Hey Dan! About Colonic...

[hawkforce]

If James Hird sticks his troublesome foot in that sandpit of a wing, subsequently re-injuring himself for another three years, does that mean that-

a) Colonic is a wonderful stadium, suffering a few "teething" problems.

b)James Hird is soft wussy wussy (sic) who allows himself to be troubled by tiny little stress fractures.

OR

c) Colonial Stadium is an ill-thought concept, rushed into operation by a greedy combination of old money and free-enterprisers, subsequently alienating the general football public, the media, and placing footballers careers in needless jeopardy.

Teething problems are not that bad... until you realise you are dealing with a Dinosaur.

 

[sainter]

You won't have to worry about any of your hawks players getting injured tonight because the match has just been transferred to the MCG tomorrow afternoon.

Does that mean we might be able to make a profit from gate receipts for once?

 

[Shinboners]

At the North vs Brisbane game last night, that beach on the city side of the ground was a disgrace. Anytime the ball ventured into that area, most of the fans were just hoping that no-one would get injured. I sat behind the goals on the top tier and I could see the sand jumping into the air as players ran onto that wing. As more than a few people noted last night, "The MCG is free tonight!".

 

[Danni]

I ventured for my first ever time to Colonial last night. I flew 2000k's to go to a footy match - walked out on the ground pre-match with a cheersquad - and nearly puked allover that rotten surface, and that would probably be an improvement on it.

It was disgusting!! My God, the temporary grounds the Lions have used over the last 4 months for training (before the Gabba was ready to be used again), were 'A' grade playing fields compared to that slop! So which complete idiots brainchild is this debacle?? Sack the idiot before he can do anymore damage!

 

[Dan26]

Hawkforce,

I'm not bogged down by bias as you are.

It wouldn't matter if an Essendon player or Hawthorn player got injued. it wouldn't affect my ability to discuss the incidednt fairly and rationally. I think I have proved this. If you know me and read my posts you should already know this about me, buddy.

If James Hird got injured at Colonial, it wouldn't affect my opnion of the stadium at all. Not in the slightest.

My opnions on ANY matter are not based on club loyalty.

 

[hawkforce]

Dan, in your official capacity as Apologist for the AFL, could you please list all the Pros so far of Colonial Stadium.

 

[Pessimistic]

Transfer the lot I say !

That would give the hawks seven out of eight at the MCG - a small taste of what it was like to be Essendon or Richmond last year.

In any case I expect the R16 Collingwood v Hawks to be moved.

Except for a handful, all 16 games could be easily moved. They should just show some guts and do it now. The low attendance for Saints v Hawks shows that you cannot change games at the last minute and expext a big crowd. - there should be 35,000 minimum for Saints v Hawks

 

[Drakey]

Moaning & groaning won't do anything. The stadium is here to stay.

What has to happen now is some long term thinking. Should we just reschedule the rest of the matches for this year & start over?

I havn't been there yet but on the box it looks ok (apart from the surface, the sunlight/shade contrast during day games & the section which is always empty).

I don't really understand why it was built in the 1st place but I don't think it is going to be pulled down in a hurry.

How can it be improved?

 

[Pessimistic]

The place is built OK but uneconomic. There will be a takeover/restructure of the finances and it will be OK. Current investors will hav to take a loss, however.

This has happened with crown and probably will happen with citylink.

The trouble is, by then it will have a bad reputation and the problem will be getting someone to play there. Clubs will mount a legal challenge over their right to decide the fixture over this issue.

It probably won't be much cheaper then the MCG to run so forge the idea of all teams playing interstate clubs there. VIC clubs will have set home grounds for their home games with large ones being set for the MCG.

Richmond Collingwood Hawthorn and Melbourne will refuse to play home games there. Essendon will continue to play there (and make a bundle) but will re-locate to the MCG if it's membership climbs towards 40,000.

Saints and Doggies might agree to play if they are paid an 'appearance' fee and let the stadium take the risk. Geelong and North similar if price is right.

It's probably good as less games (as originally planned) will suit the surface more

Wavrley has a few more rolls of the dice but hawthorn being very much at home at the MCG will stop any hope of it being AFL again. Perhaps the VFL will go OK (but it's not the VFL 'style', is it ?)

 

[Bernie]

HawkForce,

Well put ! This stadium has caste a pall over the whole competition this year.

