Demetriou is right. ? "AFL Park" Where to Build the new stadium

[speedpeck23]

It had to happen. In selling Waverley Park the AFL cashed in big time. Unfortunately it also cashed in its only effective bargaining chip in negotiating deals with the MCC and the corporate world. Demetriou is right, a new stadium is the only answer. The AFL will own Docklands in 2025..but that is too long to wait. Clearly the future of the game is dependant on the strength of the all the Victorian clubs. If the Victorian clubs are financially strong then the game can be viable in Western Sydney, Gold Coast and even Tasmania. The AFL should realise its true strength and build its own stadium again !!! Where??.....The State Govt has identified Dandenong as a critical growth hub. A 50,000 seat stadium serviced by train could be built on land between Dandenong and Yarraman station adjacent to East Link. Easy rail access from Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland. Currently the AFL , without its own ground is behoven to the demands of the MCC and the Docklands Corporates yet without the AFL these venues would not be the quality stadiums they are nor financially viable. With little bargaining power the AFL, the Victoran clubs and the future of the game is being ripped off.....your thoughts ???

 

[Daytripper]

I'd build it where Waterfront City currently is (near the not working Big Wheel). The area is a disaster anyway and a staduim there would re-invigorate it.

Sydney have the SCG and SFS next to each other so shouldn't be an issue having a staduim there near Docklands Stadium.

 

[Peacock]

All the clubs with low supporter bases were offered on numerous occasions deals to play out of Princes Park eg. Melbourne, Bulldogs, Kangaroos etc. but you all wanted to live in your deluded world of 'competing with the big boys'. They made their beds so let them lie in it. To build a new stadium in Melbourne would be ridiculous.

 

[greenred]

Who is going to pay for a new stadium?

 

[Beckers]

Who is going to pay for a new stadium?

The State Government....they seem to be throwing money at Rugby League and Soccer....so why not their bread and butter game of AFL??

 

[speedpeck23]

All the clubs with low supporter bases were offered on numerous occasions deals to play out of Princes Park eg. Melbourne, Bulldogs, Kangawho's etc. but you all wanted to live in your deluded world of 'competing with the big boys'. They made their beds so let them lie in it. To build a new stadium in Melbourne would be ridiculous.

Dandenong isn't in Melbourne. Princes Park is not adequately serviced by rail. Two of the big boys had to be bailed out by the AFL....the financial reality applies to all AFL clubs....see Brian Cooks comments re Senate enquiry into AFL in Tasmania

 

[Hawthorn United]

The State Government....they seem to be throwing money at Rugby League and Soccer....so why not their bread and butter game of AFL??

You can't argue that we didn't need a rectangular stadium.

I'm sure there's some contract clause that doesn't allow a stadium with > 30k capacity to be built for a number of years after Docklands Stadium was built.

 

[ozasismick]

Yup, part of the Docklands/Telstra/Etihad deal with the stadiums was that no stadium bigger than 30k was to be built up to a certain date, 2012 I think??

Princes Park capacity even with the new development going in there I read is 22k. May still be alright. People complain about no rail link, but what is it..? 20-30 min walk from the city? still get there quicker than what you would to Dandenong taking a train from the city.

If you could get the greens on side, I'd say somewhere in Royal Park as a new stadium. However, no matter how much the AFL and it's clubs are supposedly losing on the stadium deals, they will be losing more, if the AFL were to build their own stadium from scratch.

 

[speedpeck23]

You can't argue that we didn't need a rectangular stadium.

I'm sure there's some contract clause that doesn't allow a stadium with > 30k capacity to be built for a number of years after Docklands Stadium was built.

That is with in the Melbourne Metro area....? would it apply to Dandenong area...

 

[nut]

This is why we should never of sold Waverly.....

 

[Kick It 2 Me]

The stadium, if build, needs to be centrally located. Not many living in the western suburbs would be keen to travel to Dandenong.

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

Dandenong??? Are you serious? It's a booming area for property true but deadset any stadium needs to be in central Melbourne.

