News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[BrainOfMorbius]

Terrible idea.
And I would be surprised if this is what the club has floated.
AsPer M Malice it would decimate membership numbers and it has been stated by the club on numerous occasions that the bottom dollar of the club is one of the big considerations.

I don't think there's an option on the table that wouldn't decimate membership numbers TBH. Speaking as someone who's probably been to more games at Springfield than most, I think everyone concerned will come to regret it if it's expected to host AFL senior games

 

[archangel1979au]

Just said Ekka is the preferred ground on seven news.

Should know in the next few days apparently.

 

[Section 5]

I don't think there's an option on the table that wouldn't decimate membership numbers TBH. Speaking as someone who's probably been to more games at Springfield than most, I think everyone concerned will come to regret it if it's expected to host AFL senior games

Just finished this post and channel news stated the AFL venue during the Gabba rebuild will be announced in a few days.
Ha Ha i should have waited.

Agree with this.
The Club, players and fans in general would prefer something in Brisbane.
Travelling to Springfield at present parking is doable rather than choosing a train.
The fans do both of course depending on where they live.

Fans including me at times park in the closest section of the shopping center being a 5-minute walk.
I think the time limit where i park is 2 hours.
The shopping center probably don't care that much at present with crowds around 3K. Reached 9K once.
The shopping center management will car if AFL games become regular. So, available parking spaces will be less not more.

The ground at BHA is already AFL standard.
The BHA facilities are pretty good for smallish crowds. The viewing is okay if you like a suburban/country feel.
Apart from one 600 seat grandstand and some social club balcony seating you will be sitting in the sun or rain.
I just don't see BHA being upgraded to a standard that you have good seating and cover for 4 years.
Most likely the Club will want a permanent grandstand for future good seating use.
I fear the rest will be cramped temporary seating just to get the numbers they want. Without seeing plans it is hard to know.

If Lions are forced to Carrara at least most membership will have a proper reserved seat in a grandstand, should you want one.
The ground is AFL standard unlike the proposed RNA or QSAC options.
Should demand exceed seating numbers the club should then go longest membership gets priority down to 1-year members.
Anything left over is opened to new members at a later date.
The same formula should be used at any site that's eventually chosen.

I don't think building a 2-tier grandstand at Carrara's Northern end would be any more expensive than other options.
Most likely cheaper but that's a big guess.
A multi-story paid carpark would be a great help, AFL, Cricket, Concerts and other events would also benefit.
Construction should not cause much of an inconvenience and i doubt it affects the attendance numbers for most Suns games.
The Qld Government funding is 50/50 with the federal government as it will now be used for cricket in Olympics 2032.

Or they could just go the cheap 2018 Commonwealth Games temporary grandstand option below.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Just finished this post and channel news stated the AFL venue during the Gabba rebuild will be announced in a few days.
Ha Ha i should have waited.

Agree with this.
The Club, players and fans in general would prefer something in Brisbane.
Travelling to Springfield at present parking is doable rather than choosing a train.
The fans do both of course depending on where they live.

Fans including me at times park in the closest section of the shopping center being a 5-minute walk.
I think the time limit where i park is 2 hours.
The shopping center probably don't care that much at present with crowds around 3K. Reached 9K once.
The shopping center management will car if AFL games become regular. So, available parking spaces will be less not more.

The ground at BHA is already AFL standard.
The BHA facilities are pretty good for smallish crowds. The viewing is okay if you like a suburban/country feel.
Apart from one 600 seat grandstand and some social club balcony seating you will be sitting in the sun or rain.
I just don't see BHA being upgraded to a standard that you have good seating and cover for 4 years.
Most likely the Club will want a permanent grandstand for future good seating use.
I fear the rest will be cramped temporary seating just to get the numbers they want. Without seeing plans it is hard to know.

If Lions are forced to Carrara at least most membership will have a proper reserved seat in a grandstand, should you want one.
The ground is AFL standard unlike the proposed RNA or QSAC options.
Should demand exceed seating numbers the club should then go longest membership gets priority down to 1-year members.
Anything left over is opened to new members at a later date.
The same formula should be used at any site that's eventually chosen.

I don't think building a 2-tier grandstand at Carrara's Northern end would be any more expensive than other options.
Most likely cheaper but that's a big guess.
A multi-story paid carpark would be a great help, AFL, Cricket, Concerts and other events would also benefit.
Construction should not cause much of an inconvenience and i doubt it affects the attendance numbers for most Suns games.
The Qld Government funding is 50/50 with the federal government as it will now be used for cricket in Olympics 2032.

Or they could just go the cheap 2018 Commonwealth Games temporary grandstand option below.

The Club's 1st preference is to play at Springfield. 100%.

 

[M Malice]

The Club's 1st preference is to play at Springfield. 100%.

I have travelled to Michael Voss Oval a couple of times, once for the practice game v the Cats in this years pre season and once for the post Grand Final fan day.

