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Best possible outcome is we play all 11 home games at a redeveloped RNA Stadium.

Worst possible outcome is we play 7-8 home games at Metricon and sell the leftover home games to interstate or regional Qld venues.

No matter what happens I will not be giving up my Lions membership.
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Our flag window is open as wide as possible and the 2024-25 seasons before the Gabba demolition is definitely the sweet spot for us.
Not my best possible outcome but if its at RNA so be it.

Agree that playing at Heritage would be my least preferred.
I wont be giving up my Lions membership either. ;):brisbane:Its times like this that the club needs it's loyal members to help and understand this is not their doing in any way. The club will be leaning heavily on the state govt and the afl for assistance while we are homeless.

Agree that our flag window is wide open right now but think it should go into 2026/27 with the list we have right now along with who is coming on board into the future.

I also believe that the club will try to get our blockbuster games (35K-40K expected crowds) played in Melbourne and will also request these to be played at the MCG rather than Marvel. Not sure how they identify those games and how nice the AFL will be in playing ball.
 
Not my best possible outcome but if its at RNA so be it.

Agree that playing at Heritage would be my least preferred.
I wont be giving up my Lions membership either. ;):brisbane:Its times like this that the club needs it's loyal members to help and understand this is not their doing in any way. The club will be leaning heavily on the state govt and the afl for assistance while we are homeless.

Agree that our flag window is wide open right now but think it should go into 2026/27 with the list we have right now along with who is coming on board into the future.

I also believe that the club will try to get our blockbuster games (35K-40K expected crowds) played in Melbourne and will also request these to be played at the MCG rather than Marvel. Not sure how they identify those games and how nice the AFL will be in playing ball.
Interested to know what is your personal best possible outcome ML?
 

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Providing infrastructure is invested in BHA to get 20,000 fans to the game & home again without kaos, I would prefer Springfield. It definitely helps the club financially.
That's a pretty big commitment if it can be done. And a pretty big "if".
 
I remember when Mighty Lions was very much anti Springfield.

Appears to very much toe the club line these days.
If you think about it rather than find a way to have a shot at me, I was against moving out to Springfield...and still wish it was not so far outside of Brisbane BUT, its there now so I accepted that rather than be a salty complaining individual.
Now, looking at a very different situation than before re: location of the facility, BHA is best for the club to call home while the Gabba rebuild is happening and I will always want what's best for the club I support...don't you?
 
Best result even at the RNA is probably 9-10 games because there would probably be a 4 week hiatus during the ekka period every year.
If they push back Ekka two weeks it would not affect that H & A season, but then finals would need to be elsewhere. For GWS, they are off Showgrounds for eight matches.

Also, it you are forced to play at Metricon and/or a small capacity Springfield, there is no way you would want to play less than 11 home games in QLD.
 
I remember when Mighty Lions was very much anti Springfield.

Appears to very much toe the club line these days.

Briztoon I know you're nervous with the draft about to begin, but no need to resort to this my good sir.
 
New Gabba will be 30 years more advanced than Suncorp so the Gabba would bypass it as the cities premier stadium all things considered. Andrew Dillon was lobbying for an upgrade to Springfield in October, I agree would be huge for the club if it gets over, I'm just not that optimistic myself.


Dillons comments about leaving a legacy for AFL Queensland and hyping the numbers/growth of the western corridor seem to suggest that AFL would prefer a developed Michael Voss Arena as the preferred option (reading between the lines). RNA Showgrounds 25k capacity vs 27k Carrara vs 40k redeveloped QSAC vs 20k at Michael Voss Arena. Whichever option you pick is going to mean membership numbers will be constrained and certain big games (Pies, Blues, Tigers) etc will be capacity constrained. From an asset point of view if the AFL can get Olympic money to up the capacity of Michael Voss Arena, it leaves the Lions in a stronger position long term with a much stronger asset that they can leaverage for more money/more events etc. If its RNA thats redeveloped then all that money flows to the agricultural society.

Edit: imagening the AFL in 2035, I would imagine a 20-25k Michael Voss Arena would be very useful. The Lions could face most big teams at the 50-55k Gabba and then transition to Michael Voss Arena for say a GWS/Tasmania match. Having a 20k home stadium for the AFLW team would completely future proof them for the next 20 odd years easily
 
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Dillons comments about leaving a legacy for AFL Queensland and hyping the numbers/growth of the western corridor seem to suggest that AFL would prefer a developed Michael Voss Arena as the preferred option (reading between the lines). RNA Showgrounds 25k capacity vs 27k Carrara vs 40k redeveloped QSAC vs 20k at Michael Voss Arena. Whichever option you pick is going to mean membership numbers will be constrained and certain big games (Pies, Blues, Tigers) etc will be capacity constrained. From an asset point of view if the AFL can get Olympic money to up the capacity of Michael Voss Arena, it leaves the Lions in a stronger position long term with a much stronger asset that they can leaverage for more money/more events etc. If its RNA thats redeveloped then all that money flows to the agricultural society.

