Opinion Thoughts on Ponsford Stand Level 2 on gameday

[NUFC Tiger]

Hey tigerheads, just wanted to see what people here thought/have experienced whenever they've watched RFC games in the Ponsford stand (particularly level 2) in terms of atmosphere, view and overall matchday experience etc.

I got an email yesterday from the club advising that there was some new seating available for the Premiership Circle members in 2014. I've currently got an Access Plus 16(?) game membership and my reserved seat is close to the 50 arc and boundary towards the Punt Road end - about 8 rows from the fence.

I'm considering upgrading my membership next season and wanted to see what people had found when sitting there. Any comments appreciated, cheers!

 

[Groupie_]

No go zone for me unless it's an away game.

I like level 2 or 3 at the punt road end

 

[NUFC Tiger]

No go zone for me unless it's an away game.

I like level 2 or 3 at the punt road end

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too Groupie - would feel strange being away from the PRE (don't even know if I will be able to hear the grog squad belting out the Dustin Martin song from up the other end).

The only positive is entering the ground at gate 1 instead of gate 4 (which I currently do) - a bit closer to Flinders St station so can avoid cutting through all the foot traffic to and from the game.

 

[Underarm]

No go zone for me unless it's an away game.

I like level 2 or 3 at the punt road end

And the Ponsford is locked in. Can't ever get to the PRE.

 

[circus maximus]

Regarding the Ponsford area, interestingly, the club states that out of their allocation of 2000 seats, 500 have been allocated to members on the 'premiership circle' waiting list.
I currently have a P circle reserved seat, and very rarely does the existing area (L2 Olympic) even approach being full. The club has flagged its intention to enable members to on sell their seat to Richmond GA members if for some reason they can't attend a game.The deal is yet to be brokered with the NEW ticketing agency that wins the tendering process.... hope to christ it's someone other than ticketek! Maybe the new crew the Tiges are partnering up with.
Maybe a good way to try before you buy, and hopefully gets a few more passionate supporters into the area; I've have to say, it's disappointingly dull. Combine that with the fact that the best seats in N49 & N50 are usually reserved for AFL official event patrons, often a large % being from opposition clubs and neutrals, and it makes you wonder if it's great value at $525. View's great, easy access to the bar etc, but lacks a little atmosphere for mine.
The hook with the Ponsford allocation seems that you have to give up your reserved 'home game' seat to a Collingwood 'away' seat holder when we play them, and you go GA for that game.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Regarding the Ponsford area, interestingly, the club states that out of their allocation of 2000 seats, 500 have been allocated to members on the 'premiership circle' waiting list.
I currently have a P circle reserved seat, and very rarely does the existing area (L2 Olympic) even approach being full. The club has flagged its intention to enable members to on sell their seat to Richmond GA members if for some reason they can't attend a game.The deal is yet to be brokered with the NEW ticketing agency that wins the tendering process.... hope to christ it's someone other than ticketek! Maybe the new crew the Tiges are partnering up with.
Maybe a good way to try before you buy, and hopefully gets a few more passionate supporters into the area; I've have to say, it's disappointingly dull. Combine that with the fact that the best seats in N49 & N50 are usually reserved for AFL official event patrons, often a large % being from opposition clubs and neutrals, and it makes you wonder if it's great value at $525. View's great, easy access to the bar etc, but lacks a little atmosphere for mine.
The hook with the Ponsford allocation seems that you have to give up your reserved 'home game' seat to a Collingwood 'away' seat holder when we play them, and you go GA for that game.

Cheers for that insight circus maximus. Thinking about it, I think I'd rather have a lesser view (if you can even say that when being near the PRE!) but better atmosphere than a better view but lesser atmosphere. Accessibility is nice but not a big factor so I'll probably consider giving this a miss and seeing if there are any other memberships that let me stay towards the PRE and give a better view

 

[johnno77]

I might cop a bit of grief for this but just putting another option out there for you. Have you thought about AFL membership? I have to say it's the best value membership I have ever paid for. You can generally crossover to the outer areas of the Southern Stand (PRE) unless there's a massive crowd. On the games against all bar the big clubs you will get walk up seats on or near the wing on level 2 or you can pre-book those seats at various points of the season (I don't know much about this as I never do it but my sister and her husband do it and if you have any interest let me know and I can find out for you.

I pay $36 a month and that gets me 40 games a year plus the entire NAB Cup so if you enjoy neutral games as well, it's awesome. I'm not a full member yet so I don't get access to free Prelim finals tickets or GF Tickets (If Tigers played, I would still be a good chance to get a ticket). One negative for many supporters is that not enough money goes to the club (I think around $150 goes directly to the club). I counter that by buying a MRC membership (also guarantees a GF ticket)

Anyway, just another option for you and others to consider but I bloody love it.

 

[Greggy]

The majority of L2 seats in the Ponsford are exposed to the elements, no sun in your eyes though. #weather

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Thanks for the hash tag Greggy. I didn't know what you were talking about before until you typed that.

 

[Underarm]

I might cop a bit of grief for this but just putting another option out there for you. Have you thought about AFL membership? I have to say it's the best value membership I have ever paid for. You can generally crossover to the outer areas of the Southern Stand (PRE) unless there's a massive crowd. On the games against all bar the big clubs you will get walk up seats on or near the wing on level 2 or you can pre-book those seats at various points of the season (I don't know much about this as I never do it but my sister and her husband do it and if you have any interest let me know and I can find out for you.

