The 2nd level at Etihad - a blight on the game

[TheHoneyBadger]

Maybe because its a rare visit like a few times a year but for me yeah i agree, i walk in and its almost magical just to be there

I'm an MCC member so I see it in a few different lights, but I just remember the distinct difference between the Geelong-Hawthorn preliminary (wound up with standing room for the first time in 3 years of membership) and a Victoria-Tassie shield match a couple of months later.
You can appreciate the full MCG under lights and the roar of the crowd, but it was also very interesting sitting with my Pa among hundreds of empty seats on the balcony, just soaking in the history of the place, seeing tours going on around the boundary, watching the clouds pass over 99,000 empty seats as a game of state cricket's going on in the middle. Magic.

 

[The King!]

I'm an MCC member so I see it in a few different lights, but I just remember the distinct difference between the Geelong-Hawthorn preliminary (wound up with standing room for the first time in 3 years of membership) and a Victoria-Tassie shield match a couple of months later.
You can appreciate the full MCG under lights and the roar of the crowd, but it was also very interesting sitting with my Pa among hundreds of empty seats on the balcony, just soaking in the history of the place, seeing tours going on around the boundary, watching the clouds pass over 99,000 empty seats as a game of state cricket's going on in the middle. Magic.

Derailing the thread, but then you go on the tour, you are going to get onto the ground and bang you walk onto a little bit of fake turf behind the goals wow (still good)

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Derailing the thread, but then you go on the tour, you are going to get onto the ground and bang you walk onto a little bit of fake turf behind the goals wow (still good)

I think they had a little bit of trouble with people taking the ashes of loved ones and leaving them on the ground, haha.

Back on track with the thread though, people generally have some negative stuff to say about Etihad but I think it's a fantastic stadium. Great access for cars and public transport, plenty of restaurants and fast food joints around so you don't have to buy expensive footy food, good viewing angles from any level, the roof (obviously), and apart from the Medallion Club it's not difficult to get a seat on any level if you're in early and you pay the money the seat warrants. Soulless is harsh too, I dispute that. The MCG is twice as cavernous and is an unbroken ring, it's the history of the place that sucks you in moreso than some outdated architecture or dilapidated old feature such as a scoreboard.
Any complaints about it apply to any other footy stadium in Australia, really.

 

[ManWithNoName]

I think they had a little bit of trouble with people taking the ashes of loved ones and leaving them on the ground, haha.

Back on track with the thread though, people generally have some negative stuff to say about Etihad but I think it's a fantastic stadium. Great access for cars and public transport, plenty of restaurants and fast food joints around so you don't have to buy expensive footy food, good viewing angles from any level, the roof (obviously), and apart from the Medallion Club it's not difficult to get a seat on any level if you're in early and you pay the money the seat warrants. Soulless is harsh too, I dispute that. The MCG is twice as cavernous and is an unbroken ring, it's the history of the place that sucks you in moreso than some outdated architecture or dilapidated old feature such as a scoreboard.
Any complaints about it apply to any other footy stadium in Australia, really.

Etihad's a good stadium, but it's not a good football ground.

 

[Saint4Life]

Level 2 seats too expensive imo :S

 

[raymond35]

Well it appears we are talking to a brick wall here. having the good seats sit 90% empty and real supporters forced up the top is apparently a good thing. and its my fault that after taking unpaid time off work and paying hundreds of dollars to attend 1 match that i am unable to pay for expensive tickets that were never available to the general public anyway.
Yeah, right...

 

[cammo78]

Strong Gen Y sense of entitlement in this thread...

 

[ManWithNoName]

Strong Gen Y sense of entitlement in this thread...

I'm Gen Y and have been arguing against any sense of entitlement. Strong baby boomer generalisation there.

 

[FootyGeek]

I'm Gen Y and have been arguing against any sense of entitlement. Strong baby boomer generalisation there.

I'm Gen X and don't give a rats what either of you think.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Strong Gen Y sense of entitlement in this thread...

If I were to generalise I'd say Gen Y is more likely to understand why the seats have different prices and Baby Bombers are more likely to put on the rose-tinted glasses and remember the time they bought a ticket at the club ground (all level 1 of course) and sat wherever the hell they wanted, while forget the facilities were shit and cramped, the players were of a much lower standard, and they'd be lucky to watch one full game on TV a week if the Swans were playing at home.

 

[cammo78]

I'm Gen Y and have been arguing against any sense of entitlement. Strong baby boomer generalisation there.

No. Gen X, actually.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

No. Gen X, actually.

D-Generation X?

 

[FootyGeek]

D-Generation X?

