Dees Boutique Stadium Vision

[McLean_4_Captain]

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.

They can afford it. Reported in the HS today, AFL is considering trying to buy ANZ stadium in sydney (Olympic stadium), the most expensive stadium in the country.

Casey are putting up someone money to develop training facilities if melbourne moves it's training base there, but it's no where near the sort of money needed to develop a stadium.

I'm going to the game on sunday and it'll take me about 25 minutes to get to the 'G by public transport, if they put a ground at Casey it'll take me about 90 minutes or more. But if melbourne can get their membership up to 40,000 and get 25,000+ to games against interstate clubs at a smaller stadium, i'd support it.

 

[Digby_from_Dingley]

For the love of Melbourne football club, get this guy out.

This is the most nonsensical, ridiculous plan I have ever heard. Can he not remember what happenned when teams played at Princess Park. Carlton lost over $10mil trying to turn Princess park in to a boutique stadium. Melbourne don't have that to lose.

This guy is an absolute goose. Makes Kennett look like a genius.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Its a good idea, raised by numerous clubs in recent years. It needs to be somewher with devent transport, which is rather limiting. The likes of Princes Park are out of the picture - plus using a ground operated by a large revenue club isn't likely to prove financially beneficial.
The problem comes with the deals the AFL has with the MCG and TD. Not many games are available to be moved to other venues. And, of course, with the costs of bringing a ground up to standard.

 

[Rob]

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.

Great, but 25,000 people won't come to such a venue. Melbourne can't even get their supporters to go to Telstra Dome - how the hell would they get people along to the outskirts of the city?

They'd end up drawing 10k to these games max, and find something else to whinge about.

 

[deck]

Didn't Melbourne complain back in 2001-02 that there members refused to attend games at Princess Park because they preferred the MCG. What makes them think now they will travel even further to attend games in Cranbourne.

 

[RUNVS]

Didn't Melbourne complain back in 2001-02 that there members refused to attend games at Princess Park because they preferred the MCG. What makes them think now they will travel even further to attend games in Cranbourne.

If they dont then they will have to live with the fact that their club will die.

 

[dart]

this is a great idea, 30000 people at a stadium that holds 35000 people = great atmosphere.

30000 people at the MCG is a joke.

even when there's 40-45000 people there it seems empty.

 

[deck]

If they dont think they will have to live with the fact that their club will die.

They have been faced with that for over 10 years now.

 

[chook2734]

If they dont think they will have to live with the fact that their club will die.

Surely that applies to getting to the MCG now as well?

The AFL have been complicit in allowing clubs like North and Melbourne to wallow and do nothing to help themselves out of the situation they are in. North have finally worked it out after the GC debacle, but Melbourne still don't seem to realise that they are in serious trouble.

If Melbourne can find someone (not the AFL) to fund a boutique stadium good luck to them. I don't think they are addressing the real issue here though, and that is, regardless of where they play, they simply need more people to go and watch them.

 

[festa1234]

i say we should move 2 telstra dome 4 a number of games if it does anything it will force all the MCC melbourne supporters to buy a membership if they want 2 watch us play

 

[meltiger]

It seems like a fantastic idea and I've long thought the likes of the Doggies for example should play interstate sides at home ie: The Western Oval. Besides the romanticism of playing at their traditional ground, it is sheer stupidity for anyone other than possibly only the big 4 and probably only the big 3 (Definitly the Pies/Scummers, Carlton no probs when going well, I say only maybe to Richmond because when not going so well, we don't draw well against the interstate sides, when going well? Well we haven't had a sustained period of success for so long no one really knows tbh) need to play the interstate sides at the 'G or TD


If Melbourne were to somehow find a way to get this done (Let's not kid ourselves, the $$$ would be VERY hard to find), the only condition would be that it needs to be on a train line.

Successive state governments killded Waverley Park by not building the Rowville line, Princes Park besides the Carlton stench and terrible facilities was a ____ of a place to get too, hence it failed.

If they can build a 25-30k all seated stadium alongside the rail network somewhere I say go for it

 

[El_Scorcho]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

It would have to be an accessable, modern, kick arse stadium, regardless of the capacity for it to work. A mini telstra dome without the roof.

Good luck to melbourne.

