Dees Boutique Stadium Vision

[w00dy]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/dees-boutique-stadium-vision/2008/05/23/1211183110808.html

MELBOURNE would play at two home grounds, the MCG and a smaller stadium — possibly at Casey Fields — under a radical proposal that will feature in a blueprint for the club's long-term future to be tabled by the Demons later this year.

Boutique stadiums were the way forward for the AFL's Melbourne-based clubs, and the Demons playing at one would be central to the side remaining in its traditional base, the club's chairman, Paul Gardner, said yesterday.

Reacting to the claim made on Thursday by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett that the financially challenged Demons needed to relocate to the Gold Coast in order to stay afloat, Gardner revealed details of his vision to The Age.

Gardner envisages the Demons having two home grounds, its traditional one, the MCG, which would host games drawing large crowds, and a second option — more like Geelong's Skilled Stadium — that would hold about 30,000 people. It would enable Melbourne to make money, rather than lose it, as it does when it plays before small crowds at the MCG.

"When people say, 'Oh my God, where's the Melbourne Football Club at?', I say there's easy ways to fix it," Gardner said yesterday. "Stadium inequality is, I think, the big deal between the have- and have-nots.

"If Geelong gets 25,000 people to Skilled Stadium, they make between five to six hundred grand. We get 25,000 people on Sunday to the Hawthorn game, we ain't gonna make anywhere near that … You struggle to get 20,000 to Freo games and you get sick of writing out cheques.

"I think they (the AFL) have to find a system that says, 'If 25,000 fans in one ground equals X dollars in income, then 25,000 fans at every ground should equal X dollars in income' … that's the key to the future."

The AFL's annual special dividend fund could be abolished, and all 10 Victorian-based clubs could be viable if there were smaller venues to host select games, Gardner said, before adding that he believed Carlton had made an error in abandoning Princes Park.

"All the stadiums around the world are moving away from the multi-giant stadium. All of them … that's where we think the future is in the next 5-10 years in that area.

"When you get two extra teams in the competition, how many people are going to turn up to the MCG to see the Kangaroos play West Sydney do you think?

"Why wouldn't Melbourne Cricket Club have a boutique stadium? They could do that. When we're looking at areas like rebuilding southern stands, why wouldn't you say, 'What we're going to do is have a second stadium' and have a mini MCG? The whole competition can turn on its head, so do I see a future for Victorian clubs? Absolutely. I see an expanded future. I can see a day when clubs may well have two grounds."

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the 17th team on the Gold Coast, due to enter the AFL in 2011, would begin from scratch.

"We've got a bid team up there already," Demetriou told Fairfax News Radio. "We've got a great group who are doing a lot of work to hit some hurdles that they must meet by October 14.

"It's pretty clear the Gold Coast community want their own team and a team that's built from the bottom up and that's why we've been talking to the clubs about this development. We're not really interested in a team going to the Gold Coast, to be quite truthful."

Gardner yesterday described Kennett's comments as "an off-the-cuff sort of comment by a guy who really doesn't know".

"You can't be angry because it's so ridiculous it's hardly worth giving it the oxygen," he said.

"I'm sure he'd be really interested in my views on the Hawthorn success in Tasmania — if you want to sell lots of home games and disenfranchise your members eventually, go for it. All I can say is we have never, ever, ever in my seven years as a director and five years as chairman ever canvassed relocating anywhere, except for that rectangle stadium (at Olympic Park)."

Speaking on a panel at a charity fund-raiser on Thursday night, Kennett said Melbourne should become the "Gold Coast Demons" because "I don't think Melbourne, as it is at the moment, has a long-term future in this code".

The Demons will not forecast how much they stand to lose this year but it is believed to be about $1 million.

Melbourne will receive $1.25 million from the AFL this year, and in 2009, through the league's annual special dividend fund, which also provides the Kangaroos ($2.8 million), the Western Bulldogs ($3.4 million) and Sydney ($1.5 million) with additional funds. But Demetriou said this week that the dividend fund could be abandoned, and that a review of the policy planned for next summer would be brought forward.

i like the idea, i don't like the idea of it being at casey fields in the middle of nowhere... it might as well be at kardinia park, would take me just as long to get there...

possible venues i would think are princess park, punt road, junction oval (hard to get to though) and if eddie hadn't already got in there, Olympic Park would've been perfect...

