At the ground v TV / membership .....

[Viceregal]

I have only ever been to one game of AFL - a day game back at the 'Gabba regular season 2001 - and have been following the Lions ever since.

Moving up to Brisbane in the next couple of months (possibly not far from the ground) so would have more access to going etc...

From those that have been regularly etc what are the pros and cons of being at the ground vs watching it on the television and do many of you do both?

Does it make much difference where you sit and/or are there areas to avoid if you can help it?

I have sent away twice for 'request information' on the membership info page but so far have had no reply so any hints along those lines would be great as well!

Thanks :)

Warren

[usalion]

Well, i haven't been to the Gabba since September of 2002- prelim whipping of Port....but there is nothing likew watching the game at the ground- you can see the entire field, whereas television tends to focus on the ball and where it is going- you don't see the players working their butts off, making runs.

Everybody has their favourite locations, but for me, I like midfield in the upper deck (Vulture Street side- mainly because I also had membership in the Queensland cricketers' Club- could get there early, have a few beers watching the first game, then wander to my seat when the teams came onto the field)- take a pair of binnoculars for when the ball goes into the far pockets- but you have a fantastic view from goal line to goal line.

No idea how season tickets are for the Lions these days- you might be shut out of areas of the Gabba- but run by the offices and see what they can do. The Gabba is a great ground to watch the footy- even better now that there are more seats, and higher up....though I really miss the old stands and the hill (wasn't there when the dog track was in)

[Lady Lawrence]

there is no comparison to being at the ground vs TV. You just gotta be at the Gabba. My membership tickets costs about $300 which I reckon is good value for 12 games (included the Melbourne "home game" so may drop back to 11) but compared to purchasing my seat each week at the gate I am saving a fair bit I think Ibreak even at game 8 so get 4 for free. A season ticket would be cheaper but I prefer to have a voice as a full member.

Would recommend anywhere in the northern stand regardless of if you prefer higher or lower seating. If you prefer lower go for the northern stand as it is a steeper angle so you get a better view. The southern stand lower section is flatter so often have to keep moving sideways to see around the person in front of you.

[Viceregal]

Would recommend anywhere in the northern stand regardless of if you prefer higher or lower seating. If you prefer lower go for the northern stand as it is a steeper angle so you get a better view. The southern stand lower section is flatter so often have to keep moving sideways to see around the person in front of you.

Can't see a 'Northern Stand' on the map of the gabba on Lions site ... is that a particular stand or just anything north of the scoreboard?

If it is a named area - what number on the map (bay numbers?) is that one?

Higher and lower seating - is that along the lines or you see more globally higher but more locally at lower?

[Warwick]

Does it make much difference where you sit and/or are there areas to avoid if you can help it?

I've never had a poor seat in the "new" Gabba (i.e. after around 1996). My uni commitments (and financial restrictions) prevent me from becoming a full member, but i can't wait to join after i finish.

I agree with everyone though - there is nothing like being at the game live. You get a much better understanding of the whole ground - and can see the plays before they happen for example.

It would be great to get back to the sellout crowds as we climb back up the ladder. 42 000 screaming fans against Collingwood and Essendon would be fantastic. Unfortunately, since the stands have been joined together (so they reach all the way around), we have not had as many big games like 1999-2004.

BTW, if you find you are sitting next to a man wearing a bowler hat, ask to change seats, or preferably stands. You can do without the continued police presence in the area.

[Lady Lawrence]

northern stand is the vulture street side - I am in section 11 which according to the map is inside 50 but I am pretty much just on the outer paert of the white line of the arc so it's a little misleading as my seats are more where 10 is. I went for premium lower in sections 3 4 5 and 6 when I renewed a few years back but there was none available so ended up staying with prime where I am which is where I relocated towhen they pulled down the old clem jones stand which are great seats anyway. Avoid the yellow at wellington road end, ful of opposition seating and gets pretty feral in there!! Section 30 is pretty much where the race's are. 10, 9, 8 and 7 is where the Gabba Trust members are.

Be aware if buying general admission season ticket that most games are now fully ticketed so you will still have to buy a seat each game.

Personally I prefer to be high enough up that I can see across the ground but close enough to hear the players yelling at each other etc. I don't like sitting on the upper deck but that is purely personal choice, some people I know prefer looking down on the game.

Hope all this helps.

[Chezwick]

I have only ever been to one game of AFL - a day game back at the 'Gabba regular season 2001 - and have been following the Lions ever since.