 

[SirJimi05]

Melbournes idea of moving forward is to take 5 steps back.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

It seems like a fantastic idea and I've long thought the likes of the Doggies for example should play interstate sides at home ie: The Western Oval. Besides the romanticism of playing at their traditional ground, it is sheer stupidity for anyone other than possibly only the big 4 and probably only the big 3 (Definitly the Pies/Scummers, Carlton no probs when going well, I say only maybe to Richmond because when not going so well, we don't draw well against the interstate sides, when going well? Well we haven't had a sustained period of success for so long no one really knows tbh) need to play the interstate sides at the 'G or TD


If Melbourne were to somehow find a way to get this done (Let's not kid ourselves, the $$$ would be VERY hard to find), the only condition would be that it needs to be on a train line.

Successive state governments killded Waverley Park by not building the Rowville line, Princes Park besides the Carlton stench and terrible facilities was a ____ of a place to get too, hence it failed.

If they can build a 25-30k all seated stadium alongside the rail network somewhere I say go for it

Get together with the VAFA and upgrade Elsternwick Park?
A few hundred metres walk from Elsternwick station, even closer to the 67 tram. The only problem might be if the locals would allow lights, but as its only a 8-10 times a year they can be day games. (And the 67 tram and the Sandy line seem to have the least reliable service in Melbourne; or did when I wa sliving in the area.)

 

[Inferno]

Good idea but Casey Fields! are they serious???? if Dees fans don't want to travel to any stadium other then the MCG what makes you think they will travel 30-40kms to the outskirts of Melbourne to see them play. Not only that but it is mostly farms out there, watch a VFL game being played out there, there's a bloody shed and a pond on the non-telecast side

The Dees would get more attendance by building a 'boutique' stadium on top of Buller then in Cranbourne!

 

[Beckers]

Didn't Melbourne complain back in 2001-02 that there members refused to attend games at Princess Park because they preferred the MCG. What makes them think now they will travel even further to attend games in Cranbourne.

Perhaps they need some new members/supporters who will follow the team no matter where they play...like Hawthorn fans do with Tassie.
I suppose the question to Demon fans is: "Would you travel to Cranbourne to watch your club play or would you prefer them not to play in Melbourne, or worse, at all"?

 

[Rob]

If they dont then they will have to live with the fact that their club will die.

Which begs the question as who should cough up the dollars for such a project when it's highly likely the thing will be a flop.

 

[whelan=legend]

Lose money from getting 20k at the G or make hundreds of thousands of dollars for getting 20k at casey feilds?

I know what i would rather.

A booming area and thousands of locals would turn out to the game as it is right near their house, wether they go for the dees or not. I'm positive this could convert alot of the younger kids in the area

 

[w00dy]

having thought about this the only place that could work would be Punt Road oval or the current Olympic Park site... Both are just as accessable as the MCG... anywhere else would fail IMO...

and gardner alluded to the MCC owning a stadium such as this... could the MCC buy punt road oval off Richmond, or Olympic Park and turn either of them into a boutique stadium... they would have the capital... running at a $26 million profit, and owning the MCG they would have access to the capital... they could still provide value to MCC members, and allow clubs to run at a profit...

 

[Rob]

having thought about this the only place that could work would be Punt Road oval or the current Olympic Park site... Both are just as accessable as the MCG... anywhere else would fail IMO...

and gardner alluded to the MCC owning a stadium such as this... could the MCC buy punt road oval off Richmond, or Olympic Park and turn either of them into a boutique stadium... they would have the capital... running at a $26 million profit, and owning the MCG they would have access to the capital... they could still provide value to MCC members, and allow clubs to run at a profit...

I'm not sure people understand why Geelong make money from Kardinia Park. Part of the reason is that Geelong get paid by pretty much everyone that goes through the gates. Yet you're suggesting the MCC build a smaller stadium that would allow MCC members to attend? That's fine, but don't kid yourself that it would provide a much better financial result for AFL clubs, because you'd get thousands of MCC members rock up that contribute zero to the club.