I pay $36 a month and that gets me 40 games a year plus the entire NAB Cup so if you enjoy neutral games as well, it's awesome. I'm not a full member yet so I don't get access to free Prelim finals tickets or GF Tickets (If Tigers played, I would still be a good chance to get a ticket). One negative for many supporters is that not enough money goes to the club (I think around $150 goes directly to the club). I counter that by buying a MRC membership (also guarantees a GF ticket)

Anyway, just another option for you and others to consider but I bloody love it.

I endorse this post. Much cheaper than $525, same/better atmosphere. Freedom to go to all games. Freedom to choose to sit with the Rabble at the PRE.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

I might cop a bit of grief for this but just putting another option out there for you. Have you thought about AFL membership? I have to say it's the best value membership I have ever paid for. You can generally crossover to the outer areas of the Southern Stand (PRE) unless there's a massive crowd. On the games against all bar the big clubs you will get walk up seats on or near the wing on level 2 or you can pre-book those seats at various points of the season (I don't know much about this as I never do it but my sister and her husband do it and if you have any interest let me know and I can find out for you.

I pay $36 a month and that gets me 40 games a year plus the entire NAB Cup so if you enjoy neutral games as well, it's awesome. I'm not a full member yet so I don't get access to free Prelim finals tickets or GF Tickets (If Tigers played, I would still be a good chance to get a ticket). One negative for many supporters is that not enough money goes to the club (I think around $150 goes directly to the club). I counter that by buying a MRC membership (also guarantees a GF ticket)

Anyway, just another option for you and others to consider but I bloody love it.

Thanks Johnno77 - I hadn't actually considered that but from what you've said, sounds like something worth considering. I think the reason I never considered the AFL membership was someone said the club doesn't get as much of the money back than if you go through directly with the club.

How does an AFL membership work? Do you get a reserved seat for the year or can you sit wherever you like? Do you always need to pre book a seat for the big games? What happens if the game is a sell out and you didn't prebook? Can you still attend?

 

[johnno77]

Thanks Johnno77 - I hadn't actually considered that but from what you've said, sounds like something worth considering. I think the reason I never considered the AFL membership was someone said the club doesn't get as much of the money back than if you go through directly with the club.

How does an AFL membership work? Do you get a reserved seat for the year or can you sit wherever you like? Do you always need to pre book a seat for the big games? What happens if the game is a sell out and you didn't prebook? Can you still attend?

To join you need to pay a joining fee. I'm not sure how much that is these days (I've been a member for nearly 10 years)
You don't get a reserved seat but I think you can organise one if you want otherwise at different points in the year (maybe the start of each month), you can book seats and it's first in best dressed which means you don't pay more or less for levels 1/2/3/4, just the standard Ticketek booking fee which is about $7 or more for finals.

For big games, there is no guarantee of entry. I got knocked back once trying to walk up to a Carlton v Collingwood game on a Friday night. I always book seats for the big games just so I end up somewhere decent but for all the interstate games and Melbourne etc, I just rock up 30mins early and am virtually guaranteed a seat on level 2/3 on the wing. I put something on my seat/s and head to the AFL members bar for a beer. The bar looks over the G and has a cracking view, has a good beer selection and does decent food.

You do get a full membership to your club but as I mentioned, not the same amount goes to the club. From memory, about $150 goes to the club you nominate but I could be wrong. You could counter that with some form of non-match day membership like I have with the Social Club (which I don't use but it does guarantee a GF ticket) or become an Elite Patron which I was before until I found out about Social Club.

Mightn't be a bad idea for you to give them a call to find out more details and see if it fits what you're looking for.
Here's the number: 9643 1900

If Andrew answers, tell him to get stuffed from me.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

To join you need to pay a joining fee. I'm not sure how much that is these days (I've been a member for nearly 10 years)
You don't get a reserved seat but I think you can organise one if you want otherwise at different points in the year (maybe the start of each month), you can book seats and it's first in best dressed which means you don't pay more or less for levels 1/2/3/4, just the standard Ticketek booking fee which is about $7 or more for finals.

For big games, there is no guarantee of entry. I got knocked back once trying to walk up to a Carlton v Collingwood game on a Friday night. I always book seats for the big games just so I end up somewhere decent but for all the interstate games and Melbourne etc, I just rock up 30mins early and am virtually guaranteed a seat on level 2/3 on the wing. I put something on my seat/s and head to the AFL members bar for a beer. The bar looks over the G and has a cracking view, has a good beer selection and does decent food.

You do get a full membership to your club but as I mentioned, not the same amount goes to the club. From memory, about $150 goes to the club you nominate but I could be wrong. You could counter that with some form of non-match day membership like I have with the Social Club (which I don't use but it does guarantee a GF ticket) or become an Elite Patron which I was before until I found out about Social Club.

Mightn't be a bad idea for you to give them a call to find out more details and see if it fits what you're looking for.
Here's the number: 9643 1900

If Andrew answers, tell him to get stuffed from me.

Thanks Johnno77! Will do a bit of research and give them a buzz in the next few days hopefully and see what's what.

I might hold off on telling this Andrew to get stuffed until after I've signed up though if I go through with it - he might charge me extra or change my nominated club haha

 

[johnno77]

Thanks Johnno77! Will do a bit of research and give them a buzz in the next few days hopefully and see what's what.

I might hold off on telling this Andrew to get stuffed until after I've signed up though if I go through with it - he might charge me extra or change my nominated club haha

I was talking about Andrew Demetriou. I doubt he'll answer. There's a very good chance he's on holidays.