Should Carlton be allowed to play home games at Princes Park?

[Black Haze]

It's no secret that Carlton have struggled on field since Princes Park was decommissioned as an AFL venue. If grounds such as Marrara Oval, Traeger Park, Norwood Oval, Hands Oval and Cazalys Stadium are deemed fit for AFL purpose, then I don't see why Carlton shouldn't be able to play games at Princes Park.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Art Vandelay_]

In theory they could if they wanted to but their membership base has outgrown it.
Not to mention the heroes stand and especially the Gardiner stand would need to be renovated. It looks like it's about to fall down.

 

[Bianconeri]

If they upgraded its capacity to 50,000

 

[Hawkk]

If they upgraded its capacity to 50,000

John Elliot from the grave.

Princes Park was supposed to be Docklands. It certainly had enough tenants in the 80s and 90s to be…

 

[demondavey]

Renovate it. Allow for parking and public transport etc.

Yes. Can’t see why not.

 

[joe444]

Should never have left. Was anyone forcing them to?

Became just another generic brand as soon as they did.

 

[Foxman98]

Could probably play a GC or a GWS but parking and access is shite

 

[StillAtLarge]

I've always felt that if the inner circle railway was still in existence they'd be playing AFL games at Princes Park today, ditto Waverley if they'd actually built the (originally proposed) rail link

 

[Whats a Battle]

Should never have left. Was anyone forcing them to?

Became just another generic brand as soon as they did.

Ian Collins had an immense conflict of interest there being CEO of Docklands Stadium and the Carlton FC at the same time (after Jack Elliott was forced out).

It was a cynical move done without the blessing of the membership base, purely to line his own pockets.

It made no sense to leave then, and it makes even less sense in hindsight.

 

[Whats a Battle]

Could probably play a GC or a GWS but parking and access is shite

Same with the other two Melbourne AFL venues. We had a venue with good parking, what happened to that one again?

 

[Underarm]

It's no secret that Carlton have struggled on field since Princes Park was decommissioned as an AFL venue. If grounds such as Marrara Oval, Traeger Park, Norwood Oval, Hands Oval and Cazalys Stadium are deemed fit for AFL purpose, then I don't see why Carlton shouldn't be able to play games at Princes Park.

What are your thoughts?

The ground holds 14k. Too small.

 

[Scotland]

Why would they?

Didn't have a very good year and their lowest crowd was 24k. In my time watching footy their Princes Park crowds were always mid to high teens up to mid to high 20s with the exception of 30k for the last game. Currently only holds 13 or 14k with works going on.

As a WC fan we've played them at PP, MCG and Marvel over the years and I don't really care one way or the other. The more G games the better but us playing them there in front of 30k seems a bit dumb. If Carlton want to do a reverse Geelong and play 3-4 games at PP each year because they make more money doing that then great, but every time someone comes up with an idea for boutique venues and games in Tassie and Alice and wherever it doesn't get away from the fact that the AFL have a contract with the MCC and the AFL own Marvel.

 

[Walshawk]

All clubs should be able to play their home games wherever they want. But few Victorian clubs are.

 

[Vicky Park]

A few issues with this:

The ground is owned by the City of Melbourne - who would pay the multi millions of dollars required to bring the ground up to current standards?

The local community (suburbs of Princes Hill, North Carlton, Parkville) would fight any new development which has the potential to bring thousands of fans to their area on a regular basis. They are a very active and experienced community in terms of fighting off development. They also carry a lot of weight at Council and would lobby local councillors, who would cave. Take them on at your peril.

There is very limited public parking available at or around the ground. That can’t be changed or improved. It’s mostly residents’ parking and Council won’t take that away from them.

The whole of Princes Park is heritage listed (park around Ikon Park). That wouldn’t stop a development of Ikon, but would put considerable constraints on it.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Same with the other two Melbourne AFL venues. We had a venue with good parking, what happened to that one again?