For a boutique stadium to work, you have to
a) fill it (which Melbourne wouldn't do anyway)
b) make money from everyone that comes through the gates (i.e club members or ticket holders, no stadium or AFL members), and
c) charge big reserved seat premiums that people have to pay,
d) provide a decent number of first rate corporate facilities where the club is paid big dollars for. (which is the biggest area of discrepancy between the big and small clubs - clubs like Melbourne simply aren't as attractive to corporates in such a competitive market).

Some people seem to think it's as easy as spending a small amount upgrading a POS ground, crowds will flock to the place and money will flood in. It's not that easy.

 

[DarthTed]

having thought about this the only place that could work would be Punt Road oval or the current Olympic Park site... Both are just as accessable as the MCG... anywhere else would fail IMO...

and gardner alluded to the MCC owning a stadium such as this... could the MCC buy punt road oval off Richmond, or Olympic Park and turn either of them into a boutique stadium... they would have the capital... running at a $26 million profit, and owning the MCG they would have access to the capital... they could still provide value to MCC members, and allow clubs to run at a profit...

The MCC don't own the MCG. They run it on behalf of the MCC Trust.

And why wo\uld they want to build another stadium to create another competitor for the stadium they already have?

 

[w00dy]

I'm not sure people understand why Geelong make money from Kardinia Park. Part of the reason is that Geelong get paid by pretty much everyone that goes through the gates. Yet you're suggesting the MCC build a smaller stadium that would allow MCC members to attend? That's fine, but don't kid yourself that it would provide a much better financial result for AFL clubs, because you'd get thousands of MCC members rock up that contribute zero to the club.

For a boutique stadium to work, you have to
a) fill it (which Melbourne wouldn't do anyway)
b) make money from everyone that comes through the gates (i.e club members or ticket holders, no stadium or AFL members), and
c) charge big reserved seat premiums that people have to pay,
d) provide a decent number of first rate corporate facilities where the club is paid big dollars for. (which is the biggest area of discrepancy between the big and small clubs - clubs like Melbourne simply aren't as attractive to corporates in such a competitive market).

Some people seem to think it's as easy as spending a small amount upgrading a POS ground, crowds will flock to the place and money will flood in. It's not that easy.

i agree on your point about the MCC members... i didn't say let them in completely free... i said provide some value... and don't the MCC pay home clubs dependant on how many MCC members attend?

there would be no MCC section or AFL members section... all seats would be ticketed... MCC members may get free entry but would have to pay for a ticketed seat for example...

you're right, we wouldn't fill it... but the costs of hosting the match would be far less than having a similar crowd showing up at the MCG...

this is the only way I'd think it would work...

personally we'd be better off closing sections of the G down... close the top level, and completely close the Ponsford Stand against interstate sides... if that's not enough space then make the match fully ticketed... creates a better atmosphere too, like when we played freo...

 

[DarthTed]

there would be no MCC section or AFL members section... all seats would be ticketed... MCC members may get free entry but would have to pay for a ticketed seat for example...

Do you think there is any chance at all that the MCC would build and own a stadium and not have an MCC member's reserve? Of course not.

 

[2 Dogs]

The funny thing is, and I'm not saying this about the Melbourne supporters on here because I know that they are part of the faithful who turn up every week, but th same supporters who don't turn up to games at the MCG on a sunny saturday afternoon will be the ones who complain about this proposal and force its demise.

The idea is to cash in on a rapidly growing area and develop a new fanbase in the Casey area. The problem with the Melbourne football club stems back the VFL time, where we lacked suburban identity, something clubs like Collingwoood, Richmond, Carlton etc all had. You came from Collingwood, so you supported Collingwood, simple. The difference was Melbourne didn't have that to grab onto, and with a large proportion of supporters MCC members as well, the chance to use that as a recruiting tool diminished even further.

I wouldn't care where if it took 2 hours to get to a stadium (Which it did last time I went to Geelong) but the point is, why should the MFC listen to fickle members who don't turn up, when there is a large, growing area without a real footballing identity ripe for picking.

Obvious problems with money for the stadium, public transport, etc. (There would need to be some sort of transport development from Cranbourne station to Casey Fields) but this is the kind of lateral thinking that is needed to help save the MFC.

 

[4for brisbane]

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.

Agreed, but the afl won't help as it
1. wants someone to move to the GC
2. is not going to damage docklands
3. is under increasing pressure by the rich to cut the subs to the poorer melbourne clubs.