Opinion New AFC HQ: We're on like Donkey Kong!

[kirky]

We have had a cafe at West Lakes since the new building opened. Unlicensed, but still a place members could use to get something to eat and/or coffee to watch training.


Prior to COVID and the demolition it was barely used by members.


We also used to host events for away games when the new building opened. I went to a few. Beer sales, set up like the match day Shed. But they were empty. Stopped doing it due to lack of interest.


People huff and puff about wanting a "Social Club", but never supported what we used to have.



The aftermatch Shed was great, the old one better. But it worked as it was at the same location as the game.

Outside of game times we will just be another pub. A tough industry to break into.



We just need facilities that are temporary for the match days we will host and big away games, ie Finals live site.


On SM-A325F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Thank you for the logical response.

Setting up a bistro and maintaining cost $$$$.

Seriously, a few on here have no idea how to run setup and run a business which will be profitable.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Honestly feel buying a pub in North Adelaide/Adelaide is a better option than setting up something at the training facilities.

Café suits the needs perfectly. Anything more is almost certainly running at a loss and a drain on club resources.
At least something like the Strathmore would draw in plenty of fans pre/post game. And heck, you could make it the away team pub of choice for Port games.

If you're setting up something that would only appeal to a niche market you need to make the location perfect.
ps. Thebby isn't the perfect location.

Seriously, a bistro is such a niche market it's not worth it outside of game days. And even then that's a stretch. And again, how many games will draw a crowd? 4.5 a year? Lol.

btw - West Coast only has a café. Fremantle only has a café. I can't even find if Brisbane has anything.

 

[kirky]

But people like yourself are putting this licenced club fantasy ahead of elite training facilities.

The primary purpose of this facility has to be elite facilities for the players.

It’s already been proven that functions like away game events etc are not viable in this day and age, as per Geoffa’s comments earlier.

At the end of the day, a new Thebarton Community Centre is a part of this redevelopment too. If we need a social space for some events (particularly AFLW post game events), I’m sure this can easily be purposed for this.

Spot on.

Let me see - would I like a few flags or a licensed bistro?

Yeh, I go for the flags thank you very much, bistros are a dime a dozen.

One of my mates was the high in hospitality here - the issues with a licensed venue are significant and the $$$$ to setup are also significant.

 

[SellarStardom]

You want a venue that for the majority of the time is a small cafe but with temporary walls that can be removed to create a much larger space on game day.

At Optus stadium there is the Camfield Pub that is absolutely packed when Freon and West Coast play. However it works at other times as it's on the banks of the Swan has a great playground/open space area and attracts people outside of game day. Can't see the same draw at Thebarton

 

[George CantStandYa]

So you wouldn’t go but are upset it isn’t there

This is why it’s low priority, if those who are demanding it, how many would go?

Then how many would go regularly.

There is a commercial reality that doesn’t stack up.

And you say well if it was walkable form AO I would… well that location doesn’t exist either at all or without sacrificing all the football needs

Why do posters need to make stuff up to argue their point?

I am not demanding it and nor am I upset. I am merely countering the opinion of those on here that think its not needed because they wont go and using that to determine others wont and are dismissing the opinion of those who want it and would go. Clearly the backlash and Olsen has acknowledged it, indicates it is wanted by a number of members and supporters.

Its patronage I think has been downplayed on here. This is a venue that will have a captured market, a loyal bunch of Crows supporters that would go for a meal and a drink to support their club. It doesnt need to be a 7 day week venue, Thursday to Sunday. Just look at the number of pubs around Adelaide who operate 7 days a week who dont have pokies, that get **** all patronage during the week and are still open. They need the patrons to keep the doors open and still do and not all have pokies. Some would be paying a shit load of rent.

The Crows venue wont have that. The facility is there, we wouldn't be paying rent to anyone. We wont need to staff it for the quiet periods as it wont be open. It will be part of the complex, not the complex.

And I said nothing about AO so why make that up as well?

 

[George CantStandYa]

Spot on.

Let me see - would I like a few flags or a licensed bistro?

Yeh, I go for the flags thank you very much, bistros are a dime a dozen.

One of my mates was the high in hospitality here - the issues with a licensed venue are significant and the $$$$ to setup are also significant.

So its one or the other? No bistro means flags, cool, I have changed my mind.

 

[kirky]

How long until that ambulance chasing piece of excrement Greg Griffin launches a class action on behalf of neighboring residents?

Which will follow the failure of his camp class action.

 

[kirky]

So its one or the other? No bistro means flags, cool, I have changed my mind.

Missed the point - how surprising.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Missed the point - how surprising.

