Etihad Stadium - Why all the hate?

[Maroo]

I posed this question in another thread, but thought I’d post this to try and get a broader opinion (sorry if the topic’s been done before… mods).

If you don’t like Docklands/Colonial/Telstra/Etihad Stadium, please post your reasons.

Same if you like it.

Cheers.

 

[tugga]

1: soulless, complete lack of real atmosphere
2: stadium nazis
3: it's not the MCG
4: no standing room, or very poor standing room at best
5: best seats seem priced out of the general plebs reach

 

[RichoRox12]

No atmosphere!

For some bizarre reason everyone is so quiet there... even in the Richmond reserved seat member areas.

 

[peejay]

I agree with tugga's point number two.

And i say this knowing that a few richmond posters here work there but , the people skills of the staff there are a joke. They treat it like a "job" not an honour to work there like the bulk of the MCG staff do. The timeline of emptying the stadium after the game says it all really.

Its the difference between buying your vegies from the shop where you know the guy knows where they came from and buying them at a convenience store.

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

Love Etihad for its' roof when it's 7 degrees in Melbourne & bucketing down.

As for atmosphere, I'd rather watch Tigers v Pies @ Etihad, than say Melbourne v West Coast @ the G.

But having said all that, MCG is the BEST venue in the Land; but just because MCG is the best it certainly doesnt stop me from watching the Tigers at the Docklands!

 

[Rimmer]

From a player perspective it is largely someone else's problem, the surface is injuring players, fortunately Richmond doesn't have to play on it as often as many clubs.

As a spectator its ok though the G is better.

 

[Papa G]

From an interstaters point of view, having been to Etihad 3 or 4 times, I really can't understand the sometimes vindictive hatred of the place. It is modern, it is central, the seating is elevated, it has great public transport, you don't get wet. Sure it may be a little souless and lack atmosphere at times and I understand the love for the MCG, but seriously, Etihad is the easily the second best ground in the country (although the GABBA is pretty good).

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

...souless...
...patchy grassed oval like an old carpet...
...when the roof is shut i feel claustrophobic...
...i like to stand and watch the footy and at etihad all i get is the bright lights in my eyes from the opposite boundary...
...ground smells when its damp...got an anorobic pong...
...when its lit up it feels so bright and artifical....glaringly bright...feel like a deer caught in the headlights of a semitrailer...
.,.divots of grass come up when the players boots dig into that crap turf...
...its misty inside when the roof is closed on a cold night...
...crap...preferred artic park at waverly...
...doesnt compare to the g on a friday night with that black sky...

 

[Car Ramrod]

I don't like it one bit. Too many bad memories, not enough good ones.

And who cares if it's raining, the way our boys played in Adelaide last month I'd almost be happy to play every game in the rain.

The 'G for me

 

[Deledinho]

Pretty much everything tugga said. Especially point 3.

 

[copthat]

Much prefer the G

 

[Ferdinand Lewis]

blow up the telstra dome

 

[tigerdan]

About the only thing going for it are the ground level seats which used to be cheap but are now expensive. They do have a very good view.

Having said that, it's a pretend stadium and pretend teams play there. The atmosphere is crap, way too quiet.

The surface is shit.

It's not our home ground.

 

[#32kingcuz]

I agree with tugga's point number two.

And i say this knowing that a few richmond posters here work there but , the people skills of the staff there are a joke. They treat it like a "job" not an honour to work there like the bulk of the MCG staff do. The timeline of emptying the stadium after the game says it all really.

Its the difference between buying your vegies from the shop where you know the guy knows where they came from and buying them at a convenience store.

Oi ease up! I'll give you customer service in a minute , we don't make the rules guys, and fyi... excellent place to work. Wouldn't mind getting to sit down like the MCG staff though!!!

Haterssss.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

1. General Admission Tickets, hopeless. Need to get there 30 minutes (at least) before the match to be a chance for "good" seats even at the top level.
2. Lighting at the stadium is very poor. Grass looks a muddy green / damp and gives the place a damp feeling. Always gets misty.
3. Doesn't barely ever get natural light even during the week.
4. Time on the scoreboard is so damn small.
5. Artificial atmosphere
6. Takes longer to get to / go home. Have to switch trains sometimes? No annoucement on the trains?
7. Small amount of leg room.
8. Lighting height is low.
9. Always seem to be obscured from seeing a part of the ground. Whether it be a bit to the side or the boundary line just in front on the top deck. Can't see how high the ball is kicked from a standing position on level 1.
And, number 10. Staff and ticketing in general. Always a queue to get a ticket when I need to get one.

