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

[greenred]

Does anyone have details of the minimum games agreements the AFL has with Etihad and the MCG and how long these run for? Also the minimum number of games Geelong have to play at Skilled?

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

If its only for diehard supporters who would "travel anywhere" to watch their teams play low-drawing interstate teams then what the hell was wrong with Princes Park in the first place??

It's a helluva lot closer than Dandenong, Ballarat and what not, not to mention the best playing surface in the country.

Are we going backwards?

 

[greenred]

If its only for diehard supporters who would "travel anywhere" to watch their teams play low-drawing interstate teams then what the hell was wrong with Princes Park in the first place??

It's a helluva lot closer than Dandenong, Ballarat and what not, not to mention the best playing surface in the country.

Are we going backwards?

Yes, we are. Too many suburban clubs in a national competition and neither they nor their supporters can or want to make the leap.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

If its only for diehard supporters who would "travel anywhere" to watch their teams play low-drawing interstate teams then what the hell was wrong with Princes Park in the first place??

It's a helluva lot closer than Dandenong, Ballarat and what not, not to mention the best playing surface in the country.

Are we going backwards?

One of the problems was that Carlton as landlords were no better than Docklands management. Everyone who played there got completely ripped off, which is why those that could left again in a hurry.

Best surface? Really? That's not my recollection. Sure, it was never Docklands bad; but best surface is somewhat of a stretch.

And it wouldn't be just for the true die-hards who will travel anywhere, it needs to cater for the average fan. It is true that the theatre goers won't go, they don't go to small drawing games now.
Kardinia Park is better for public transport than Princes Park, even from the eastern suburbs. Better than Waverly, in almost every way, but far from an ideal option.

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

If the yare after boutique size then refurbish Junction Oval.
Get into bed with the VCA and play all Domestic cricket there.

Not too hard to get there.

God you could even lease it to MFC as their home base.

All good. Hop to it Andy.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

If its only for diehard supporters who would "travel anywhere" to watch their teams play low-drawing interstate teams then what the hell was wrong with Princes Park in the first place??

It's a helluva lot closer than Dandenong, Ballarat and what not, not to mention the best playing surface in the country.

Are we going backwards?

Carlton was the problem.

Hawks lost millions playing home games there because all the money from home games was going to carlton, and not the Hawks.

If the blues had of changed earlier, its very possible games would still be played there

 

[Beckers]

If its only for diehard supporters who would "travel anywhere" to watch their teams play low-drawing interstate teams then what the hell was wrong with Princes Park in the first place??
?

CARLTON FC

 

[krisholio14]

If they are after boutique size then refurbish Junction Oval.
Get into bed with the VCA and play all Domestic cricket there.

Not too hard to get there.

God you could even lease it to MFC as their home base.

All good. Hop to it Andy.

This is the one that makes the most sense to me.

Great location, Great history, and the state cricket is going to move there on a permanent basis in a couple of seasons.

Turn it into a 25/30k stadium and you're laughing.

 

[richardnose]

the sentiment behind your post is correct but there's two flaws in it:

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.

waverley was a shithole. it was cold, rainy, soul-less, too big, had no public transport and the carpark was a nightmare. i spent too many wet winter saturdays trowling through the mud to the waverley gardens' shopping centre carpark to let this sort of stuff go thru to the keeper. fair dinkum, the little kids will grow up thinking that waverley must have been some kind of footy nirvana that was mindlessly detroyed. that's bullshit, it had to go.

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.

huh ? the afl competition is unbalanced and will be financially stronger when a couple of the vic boat-anchors are gone. the remaining vic clubs will be stronger and the average crowd at vic games will be higher.

you're right that the afl has lost leverage and maybe they need a third option to help them keep the other two honest, but i'm getting tired of hearing that stadium deals for stadiums that didn't exist 10 years ago are suddenly the reason that certain clubs that have been broke for 50 years are struggling.

 

[bombers_4_ever]

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.

