Yes but how many stadia are needed in Melbourne, versus helping bring the quality of regional centre ovals up to a level where some games can go further out? Or should Optus Oval, Princess Park, Moorabbin, etc also get brought up to AFL standard for each club?
Geelong is not Melbourne. Western Bulldogs have support in Geelong. Just saying that after the government spends a lot of money on a stadium to go and build another in a similar scenario is not sensible.
Ballarat needs to be a bit closer to Melbourne to wait for the inevitable sprawl to make it essentially a suburb of Melbourne (ala Frankston or Werribee, or Sunbury in the north). In some ways it'd be great if it were Bacchus Marsh with the bigger population because in 20 years the Bulldogs could play half their home games in what's basically distant western Melbourne.
Looked and sounded like it was a great game as well. I was next door umpiring over at the Northern Oval number 2 which is just outside the carpark.North Ballarat City v Melton yesterday morning as Melton took to the ground to get a feel for the conditions. A sunny Ballarat June day. The ground is now a little under two weeks from completion of the first stage. Works remaining include:
- Finishing the coaches and media boxes
- Final installation of seats around the media boxes
- Asphalting works beneath and around the stands
- Re-installation of fencing behind the goals
- Signage
- Removal of temporary fences around construction zones and relocation across the southern boundary of the oval
- Relocation of construction materials and portable site offices
- Repair of pathways damaged during construction works
- Repair of spectator mounds damaged during construction works
- Landscaping works along White Avenue and Creswick Road entrance.
Trust me it's needed. The umpire's rooms we used were too small. So it would be great to see an upgrade soon.
Love your work Roogal. Keep it upEureka Stadium now officially 'Mars Stadium':
Local Ballarat global confectionery giant 'Mars' has been announced as the new naming rights sponsor of Eureka Stadium in Ballarat. The newly-renovated venue, which will host its first AFL game in round 22, is now officially known as 'Mars Stadium'.
Mars Australia's Damian Ross, Western Region MP Jaala Pulford, Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh and Western Bulldogs chief Gary Kent celebrate.
Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh said it was wonderful to welcome Mars on board, less than 50 days out from the first AFL game for premiership points in town on August 19.
“It’s incredibly fitting for Mars to be involved in this significant project for our city,” Cr McIntosh said. “Ballarat has been home to Mars for almost 40 years and they are one of our city’s biggest employers.”
Mars Stadium adds to the company’s sporting complex portfolio in Ballarat, with the company also naming rights sponsor for nearby basketball stadium Mars Minerdome and Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships.
“Mars is work, rest and play. It’s about participating and an active lifestyle,” Mr Ross said. “It’s not only good for football, it’s good for a whole other events.”
Funding pending.Can anyone help me out here? I see this "masterplan" image, but I've never heard of the stadium being upgraded to go the whole way around.
V/Line have plenty of extra capacity on weekends, going on the train today you could see at least four trains stationed at Bacchus Marsh alone ready for the morning peak hour tomorrow. In any case V/Line would operate similarly to how they treat games in Geelong, maybe chuck on an extra two services each way.