The greenies happened, that’s what. The Parked cars might harm a tree and the pollution from traffic might destroy our planet

 

[BulldogMuscle]

If Princess Park is allowed certainly Whitten Oval gets another look in, specially since the last round of upgrades.

 

[bzparkes]

Been there lately? It's a complete dump.

Would need a hell of a lot of work to fix up but I could see it being used for home games against non-Vic sides.

Shit ground to get to though.

 

[Altum Volantes]

No expert on this one but Melbourne has seemed to need a 25k high quality venue for at least 20 years now, it surely happens eventually and would be a worthy addition to the city?

Whether thats Princes Park or not I am not sure.

Re. Parking - Venues aren't built for parking these days - look at Perth Stadium - even in a city with much less traffic it's all about encouraging people to not drive anywhere near the stadium - the fact that PP isn't set up for parking now is probably seen as a positive but I assume public transport access would need a big update?

 

[Freomaniac]

If they upgraded its capacity to 50,000

Not even that. 40,000 seats would be good. Even 30,000 to 35,000 seat capacity would be adequate.

I was thinking North Melbourne should play one or 2 home games up there per year considering it's in the northern suburbs.

Saints fans are wanting to have Moorabbin oval to be an AFL standard ground that holds 30,000 seats with cheap rent

 

[Woolly Mammoth]

Not even that. 40,000 seats would be good. Even 30,000 to 35,000 seat capacity would be adequate.

I was thinking North Melbourne should play one or 2 home games up there per year considering it's in the northern suburbs.

Saints fans are wanting to have Moorabbin oval to be an AFL standard ground that holds 30,000 seats with cheap rent

I've wanted to see this happen for years, problem is on one hand I think it's very underestimated by alot of people just how much the average fan hates Marvel stadium, and after a quarter of a century it's pretty obvious that's not going to change, but on the other hand if the league hasnt looked at doing anything with Ppark in that same amount of time, they arent going to randomly decide to do it.

All the problems standing in the way could be dealt with if AFL house had any interest in doing it, we all know they are like the mafia when it involves something they want. Going to the AFLW grand final a few years ago reminded me of what a crying shame it is that we have a 'close but no cigar' alternative Melbourne venue just sitting there in the city.

 

[Cyclops]

Cursed ground of a cursed club. Not a cent of public or league money should go toward a single-club stadium.

Is there enough land and PT for a north west suburban stadium? Footscray, North, Essendon Carlton can fill it, Richmond Collingwood Melbourne Saints can have the G.

Shame Geelong botched Kardinia Park so badly, could have gone halfway to Werribee and had a shared stadium with some non G clubs. Currently Cats have a smart admin but get some dumbarses in (we all get them from time to time) and it will become a white elephant real fast.

 

[MisterMarcus]

No expert on this one but Melbourne has seemed to need a 25k high quality venue for at least 20 years now, it surely happens eventually and would be a worthy addition to the city?

Whether thats Princes Park or not I am not sure.

Re. Parking - Venues aren't built for parking these days - look at Perth Stadium - even in a city with much less traffic it's all about encouraging people to not drive anywhere near the stadium - the fact that PP isn't set up for parking now is probably seen as a positive but I assume public transport access would need a big update?

IIRC, before it got turned into a massive road project, a boutique 25-30k stadium was one of the original options for E-gate (the old railway yards between Footscray Road and North Melbourne station)

 

[raskolnikov]

Shit ground to get to though.

Ever been to People First Stadium? Princes Park is a breeze in comparison.

 

[bzparkes]

Ever been to People First Stadium? Princes Park is a breeze in comparison.

No but driven past it plenty of times. Easy to get to. Dunno about the parking though.

 

[raskolnikov]

No but driven past it plenty of times. Easy to get to. Dunno about the parking though.

Easy to get to if you're driving. Shit parking and shit public transport. Last time I went I stayed at Mermaid Beach and had to uber it to the ground.