What about all the people that live in the western suburbs? If the the game finishes at 10:30pm and you have to travel to Footscray, Werribee, Sydenham or even further. By the time you got home it would be after midnight.

 

[Beckers]

What about all the people that live in the western suburbs? If the the game finishes at 10:30pm and you have to travel to Footscray, Werribee, Sydenham or even further. By the time you got home it would be after midnight.

I doubt this venue will be for night games. It will be Sunday arvo V Port/Freo/GC/WS low drawing games of 20k crowds.

I also like the Junction oval idea! What an ideal location that would be

 

[bombers_4_ever]

Yes would be better for a day match than night.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Dandenong? CRANBOURNE? These are terrible locations for a stadium. They're all the way out in outer suburbia for ****'s sake. People in western and northern Melbourne would simply not go, thus creating really shit match attendance and negating the whole point of having a 'boutique' stadium (not that there is a point to having a 'boutique' stadium, clubs that are poor are poor because they have few supporters, not because Docklands is allegedly trying to rape their souls).

 

[WeninRome]

I would love to understand the actually costs associated with developing a new stadium compared with redeveloping one such as Junction or one in Bendigo, Ballarat.

Im sure the costs would be far less to redevelop.

Melbourne demons are struggling for a new home and need to lease a new park. Why not Junction?

Share it with the Tigers and have the AFL commit millions to redevelop it into a 20k seat stadium.

The AFL could persuade the tigers by refurbishing Junction and its facilities, much the same way Carlton are devloping Visy park.

I dont see why Junction could not be transformed..

 

[footyman]

There is virtually no car parking at the Junction Oval.

And it is similar to Princes Park in that the only form of public transport is tram.

No hope of it being an AFL venue.

 

[krisholio14]

There is virtually no car parking at the Junction Oval.

And it is similar to Princes Park in that the only form of public transport is tram.

No hope of it being an AFL venue.

Little bit better in that light rail is close by, and Windsor station is only 10 mins walk away.

They also don't seem to have too many problems finding places to park the car for the GP this weekend.

 

[whelan=legend]

If it's anywhere it will be at Casey Fields. No questions about it.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Can Carlton sell Princes Park to the AFL?

 

[numchuks]

E-Gate precinct is the perfect location.

- It's central
- Close to public transport
- Close to a freeway network
- Has lots of available land
- Is in an attractive location, especially for corporates
- Parking is close to the stadium
- and has a good distance from residents complaining about noise, traffic etc.

Credit goes to utility for the pic

 

[CarltonSocialClub]

If Visy Park can still hold 22k after the planned re-developments then that seems perfect.

May require a little tweaking, but it will be pocket change compared to building a new stadium or redeveloping something like Junction Oval.

It doesn't have the access like ES or the MCG, but there is a tram which drops you right out the front which takes 10 minutes from Flinders street or the train station is a 5 minute walk. My understanding is that there will also be some underground car parking as part of the new development (probably not much) and people were parking outside the ground for years, and with a 22k capacity the old space should be enough.

With Carlton redeveloping it, it may even be able to house 2 more (definitely 1 more) AFL sides as a training base, and all games with expected crowds of 20k.

 

[AndyD]

It would have to be either Numchucks suggestion or Victoria Park being refurbished for mine. The only real problem with Vic Park was lack of car parking, but a 3-4 storey car park could easily be built next to Vic Park station. You could have bus and trains right on the doorstep. Make it 35k, and use it for games against the interstate clubs, and maybe a a token Collingwood game there.

 

[tess]

It would have to be either Numchucks suggestion or Victoria Park being refurbished for mine. The only real problem with Vic Park was lack of car parking, but a 3-4 storey car park could easily be built next to Vic Park station. You could have bus and trains right on the doorstep. Make it 35k, and use it for games against the interstate clubs, and maybe a a token Collingwood game there.

The problem with Vic Park was and still is the council and the residents.