Edit: imagening the AFL in 2035, I would imagine a 20-25k Michael Voss Arena would be very useful. The Lions could face most big teams at the 50-55k Gabba and then transition to Michael Voss Arena for say a GWS/Tasmania match. Having a 20k home stadium for the AFLW team would completely future proof them for the next 20 odd years easily
Yeah I'm not a fan of RNA getting the go ahead, and I'm sure the players won't want to be rolling around in cow dung come September either.
 
Dillons comments about leaving a legacy for AFL Queensland and hyping the numbers/growth of the western corridor seem to suggest that AFL would prefer a developed Michael Voss Arena as the preferred option (reading between the lines). RNA Showgrounds 25k capacity vs 27k Carrara vs 40k redeveloped QSAC vs 20k at Michael Voss Arena. Whichever option you pick is going to mean membership numbers will be constrained and certain big games (Pies, Blues, Tigers) etc will be capacity constrained. From an asset point of view if the AFL can get Olympic money to up the capacity of Michael Voss Arena, it leaves the Lions in a stronger position long term with a much stronger asset that they can leaverage for more money/more events etc. If its RNA thats redeveloped then all that money flows to the agricultural society.

Edit: imagening the AFL in 2035, I would imagine a 20-25k Michael Voss Arena would be very useful. The Lions could face most big teams at the 50-55k Gabba and then transition to Michael Voss Arena for say a GWS/Tasmania match. Having a 20k home stadium for the AFLW team would completely future proof them for the next 20 odd years easily
That still leaves Cricket with nowhere to play. If you could get the second training oval built by 2026, would you guys be happy for cricket to play at MVO over Dec/Jan?
 
That still leaves Cricket with nowhere to play. If you could get the second training oval built by 2026, would you guys be happy for cricket to play at MVO over Dec/Jan?
Nah. They get their tentacles in and they figure they own the joint.
 

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That still leaves Cricket with nowhere to play. If you could get the second training oval built by 2026, would you guys be happy for cricket to play at MVO over Dec/Jan?
A 20k stadium would be great for bblw matches. You could get the Bulls etc to paly there instead of using a 50k gabba. I dont think the Lions would be keen to get cricket teams intp their grounds and end up in the situation with a pitch in the middle of the field and timing clashes between afl training and cricket. I think cricket itself would be keen on AB field being developed into its own boutique stadium ao they control the asset.

From the government point of view they may want qsac upgraded to suit both cricket and afl whilst they maintain control of their asset which needs redevelopment anyway. The agricultural society would want the government shelling out to upgrade rna show grounds.

From a political point of view, inner city nimby types already oppose a lot of the olympics even though they are the ones to gain the most in terms of land value from all the upgrades. Just look at all the Gabba folk whinging about the upgrades to that area. I do wonder if this makes MVO at Springfield a more attractive option for the pollies. If they build out MVO, they can stand outside Springfield with their hard hats on and claim how they are looking after us folk on the fringes etc in Labour heartland, away from nomby green or teal inner city folk.
 
Whatever is most cost effective and better financially for the club should get the nod. I hope we have a system like the English premier league where away fans tickets are capped eg: 500. That will help solve the issue of bigger clubs chewing up our ticket allocation and gives priority to our members during times of reduced capacity. If away supporters end up buying a lions membership to try get access to a game then great.

The new Gabba we end up with better be the best stadium in Australia hands down. Not a generic sterile concrete jungle like Marvel.

I’m also in favour of playing a home game in Melbourne. If we play it against the swans as a heritage round type of thing then we would get minimum 30k.
 
The new Gabba we end up with better be the best stadium in Australia hands down. Not a generic sterile concrete jungle like Marvel.
If it's not the best, it'll be right at the top. Not worried.

Off-topic but Melbourne's ground infrastructure is starting to really lag behind. WA/SA/QLD will all have better stadiums and NSW is not far behind Melbourne with the SCG/Accor.

Marvel hasn't been changed in 23 years and the MCG is starting to feel really dated in the modern world. Especially when you look at some of the modern stadiums built in the US/UK.
 
If it's not the best, it'll be right at the top. Not worried.

Off-topic but Melbourne's ground infrastructure is starting to really lag behind. WA/SA/QLD will all have better stadiums and NSW is not far behind Melbourne with the SCG/Accor.