Instead of looking forward to each round to see if the Cats / Tigers / Crows can sustain their form, or whether the Lions / Swans / Dogs can regain theirs, we have now reached a point where we don't even know where these games will be played !! This, on top of club presidents asking their fans to stay away !

The similarities with the Casino introduction are frightening , and we've covered all this in previous threads. Will Kerry Packer end up owning this stadium as well ?

What to do ? In the words of Neil ( from The Young Ones ), this facility has ' bad vibes'. The Football Gods are punishing the AFL in strange and perverse ways for daring to tamper with the VIC. sporting Laws Of Nature. What will be the next twist to this plot ? After seeing Football Panels discussing Kentucky Blue Grass for hours ( do you smoke that or listen to it ), who knows.

It's time for reconciliation - we need a symbolic ceremony ( at Waverley ) where all the high-ups led of course by Mr. Graeme Samuel publicly apologise for their actions, and INCLUDE the ol' Waverley ( kind of like the Vietnam Vets 'coming home' ) and the other suburban grounds as football sacred sites. This should go some way to apease the Gods whom we have angered.

Then the grass might grow again once the shadow of plague and pestilence has been removed. Judging from some of the other threads still active, even Mr. Carey has become affected by the 'bad vibes' as well.

But seriously, the desire to create exclusivity is at the root of all this. You stimulate demand, limit supply as the monopoly provider and charge a premium accordingly.

Just look for the coverage of Euro2000 soccer - can you find any ? Can you see a pattern here ? This creates 'bad vibes'.

 

[servo]

Rumour going around Adelaide today that the AFL has put some new seats in at Waverley. Is this likely to be true and has it been mentioned in Melbourne.

 

[sainter]

servo, moving the saints vs hawks game to Waverley was mooted by a stack of saints fans and I expect a similar number of hawks fans.

Unfortunately for these people, from all reports the ground has been stripped of a lot of its catering and corporate facilities.

But like the Save Albert Park group, the Save Waverley Park will continue to hang around.

It will be interesting to see what eventuates from the current move to have Waverley Park listed by the Heritage Council. This will cost the league and the club's millions.

About the only bit of a good news for Waverley devotees is that the VFL Grand Final will be played there. It would be fantastic to see the Box Hill Hawks play St Kilda in the Grand Final but I suppose that would be wishful thinking.

As for Colonial Stadium, I agree with Dan that in terms of spectator views, comfort and facilities, the ground is second to one. HOWEVER, I am disgusted with the LIES and the con job beautifully architected by the AFL and SOL to get St Kilda and the Bulldogs to play their games there.

SUE THE PRICKS!!!!

Our future depends on the viability of this stadium!

Sorry, didn't mean for this post to go that long.

 

[Arrow]

Essendon have been very quiet re all the controversy surrounding Colonial.

Can someone please explain?

Are they meeting their financial forecasts unlike the Bulldogs and the Saints?

Were they aware of the "excessive" cost structure?

 

[Pessimistic]

Essendon cut a very good deal with colonial. they have some 16,000 reserved seat owners, which is probably financially equivalent to another 10,000 or so members on top of their 32,000 membership

Ironic that Colonial is only serving one club very well indeed, yet the AFL7 claimed over and over that keeping waverley for one club (Hawthorn) was unfair to other clubs. Thats a $450M asset compared to and $80M one

Thankfully the Hawks got the move to the MCG underwritten (they had learned much from the move to waverley)

Other clubs should foollow the example and get every last thing in writing from the AFL, as they can't be trusted. They wanted colonail more than anybody but are now hiding behind 'dodgy' corporate structures in relation to colonial.

 

[Drakey]

I just hope they get it right & all the tenant clubs stay there.

With 2 wins & a good 2.1/2 quarters against Essendon in 3 games there, I like Colonial.

 

[Bernie]

Essendon and Docklands....

This is the bit I just don't quite get. Aren't there more Bombers fans than available seats at Docklands ? I went to the MCG to see North V Dons and there seemed to be a HUGE number of fans willing to pay good $$$ to see their team in this stellar year. Presumably they all can't fit into Docklands.

Wouldn't they make more $$ at the MCG this year ? Or by projecting exclusivity, the $$ charged for that exclusive membership outweighs the general public $$ value.