Thoughts of a 'Pies museum?

[76woodenspooners]

The Collingwood Football Club has a long and storied history that I think should be commemorated and celebrated and on display.

Over the last 10 years we've announced various building initiatives - the move to the Lexus Centre, the Community Centre at Victoria Park, the renovation of the Westpac Centre, the new Community Centre next to the Westpac centre.

And each time I thought "Great, we finally get a 'Pies museum". And each time I was disappointed. (Actually, a 'Pies museum was suggested as part of the Vic Park community centre - but that idea seemed to go astray?)

I dunno, I think it's a bit shallow that a visit to the Westpac Centre means walking past a trophy cabinet on the way to either the Merchandise shop to buy a Collingwood Football Club mousepad, or to the bar to buy a pot of VB.

Anybody who's been to the museum at the MCG, or Bradman museum, or the museum at Lords has seen that sports museums can be a quiet and spiritual place of worship for the fans.

And I'm sure that there are a large number of attics scattered around the place with memorabilia that is looking for a place to get loaned or donated to.

I think the Collingwood Football club is long overdue for a museum. I now fear that it's going to be a long time before they'll be announcing any new building initiatives, so we'll be waiting a while.

Your thoughts?

 

[mattys123]

I remember Big Alan McAlistair tried to buy several properties opposite Vic Park in the 1990's to build a museum, I think he was going to call it "Maggieland".

I can't see why we can't incorporate more of a museum type setup into the updated version of the Wetspac Centre, at the moment all we have is the foyer with the premiership cups, and while that's nice, it doesn't really give anyone an insight into our true history.

 

[76woodenspooners]

I think the way to make this happen is to ask the members / supporters to contribute to a museum trust fund.

If you can get half the membership to put in $100 towards it (perhaps acknowledging them some way on an honour board or something) then that's $3.5 million raised there. And more importantly it represents a commitment by the membership to support such a facility.

Have the club match that $3.5 million dollar for dollar (shouldn't be hard for an organisation that has an annual turnover of ~ $80 million).

Add perhaps a government cultural grant, corporate sponsorship, a few raffles, and tickets to an opening gala event.

Maybe a total of $8 to $9 million could be raised? That'd go a fair way towards building a museum worthy of the Collingwood Football Club!

 

[millsy29gopies]

I remember Big Alan McAlistair tried to buy several properties opposite Vic Park in the 1990's to build a museum, I think he was going to call it "Maggieland".

I can't see why we can't incorporate more of a museum type setup into the updated version of the Wetspac Centre, at the moment all we have is the foyer with the premiership cups, and while that's nice, it doesn't really give anyone an insight into our true history.

Did read that in his 'Big Al' book, was quite amusing

I'm all for this, that foyer in the Westpac Centre doesn't do our club justice. Hawthorn, Carlton and Essendon all have one. We definitely should have one.

 

[Pie eyed]

I remember Big Alan McAlistair tried to buy several properties opposite Vic Park in the 1990's to build a museum, I think he was going to call it "Maggieland".

I can't see why we can't incorporate more of a museum type setup into the updated version of the Wetspac Centre, at the moment all we have is the foyer with the premiership cups, and while that's nice, it doesn't really give anyone an insight into our true history.

Personally I'd love to see a University of Collingwood.
I'd have a go at a Advanced Use of the Corridor.

 

[Matz]

Personally I'd love to see a University of Collingwood.
I'd have a go at a Advanced Use of the Corridor.

AHAHAHA! Nice!

 

[Old Spice]

Totally agree with this. Shawthing, Q-nutz and yours truly met with Jonathan Bernard 18 months or so ago talking about more collaboration with the club.

One proposal we put up was a history page similar to Carlton's Blueseum. We had Dave Nadel - a sports historian, lecturer at VUT, contributor to AFL 150th Anniversary book and a died in the wool Pie fan - lined up. All came to naught after repeated follow-ups from me.

Personally I'd love to see a University of Collingwood.
I'd have a go at a Advanced Use of the Corridor.

I'd like to see a thesis on Sociable Football and the Dennis Banks Bashtinuum.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Totally agree with this. Shawthing, Q-nutz and yours truly met with Jonathan Bernard 18 months or so ago talking about more collaboration with the club.

One proposal we put up was a history page similar to Carlton's Blueseum. We had Dave Nadel - a sports historian, lecturer at VUT, contributor to AFL 150th Anniversary book and a died in the wool Pie fan - lined up. All came to naught after repeated follow-ups from me.

From time to time the club do put up an online history article, but I don't think they really do it right. It's always that hard core ancient stuff that the history buffs really get into. Make no mistake, it is good to read that stuff - it shows where we've come from as a club and it frames our identity - but there needs to be other stuff as well.

IMO a museum (online or otherwise) should serve the following purpose:

(1) Reflect on where the team we have today has come from. The present player bio's address this in a very crude form, but it could be taken a whole lot further. Eg: each week put together a highlights reel of each of the playing group. Question: if the club put up a highlights reel of Ben Johnson's career until now, with some informative commentary over the top - would you watch it?

(2) Reflect on where we, as individual supporters, have come from. Take us on a trip down memory lane. For some that might mean a winding the clock back to a look at Anthony Rocca. For me it might mean watching highlights of the 1977 drawn grand final in black and white. Back then, as a young kid, the challenge was to try and figure out who was a Collingwood player (grey stripes) and who was a North Melbourne (a slightly lighter shade of grey stripes). And to watch Tom Hafey's press conferences. That would send shivers up and down my spine to see all that footage again!

(3) Reflect on where the club and the code and the greater society has come from. This is the stuff that the club presently do from time to time. I actually find it interesting, but can appreciate it's a bit dry for many - extra effort needs to be made to make it interesting and engaging.