AAMI Stadium redevelopment...

[Cuzz09]

Hey guys I was just wondering what your thoughts were on how they would spend the $250 million on upgradng AAMI into a "World Cup" quality stadium?

Do you think they will be mainly adding more seats to say 60-70K people??

total re-devolpment?

I have heard they will be putting in a light rail which will help (maybe they should have done that from the get go down that bus lane?)

Anyway, I thought that you guys would have the best ideas seeing as you visit the place more than others.

Thank You

 

[crows4life]

Hey guys I was just wondering what your thoughts were on how they would spend the $250 million on upgradng AAMI into a "World Cup" quality stadium?

Do you think they will be mainly adding more seats to say 60-70K people??

total re-devolpment?

I have heard they will be putting in a light rail which will help (maybe they should have done that from the get go down that bus lane?)

Anyway, I thought that you guys would have the best ideas seeing as you visit the place more than others.

Thank You

knock down AAMI and build it on the rail yards where the hospital is to be built!

the one and only way forward for this state

 

[brucetiki]

Let's not turn this into another 'bag the hell out of AAMI thread' - lets try and be a bit constructive here.

Here's my wishlist of what I'd like to see at AAMI:
- Possible extension of northern stand around to Crows admin area, bringing capacity to 60 000 - 65 000. The northern videoscreen could then be absorbed into the stand (ala Suncorp Stadium). In addition, remove the old scoreboard, link up the two concourse areas around there, and make it undercover too. The concourse roof could also be extended for extra protection, but not at the expense of blocking the view of the ground (I don't want it so that the back rows of the concourse have a restricted view ala the back rows of level 1 of Telstra Dome).
- Each of the 9 gates to celebrate an SANFL club (as suggeted here http://www.safooty.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13196).
- Make the concessions (for lack of a better word) area completely undercover. You could then develop a couple of food courts (maybe one at each end, and another one where gate 2A currently is). Done correctly, it would make for a great entrance up into the arena.
- Light rail line to Westfield West Lakes. This could be done by either converting the Outer Harbour line to light rail, then replace the Grange line with the West Lakes line (replacing the bus lane), or extending the current tram line from North Tce, up along the middle of Port Rd, then along West Lakes Boulevard, again replacing the bus lane. Both options would terminate at Westfield West Lakes (that way it can be used for regular services as well, not just for the football). Or, if you want to stretch it out a bit more, extend the line all along West Lakes Boulevard and have it terminate at Tennyson, or even Semaphore (along Military Rd).

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

I think extending a light rail line from Grange is the more logical option. Putting light rail up the middle of Port Road seems a little pointless as there is a train line behind Port road anyway. I've always had the thought of some sort of express lane up the middle of Port road to West Lakes Blvd much line the express bus lane.

I'd also like to see the members stand be a continuation of the northern grandstand, and the northern stand extended around to the old scoreboard at the very least.

 

[Malibu#27]

Need to do something about the slope of the seeting, meaning that you feel so far from the action.

Really need to move the underconver sections closer to the action - ie on top of the uncovered bays (at least the back half of them).

Need to make it more undercover, need to get rid of the bitumen behind the stands. Need to massivly improve catering facilities.

 

[KingsCrow]

Hey guys I was just wondering what your thoughts were on how they would spend the $250 million on upgradng AAMI into a "World Cup" quality stadium?

Do you think they will be mainly adding more seats to say 60-70K people??

total re-devolpment?

I have heard they will be putting in a light rail which will help (maybe they should have done that from the get go down that bus lane?)

Anyway, I thought that you guys would have the best ideas seeing as you visit the place more than others.

Thank You

I think they are planning to increase the capacity by around 2000.

I don't think they need/will increase it by much more then that. Adelaide will never fill it nor will Port Adelaide. I think if they do redevelope Footy Park they need to increase corporate boxes.

A rail line would be good, wont happen though, because 1. It would have to be able to cope with thousands of people arriving within an hour and it would hardly be used wehn games aren't one and 2. Other areas are screaming out for a rail link.

 

[Southerntakeover]

I don't think they need/will increase it by much more then that. Adelaide will never fill it nor will Port Adelaide. I think if they do redevelope Footy Park they need to increase corporate boxes.

What are you on about? we sell it out every game.

 

[KingsCrow]

What are you on about? we sell it out every game.

Difference between selling out and filling the stadium. Whats the point in increasing the capacity if we are going to sell it out everygame but still only get 40 something thousand?

 

[Southerntakeover]

Difference between selling out and filling the stadium. Whats the point in increasing the capacity if we are going to sell it out everygame but still only get 40 something thousand?

Potential for growth in membership, and revenue?

The number that turns up is completely irrelevant once theyve already paid. You cant do any more than sell out an arena.