Olympic Park is planned to be redeveloped into an AFL training venue for Collingwood(if Ed can be believed) and the VAFA although the Olympic Park trust haven't confirmed this. That makes me nervous as we(ed/pert) announced VFL games at Vic Park and even had the VFL fixture games there without discussing the prospect with the Yarra City Council. But if Olympic Park is redeveloped that could easily become a bargaining chip and could also handle a few big drawing VFL games.

 

[walhawk]

Ambit claim.
All this stadium talk is rubbish.
There is no need for a new stadium or any funding for one. The AFl or the clubs are not serious.
The cost of a reasonable 35K stadium would be $250k + land.
The AFL will own Docklands in 16 years.
They could just give each Melbourne club $1 mill each over those 16 years and it would be way cheaper.

 

[grayham]

Ambit claim.
All this stadium talk is rubbish.
There is no need for a new stadium or any funding for one. The AFl or the clubs are not serious.
The cost of a reasonable 35K stadium would be $250k + land.
The AFL will own Docklands in 16 years.
They could just give each Melbourne club $1 mill each over those 16 years and it would be way cheaper.

Totally agree. Its just rubish talk. People are used to the MCG and Docklands standard of stadium. Even going to Princess Park, they would be lucky to pull 10,000. There goes your very reason for leaving the dome.

If they really want to reduce the number of games to put pressure on the MCG/Docklands, why not make 2010 "regional" year. Play a heap of low drawing games in regional areas like Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton, Wagga, Albury, etc. One game per year in these locations will get the locals along, and they can have the ground prepared well in advance. You'd take a hit on crowds, but it would be great for PR.
Most of these places are the equal of Launceston which already hosts footy games.

 

[tandino]

The way I see it.

Victoria Park
Positives - Public Transport, Infrastructure already in place, albeit run down. Decent capacity
Negatives - Council, Parking.

Olympic Park
Positives - Close-ish to everything. Trams, Trains, MCG, Citylink
Negatives - Capacity issues squeezed between the new stadium, the Glasshouse, the Yarra River and Swan Street.

Princes Park
Positives - As it stands, the best available at the moment. At a pinch, could host games next year.
Negatives - Everything that detracted from the place when it was an AFL venue. Would need to give better returns to the neutral clubs than it did in the 90's

E-Gate
Positives - Public Transport, Council willingness.
Negatives - Close to the Dome, High costs of construction on account of complex issues with train lines underneath.

Melbourne Showgrounds
Positives - Existing infrastructure (Rail, Parking)
Negatives - Space

Elsternwick Park
Home of the VAFA

Positives - Existing ground, close to public transport.
Negatives - Existing tenant, parking may be questionable

Junction Oval
See above

Dandenong Showgrounds
Parcel of land in an industrial area just west of Dandenong.

Positives - Next to Eastlink, and near the train station.
Negatives - Existing use as a community resource, parking might be an issue

Eastlink Corridor
There is plenty of land up and down Eastlink especially around Ferntree Gully Road or Wellington Road, and south of the Dandening Bypass right down to the bottom of Eastlink just north of Frankston.

Positives - Obviously, close to Eastlink. Closer to the growth suburbs. Plenty of parking available
Negatives - Public Transport has always been an issue around this area. Possible building restrictions on low land.

Western Port Highway, Lynbrook
A seldom mentioned bit of land in Lynbrook, south of Bayliss Road.

Positives - Plenty of parking, easy access to Cranbourne train line. Easy access to South Gippsland Freeway
Negatives - Have to fight the developers for it. Out in the sticks for most.

Casey Fields
Already established sporting facility in the outer south-east

Positives - Potential train line nearby, Parking etc. Growth suburb. Possible tie-in with future A-League side
Negatives - Out in the sticks, and that's putting it nicely.

From Left Field
Moorabbin, Monash University, Deakin Bundoora, Melbourne Wholesale Fruit Market, Latrobe Uni, Toorak Park, Port Melbourne or other VFL Grounds. Royal Park, Dandenong Police Paddocks, Epping, Altona-Werribee/Ringwood-Lilydale areas or another one you can throw up.