Opinion New AFC HQ: Send in the Bulldozers! Thebarton is Happening!

[cleanhands]

Without wanting to sound like a dick, yeah, if you want that the best place is going to be at a SANFL club.

That’s what’s called a football club

 

[Jack is Back]

I'm already a member of my local SANFL club and do mingle over a few beers after a match (frequently).
I just want a good venue to have a shared experience after a Crows game. Wow am I asking too much of a major AFL football club?

I have a personal interest in the history of AFL/SANFL and the re-emergence of the community feel of SANFL clubs correlates with the decline in the competition.

Average crowds peaked in the early 1960’s at just under 12,000 per match. This declined steadily from 1964 (introduction of the Peckers and Bulldogs) until 1990. This year SANFL minor round crowds averaged less than 3,000 per match. The SANFL is now a couple of notches above SAAFL and the top country leagues and light years away from the professionalism of the AFL.

Prior to the introduction of the Crows my grandfather would complain that his SANFL club had lost it’s soul. In the good old days you could go into the change rooms before the game and at half time to hear the coach‘s rev up and go out to the huddle at 1/4 and 3/4 time. Then they built fancy clubrooms and you had to buy a social club membership if you wanted to have a few beers with the players after the match.

Bottom line, if you want to socialise with the players then stick to the decaying SANFl.

 

[Golumless]

That’s what’s called a football club

Not really. A football club is a collective that plays football.

The sport has simply moved on from clubs spending time with fans in a designated place post-game in the top league from what I've flicked through. No different to how the game moved on from fans being able to listen to what is said in the huddle, and people running on the pitch to celebrate major milestones.

 

[cleanhands]

I have a personal interest in the history of AFL/SANFL and the re-emergence of the community feel of SANFL clubs correlates with the decline in the competition.

Average crowds peaked in the early 1960’s at just under 12,000 per match. This declined steadily from 1964 (introduction of the Peckers and Bulldogs) until 1990. This year SANFL minor round crowds averaged less than 3,000 per match. The SANFL is now a couple of notches above SAAFL and the top country leagues and light years away from the professionalism of the AFL.

Prior to the introduction of the Crows my grandfather would complain that his SANFL club had lost it’s soul. In the good old days you could go into the change rooms before the game and at half time to hear the coach‘s rev up and go out to the huddle at 1/4 and 3/4 time. Then they built fancy clubrooms and you had to buy a social club membership if you wanted to have a few beers with the players after the match.

Bottom line, if you want to socialise with the players then stick to the SANFl.

Can’t have AFL players catching leprocy poor darlings

 

[cleanhands]

Not really. A football club is a collective that plays football.

The sport has simply moved on from clubs spending time with fans in a designated place post-game in the top league from what I've flicked through. No different to how the game moved on from fans being able to listen to what is said in the huddle, and people running on the pitch to celebrate major milestones.

That’s footy connected to its fans

 

[LC40]

I have a personal interest in the history of AFL/SANFL and the re-emergence of the community feel of SANFL clubs correlates with the decline in the competition.

Average crowds peaked in the early 1960’s at just under 12,000 per match. This declined steadily from 1964 (introduction of the Peckers and Bulldogs) until 1990. This year SANFL minor round crowds averaged less than 3,000 per match. The SANFL is now a couple of notches above SAAFL and the top country leagues and light years away from the professionalism of the AFL.

Prior to the introduction of the Crows my grandfather would complain that his SANFL club had lost it’s soul. In the good old days you could go into the change rooms before the game and at half time to hear the coach‘s rev up and go out to the huddle at 1/4 and 3/4 time. Then they built fancy clubrooms and you had to buy a social club membership if you wanted to have a few beers with the players after the match.

Bottom line, if you want to socialise with the players then stick to the decaying SANFl.

That's a beautiful story of the good old days and how his SANFL club lost it's soul whatever that means.
Those fancy club rooms are the devils work, I'll take your advise as I do have an SANFL club room to go to.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

 

[Golumless]

That’s footy connected to its fans

And that connection has morphed. Nowadays, it's about membership perks, fan days and all of the other window service which is offered.