 

[Vince Van Mackay]

Difference between selling out and filling the stadium. Whats the point in increasing the capacity if we are going to sell it out everygame but still only get 40 something thousand?

The point is you make more money.

 

[KingsCrow]

I think instead of spending millions on increasing capacity, the SANFL/Crows should work on attracting those fans who aren't showing up to get to the game, or copying the power and introducing new ways to get people to go to the game.


Whats the point in spending millions to build more seats when there is 15,000 empty seats.

 

[KingsCrow]

The point is you make more money.

What makes more business sense to you. Spending money to fill a 50,000 stadium Or building more seats in the hope more people will come. How do we not know those new members will do as those existing members in not turning up to every game.

 

[Southerntakeover]

What makes more business sense to you. Spending money to fill a 50,000 stadium Or building more seats in the hope more people will come. How do we not know those new members will do as those existing members in not turning up to every game.

If 50 000 people have bought tickets, and you KNOW theres a demand for more (membership waiting list), it makes far far far far far far far more sense to attempt to increase capacity. Its simple supply and demand.

 

[Dogga79]

If 50 000 people have bought tickets, and you KNOW theres a demand for more (membership waiting list), it makes far far far far far far far more sense to attempt to increase capacity. Its simple supply and demand.

Yep, I just spent over two years on a waiting list and finally got tickets for this season.


Now that the decision has been made to stay I hope they really work hard to improve footy park. Catering and public transport should be at the top of their list.



I think they should continue as mentioned the northern grandstand all the way round to the crows players race. I think 65000 is fair and leaves room for growth. If there are spare seats every week it may encourage some people to go at the last minute who otherwise wouldn't get the chance because they aren't members. Hopefully what it would create, and what we do need is more opposition supporters. This would make for a better atmosphere, as old AAMI can get a bit stale and quiet at times. It was the first thing I noticed when I was at the Telstra Dome is that everyone was barracking harder.

 

[Pride of SA]

Difference between selling out and filling the stadium. Whats the point in increasing the capacity if we are going to sell it out everygame but still only get 40 something thousand?

I`ve had season tickets for the last 5 years since coming back from Canberra.
Out of those 11 home games you get, I went to 10 home games 4 years, and 9 games the other. Sometimes life intrudes on football, whether its coming down with a cold, having a pressing engagement, a function to attend, overtime at work etc. which means I attended about 90% of home games. extrapolate that amongst the tens of thousands of other members who also find life interrupting the odd football game and you can see where 5-8000 fans can disappear at any one game.

Those people missing arent going to be the same ones each week.
We dont 'just get' 42,000 we get the full stadium of 50,000+ full but over 11 home games many of those same people will have to drop at least one of those games throughout the year for one reason or another.

With a waiting list still of several years, a stadium of 60-70k would mean we sell every seat of that stadium also, but through the same percentage get actual crowds of 55-60k on the day. much more revenue for the stadium owners and also the clubs. no-shows are just a unavoidable consequence of selling tickets to games that dont start for many months.


the problem with AFL ovals is that they arent very much use for other sports like soccer/rugby etc so would have to be viable on their own. Given as the Govt says its only filled half the year on one day (and even then only half of those gamedays since Port crowds are low and declining) outlaying $1b for a stadium is not viable. AAMI may be tired, poor to watch from, cold and drafty and about as inconvenient as you can get but theres no real alternative.
WA may be building a new stadium, but their mining boom has made their state richer than ours, and they have two teams which will fill it, changing the viability equation somewhat given theres really only one heavily supported team in this state.

 

[KingsCrow]

Also one more thing, if we increase capacity by 10,000 odd that means the operating cost of AAMI will increase quite a bit. This means the break even crowd will increase. Seeing as Port Adelaide is already struggling, it will never happen.

More corporate boxes is the way of the future. Which I think is part of the SANFL's plan.

 

[KingsCrow]

Yep, I just spent over two years on a waiting list and finally got tickets for this season.


Now that the decision has been made to stay I hope they really work hard to improve footy park. Catering and public transport should be at the top of their list.



I think they should continue as mentioned the northern grandstand all the way round to the crows players race. I think 65000 is fair and leaves room for growth. If there are spare seats every week it may encourage some people to go at the last minute who otherwise wouldn't get the chance because they aren't members. Hopefully what it would create, and what we do need is more opposition supporters. This would make for a better atmosphere, as old AAMI can get a bit stale and quiet at times. It was the first thing I noticed when I was at the Telstra Dome is that everyone was barracking harder.

Bah thats just the thing, if we get a rail link to the stadium, it will cost millions, and will have to cope with thousands of people within an hour, in and out. But then as soon as the game is over, the line will hardly be used. Meanwhile that money could go to service the South, or even a line to the Hills.

The Northern Grand Stand won't be expanded, the SANFL is planning to put corporate boxes on the members end, whilst raising the height of the SANFL members Grand Stand side (increasing capacity by 2000 I think).