Nope, thats what you posted.

 

[kirky]

You want a venue that for the majority of the time is a small cafe but with temporary walls that can be removed to create a much larger space on game day.

At Optus stadium there is the Camfield Pub that is absolutely packed when Freon and West Coast play. However it works at other times as it's on the banks of the Swan has a great playground/open space area and attracts people outside of game day. Can't see the same draw at Thebarton

That is well setup facility at Optus.

 

[kirky]

Nope, thats what you posted.

Spend money to be the best in your sport, not waste it on what is a marginal business enterprise.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Wonder what Peter Hurley would think about a bistro/pokie palace around the corner from one of his joints.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Spend money to be the best in your sport, not waste it on what is a marginal business enterprise.

Do you think if the facility includes a bistro we are going to skimp on any of the football related facilities?

Do you think it will stop spending up to the soft football cap or players salary cap?

 

[kirky]

Do you think if the facility includes a bistro we are going to skimp on any of the football related facilities?

Do you think it will stop spending up to the soft football cap or players salary cap?

The bistro will drain money. Guaranteed.

We are in the sports business not the food/liquor business.

If you want a bistro, get someone outside of the club to do it and set it up onsite. You see how many business people think its a goer.

 

[Cap]

 

[DJ75]

Silvers already flagged this.

Seriously?

This might be the best news of the year.
Forget the Fog break out.
Forget the after the siren Showdown win.
Forget the new facility.

A new logo??

 

[Dirty Bird]

Seriously?

This might be the best news of the year.
Forget the Fog break out.
Forget the after the siren Showdown win.
Forget the new facility.

A new logo??

It was always planned to work around the new facility.

I wouldn't be shocked if it was done almost at the exact same time they break ground on the new facility.

 

[George CantStandYa]

So we will have something

 

[GrommoT]

Seriously?

This might be the best news of the year.
Forget the Fog break out.
Forget the after the siren Showdown win.
Forget the new facility.

A new logo??

Think it was brought up in youtube linked from THIS post from feenix.

Ed. Around the 16min mark of the clip.

 

[relapse]

"Things changed when the state league was understood to have told parties involved it wanted $8.5m, rather than $11m, to hand over its lease to Adelaide from West Torrens Council."

Well at least we know now what the compensation to the SANFL was.

8.5 million dollars

It appears that the SANFL were originally demanding 11 million dollars, but once Brompton because a possiblity they panicked and lowered their asking price to 8.5 million

So after all the money they've ripped out of us over the years, we now have to fork over another 8.5 million to these clowns.

Sorry, but it's an absolute joke.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Well at least we know now what the compensation to the SANFL was.

8.5 million dollars

It appears that the SANFL were originally demanding 11 million dollars, but once Brompton because a possiblity they panicked and lowered their asking price to 8.5 million

So after all the money they've ripped out of us over the years, we now have to fork over another 8.5 million to these clowns.

Sorry, but it's an absolute joke.

When did they take out the lease on Thebarton?

Smart business by whoever made that call

 

[Cap]

Well at least we know now what the compensation to the SANFL was.

8.5 million dollars

It appears that the SANFL were originally demanding 11 million dollars, but once Brompton because a possiblity they panicked and lowered their asking price to 8.5 million

So after all the money they've ripped out of us over the years, we now have to fork over another 8.5 million to these clowns.

Sorry, but it's an absolute joke.

Where did you see that?

 

[relapse]

Where did you see that?

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...l/news-story/589fec9554d173b3515d248dff94a421

"Things changed when the state league was understood to have told parties involved it wanted $8.5m, rather than $11m, to hand over its lease to Adelaide from West Torrens Council.

Discussions between the Thebarton stakeholders ramped up on Monday and Tuesday.

Negotiations are continuing between the Crows, council and SANFL as a win-win is sought for all."

 

[Cap]

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...l/news-story/589fec9554d173b3515d248dff94a421

"Things changed when the state league was understood to have told parties involved it wanted $8.5m, rather than $11m, to hand over its lease to Adelaide from West Torrens Council.

Discussions between the Thebarton stakeholders ramped up on Monday and Tuesday.

Negotiations are continuing between the Crows, council and SANFL as a win-win is sought for all."

Bloody hell.

I wonder when they'll tell us the damage for leaving Footy Park

 

[relapse]

When did they take out the lease on Thebarton?

Smart business by whoever made that call

The sad thing was that we were originally offered Thebarton on a peppercorn agreement way back when Trigg committed to the white elephant because the SANFL were trying to shore up Footy Parks future by getting us to invest there.

Well it looks like Olsen has managed to gift the SANFL even more money.