Moving up to Brisbane in the next couple of months (possibly not far from the ground) so would have more access to going etc...

From those that have been regularly etc what are the pros and cons of being at the ground vs watching it on the television and do many of you do both?

Does it make much difference where you sit and/or are there areas to avoid if you can help it?

I have sent away twice for 'request information' on the membership info page but so far have had no reply so any hints along those lines would be great as well!

Thanks :)

Warren


:eek: You share me name!!! :D

For me, nothing can beat being AT the game. I have full membership, but general admission which is usually full of bandwagon supporters and opposition fans, but I don't really mind..... I usually run off to the members bar and stay there for the rest of the time :D

[Viceregal]

Personally I prefer to be high enough up that I can see across the ground but close enough to hear the players yelling at each other etc. I don't like sitting on the upper deck but that is purely personal choice, some people I know prefer looking down on the game.

Hope all this helps.

Certainly does! :)

Can you still hear the players if there are tens of thousands of screaming fans in full voice?

Presumably you get specific seats for you season rather than just seats in a section (yes?) - if you were sitting in the middle (eg 5) rather than near an end (eg 11) or behind the posts (eg 36) does it make a lot of difference to the experience or just to what you see etc?

[Lady Lawrence]

Certainly does! :)

Can you still hear the players if there are tens of thousands of screaming fans in full voice?

Presumably you get specific seats for you season rather than just seats in a section (yes?) - if you were sitting in the middle (eg 5) rather than near an end (eg 11) or behind the posts (eg 36) does it make a lot of difference to the experience or just to what you see etc?


1. I can still hear the calls and backward running man can hear us!! :D

2. Your membership (full or season ticket) unless you get GA gets you your own seat for the season.

3. I prefer to be on a wing just to see the flow of play, hate it behind the goals, but again that is personal preference.

[BBFFC]

Certainly does! :)

Can you still hear the players if there are tens of thousands of screaming fans in full voice?

Presumably you get specific seats for you season rather than just seats in a section (yes?) - if you were sitting in the middle (eg 5) rather than near an end (eg 11) or behind the posts (eg 36) does it make a lot of difference to the experience or just to what you see etc?

Yes you get specific seats if you are a full member, and depending on what you like to do at the footy some seats will suit you rather than others.
I like a few quiet beers at the footy and have a girls bladder so i like my seats, in front of the disabled section, last row, so i can climb over my seat and out to get a beer without annoying anyone. My seats are premium so on the wing bout the 50m arc on the vulture street side of the ground away from the city end, love the position as you can see the action at both ends.

Become a full member 12 weeks of entertainment for a couple of hundread is good value, the team needs support in its rebuilding years, next season should be more productive than the last 2 anyways.

I may have a few seats available in my section also if someone was interested

[konstas_87]

I have only ever been to one game of AFL - a day game back at the 'Gabba regular season 2001 - and have been following the Lions ever since.

Moving up to Brisbane in the next couple of months (possibly not far from the ground) so would have more access to going etc...

From those that have been regularly etc what are the pros and cons of being at the ground vs watching it on the television and do many of you do both?

Does it make much difference where you sit and/or are there areas to avoid if you can help it?

I have sent away twice for 'request information' on the membership info page but so far have had no reply so any hints along those lines would be great as well!

Thanks :)

Warren
i go to every gabba match and TRY to watch every match replay on TV. the atmosphere is missed on TV i guess, but that isnt as good as it used to be anyway. i guess at the game you dont notice the opposition as much as you do on TV when the commentators are saying their names alot.

ill always prefer being at the game myself.

[TheBrownDog]

Being at the game >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TV.

When I die, bury me under the centre square at the Gabba.

[Chasing the Dream]

I am not really qualified to comment on this post as I have NEVER seen a game from the GABBA on television (except on replay)

Footy is that much better at the ground than on televison that I can honestly say that I have been to every Lions/Bears game played at the GABBA since 1991.

Look forward to seeing you there in 2007. I would personally look for a seat around the bay 22 area as this is where they sell the hot jam donuts.......:D

[Warwick]

Being at the game >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TV.

When I die, bury me under the centre square at the Gabba.
No. The Gabba pitch is the envy of the cricketing world. Kevin Mitchell Jr would have a fit.

[danielcanberra]

I like lower seating in tier 2, preferably near the goals but not right behind it, and in the SHADE. The Gabba map might give you a clue. I was in Section 34 last time which wasn't bad.

I like to be close enough to yell at the players within hearing distance. Whether they listen to my suggested playing tips is a totally different matter.