could be switched - stressing his club had a good relationship with Telstra Dome - where it plays nine of its home matches per year.
"There are issues like Telstra Dome being contracted for a certain number of high-drawing games a season (from the AFL) so from where I look at it they would have to be compensated by the AFL (for losing such a big-drawing match)."
"And then are issues like our 8000 reserved seat holders at Telstra Dome and all the corporate functions."
"In the old days it used to be far easier to switch games but now there are many potential problems what with stadium deals with the AFL and with the clubs."
"But if the AFL could come up with a way where it could be done that would be great because I'm sure a lot of supporters will be talking about it."
A blog on the subject on afl.com.au on Monday indicated strong support for the switch from football fans.
http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=269897
It's up to you Saints fans.
Caroline Wilson
May 31, 2006
ST KILDA'S bid to move its round-14 clash with Collingwood from Telstra Dome to the MCG could result in the Western Bulldogs getting financial compensation from the Saints of up to $200,000.
The Bulldogs, who are scheduled to host the Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday July 9, almost certainly would lose money by switching their game to Docklands, while St Kilda could reap close to $500,000 by moving its home game.
The proposed home-and-away game swap was leaked to the AFL website yesterday but came as news last night to Bulldogs president David Smorgon, whose club played Collingwood in front of a record 68,000 crowd at the MCG last Friday in a match that drew massive television ratings.
"We have heard nothing about this," Smorgon said last night.
"But if St Kilda want to talk to us, then they know where to find us. Rod (Butterss, Saints president) knows my number.
"I will say that the Bulldogs love playing at the MCG and some of our games against the Kangaroos over the years have been among the best games of the year.
"No matter how both clubs are travelling, we could expect a Sunday afternoon crowd of between 35,000 and 40,000. I remember we played them in the last game of 1998 and I think we got about 68,000 that day."
While Smorgon would not be drawn on the issue of a financial settlement, he said his club would be prepared to meet St Kilda to negotiate a potential swap.
Neither Butterss nor his chief executive Jim Watts was available for comment last night.
In an example of how a flourish of the AFL fixturing pen can make or break a club's bottom line, the Saints could expect 75,000 to 80,000 to attend the clash with an in-form Collingwood should the game be moved — something most recently done in 2001 because the Telstra Dome surface was deemed unplayable.
That attendance could make the Saints a profit of between $400,000 and $500,000, whereas the club's agreement with the Docklands stadium gives it $40,000 to $50,000 for every game at that ground.
Given that St Kilda's profit could exceed 10 times that at the MCG, it seems unlikely that the Bulldogs would agree to switch the game without adequate compensation.
While Telstra Dome chief executive Ian Collins was unavailable for comment last night, his MCG counterpart Stephen Gough said that any move could only take place with the agreement of the AFL and the two home clubs.
"Could the MCG handle a change of fixture?" Gough said.
"Of course it could because we already have a match scheduled there on the same day. But ultimately, it would be up to the clubs concerned."
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/05/30/1148956348186.html
Saints consider switch
30 May 2006
Paul Gough
Exclusive to afl.com.au
St Kilda chief executive Jim Watts says he will discuss with the AFL the possibility of switching the Saints' upcoming home clash against Collingwood from Telstra Dome to the MCG in a bid to enable more supporters to see the game.
The clash is scheduled for the Sunday afternoon of round 14 at Telstra Dome on the same day as the Western Bulldogs play the Kangaroos at the MCG.
That clash is a rare MCG home game for the Bulldogs, who play their home games at Telstra Dome, but would only be expected to draw a crowd of about 30,000 - which could easily be accommodated at the 53,500 capacity Telstra Dome.
In contrast given the good form of both the Saints and the Magpies, their meeting could draw a huge crowd if moved to the MCG.
The Pies are in third place and the Saints' fifth after nine rounds and the two clubs have a history of drawing massive crowds at the MCG when performing well such as in 1992 when 80,060 fans saw their round 12 clash and in 1997 when 68,063 fans watched their round 18 meeting.
While the Saints have not put in a formal request to the AFL as yet, Watts said he would speak to the league about a possible switch.
"We will discuss it with the AFL to see if it's doable," Watts told afl.com.au on Tuesday.
"If the AFL thought it was in the best interests of football, we would be happy to play the game at the MCG and we would like as many of our fans as possible to be able to see the game."
Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann said the Magpies would be more than happy to have the game moved to the MCG, their home ground.
"It's not up to us, it's up to St Kilda as it is their home game but if they rang us and said we want to play the game at the MCG, we'd be up for it," he said.
With St Kilda members and reserved seat holders expected to take up the bulk of seating if the match remains at Telstra Dome, thousands of Collingwood fans face the prospect of missing out on seeing the match.
Swann said the Magpies were already averaging 59,000 per match this season - more than the capacity of Telstra Dome - with their last two MCG matches having drawn crowds of 69,819 and 67,920 against Geelong and the Bulldogs respectively - two teams with less support than the Saints.
Watts said a switch of the Saints-Pies game to the MCG would also fit in with the AFL's long-stated philosophy of maximising attendances.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane told afl.com.au there were a lot of logistical problems involved in switching two matches because it affected the seating, ticketing and corporate arrangements for four sets of supporters while adding that as of yet, the league had not received any request to transfer the Saints-Magpies' clash.
Watts said there were many potential problems that needed to be sorted out before the games could be switched - stressing his club had a good relationship with Telstra Dome - where it plays nine of its home matches per year.
"There are issues like Telstra Dome being contracted for a certain number of high-drawing games a season (from the AFL) so from where I look at it they would have to be compensated by the AFL (for losing such a big-drawing match)."
"And then are issues like our 8000 reserved seat holders at Telstra Dome and all the corporate functions."
"In the old days it used to be far easier to switch games but now there are many potential problems what with stadium deals with the AFL and with the clubs."
"But if the AFL could come up with a way where it could be done that would be great because I'm sure a lot of supporters will be talking about it."
A blog on the subject on afl.com.au on Monday indicated strong support for the switch from football fans.
http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=269897
It's up to you Saints fans.