IMO the infrastructure just isn't there to cope with circa 20,000 crowds, it would be absolute mayhem on the roads and getting multiple trains/buses in and out in a reasonable amount of time, particularly post match when everyone is leaving at once.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

The Club's 1st preference is to play at Springfield. 100%.

I’m sure it is. Makes sense financially and operationally. But virtually no one at the club would be leaving the ground at the same time as supporters - it would be a couple of hours after when things have quiet ended down.

Anyone who has attended an event at Boondall ( which is served similarly by road and public transport) would know that if you’re relying on public transport or parking at the venue, it’s not a pleasant experience getting away from the venue. And that’s somewhere that holds a maximum of about 13K.

 

[Dalions]

I’m sure it is. Makes sense financially and operationally. But virtually no one at the club would be leaving the ground at the same time as supporters - it would be a couple of hours after when things have quiet ended down.

Anyone who has attended an event at Boondall ( which is served similarly by road and public transport) would know that if you’re relying on public transport or parking at the venue, it’s not a pleasant experience getting away from the venue. And that’s somewhere that holds a maximum of about 13K.

Atleast once you get to the roads there is more than one way out of Boondal, not at Springfield.

 

[M Malice]

I’m sure it is. Makes sense financially and operationally. But virtually no one at the club would be leaving the ground at the same time as supporters - it would be a couple of hours after when things have quiet ended down.

Anyone who has attended an event at Boondall ( which is served similarly by road and public transport) would know that if you’re relying on public transport or parking at the venue, it’s not a pleasant experience getting away from the venue. And that’s somewhere that holds a maximum of about 13K.

The reason we decided not to go to a Jerry Seinfeld stand up gig next year is because it is on at Boondall... nightmare.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

The Club's 1st preference is to play at Springfield. 100%.

If that's the case, they've changed their minds since a couple of years ago when I spoke with Anthony Allsop about it a few months prior to the opening of MVO. At that time they were going all in on the RNA.

EDIT: My timing's out of whack - it was last year, not 2 years ago. 18 months, tops

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Just said Ekka is the preferred ground on seven news.

Should know in the next few days apparently.

The Club's 1st preference is to play at Springfield. 100%.

If that's the case, they've changed their minds since a couple of years ago when I spoke with Anthony Allsop about it a few months prior to the opening of MVO. At that time they were going all in on the RNA.

If we look at the three options that are most likely, there are pros and cons associated with all of them:

Carrara - 1hr drive from Brisbane, which could affect the players and coaches at the club and could dilute the supporter base in Brisbane CBD therefore decrease member support with parking also not great there. However, it is the most appropriate stadium right now to play in, will allow most members to have live match access (25k capacity) and could grow the brand of the club in SEQ (highly unlikely given the Suns will dominate during that period).

Springfield - 30-40 min drive from Brisbane but players and coaches already trek that route frequently for training / recovery sessions. Train-line does connect to the complex however parking isn’t great for season matches (from reports). Probably most lessen known stadium and more like a training complex out of the three and could difficult for opposition spectators to locate with low capacity (15k with temporary standing). One thing that hasn’t been talked about though is it would help continue growing the brand and sport in the Western Corridor of Brisbane away from NRL.

CBD Showgrounds - Locate in CBD of Brisbane meaning less travel for everyone involved, however there is a lack of parking available and looks hard to navigate out of the complex after matches from pictures. Allows most members to continue going to some matches with membership support and would keep the majority of the CBD members from leaving but does limit the support of other members around QLD (20-25k). However, it isn’t an AFL stadium and would need massive redevelopment done to it urgently before season starts to get it up to standard.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

CBD Showgrounds - Locate in CBD of Brisbane meaning less travel for everyone involved, however there is a lack of parking available and looks hard to navigate out of the complex after matches from pictures.

I really don't think this is much of an issue. The Ekka would attract much more than a Lions crowd and there are no issues at all with that that I'm aware of. It's an excellent park and ride option.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

I really don't think this is much of an issue. The Ekka would attract much more than a Lions crowd and there are no issues at all with that that I'm aware of. It's an excellent park and ride option.

Well if that’s the case, EKKA would be the better option. Only reason I said that is from the pics I saw, it didn’t look like that but happy to be proven wrong by the locals of course.

 

[Section 5]

I’m sure it is. Makes sense financially and operationally. But virtually no one at the club would be leaving the ground at the same time as supporters - it would be a couple of hours after when things have quiet ended down.

Anyone who has attended an event at Boondall ( which is served similarly by road and public transport) would know that if you’re relying on public transport or parking at the venue, it’s not a pleasant experience getting away from the venue. And that’s somewhere that holds a maximum of about 13K.

Boondall also has a huge number of carparks.
For those that have not been to Boondall see image below.
Train station bottom left.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Well if that’s the case, EKKA would be the better option. Only reason I said that is from the pics I saw, it didn’t look like that but happy to be proven wrong by the locals of course.