 

[Hawkk]

"I'm sure he'd be really interested in my views on the Hawthorn success in Tasmania — if you want to sell lots of home games and disenfranchise your members eventually, go for it. All I can say is we have never, ever, ever in my seven years as a director and five years as chairman ever canvassed relocating anywhere, except for that rectangle stadium (at Olympic Park)."

A little off topic, but I laughed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorn_Football_Club

MEMBERSHIP ATT
2004 31,255 26,678
2005 29,261 36,274
2006 28,003 34,071
2007 31,065 44,069
2008 39,461¹ 54,092

Bold being Hawthorn home game attendances (in Melb) and membership since the 4 game agreement in 2006.

Attendances are up 205% compared to 2004, hows that for disenfranchising

i like the idea, i don't like the idea of it being at casey fields in the middle of nowhere... it might as well be at kardinia park, would take me just as long to get there...

possible venues i would think are princess park, punt road, junction oval (hard to get to though) and if eddie hadn't already got in there, Olympic Park would've been perfect...

Good idea in principle, although you could have trouble getting Victorian Government funding - isnt there a clause that stats that only 4 25000+ outdoor stadiums can be used in Victoria?

MCG, TD, SS and Olympic Park?

Could also run into trouble with the AFL, not sure how they'd feel about clubs playing home games away from the MCG and TD

 

[tandino]

Princes Park, Moorabbin, Victoria Park, Whitten Oval, take your pick.

I think it's a great idea.

 

[PendlesIsAStar]

The fact that so many Demons fans have got on here to voice their opinion suggests to me that the Dees could have their boutique stadium within the MCG toilets.

I feel sorry for my work colleague that feels so pasionately about the Dees but he's a lone voice in the wilderness.

Unfortunately for teams like Melboune and North - no fans means no future.

 

[Portia]

Carrara is a boutique stadium.

 

[PendlesIsAStar]

Bold being Hawthorn home game attendances (in Melb) and membership since the 4 game agreement in 2006.

Attendances are up 205% compared to 2004, hows that for disenfranchising

It's amazing what winning does to bring back the fans.

 

[Hawkk]

Princes Park, Moorabbin, Victoria Park, Whitten Oval, take your pick.

I think it's a great idea.

Its been done...

Melbourne vs. West Coast - 9421 (2002)
W Bulldogs vs. Fremantle - 11539 (2002)
Nth Melb vs. Port Adelaide - 9398 (2002)
St Kilda vs. Fremantle - 8098 (2002)
W Bulldogs vs. West Coast - 11809 (2002)

The only club that drew half decent crowds there was Carlton, even then some of their crowds were ordinary.

Ditto St Kilda at Moorabin and the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval.

Fact is, people won't go to the venues unless they are first class venues.

 

[Hawkk]

Bold being Hawthorn home game attendances (in Melb) and membership since the 4 game agreement in 2006.

Attendances are up 205% compared to 2004, hows that for disenfranchising

It's amazing what winning does to bring back the fans.

That's beside the point, my point was Gardiner is a muppet

 

[PendlesIsAStar]

That's beside the point, my point was Gardiner is a muppet

And Kennett and McGuire aren't?

 

[Hawkk]

And Kennett and McGuire aren't?

Probably, but they don't make baseless comments at will that are clearly wrong

Oh wait...

 

[Copernicus]

Good luck with that. Who's going to come up with the tens of millions to refurbish an existing ground, or the hundreds of millions for a brand new stadium?

Sounds like a pipe dream to me.

 

[PendlesIsAStar]

Probably, but they don't make baseless comments at will that are clearly wrong

Oh wait...

Err, no Eddie never does!

 

[Hawkk]

Good luck with that. Who's going to come up with the tens of millions to refurbish an existing ground, or the hundreds of millions for a brand new stadium?

Sounds like a pipe dream to me.

Magic beans?

