New Stadium required

[BlueTouchPaper]

I'm sure the Carlton FC would be more than happy to bulldoze their new $16m facilities.

The new facilities are in the worst location WRT seating position - people wouldn't mind forgoing those seats if you upgraded the other stands and restored the heritage components.

Would still seat something like 15 anyways, wouldn't it?

Wouldn't take it much to be ready for a North v. GC or Saints v. GWS match.

 

[MarkT2]

$16 facilities are chicken feed in the context of major ground upgrades. You can move stands and buildings or you can demolish and build new ones it is just a matter of cost. Greenfields is massively expensive and problematic anyway so in context moving the punt road stand or replacing the Carlton facilities is not the determining factor.

 

[MagooTheRoo]

How long is it before the AFL assumes ownerhip of Etihad? Surely the dud deals will come to an end at that point. Why build a new stadium and assume more debt that somebody will have to service when the solution is already in place?

I'd like to think (or at least hope) that those teams who put up with these deals in order to help deliver this asset into the AFL's hands would be given considerable relief when the ownership changes.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

$16 facilities are chicken feed in the context of major ground upgrades. You can move stands and buildings or you can demolish and build new ones it is just a matter of cost. Greenfields is massively expensive and problematic anyway so in context moving the punt road stand or replacing the Carlton facilities is not the determining factor.

Greenfields, sorry?

Totally agree that $16m is a pittance, as well. I think a big question lies with who assumes control of the assets.

For instance, Carlton/North could transfer their stake in PP/Arden Street (if they have any at all) to the AFL in order to clear their debt and/or see them exempt for participating in the AFLs equalisation projects WRT income sharing (or whatever).

Surely the biggest issue and expense for the AFL is acquiring assets in order to control contracts and infrastructure, especially in light of how the majority of clubs are screaming due to the Etihad dictatorship.

 

[QuietB]

We definately need a new stadium. Brief should be as follows;

1. Small botique 25k capacity stadium that can easily be increased to 150k for the odd blockbuster.
2. Stadium should be on wheels so it can be moved easily around Melbourne to suit where the home teams supporter base is.
3. All seats to come with a BBQ to solve food price issues.
4. Obviously needs a roof, but must have special sunshading for when the roof is open.

Shouldn't be too hard. And for those who think spending the cash to make this happen so we dont get put out 2 or 3 times a year is not worth it have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[azza29]

Melbourne doesn't need another stadium - the MCG/Etihad combo is sufficient. So what if, for example, North/Freo only draw 20k at Etihad? This doesn't occur often enough to justify building a new stadium.

 

[The Ghost Of Glenferrie]

I've always thought that a multi-purpose sports facility could be accommodated very nicely at Sandown Racetrack. This area is in real need of a multifaceted approach with economic rejuvenation. If a facility could be developed over time that planners were able to design that could be multipurpose then it could be the type of venue that VFL park never became.

From a trunk infrastructure perspective, it has excellent transport facilities via rail and bus between Dandenong, Glen Waverley and Chadstone.

The Princes Highway and Eastlink Freeway are in close proximity and are perfect carriageways to accommodate crowds of up to 30,000 - 50,000 depending on the event.

It is now more than ever the demographic centre of Melbourne with close to 2.5 million people within 15 kilometres radius.

Therefore I believed over time a master plan could be developed that delivered all of the following outcomes:

1. A boutique stadium for low drawing AFL games, VFL matches, athletic events, sports carnivals etc.

2. A proper home for cricket victoria (rather than playing at the junction oval and having the MCG compromised for an adapted or lengthened draw)

3. A world class academy of sciences and sport sciences (near Monash Medical and University) combined with a centralised home for Victorian Institute Of Sport/Athletics Victoria.

4. Maybe an expanded University Campus?

4. Improved race track for motor sport.

5. Isn't there also talk of a new children's hospital being built in conjunction with Monash Medical Centre, which is nearby.

My point being is this is a huge parcel of land that could accommodate income producing assets and employment beyond sport. We certainly do not want or need more shoebox apartment complexes for greedy developers.