Marvel hasn't been changed in 23 years and the MCG is starting to feel really dated in the modern world. Especially when you look at some of the modern stadiums built in the US/UK.
Not degrading any of those stadiums built outside Australia but for me the MCG holds more history, prestige, atmosphere and lifelong memories than any stadium i have been to. (including overseas) On top of that, the way Melbourne can bring 100,00 people in and out of that place for an event so quickly is amazing. (Marvel is also great to get in and out of.)
The new Gabba should be state of the art in all the above except stadium capacity...cant wait to walk in for a Lions game.
 
If it's not the best, it'll be right at the top. Not worried.

Off-topic but Melbourne's ground infrastructure is starting to really lag behind. WA/SA/QLD will all have better stadiums and NSW is not far behind Melbourne with the SCG/Accor.

Marvel hasn't been changed in 23 years and the MCG is starting to feel really dated in the modern world. Especially when you look at some of the modern stadiums built in the US/UK.
Nah. MCG and Marvel (in the middle of a makeover) are on a par (at least) with any stadium in Australia besides Optus and probably Allianz (have not been there yet). AO‘s amenities are nothing special, but they have been able to retain some history, and, due to its smallish capacity, the atmosphere is terrific. Parramatta is a cheap build (similar to Metricon and Syd Showgrounds) and SCG and Allianz are a fair way behind. The new Gabba (and Hobart) will be miles ahead of anything though come 2029 - Optus will be 14 years old by then. However, the Warne stand will be rebuilt soon after that though (most likely between 2029 & 2033 Ashes), returning the MCG to the top bracket.

Also, it must be remembered how much more expensive it is to build a cricket/AFL stadium compared to rugby/soccer which has a playing field half the size. The MCG is three times the area of a gridiron field which make things like a roof, hanging scoreboards, etc very difficult.
 

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MCG is a bit overrated for what it is. Some sections are definitely showing their age and it's not at the same level (in terms of viewing experience) to other stadiums. It's definitely on par with most though, if only because most Australian stadiums were built or renovated around the same period. If it wasn't for the history, it wouldn't be on quite the same pedestal.
 
MCG is a bit overrated for what it is. Some sections are definitely showing their age and it's not at the same level (in terms of viewing experience) to other stadiums. It's definitely on par with most though, if only because most Australian stadiums were built or renovated around the same period. If it wasn't for the history, it wouldn't be on quite the same pedestal.
Disagree. I have been to many stadiums outside Australia (mostly in USA) and none of them give us what the MCG does in the way of a good vieweing seat anywhere in the stadium and allows you to get in & out without the feeling of being herded like sheep. The history its created is because of what the actual staduim is and the fans who go there because of what it offers.
I used to go to the MCG 10-12 times a year for a long time but only go there once or twice a year now but, everytime I go to the MCG it's a very enjoyable (& sometimes cold as a witch's tit. 🥶) and heart warming privilige. Each to their own but...i guess we all appreciate different things in life.
 
Disagree. I have been to many stadiums outside Australia (mostly in USA) and none of them give us what the MCG does in the way of a good vieweing seat anywhere in the stadium
I definitely didn't feel like I had a good viewing seat either time I sat on the bottom level, nor the time I was up the top of the Great Southern Stand (well, I could view but the atmosphere was dead). The time I sat on a middle tier it was fantastic, but other stadiums have better viewing from most seats because of steeper lower stands and more compressed upper levels (though MCG gets a concession here because of its capacity).

allows you to get in & out without the feeling of being herded like sheep.
It does handle crowds very well.
 
MCG is a bit overrated for what it is. Some sections are definitely showing their age and it's not at the same level (in terms of viewing experience) to other stadiums. It's definitely on par with most though, if only because most Australian stadiums were built or renovated around the same period. If it wasn't for the history, it wouldn't be on quite the same pedestal.
Below link has some history and some images of the Grandstands built over the years


From this

1700786860379.png
To this

1700787386716.png
 
I definitely didn't feel like I had a good viewing seat either time I sat on the bottom level, nor the time I was up the top of the Great Southern Stand (well, I could view but the atmosphere was dead). The time I sat on a middle tier it was fantastic, but other stadiums have better viewing from most seats because of steeper lower stands and more compressed upper levels (though MCG gets a concession here because of its capacity).


It does handle crowds very well.
I have only ever been to the MCG once and unfortunately had a seat only 3 rows back on the ground level and what I will say is that I enjoyed the viewing experience much better than being that low at the Gabba.
I think the MCG is actually quite flat so you could atleast see the play when the ball was on the ground on the opposite side of the field.
Something which is horrible viewing at the Gabba due to the 1-1.5m hump in the middle of the ground.
Which is one thing that I really hope they fix at the new Stadium, a flat surface and the first seats being up off ground level like at Optus.
 

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