 

[lenny&carl]

are Carlton still gonna build the Taj Mahal in South Coburg? This Melbourne plan simply will never happen, & I say that as a dreamer not a do-er.

 

[RUNVS]

There should be a smaller 30,000 seat stadium for clubs like North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne for when they play interstate teams so instead of losing money when 25,000 people come to the ground they make money. The AFL should help by upgrading a old stadium to modern standards as it would help multiple clubs.

 

[Pessimistic]

He is right that TD is a crock - wecould have had a couple of modest 40k stadiums - at waverley and showgrounds for the cost of TD

Essendon north dogs carlton at one and richmond hawthorn saints collingwood melbourne at the other.

Big games at the MCG.

Where were melbourne when Dicker had this vision for waverley ?

 

[Beckers]

i like the idea, i don't like the idea of it being at casey fields in the middle of nowhere... it might as well be at kardinia park, would take me just as long to get there...

possible venues i would think are princess park, punt road, junction oval (hard to get to though) and if eddie hadn't already got in there, Olympic Park would've been perfect...

I think you are totally missing the one of the main reasons they want it in Casey Fields. The Dee's and AFL want to take the game to the the kids and young families......which are all on the outer fringes these days. Casey Fields is perfect because it has expanding suburbs like Bewick and Pakenham close by and all these areas are abundant with young families. Melbourne have no 'area' which it can call its own with kids running around with Demons jumpers on. The inner city is essentially a dead area for the Demons!

 

[Clint Bizkit]

This is EXACTLY what I have been calling for Melbourne to do.

 

[w00dy]

I think you are totally missing the one of the main reasons they want it in Casey Fields. The Dee's and AFL want to take the game to the the kids and young families......which are all on the outer fringes these days. Casey Fields is perfect because it has expanding suburbs like Bewick and Pakenham close by and all these areas are abundant with young families.

i agree that the game needs to be promoted in these outer suburbs... that's why melbourne are looking at establishing a summer training base at casey fields...

but playing AFL games out there? it may impress the people in the casey area, but alienate the rest of melbourne... i went to the footy heaps when I was in my teenage years... parents would drop me at the station and catch the train in to the G... i still catch the train often now even though i'm 23... how am I meant to get to casey when it's an hour drive away, or a two train ride and a bus... I think the key for any boutique stadium is that it must be easily accessable by public transport... a big factor on crowds, especially now everyone is used to games being played at the G or Telstra Dome...

 

[ozasismick]

Good idea, but where exactly would the money come from?

The Dees would have to push the proposal pretty hard to the state government in convincing them why there needs to be a footy stadium in that area and the benefits to the local community. Then has to convince the AFL to fixture them there. Also the risk of alienating MCC Melbourne supporters, and existing supporters who enjoy their footy at the 'G.

Anything to improve the off field fortunes of the club I can only wish them luck.

 

[catters05]

About time!!!

Melbourne needs a smaller stadium, and then they could rent it to the other smaller clubs......

 

[RUNVS]

About time!!!

Melbourne needs a smaller stadium, and then they could rent it to the other smaller clubs......

or the AFL could buy and redevelop a stadium themselves so teams such as Melbourne, North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs could all use it. The AFL CAN afford it and they should do it so smaller clubs can survive and prosper.

 

[tess]

The deal with Telstra Dome was no stadiums within X radius of Melbourne's CBD, why Carlton couldn't expand Princes Park I am led to believe. Maybe Melbourne should have a quiet word with Richmond who have Hume council in the Northern Suburbs on side, or St Kilda who seem to have Bayside council on side at Frankston. Not in terms of mergers but as Clubs prepared to look at playing at a smaller stadium.

 

[catters05]

Good, hopefully whereever the ground will be, it will be ready before West Sydney joins the league as the smaller Melbourne clubs will need it.

 

[catters05]

or the AFL could buy and redevelop a stadium themselves so teams such as Melbourne, North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs could all use it. The AFL CAN afford it and they should do it so smaller clubs can survive and prosper.

Yeah but i would like to see Melbourne do it and then if Hawthorn asked to use it they told them to ^%&* off to tasmania.