It would be great to hear other people's ideas for this land as mine are far from comprehensive. The one thing I will say about where I live (America) is even though the place is broke and many have gone **** up, when they plan to do something they don't do it half baked they do it right. As I write there are over 75+ stadiums in the USA capable of holding over 75,000 patrons per stadium in facilities that are second to none - we might not be able to build more, but in Melbourne we can make the one's we have got the best in the world - MCG excluded AKA heaven).

Your thought guys.

 

[R00StaR]

The only reason for a smaller stadium is so clubs can make coin from lower drawing games. Theres really no need, just buy out Docklands and it'll be fine. The problem with it currently is all the coin the owners dash off with.

If there were to be a 3rd stadium, then the Gov should pay for it fully imo, the economic benefits they've had off the back of the Vic footy fan has been massive.

 

[Ron The Bear]

I've always thought that a multi-purpose sports facility could be accommodated very nicely at Sandown Racetrack...

Just down the road from Waverley? Would be an admission that the decision to abandon Waverley as an AFL venue was wrong. Won't happen.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Your thought guys.

Sounds like Waverly / Not sure if you're being sarcastic.

 

[pebblestone]

Parking would be a nightmare.

Please tell me you are joking.

 

[Macca042]

I was always under the impression that if a new stadium was going to be built , it would be built across the road from the Docklands Precinct where the railyards are. We currently have a work site there and we have been told that we are not able to re-new our lease there due to this new stadium. Whether or not this is true , this is what we have been told in the past.

 

[Falchoon]

The new facilities are in the worst location WRT seating position - people wouldn't mind forgoing those seats if you upgraded the other stands and restored the heritage components.

Would still seat something like 15 anyways, wouldn't it?

Wouldn't take it much to be ready for a North v. GC or Saints v. GWS match.

shocking location for Saints supporters

 

[Tas]

Skilled Stadium? Will be a 35,000 seat stadium when next phase of development is completed. 50 minutes by train. Cats only play 7 or 8 games there a year.

People from Melbourne wont go to Geelong for home games, from the SE to Geelong would be a ****ing nightmare. It takes some from the east/south east an hour to get to MCG/Docklands, that would be a four hour commute.

 

[The Ghost Of Glenferrie]

Sounds like Waverly / Not sure if you're being sarcastic.

No, sorry if I gave that impression I'm being not sarcastic. The one thing VFL Park never had was a railway line running right next to it - whereas Sandown does. The Sandown dog track could be redeveloped into a transport hub with proper parking, railway and bus services/retail etc - taking the pressure of Dandenong which is limited for space.

Another thing is that the Eastlink can now bring people via car from the other side of town within two kilometres of Sandown Race Track.

But what I propose is more than just a football oval it would be a multipurpose venue the likes of which VFL park could never have become. The area surrounding Sandown has far more industrial zoned land than Waverley which was primarily residential.

Centre's of excellence in terms of science, sports medicine, biotechnology, learning etc could radically transform this area rather than being serviced as it current by low tech manufacturing in the Dandenong/Springvale/Clayton area.

I was involved in financing an area of within the RTP (Research Triangle Park) of North Carolina in Durham for Glaxo Smith Kline - (this one building holds over 6,000 people involved in R&D mainly genetic engineering). Beyond this there are now over 400 companies involved in high tech medical research within RTP. One company I know for a fact in this area is Bristol Myer Squibb had their research facility on Princes Highway next to the old RACV headquarters. Johnson and Johnson have an office in Mulgrave.

The University of North Carolina also has a football stadium and sports facilities within this precinct. My point is that a 3rd stadium in and of itself it probably not viable in a city like Melbourne unless it can be supported by other vested parties. My company has hired out the Rogers Centre in Toronto many times for corporate events.

Like docklands (but this time done properly) the entire precinct could be developed into something quite special - if handled correctly. It requires vision and support but in trying to get a new boutique stadium for Melbourne I believe it will have to completed in part of a grander overarching vision for Melbourne.