For people in the Western/Northern areas it'll take them 1.5 hour driving each way to get there or 2 hours by train.

 

[speedpeck23]

The stadium, if build, needs to be centrally located. Not many living in the western suburbs would be keen to travel to Dandenong.

You've got Docklands.

 

[speedpeck23]

Dandenong??? Are you serious? It's a booming area for property true but deadset any stadium needs to be in central Melbourne.

For people in the Western/Northern areas it'll take them 1.5 hour driving each way to get there or 2 hours by train.

People living on Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland ( massive growth areas) have poor access to MCG/Docklands.

 

[Beckers]

Dandenong??? Are you serious? It's a booming area for property true but deadset any stadium needs to be in central Melbourne.

For people in the Western/Northern areas it'll take them 1.5 hour driving each way to get there or 2 hours by train.

WHY? I travel to Launceston, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth for games and you can't be bothered travelling 1.5 hours to see your team play?

There is no cheap land in central Melbourne and geographical center is Glen Iris anyway. This stadium needs to be somewhere that is economical to build so Dandenong, Waverley, Chelsea Heights, Cranbourne etc are all very viable options.

 

[STC]

People living on Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland ( massive growth areas) have poor access to MCG/Docklands.

We serve the majority. The city is the most easily accesible place for the majority of Victorians. Why build it out of the way for some people and not for others?

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Heatherton

Behind the man-made wetlands there is acres of land housing all of 3 horses. complete dump in there. there is enough room to make a 40k stadium, and have plenty of room for parking.

Reasonably close to Moorabbin and Oakleigh Stations.

Was originally meant to house Brighton Grammar's sporting teams, however they pulled out late in 2007

 

[JeffDunne]

Build one in Frankston.

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

WHY? I travel to Launceston, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth for games and you can't be bothered travelling 1.5 hours to see your team play?

There is no cheap land in central Melbourne and geographical center is Glen Iris anyway. This stadium needs to be somewhere that is economical to build so Dandenong, Waverley, Chelsea Heights, Cranbourne etc are all very viable options.

Yeah once or twice a year, not every second week. That'll eventually take its toll on your family when every second Saturday/Sunday you are away for a good 6 hours.

 

[Kick It 2 Me]

Why don't the AFL do something really innovative...Build a stadium under another stadium. Metal halide lamps will provide the correct light for grass growth and, although the construction costs would be huge, the AFL would save on the cost of purchasing land.

Of course it won't happen but imagine another 'G' under the 'G'!!!! It'd be awesome.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Get together with the VAFA and upgrade Elsternwick Park? Not too far from the city, certainly not the pain that Waverly was.
The main downside is the lack of car parking; and that is hard to overcome. Both a tram line and train line run by a few hundred metres away and; from memory; the ground itself is a decent size.

 

[Beckers]

Yeah once or twice a year, not every second week. That'll eventually take its toll on your family when every second Saturday/Sunday you are away for a good 6 hours.

I think the stadium they are proposing is for Victorian teams against interstate or low drawing opposition in order to maximise gate revenue and put pressure on TD and MCC. That would be a 1, 2 or 3 games each VIC side a season.

Land and operating costs MUST be cheap for this to succeed. There was talk of Casey, Ballarat or Bendigo not that long ago.

 

[Adrian Shelton]

Now if only any of the guys in control now or Jackson would come out and say "We're sorry we sold it"

 

[The Final Word]

We serve the majority. The city is the most easily accesible place for the majority of Victorians. Why build it out of the way for some people and not for others?

Because you need about 14 hectares (35 acres) to build a field.

Where exactly would you propose such a stadium be built in the city?

 

[Beckers]

Because you need about 14 hectares (35 acres) to build a field.

Where exactly would you propose such a stadium be built in the city?

Spot on! Also this ground would be for the die hard football fans to watch their team against Freo, Port, Brisbane, Gold Coast and West Sydney, not the theatre goers who want to have a latte, catch Essenscum V Collingwood, before a nightcap at a stage show somewhere! Die hard footy fans would travel to Casey, Waverley, Heatherton, Kingston, Ballarat etc to see their team play!