The fact the league has gone from strength to strength financially (as well as most clubs being in a stable position financially) despite the fan experience morphing indicates the vast majority of supporters/members simply don't care about it. As said, if you're looking for that post-match camaraderie, supporter groups are really the go for this. Or SANFL where it offers a more community feel.

 

[cleanhands]

And that connection has morphed. Nowadays, it's about membership perks, fan days and all of the other window service which is offered.

The fact the league has gone from strength to strength financially (as well as most clubs being in a stable position financially) despite the fan experience morphing indicates the vast majority of supporters/members simply don't care about it.

Surely you enjoyed going into your SANFL club after and mingling with supporters,players and officials

 

[Big Gazoongas]

I’m happy to see it not happen and I was for it.

It’s not a club, it’s a training and admin facility.

Agree.
I really cant understand why we need to have the facility in the city and furthermore why anyone would want to develop and deal with the ACC.

I'm also interested to know who pays the upkeep and maintenance of the new aquatic centre if it goes ahead. Fagan mentioned it won't be used by the club and that its for the public. All well and good but we don't want to be tied to a money pit as it is now.

I'm not for this proposal at all.

The further we keep away from the ACC the better.

 

[Elite Crow]

Agree.
I really cant understand why we need to have the facility in the city and furthermore why anyone would want to develop and deal with the ACC.

I'm also interested to know who pays the upkeep and maintenance of the new aquatic centre if it goes ahead. Fagan mentioned it won't be used by the club and that its for the public. All well and good but we don't want to be tied to a money pit as it is now.

I'm not for this proposal at all.

The further we keep away from the ACC the better.

I was all for it, but not anymore.

For those that want it to go ahead over a facility close to the city where there aren’t compromises, can you share your reasons?

 

[Jack is Back]

That's a beautiful story of the good old days and how his SANFL club lost it's soul whatever that means.
Those fancy club rooms are the devils work, I'll take your advise as I do have an SANFL club room to go to.

I think you missed the point. When the SANFL clubs were the biggest ticket in town (and more professional) they became more and more elitist and remote from their fans. It has only been in recent years as many clubs faced extinction that they have reinvented themselves as “community clubs”. It is however arguable if their reach into the community is greater than the Goodwood F.C. or Noarlunga F.C.

Professional sport is entirely different. As a Patriots fan, I am really looking forward to catching a match at Gillette Stadium and then sinking a few Samuel Adams with Tom Brady.

In all the years that I went back to the Shed, I can not recall a single time that I had a chat with any of the players (they usually looked buggered and barely able to move let alone socialise with the fans). It was about sinking a few brews with my mates, analysing the game (yeah that young Mackay guy is going to be a beauty) and waiting for the traffic to clear.

 

[Big Gazoongas]

This.

Do you think Adelaide Oval would have been allowed to build a hotel when they originally submitted the plans?

Fast forward a few years and everyone now agrees that Adelaide Oval redevelopment was the bees knees and now some upgrades can be slipped through unnoticed. Well almost....

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

The then Labor party state government pushed the AO development through, the ACC were never going to stop it.

It would have also gone ahead if they planned to build a hotel, the state government would have made sure of that as well.

Any long games where the ACC and the Nth Adelaide residents are concerned will have constant bickering.

 

[cleanhands]

And that connection has morphed. Nowadays, it's about membership perks, fan days and all of the other window service which is offered.

The fact the league has gone from strength to strength financially (as well as most clubs being in a stable position financially) despite the fan experience morphing indicates the vast majority of supporters/members simply don't care about it. As said, if you're looking for that post-match camaraderie, supporter groups are really the go for this. Or SANFL where it offers a more community feel.

Just a AFL sterile environment supported by the corporate and television rights

 

[LC40]

I think you missed the point. When the SANFL clubs were the biggest ticket in town (and more professional) they became more and more elitist and remote from their fans. It has only been in recent years as many clubs faced extinction that they have reinvented themselves as “community clubs”. It is however arguable if their reach into the community is greater than the Goodwood F.C. or Noarlunga F.C.

