Moving from Windy Hill

[The Spornstar]

Hi guys
With some talk about Carlton finally moving from OO, just wondering what the situation was like for Essendon when it first decided to move to the MCG from Windy Hill (and then later to the Dome). Was an actual vote put to the members, or were the members consulted and the final decision made by the board? Was there much opposition to the move at the time and do you think that the club handled the situation well?
Thanks

 

[M29]

I can't recall much as it happened, was still young. I do have the honour though of playing in the last little league game there.

Anyway, according to the history books, the first vote went forward sort of straight away, then there was a 'Friends of Windy Hill group' that came in and protested. So they had another vote. It went through with something like 1,000 yes, to 400 no.

Looking back now as I'm older and wiser, I wish they could have sent it off properly.

 

[windyhill]

Mcmahon in his own inimitable (sp ?) style, bullied the move through. The supporters were never given the chance to say goodbye to the ground, IE, one final game. It was the perfect rush job, done after the season had been completed, headed by the bullfrog.
He virtually said " You are all ****ed in the head if you don`t vote to move" Not those words obviously, but the sentiment was there. There was a bit of feeling at the meeting/vote , but nothing too over the top.

 

[dj21]

Originally posted by windyhill
Mcmahon in his own inimitable (sp ?) style, bullied the move through. The supporters were never given the chance to say goodbye to the ground, IE, one final game. It was the perfect rush job, done after the season had been completed, headed by the bullfrog.
He virtually said " You are all ****ed in the head if you don`t vote to move" Not those words obviously, but the sentiment was there. There was a bit of feeling at the meeting/vote , but nothing too over the top.

Wasn't McMahon president four or five years after the move? Surely it would have been up to the president at the time to bully the supporters (I could be wrong i'm not sure).

In the end the right choice was made though. There is no way we would be where we are if we didn't move to the MCG.

 

[windyhill]

Originally posted by dj21
Wasn't McMahon president four or five years after the move? Surely it would have been up to the president at the time to bully the supporters (I could be wrong i'm not sure).

In the end the right choice was made though. There is no way we would be where we are if we didn't move to the MCG.

He was on the board and definetly had a big crack at the supporters, was he Chairman at the time ? You might be right. He was one arrogant bastard. McKissock is more in line with Essendon chairman of years gone by, gets on with buisness, doesn`t run to the papers.

 

[marcuz]

Wasn't McMahon president four or five years after the move? Surely it would have been up to the president at the time to bully the supporters (I could be wrong i'm not sure).

Roger Hampson or Ron Evans was in charge at the time i think.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by marcuz
Roger Hampson or Ron Evans was in charge at the time i think.

He was.

McMahon went nuts at the AGM for the Colonial move according to posters on other forums.

 

[Vulcan]

Ron Evans was in charge of the move to the MCG,best thing they ever did,got back a lot of us from the East and South Eastern suburbs,including me.Should have stayed,although the MCC can be stubborn.

McMahon bulldozed the move to Phone Dome and has lost some marginally profitable supporter groups as a result e.g Essendon MCC members, for those willing to pay and therefore profit the club substantially.

Sacrificed a much larger membership,although huge now,for what they perceived as greater profit.

Only time will tell.

But suburban ovals like Carlton's are finished.

 

[Jarryd Dons Fan]

Leave Windy Hill? simple answer NO

 

[M29]

Originally posted by Jarryd Dons Fan
Leave Windy Hill? simple answer NO

Too bad you're 13 yeas to late.

 

[Jarryd Dons Fan]

You know what i mean, as a training ground

 

[pazza]

Remembering back, Essendon's membership in 1991 was around 8000 members (hard to believe). If they got 20000 to Windy Hill in the early 90's, it was a lock-out crowd, so, the club wisely moved to the MCG. Within 2 years, there were 22000 members.

I was one of the people in '98 who voted against the move to the Dome, even though I could understand the reasons why. Under our MCG agreement, the playing of games at Optus Oval in the period marginalised a number of Essendon supporters, hence we'd only ever get 20000 to matches at Carlton.