Is the Commonwealth games worth the disruption ?

[Pessimistic]

Reduced GF attendance (3-5 years)while ground is redeveloped

Possible reduced MCG capacity after refurbishments

$1 levy on every patron from next year

 

[AlfAndrews]

The Mickey Mouse Games.

Shouldn't they be held at Disneyland?

Colonial Stadium is the closest thing we've got to Disneyland ... so why not have them there?

The Commonwealth Games are simply not worth the disruption. Even if it was the Olympic Games it still wouldn't be worth the disruption.

But, in any case, the M.C.G. is good enough for any major sporting event JUST EXACTLY AS IT IS.

If the Commonwealth Games (or any other event) needs a venue, fair enough. Chose a venue from what is available. Don't go out and rebuild a bloody stadium just for a two-week athletics carnival. That is completely bloody stupid. Totally out of all proportion.

At the end of all this, Melbourne will have a stadium for rich people. It will hold no more ... and quite probably less ... people than it currently holds. It will be like Colonial Stadium on steroids. It will be a monument to the Big Events mentality of the rich end of town. And the mug punters will be paying it off for the best part of the twenty-first century.

 

[The Hitman]

The Government owns it, the MCC manages it, and AFL is the contributer to it...

The MCG, the best sporting arnea in the land, and while it will disrupt the ground for a few years, we are talking from an AFL point of view. I am not just an AFL fan, but a sports fan, so I am ecstatic that the games are coming to Melbourne, and will be glad to see the ugliness that is the Olympic and Ponsford stands be changed.

Seeming the ground isn't the AFL's, there is nothing that can be done. If they want to redevelop, let them.

I am looking forward to the redevelopment, and to the Commonwealth Games.

The Hitman

 

[AlfAndrews]

I hope it rains for the whole two weeks.

Enjoy the synchronised swimming, Hitman !

 

[Pessimistic]

I don't think any events are to be held at the MCG except the opening and closing ceremonies

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

Commonwealth Games are just an anachronism these days

The quality of sport is just not there (can you name the last time a world record was broken at this meet ?)

Should have followed the British Empire onto the scrapheap of history I say.

cheers

 

[Voice of Reason]

What is the projected revenue/extra cash that the Commonwealth Games will bring to Melbourne and country Victoria from visitors etc?

I don't know, but if it's well-run, like say the Rugby Union Veterans' Games, it's well worth it from a commercial point of view.

 

[aceman]

how could you not want the mcg to be redeveloped. excluding the southern stand, the mcg is just plain ugly and the new stand will truly make it a world-class stadium. sure, there'll be a bit of a disruption over the next few years but it will be worth it. i reckon they should have a few gf's at sydney's olympic stadium. i know there'll be a fair few vics have something to say about that but it would be great for the game up there and the swans are gonna play a few games there next year. i can't wait, footy will soon have two of the best stadiums in the world.

 

[DarkRider]

Redevelop the MCG, by all means, but the Commonwealth Games is a load of crap.

 

[Mr Ripper]

If they can wangle some funds for the upgrading of the G on the premise that it's for the Comm Games...then that's shrewd work; but the Commonwealth Games...I mean, really! Does anyone have more than half a molecule of interest in 'em?

 

[Pessimistic]

The thing is, if the entire ground is redeveloped, what's to stop the MCG putting in a colonial type ticketing scheme ie those paying 'basic' rates ($15 plus $1 levy) only get to sit on level 4 or a few bays behind the goal on level 1. If you look at the southern stand thats what you get now. Only the Pnsford and Olympic stand has totally available seating.

Where would the competition be ? Colonial ? Optus ? I think not. Waverly will be long gone by then and its up to level 4 ,my friends


Those who don't believe me take a look at

http://www.mcg.org.au/Maps2001/soccer2001.pdf

or

http://www.mcg.org.au/Redesign/seating.htm

for a look at how the southern stand has been designated Premium, A, B, and C reserve for the upcoming soccer games. Remarkably similar to the Colonial's original plans, I think

 

[Pessimistic]

The thing is, if the entire ground is redeveloped, what's to stop the MCG putting in a colonial type ticketing scheme ie those paying 'basic' rates ($15 plus $1 levy) only get to sit on level 4 or a few bays behind the goal on level 1. If you look at the southern stand thats what you get now. Only the Pnsford and Olympic stand has totally available seating.

Where would the competition be ? Colonial ? Optus ? I think not. Waverly will be long gone by then and its up to level 4 ,my friends


Those who don't believe me take a look at

http://www.mcg.org.au/Maps2001/soccer2001.pdf

or

http://www.mcg.org.au/Redesign/seating.htm

for a look at how the southern stand has been designated Premium, A, B, and C reserve for the upcoming soccer games. Remarkably similar to the Colonial's original plans, I think

 

[lioness]

I don't know. For me, it's sport, and I love sport. lol But the Commonwealth Games isn't like the Olympics or anything, I don't see it as all that relevant, and I also don't think we should have to pay more while they fix up the MCG for it. I think THAT sucks more than anything.

 

[Still Crowing]

The good thing about the redevelopment is that if the AFL hold the GF at the Stade de Oz in Sydney, it will hold 80,000 people. Now if you reduce that capacity by say 25 - 30 k for the AFL members (less if they are not willing to travel), that leaves about 50 to 55k seats left over for the members of the competing clubs. (I would travel to Sydney to see the Crows in a GF, hell, I travelled to Melbourne in 97/98. Its no biggie for the non vic clubs) NO MCC MEMBERS to pander to. Sounds like a way better deal to me than the 20-25 that clubs get now. As long as they eventually return it to the MCG, where it belongs, it would be interesting to see. Perhaps parallels could be drawn with the Rafter-Ivanisevic final at wimbledon when real supporters got the tickets instead of the 'suits'.
Actually, come to think of it, as if the AFL would allow that to happen.

 

[Joel]

The Grand Final won't move from the MCG - the AFL has a contract with the MCG/MCC to hold the GF there for something like the next 30-40 years.

I welcome redevelopments, it will hold one of the new Collingwood social clubs.

 

[Roos2001]

I am all 4 the CW games
bring 'em on!!!

 

[Peter P]

Seems the redevelopment will go ahead and small GF and blockbuster crowds for 3 years are unavoidable.

As the AFL isn't driving this perhaps they could argue for some creative compensation. As an exhibition perhaps there could be a State of Origin match - East {NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS, Qld} vs West {SA,WA,NT} or Vic v the Rest. Packed with tourists and foreign journalists it'd be a great boost to the game internationally.

Also the 2nd International Cup would be in 2006 - it couldn't be a Commonwealth games event yet [especially as USA and Denmark are probably the two strongest nations] - but by then the foreign AFL comps should be stronger and the standard reasonable. Why not run this event in the two weeks lead up to the Games to create international interest in playing the game - and have a big exhibition match like I suggest above to indicate what the elite standard looks like.