 

[cammo78]

Something else Gen Y missed out on.

Champagne comedy.

 

[FreoRicci]

No I want a bunch of the EMPTY best seats to be filled. Make them 5 dollars more than third level seats or 10, not 20 or 30.

These seats are EMPTY people. You got the movies it's first in best dressed whoever booked. You get on a plane it's 80% economy with only a few business seats and first class seats, they don't fill half the plain with first class seats no one will buy. Etihad has an abundance, I'd say last night at least 5,000 maybe even 8,000 odd seats that were vacant on the second level.

Is there not a simple way to redistribute these to fill them. I paid $25 general admin last night. MCC gives me access one second level for $43, that's not worth it for me. Other second level for non MCC are more.

I'm not suggesting a way to screw Etihad, I just think it's bad for business and really bad for clubs who play there to have all the best seats vacant. I'm surprised more people don't at least agree with that.

Then you would thrive in Perth.. 43 dollars wouldn't even get you a seat full stop.. Paid 15 dollars (!) for a GA ticket and got to sit with the Richmond cheer squad end one time as a netural supporter.. Better then 75% of what you would get in most stadiums..

 

[Rob]

Then you would thrive in Perth.. 43 dollars wouldn't even get you a seat full stop..

Well that's not entirely correct......there are a small number of seats in the public reserve that go for $32.50. The next category up from that is 'budget' which are behind the goals - they're $49. Most seats at Subiaco are $66.50 or more for an adult.

And Melbourne clubs complain about our great stadium deal over here and that's why our clubs make profits. Meanwhile they're flogging off seats for $25 and still people whinge.

 

[davis_756]

There is no incentive to waste the money to sit on level 2. If you want a good view stay home and watch it on tv, if you want the atmosphere behind a cheer squad or up top are as good as it gets. Your not going to pay $20 for Mcdonalds when you can get Hungry Jacks for $10, its the same thing

 

[ManWithNoName]

There is no incentive to waste the money to sit on level 2. If you want a good view stay home and watch it on tv, if you want the atmosphere behind a cheer squad or up top are as good as it gets. Your not going to pay $20 for Mcdonalds when you can get Hungry Jacks for $10, its the same thing

How much maccas are you eating?

 

[davis_756]

How much maccas are you eating?

I live 60km from the nearest mcdonalds store, serious lack of knowledge about your home state lad

 

[Swansujelly]

you want good seats, pay for them. I always go platinum or gold up here, better seating, better food, better class of feral.

 

[Sunshine Saint]

If you're happy getting shafted so be it. The best thing for Melbourne would be the dogs, saints or North folding.

Thanks for the false concern and belated interest in the financial welfare of the Etihad playing clubs. Melbourne supporters are renowned for not attending and supporting matches at grounds other than the MCG. You have ventured out and attended round 1 at Etihad and are now on BF with complaints that things should be easier for you to sit where you want, when you want, for the price you want. Even though this is not the reality of what you can do at the MCG.

For what its worth the financial problems at Etihad aren't due to their being empty seats on level 2, its that a small number of clubs have been saddled with a financial agreement to pay off a substantial asset completely on behalf of the AFL. There is no comparison with the return from Etihad compared to the MCG, let alone Geelong and interstate grounds. With a crowd of 31k the Saints probably lost money on the night playing there, where they would have made money playing at most other AFL grounds in Australia.

 

[LightTower4]

Isn't Level 2 at the MCG much of the same? Best seats in the house only available to those who pay more?
Only covers the Southern Stand (Northern side is MCC and Home game presidents function rooms) but it's mostly reserved for home game social club type members and a fair portion of the AFL members on Level 2 is for Vlad and his corporate theatre goers.
Of course Level 2 at the G is not seen as often on the telly and it's all undercover as well.

Edit - Not talking about Level 2a which is that open air section between levels 2 and 3

 

[cammo78]

Isn't Level 2 at the MCG much of the same? Best seats in the house only available to those who pay more?
Only covers the Southern Stand (Northern side is MCC and Home game presidents function rooms) but it's mostly reserved for home game social club type members and a fair portion of the AFL members on Level 2 is for Vlad and his corporate theatre goers.
Of course Level 2 at the G is not seen as often on the telly and it's all undercover as well.

Of course it is.

A fact that has been pointed out numerous times in this thread.

 

[LightTower4]

Of course it is.

A fact that has been pointed out numerous times in this thread.

Care to quote me the 'numerous' times Level 2 in the Southern stand has been mentioned as a comparison in this thread?

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Got my level 2 seats for tomorrow night. Looking forward to it!