P.S: Before it was developed RTP was nothing but useless farmland and forests next to a city much smaller than Melbourne - so if you have the vision and belief anything is possibly.

 

[telsor]

In all honesty, Punt Rd Oval is underutilised. Build it up to 30,000 capacity, let Richmond train at Junction Oval.

Pros:
Proximity to public transport
Central Location
No further land to be purchased

Cons:
None that I can think of
Richmond supporters probably won't like the idea.

2 real problems

It's very close to the roads (currently, the 'oval' is missing a pocket, although now we've get rid of the cricket club, the plan is to get it redeveloped to Etihad size/shape...but doing that will take it right up to the fences).

We can't expand the other way because the Jack Dyer stand is heritage listed, and the council wont let us expand into the Park (the latter could probably be fixed with enough pressure, but moving a ~100 year old grandstand would be...tough).

So we have room for an adequate ground there, it's well located...but there is no room for stands.


As a Richmond supporter, I have mixed feelings ...I'd love it to happen, but the idea of it being a 'boutique' stadium probably means that rather than it being our home ground, we'd play very few (if any) games there, which would just be wierd.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

We don't need a new 80,000 capacity stadium. We need a boutique stadium of about 25-000-30,000 for the low drawing games. Should revamp an inner city ground.

Before anyone says it, not Optus Oval. It's now a training base and it was so non-neutral that everyone hated it.

This. Have it capped at 30k

Doubt we'll get over 25k when we travel to Vic unless it's a final - same with Port/Bris/GC/GWS etc. WC and Adelaide often draw higher, but schedule the game there anyway and if it sells out, move it to Etihad (aren't the AFL supposed to do this for games at Etihad when the sell out and move them to the G?)

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

shocking location for Saints supporters

No worse than the G is for supporters in the NW and Northern suburbs?

 

[Ron The Bear]

The Sandown dog track could be redeveloped into a transport hub with proper parking, railway and bus services/retail etc - taking the pressure of Dandenong which is limited for space.

The dog track isn't very big, even if it was all given to parking. Plus they'd have to be paid to relocate, like the government did with Olympic Park.

However I acknowledge the thought you've put into this, and don't have the knowledge to evaluate the whole thing.

 

[Falchoon]

No worse than the G is for supporters in the NW and Northern suburbs?

worse

Craigieburn to MCG 29.1km
Frankston to Princes Park 49.9km

 

[SugarHealey]

closer to Eastlink would be ideal

maybe even around the Eastlink/Monash junction ?

No, the Key is it has to be right next to the train station. It's to hard for people without vehicles, and parking issues are a big problem.
Being next to the train station eases the traffic issues.
This area is well supported by all the relevant Main roads and freeways.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

To be frank, Ballarat has more pull than Frankston.

Conveniently, EastLink takes Frankston members right to Princes Park's doorstep.

 

[catters05]

Melbourne need a GWS/GC Suns type stadium for eGate.

No more losses for the smaller Victorian AFL Clubs.

AFL can make more money leasing out Etihad to other sports/events/concerts etc.

 

[SugarHealey]

I was always under the impression that if a new stadium was going to be built , it would be built across the road from the Docklands Precinct where the railyards are. We currently have a work site there and we have been told that we are not able to re-new our lease there due to this new stadium. Whether or not this is true , this is what we have been told in the past.

If, we needed a boutique inner city location it would be Footscray, right on the Railway line to link both Geelong residents as well as The Western district & Adeaide, plus the Rail link to the North of the state.

It's easily accessible by all rail users as an Inner City Boutique Stadium should be.

http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/networkmaps/train_network_map.pdf

 

[SugarHealey]

Melbourne need a GWS/GC Suns type stadium for eGate.

No more losses for the smaller Victorian AFL Clubs.

AFL can make more money leasing out Etihad to other sports/events/concerts etc.

IMO, one day Etihad will be bulldozed and sold to make way for other uses, and another facility will be used.