How good is Colonial Stadium?

[Pete]

What do people think of 'the worlds best stadium'? Whats it like inside, atmosphere and facility wise?
I dont know, as a TV stadium it doesnt have much atmosphere. When a goal gets kicks you want to see a huge section of the crowd behind the goals going nuts (like at the MCG) but at Colonial as like at the Gabba there are only about 3 rows in the first level which detracts from the effect. I guess you have to be there. It just seems really small.

Pete

 

[Pessimistic]

I guess we're getting our share of 'world's best practice'

As an aside, at the last world cup the french soccer team came off the field from their semi-final (which they won) and were disgusted at having to play to a stadium full of 'suits'. Meanwhile English and German soccer louts were doing their best to start world war 3 outside. There's a great article about how hard it is in england to get into the football
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/20000309/A65465-2000Mar9.html

Lets not fool ourselves that it can't happen here. We've got toll roads, Casinos and private gas, electric etc.

 

[Channel 7 Audience member]

Originally posted by Pete:
What do people think of 'the worlds best stadium'? Whats it like inside, atmosphere and facility wise?
I dont know, as a TV stadium it doesnt have much atmosphere. When a goal gets kicks you want to see a huge section of the crowd behind the goals going nuts (like at the MCG) but at Colonial as like at the Gabba there are only about 3 rows in the first level which detracts from the effect. I guess you have to be there. It just seems really small.

Pete

I went last night to Colonial Stadium (nice to see they could finish the enormous neon 'Colonial Signs', but not the snack bars). The atmosphere was very dissappointing - even before the game became one-sided. The ground seemed to formal for any type of genuine passion. Maybe people were too busy looking at their own little TV's instead of the real thing!
By the way, I'd hate to see the case if 45,000 people wanted to leave the ground at the same time. Last night, only about 25,000 people left at the siren - with the rest already having left, or busy hitting the piss. Still it took about half an hour to walk from Gate 6 to Spencer Street Station, it was that crowded on the pedestrian bridge.
I don't think i'll be going back in a hurry.

 

[Arch]

Pes,
interesting artice that. It seems to be the way we're headed in the AFL. I remember the good old days (ie like 2-3 yrs ago)at subiaco where you could rock up on the day, buy a cheap standing room ticket and have a great day at the footy without forking out too much of your hard earned.
But its all changing. Its becoming sanitised and corporatised- and the old fashioned footy fan is getting squeezed out because he cant afford premium A1 top notch reserved seats for an entire season. The standing room getting demolished for reserved seating was a real signal that we dont want your sort here anymore. Its sad but hopefully we dont get to the stage where its like premier league. thats when its no longer the fans game.