Professional sport is entirely different. As a Patriots fan, I am really looking forward to catching a match at Gillette Stadium and then sinking a few Samuel Adams with Tom Brady.

In all the years that I went back to the Shed, I can not recall a single time that I had a chat with any of the players (they usually looked buggered and barely able to move let alone socialise with the fans). It was about sinking a few brews with my mates, analysing the game (yeah that young Mackay guy is going to be a beauty) and waiting for the traffic to clear.

Ok but back then we had a Shed to go back to, now we don't have anything remotely worth going back to. I too love to sink a few brews with my mates but security is now hassling you out quicker than it takes to pay wave your round.
Surely it's not that hard to run a good after match experience.

 

[Golumless]

Surely you enjoyed going into your SANFL club after and mingling with supporters,players and officials

The couple of times I've been (unfortunately, I have never been an SANFL regular), I've enjoyed it.

That said being practical, it's not a good idea. You have more options in Adelaide, and for drinks, people are going to prefer to push into the city where they have an abundance of options, and more often or not, their favourite watering holes. The only way a thing like this works is it has to be at, or within a couple of minutes of walking distance from Adelaide Oval. If not, you are wasting your time. Never underestimate that people are lazy. I also want to see Adelaide to be as rich as possible, as being rich makes on-field success more likely to achieve.

The best thing the club could do is set up an outdoor thing in day games for a post-game, similar to how the cricket works. That said, winter is a bitch of a season for that kind of activities.

I was all for it, but not anymore.

For those that want it to go ahead over a facility close to the city where there aren’t compromises, can you share your reasons?

What locations are there within the CBD (or just on the fringes) that we can get, and put state of the art (well, hopefully) training/admin facilities on it for $65 m? I have admittedly come around the idea that we need to be located near the city centre should AO be our home for the future as an own your turf thing.

There aren't that many big plots of land available (noting we're probably needing around 3500 m^2 to 4500 m^2 of space), seeing the old RAH site is a renewal SA project, where they're planning to base the space agency + other science/cultural projects. You could get the le-cornu site, but they rejected a $200 m redevelopment proposal in 2018 (though I don't know the details of that), and we're still dealing with ACC, and North Adelaide residents which are already red flags that this it will also be a hellish slog to get through.

No matter what we do, it's just going to be a training/admin facility, with no supporter areas (note: it's safe to say we're not interested in it, regardless of if it is doable due to the death of post-match functions AFL wide, and supporter club rooms), and I'd rather as much money spent on the training/admin side, not in acquiring land.

 

[Elite Crow]

Ok but back then we had a Shed to go back to, now we don't have anything remotely worth going back to. I too love to sink a few brews with my mates but security is now hassling you out quicker than it takes to pay wave your round.
Surely it's not that hard to run a good after match experience.

We don’t have anything to go to and we are going to spend $65M, let that sink in

 

[Elite Crow]

The couple of times I've been (unfortunately, I have never been an SANFL regular), I've enjoyed it.

That said being practical, it's not a good idea. You have more options in Adelaide, and for drinks, people are going to prefer to push into the city where they have an abundance of options, and more often or not, their favourite watering holes. The only way a thing like this works is it has to be at, or within a couple of minutes of walking distance from Adelaide Oval. If not, you are wasting your time. Never underestimate that people are lazy. I also want to see Adelaide to be as rich as possible, as being rich makes on-field success more likely to achieve.

The best thing the club could do is set up an outdoor thing in day games for a post-game, similar to how the cricket works. That said, winter is a bitch of a season for that kind of activities.



What locations are there within the CBD (or just on the fringes) that we can get, and put state of the art (well, hopefully) training/admin facilities on it for $65 m? I have admittedly come around the idea that we need to be located near the city centre should AO be our home for the future as an own your turf thing.