Level 2 is great. My yearly salary doesn't allow me to sit there for a quarter though.

 

[aRT8t]

Never been, it looks good on telly though.

 

[Reckoner Tiger]

having most of my family being saints supporters, i go there occassionally to see st kilda.
i've never really had any problem with the atmosphere, don't know what thats all about...
good venue, has great aspects such as the roof, temperature, convenience when moving around, but obviously has its downsides.
the G is a better ground, obviously its the heart of football and its spiritual home, but i don't mind etihad really.

having said all that, i'd love to see a return to the glory days of 11 home games at the MCG!

 

[mcuzzy]

i used to love it, as soon as i got older and wiser i realised it's not so good, here are my points:

1. the roof, i want it to be open unless it's pissing down with rain. ruins the atmosphere when it's closed. feels like a bloody nightclub or greenhouse or something

2. The staff and security always treat me like shit (grabbing me by my arm, yelling at me, telling me to 'get out' a few minutes after a game)

3. it's ugly inside

4. it's not our home ground, it's neutral or away

 

[Punt Road Feral]

1. Ian Collins is a w***er
2. It doesn't sell heavy beer at night matches
3. Won't let you bring in "commercialised food" **** em i sneak it in anyway
4. The security there are fukn w***ers who try to bait you in.
5. Being a MVFC fan im sick of going to that shithole and cant wait to watch a game with decent viewing. Treatment of fans here as well could go on but meh
6. The standing room is terrible. If you could even call it standing room.
7. Since GA cant go behind the goals anymore the place seems dead and has poor atmosphere with crowds 30k or under.
8. They now check your concession cards when you enter in a wanky matter that pisses me off.

 

[ize_]

I agree with tugga's point number two.

And i say this knowing that a few richmond posters here work there but , the people skills of the staff there are a joke. They treat it like a "job" not an honour to work there like the bulk of the MCG staff do. The timeline of emptying the stadium after the game says it all really.

Its the difference between buying your vegies from the shop where you know the guy knows where they came from and buying them at a convenience store.

Have to agree. I have an innate resistance to big corporations/hierarchy in the workplace. Therefore I probably shouldn't be doing it, but I do just see it as a job. Not everyone's like that but a lot certainly are.

 

[#32kingcuz]

Have to agree. I have an innate resistance to big corporations/hierarchy in the workplace. Therefore I probably shouldn't be doing it, but I do just see it as a job. Not everyone's like that but a lot certainly are.

It's funny how many people that work there don't even like sport let alone footy. It's no wonder it's just a job to them.

I love it however.

 

[mcuzzy]

5. Being a MVFC fan im sick of going to that shithole and cant wait to watch a game with decent viewing. Treatment of fans here as well could go on but meh

definately! looking forward to closed square style stadium

7. Since GA cant go behind the goals anymore the place seems dead and has poor atmosphere with crowds 30k or under.

where do general admission sit at etihad now? near the 50 metre line?

8. They now check your concession cards when you enter in a wanky matter that pisses me off.

MCG never used to accept my student cards a few years ago because I dyed my hair brown

 

[Punt Road Feral]

definately! looking forward to closed square style stadium




where do general admission sit at etihad now? near the 50 metre line?



MCG never used to accept my student cards a few years ago because I dyed my hair brown

In 08 GA members were able to upgrade their seats for free to get a reserved seat behind the goals level 1. It made for a great experience with 6 bays of mainly Richmond supporters. Now you have to pay good dollar (even if you are a member) to sit in them seats so there is normally about a bay and a half of tiger fans.
So pretty much level 3 is the only GA at Etihad which makes it look like shit on TV if there is a small crowd at the game.

 

[Madtiger2006]

No matter what the place is like, if it keeps you away from watching a Tiger game because of these reasons, then as a supporter

you are:
souless
patchy
artificial
cheap
shit
commercial

Thanks

 

[tugga]

No matter what the place is like, if it keeps you away from watching a Tiger game because of these reasons, then as a supporter

you are:
souless
patchy
artificial
cheap
shit
commercial

Thanks

You really are a dumb **** sometimes.
Nobody has said it keeps them away from games. The thread is about why you like/dislike the stadium.
Seriously, it's not that difficult to comprehend, even for you.