Eureka Stadium (Mars Stadium)

[Dogs till i die]

Naivety does not suit you 74, politics at work, the Govt does something for the MCC, the MCC does something for the Govt, both need the AFL on board, classic slush fund stuff IMHO - why would the AFL pay for the lights, playing games in Ballarat is political fodder at best.

Now I know the Melbourne footy market is over supplied & demand is very weak for certain segments of the FIXture, lets take these games to A, B, C & the regions e.g Ballarat.
Got no problems with games in Ballarat per se see my apology for raining on (Roogals) parade.

The AFL were the ones who scheduled this 2nd Ballarat game at a ridiculous time - 3.20 on a Sunday thus requiring additional lighting. Put it on at 1.10 and save your money. Its an hour and a quarter travel for me - i will go because I'm a tragic but it means a 8 pm arrival home on a Sunday night. Timing defies logic if you want a crowd.

 

[thegreig]

The AFL were the ones who scheduled this 2nd Ballarat game at a ridiculous time - 3.20 on a Sunday thus requiring additional lighting. Put it on at 1.10 and save your money. Its an hour and a quarter travel for me - i will go because I'm a tragic but it means a 8 pm arrival home on a Sunday night. Timing defies logic if you want a crowd.

I’m not sure crowds are really a concern for the AFL with Ballarats capacity at the moment, this game would definitely have been scheduled for a TV audience

 

[Speck]

On one hand playing at 1.10 would solve the problem, but on the other hand the AFL are giving exposure to Ballarat by putting them on Channel 7 at 3.20pm.

The AFL obviously understands this and are footing the bill for extra lighting as it darkens late in the game. What's wrong with that?

 

[The Punter]

Council wanted the later game on free to air TV. They're many millions out of pocket for this whole experiment and the money keeps leaking.

 

[The_Wookie]

Ever wonder how they calculate the economic benefits of a regional centre like Ballarat hosting AFL?

thats a great post. cheers.

 

[Dogs till i die]

I agree with your points on the scheduling. After all they don't schedule Kardinia Park games on Sunday twilight or Sunday night for those very reasons. That said, it was common knowledge that Mars Stadium's lights were not going to be up to spec for live broadcast and they were never oringinally specified to be in the initial design brief for the Stage One development of the ground. Even if each of the existing four towers were fitted with their remaining 15 luminaires per-tower that would only upgrade its lighting from VFL grade to AFL non-televised grade. As stands are built around the ground, they could be supplemented by newer generation LED directional down-lights which do create daylight-like light around the boundaries (Already installed on the Eureka Stand) allowing the four towers to eventually be re-focussed at the centre of the oval.

Walking out afterwards, it seemed the adjoining North Ballarat FC lights were better than those at MARS. They were on to provide lighting to the car parks and those of us walking past all agreed.

 

[Roogal]

 

[members section]

Would love to see a big bash game at mars, is that on the cards at all?

 

[aCunningPlan]

Would love to see a big bash game at mars, is that on the cards at all?

I doubt it, it doesn't have media facilities positioned appropriately for cricket and its lighting is hopeless.

 

[hitthepost]

I doubt it, it doesn't have media facilities positioned appropriately for cricket and its lighting is hopeless.

Alice Springs and formerly Etihad had square-on commentary positions, and lighting is pretty much not an issue for day games

 

[hitthepost]

Or play day games

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Alice Springs and formerly Etihad had square-on commentary positions, and lighting is pretty much not an issue for day games

Marvel(Etihad) They just pinch a corporate box and turn it into a commentary box.

 

[hitthepost]

Marvel(Etihad) They just pinch a corporate box and turn it into a commentary box.

Yes, now. FORMERLY (back in the 2000's) they did it from square-on.

 

[Billy ray]

good timeslots

 

[thegreig]

2019 AFL Fixtures at Mars:

• Sunday 10th March - 1.45pm Western Bulldogs v Saint Kilda (JLT Series) - Note: Victorian Labor Day Long Weekend
• Saturday 11th May - 1.45pm Western Bulldogs v Brisbane (Round 8)
• Saturday 24th August - 1.45pm Western Bulldogs v Adelaide (Round 23)

I thought the dogs were playing three home and away games a season in Ballarat? Or is that the plan for the future

 

[The_Wookie]

I thought the dogs were playing three home and away games a season in Ballarat? Or is that the plan for the future

Government deal is for 2 games a year for the next decade.

 

[Roogal]

I thought the dogs were playing three home and away games a season in Ballarat? Or is that the plan for the future

The Wookie is correct, two H&A games per year.

 

[Roogal]

good timeslots

Now all that we need is for the government to come good with some cash in the next State Budget for the lighting upgrade and the construction of Stage 2.

 

[Fizzler]

Shame that Port are out of the Ballarat thing. Wanted to go the past 2 years but had my own games on. We probably do enough travel as it is though with China and not being from Victoria.

 

[Silent Alarm]

Ballarat should have made this a square ground and locked themselves in an A-League club.

 

[radiojake]

looks like i'll be jumping on the V-Line out to Ballarat next August....

 

[Silent Alarm]

looks like i'll be jumping on the V-Line out to Ballarat next August....

I really don't get it. They ignore the beautiful old ground with the two classic grandstands – which would look quaint on TV – and build somewhere else. But the somewhere else they chose is an oval well out of town. What's the point? People are going to go once, realise it's a pain in the arse, and not bother. If you're able to get on a train by 9, be there by 10:30, have some lunch and wander around, be at the ground by 2, then home by 7 on a Saturday you'd do it. You're probably even going to have a countery or a few drinks after the game too.

Strange decision.

 

[hitthepost]

I really don't get it. They ignore the beautiful old ground with the two classic grandstands – which would look quaint on TV – and build somewhere else. But the somewhere else they chose is an oval well out of town. What's the point? People are going to go once, realise it's a pain in the arse, and not bother. If you're able to get on a train by 9, be there by 10:30, have some lunch and wander around, be at the ground by 2, then home by 7 on a Saturday you'd do it. You're probably even going to have a countery or a few drinks after the game too.

Strange decision.

It's not about looking quaint, it's about looking like you got quality facilities.

 

[radiojake]

I really don't get it. They ignore the beautiful old ground with the two classic grandstands – which would look quaint on TV – and build somewhere else. But the somewhere else they chose is an oval well out of town. What's the point? People are going to go once, realise it's a pain in the arse, and not bother. If you're able to get on a train by 9, be there by 10:30, have some lunch and wander around, be at the ground by 2, then home by 7 on a Saturday you'd do it. You're probably even going to have a countery or a few drinks after the game too.

Strange decision.

oh so it's not easily accessible via train? can't say I've looked at the map

 

[Silent Alarm]

It's not about looking quaint, it's about looking like you got quality facilities.

Looking like you have quality facilities or having quality facilities?

I understand it's a general ground for a big regional centre, and a place to host local Grand Finals and events. First and foremost that's it role.

But in terms of the AFL, how appealing really is it? It's a nice little boutique stadium but once you've been will you really go again? It has a lot going against it: the Bulldogs have a small supporter base so need to latch on, the opposition is always irrelevant, it's freezing cold, and it's ages away from bars and restaurants. Watching it on TV there isn't much appeal to the average punter.

If they had it at the city oval you immediately see those grandstands and go, jeez, that's a beautiful ground... I'll go up there one weekend or if you're a Port/Giants/Freo supporter, think 'that's looked great on tele, I might go over for that for a footy weekend.'

As it is now it's had very average returns and not much appeal.

This is where you'd make an exception and go out your way to see an AFL game at.