As for encouraging last minute patrons, I think we should cut the number of cat 1 members, and increase the General Public tickets/seats.

 

[KingsCrow]

I`ve had season tickets for the last 5 years since coming back from Canberra.
Out of those 11 home games you get, I went to 10 home games 4 years, and 9 games the other. Sometimes life intrudes on football, whether its coming down with a cold, having a pressing engagement, a function to attend, overtime at work etc. which means I attended about 90% of home games. extrapolate that amongst the tens of thousands of other members who also find life interrupting the odd football game and you can see where 5-8000 fans can disappear at any one game.

Those people missing arent going to be the same ones each week.
We dont 'just get' 42,000 we get the full stadium of 50,000+ full but over 11 home games many of those same people will have to drop at least one of those games throughout the year for one reason or another.

With a waiting list still of several years, a stadium of 60-70k would mean we sell every seat of that stadium also, but through the same percentage get actual crowds of 55-60k on the day. much more revenue for the stadium owners and also the clubs. no-shows are just a unavoidable consequence of selling tickets to games that dont start for many months.


the problem with AFL ovals is that they arent very much use for other sports like soccer/rugby etc so would have to be viable on their own. Given as the Govt says its only filled half the year on one day (and even then only half of those gamedays since Port crowds are low and declining) outlaying $1b for a stadium is not viable. AAMI may be tired, poor to watch from, cold and drafty and about as inconvenient as you can get but theres no real alternative.
WA may be building a new stadium, but their mining boom has made their state richer than ours, and they have two teams which will fill it, changing the viability equation somewhat given theres really only one heavily supported team in this state.

It could increase revenue, but it would a great capacity would increase operating costs. If the Crows weren't to fill the stadium we could actually be worse off, which the Power most certainly would be.

 

[Vince Van Mackay]

It could increase revenue, but it would a great capacity would increase operating costs. If the Crows weren't to fill the stadium we could actually be worse off, which the Power most certainly would be.

So whats your suggestion, do nothing?

 

[KingsCrow]

So whats your suggestion, do nothing?

Increase corporate boxes, reduce cat 1 members, increase general public tickets.

 

[Southerntakeover]

It could increase revenue, but it would a great capacity would increase operating costs. If the Crows weren't to fill the stadium we could actually be worse off, which the Power most certainly would be.

I highly doubt that as a club with a club with a membership waiting list we would be worse off by increasing the capacity of the stadium. Got anything to suggest this would happen, or even like cases in which it has?

 

[KingsCrow]

I highly doubt that as a club with a club with a membership waiting list we would be worse off by increasing the capacity of the stadium. Got anything to suggest this would happen, or even like cases in which it has?

That increasing capacity increases operating costs?

Ill just assume you did. Well first they would have to take out a loan (you'd be hoping they dont ask for another hand out) so straight away you have the intial capital which they would have to pay back, then the general maintainance and staffing of the new seats. Electricity, PA systems the works. All adds up. Would mean a higher break even crowd, which as I have said would affect Port Adelaide.

 

[Southerntakeover]

That increasing capacity increases operating costs?

Why do i get the feeling that you just throw things out there and hope they stick?

Do you have anything at all to back the claim that an increase in capacity at AAMI stadium would result in an increased operating cost to the point of being detrimental to the club? Sounds like complete and utter nonsense considering we KNOW the number of people who are willing to pay a fee just to sit on a membership waiting list for tickets is in the thousands, and that demand has outstripped supply for tickets for pretty much every home game as far back as i can remember. There is clearly an increase in revenue to be made by increasing capacity now, and that isnt even taking into account the potential for growth it would give us, which isnt present at the current time.

 

[KingsCrow]

Why do i get the feeling that you just throw things out there and hope they stick?

Do you have anything at all to back the claim that an increase in capacity at AAMI stadium would result in an increased operating cost to the point of being detrimental to the club? Sounds like complete and utter nonsense considering we KNOW the number of people who are willing to pay a fee just to sit on a membership waiting list for tickets is in the thousands, and that demand has outstripped supply for tickets for pretty much every home game as far back as i can remember. There is clearly an increase in revenue to be made by increasing capacity now, and that isnt even taking into account the potential for growth it would give us, which isnt present at the current time.

Yes we have thousands, I think its 2000 or something. But your talking of adding another 10,000 seats to AAMI.

And you must remember Port Adelaide is a tenant of AAMI also. Why the hell would they want to see the SANFL spend money on increasing capacity? I think they would rather it seen making the stadium more attractive and adding corporate boxes.

 

[porpoise]

It could increase revenue, but it would a great capacity would increase operating costs. If the Crows weren't to fill the stadium we could actually be worse off, which the Power most certainly would be.

Economies of scale suggest the opposite. Greater capacity means lower operating costs per head.