Brookvale Upgrade - interesting

[Bomber Bears]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...t-brookvale-oval/story-e6freuzi-1226092700301

This story has come out today with the proposed refurbishment of Brookvale Oval. Involves selling southern portion of the land in order to provide funds for the 'upgrade' and moving the pitch slightly north. The big thing is that, to me, it looks very much like the redevelopment of Redfern Oval (or, for our Victorian friends, Victoria Park). As much as they say this keeps rugby league in the area it appears to be turning a big ground into a community facility for local sport, not first grade rugby league. The very notion of adding hills to a ground going forwards is ridiculous. Sure, keep standing are in one section, but redevelopment is more expected to be like Kogarah, more stand and less grass.

Which makes me think Manly are currently making some big decisions about their future, if this thing is to go ahead. Could it be doing the AFL centralisation, moving to the SFS and attempting to expand supporter base (despite being a long way, both distance and travel time, from heartland). Is there another area in Manly they'd be considering (Manly Oval has been mentioned by some, rugby club plays there I'm guessing), but it would require alot of work (new stadium essentially) and relocation of the cricket club (never easy, see the AFL suburban grounds).

Or are they making a long term decision to move to Qld? Build a large supporter base up there whilst keeping ties to the Manly area (maybe a game a year or something?), similar to South Melbourne to Sydney. This would nicely solve the expansion issue. Sunshine Coast or South Qld Sea Eagles would mean one less Sydney team, opening the door for the Central Coast Bears to come in (especially with Newcastle seemingly financially secure) and allowing for Perth to also re-enter the competition.

This is all speculation, but this does not look like a ground that would continue to hold first grade football.

 

[Aucklander]

Certainly doesn't look like an NRL venue to me.

 

[Tassie19Cairns20]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...t-brookvale-oval/story-e6freuzi-1226092700301

This story has come out today with the proposed refurbishment of Brookvale Oval. Involves selling southern portion of the land in order to provide funds for the 'upgrade' and moving the pitch slightly north. The big thing is that, to me, it looks very much like the redevelopment of Redfern Oval (or, for our Victorian friends, Victoria Park). As much as they say this keeps rugby league in the area it appears to be turning a big ground into a community facility for local sport, not first grade rugby league. The very notion of adding hills to a ground going forwards is ridiculous. Sure, keep standing are in one section, but redevelopment is more expected to be like Kogarah, more stand and less grass.

Which makes me think Manly are currently making some big decisions about their future, if this thing is to go ahead. Could it be doing the AFL centralisation, moving to the SFS and attempting to expand supporter base (despite being a long way, both distance and travel time, from heartland). Is there another area in Manly they'd be considering (Manly Oval has been mentioned by some, rugby club plays there I'm guessing), but it would require alot of work (new stadium essentially) and relocation of the cricket club (never easy, see the AFL suburban grounds).

Or are they making a long term decision to move to Qld? Build a large supporter base up there whilst keeping ties to the Manly area (maybe a game a year or something?), similar to South Melbourne to Sydney. This would nicely solve the expansion issue. Sunshine Coast or South Qld Sea Eagles would mean one less Sydney team, opening the door for the Central Coast Bears to come in (especially with Newcastle seemingly financially secure) and allowing for Perth to also re-enter the competition.

This is all speculation, but this does not look like a ground that would continue to hold first grade football.

Ok first off, there is no way at all Manly are moving to Queensland. They are one of the few Sydney clubs to be in a pretty good financial situation, and have a pretty good support base. They don't care at all about the NRL's expansion plans, and they surely wouldn't care about opening the door for the Bears to come into the Central Coast (as you know by the whole Northern Eagles merger fiasco). If there's one club that benefits from the Bears not existing in the NRL, it's Manly.

I do agree with you that this "redevelopment" doesn't look like a ground capable of hosting NRL matches week in and week out. I predict that they're considering a move to the SFS as you mentioned. But they should be careful what they wish for. The AFL moved all its Melbourne clubs to big centralized stadia, and now clubs like North, Western Bulldogs, St. Kilda, and even Carlton would kill to play matches at their own suburban stadium again. It helps them break-even, and gives a home ground advantage that only Geelong has at the moment.

Having games at suburban grounds is a big advantage the NRL has over the AFL for the average supporter. They shouldn't make the same mistake the AFL did.

 

[storm fan]

Terrible idea.

I am interested in knowing how Manly are "one of few Sydney teams to be in a pretty good financial situation, and have a pretty good support base."

Take out the double header that was a Manly home game in Brisbane and their crowds are averaging one of the worst in the league. There has been many many things brought up about their poor financial situation. Not least the fact they played their reserve players in the QLD state cup to save money on funding an NSW cup team (until this was stopped by the NSWRL). Manly are also limited due to their small area of which they represent compared to other clubs and the fact that they can't grow into North Sydney because that area is hostile against the Sea Eagles due to past rival clubs, one of which died after a merger collapsed with the Sea Eagles.

In past years while Manly has not spent money on running it's own NSW cup team they have inverse money into the Sunshine Coast and as I understand it still are.

The Sunshine Coast also have plans of building an 30,000-40,000 stadium on the sunny coast if required to goldbugs sporting events. The land for such a stadium has already been purchased.

Also, there are only a few NRL clubs struggling financially in Sydney currently. Each club is currently getting better at fixing those problems at present.

 

[CooperCronk]

Very little seating area at the venue and very unfriendly for families with small kids or people who like a seat.

I would hate to watch a rugby league game standing all day/night at that ground.

I would hate the new ground if I was a Manly supporter.

 

[moto748]

Haven't the Roosters been playing in a largely empty SFS lately? Mind you, with their form, it's not surprising.

But I find it hard to imagine other clubs wanting to go down the same route.

 

[Bomber Bears]

FWIW this is a Wharingah Council idea rather than a Manly idea, the Council owns the ground however so they can do what they want.

If this did happen Manly would have to seriously think about what they were doing, because this isnt a first grade ground.