There aren't that many big plots of land available (noting we're probably needing around 3500 m^2 to 4500 m^2 of space), seeing the old RAH site is a renewal SA project, where they're planning to base the space agency + other science/cultural projects. You could get the le-cornu site, but they rejected a $200 m redevelopment proposal in 2018 (though I don't know the details of that), and we're still dealing with ACC, and North Adelaide residents which are already red flags that this it will also be a hellish slog to get through.

No matter what we do, it's just going to be a training/admin facility, with no supporter areas (note: it's safe to say we're not interested in it, regardless of if it is doable due to the death of post-match functions AFL wide, and supporter club rooms), and I'd rather as much money spent on the training/admin side, not in acquiring land.

Maybe not spend the $65M and stay at West Lakes if that’s the case. We’ve got an agreement, they’ll have to pay us decent money to kick us out

 

[lincsPJ]

We don’t have anything to go to and we are going to spend $65M, let that sink in

what % of the 43,000 at a home game would go back to a licensed venue after a game?

 

[rocket18]

Ok but back then we had a Shed to go back to, now we don't have anything remotely worth going back to. I too love to sink a few brews with my mates but security is now hassling you out quicker than it takes to pay wave your round.
Surely it's not that hard to run a good after match experience.

The shed was "popular" due to reasons other than wanting to mingle with the players.

Footy Park was a prick to get our of by car - having a couple of drinks whilst waiting for the carpark to empty made sense, public transport was horrid and the choice of nearby pubs/restaurants was almost zero.

Compared to A.O. public transport is excellent and a myriad of options for a drink/feed are close by.

The is just not the demand for a shed/room to hold 1000's of members post game, unfortunately the days of players sharing a few beers with the members have long gone. As others have said join your local ammos club, entertaining footy and great atmosphere post games.

Does anyone believe the premier professional sporting comp in any country has its players mingling with ordinary members straight after a game - it just doesn't happen.

 

[Elite Crow]

what % of the 43,000 at a home game would go back to a licensed venue after a game?

Who knows. Zero will be going back to our new training and admin facility though.

 

[lincsPJ]

Who knows. Zero will be going back to our new training and admin facility though.

pretty sure it wont be licensed for that anyway. there isn't enough demand for a purpose built pre and post game licensed venue.

this is about getting a premier grade training facility, in a prime region for exposure and ticking a few social boxes on the way through to help with funding it.

 

[cleanhands]

The shed was "popular" due to reasons other than wanting to mingle with the players.

Footy Park was a prick to get our of by car - having a couple of drinks whilst waiting for the carpark to empty made sense, public transport was horrid and the choice of nearby pubs/restaurants was almost zero.

Compared to A.O. public transport is excellent and a myriad of options for a drink/feed are close by.

The is just not the demand for a shed/room to hold 1000's of members post game, unfortunately the days of players sharing a few beers with the members have long gone. As others have said join your local ammos club, entertaining footy and great atmosphere post games.

Does anyone believe the premier professional sporting comp in any country has its players mingling with ordinary members straight after a game - it just doesn't happen.

Is that you Roo “join local ammos”

 

[Elite Crow]

pretty sure it wont be licensed for that anyway. there isn't enough demand for a purpose built pre and post game licensed venue.

this is about getting a premier grade training facility, in a prime region for exposure and ticking a few social boxes on the way through to help with funding it.

So basically no club

 

[Golumless]

Maybe not spend the $65M and stay at West Lakes if that’s the case. We’ve got an agreement, they’ll have to pay us decent money to kick us out

And inevitably spend $150+ M to get, and develop a site in the city which will be a training/admin base when our lease runs out (which is less than a decade away)?

If we can at all, which is no guarantee there is anything available.

This is similar to the AO move, want a training base in the city? now is the time to strike.

what % of the 43,000 at a home game would go back to a licensed venue after a game?

Would be practically 0%. Why would you when the city offers everything drinking wise, and also much more reliable public transport to get home. If you're driving, it's going to be equally unpalatable as the point of a place like the shed was to wait for the traffic to dissipate.

The only way you could go is by putting it on a tram stop, which might trap a very small percentage. Unlikely though.