There's a station INSIDE the showgrounds, which might not be showing up on the pics. It's more than capable of handling a crowd.

EDIT: 400k attended the Ekka over 10 days in 2023 apparently.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Boondall also has a huge number of carparks.
For those that have not been to Boondall see image below.
Train station bottom left.


View attachment 1855212

And it's a nightmare to get out of afterwards. I usually park the other side of the station on Aberdeen Pde. But that's irrelevant to Springfield anyway. I was just making the point that they're roughly analogous in terms of infrastructure and ingress/egress. And that Boondall is shit.

 

[Section 5]

Compare Boondall (nightmare) but has lots of car parks compared to BHA. See image below.

P - Paid parking if lucky
P2 - Park and ride but don't expect full access. Needs a certain number of park spaces for P & R patrons.
P3 - Used at present but future housing/business. I am not sure if it is paid or free.
P4 - Private school with paid parking if they decide to open.

Other parking: - Street, shopping center but you could get a fine or towed away.

Parking within the oval precinct is for game day officials, players, media transmission trucks and staff.

 

[Section 5]

And it's a nightmare to get out of afterwards. I usually park the other side of the station on Aberdeen Pde. But that's irrelevant to Springfield anyway. I was just making the point that they're roughly analogous in terms of infrastructure and ingress/egress. And that Boondall is s**t.

Yes, i agree.
Was just pointing out that Boondall is horrible, but at least has a large number of carparks compared to BHA.

 

[M Malice]

Compare Boondall (nightmare) but has lots of car parks compared to BHA. See image below.

P - Paid parking if lucky
P2 - Park and ride but don't expect full access. Needs a certain number of park spaces for P & R patrons.
P3 - Used at present but future housing/business. I am not sure if it is paid or free.
P4 - Private school with paid parking if they decide to open.

Other parking: - Street, shopping center but you could get a fine or towed away.

Parking within the oval precinct is for game day officials, players, media transition trucks and staff.

View attachment 1855221

Just on another issue... is the 2nd Oval going to be where that carpark is?

Looks like the only spot it could go.

 

[Section 5]

Just on another issue... is the 2nd Oval going to be where that carpark is?

Looks like the only spot it could go.

Yes, top of that "P" carpark.
I have not been past that spot since the AFLW GF so not sure on the progress since then.
Games i have attended since the GF i parked in Springfield shopping center.

 

[Mr Ripper]

The Olympic Games are a shit sandwich for the footy club. The New-Fangled Gabba would want to have a machine that spits out number one draft picks and winning Powerball tickets as a pay-off for it to be worth it.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Yes, top of that "P" carpark.
I have not been past that spot since the AFLW GF so not sure on the progress since then.
Games i have attended since the GF i parked in Springfield shopping center.

It's still a carpark. At the moment if you buy an AFLW ticket and request a car park ticket upgrade, that's where your allocated parking space is. No idea what the timeline is on the second oval. One for Michael Whiting

 

[Section 5]

It's still a carpark. At the moment if you buy an AFLW ticket and request a car park ticket upgrade, that's where your allocated parking space is. No idea what the timeline is on the second oval. One for Michael Whiting

Thanks, i do know the carpark is still in use and has about 230 car spaces. A good revenue raiser for the Club on game days.
It's very important in regard to parking in the area for AFLW games and AFL preseason games.
I just have not been past that area recently to know how much progress has been made on the ground itself.

Where is "spidercam" when we need it?

Without detailed plans for oval 2 it's a bit hard to comment.
However, if they proceed as per the image below that carpark is to be removed.
It will be relocated north. New entrance off Springfield Greenbank Arterial and looks like it may have only half the spaces.
That then becomes a longer walk to attend AFLW games and AFL preseason matches.
Also, less car spaces if BHA get the approval (unlikely) for when the Gabba is out of use.

 

[Warwick]

Springfield would be a terrible option.

This whole process has been a complete shambles. How do we not have a solid plan in place this late into the piece?

It looked like Carrara was the easiest option when the games were announced, and nothing has changed in that space.

 

[briztoon]

Springfield would be a terrible option.

This whole process has been a complete shambles. How do we not have a solid plan in place this late into the piece?

It looked like Carrara was the easiest option when the games were announced, and nothing has changed in that space.

Lack of funds all of a sudden.

 

[SizeMatters]

I'd be surprised if carrara isn't involved more than a bit part. Olympics has and will lock up every major building development contractor in QLD. We already have a skilled labour deficit so upgrading the Ekka grounds or a 20k capacity Springfield stadium just isn't going to happen. We just don't have the construction workers available.

Even if the Qld Olympic committee felt generous to divert resources to the Lions it would cost a bucket load. Olympics are a priority and until that's all settled and on schedule, I'm afraid Lions won't get anything decent. It's just the facts.

Think what the Hawks poster said would be close to on the money imo.