New proposal for Ballarat development.

[The_Wookie]

Source: [The Age] [Heraldsun]

The Victorian opposition is reportedly going to unveil a 30 million dollar redevelopment of Eureka Stadium as a possible location for the Kangaroos and Bulldogs to play at, with the prospect of some matches through Cricket Victoria. Any complete redevelopment into a 15,000 seat facility is expected to cost about 80 million.

The Opposition has pledged 31.5 million if it wins the election.

This includes:

• • $15 million for Eureka Stadium to build a 5000 – 6000 undercover grandstand, new AFL standard lights and a new video scoreboard;
• $9 million for basketball and netball courts at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre;
• $5 million for the Showgrounds upgrade

 

[The Blue Baggers]

this is perfect for the bulldogs ... play the low drawing games out of ballarat

not sure north can sell games to hobart and play games out of ballarat ?

 

[Rob]

$15 million is barely going to build an AFL standard toilet block.

As a comparison, this cost $9 million 4 years ago. It seats under 1000.

 

[Prince Imperial]

I went to the NAB cup game there in 2012 when we played North and a large crowd turned up. The ground is badly located in Ballarat away from the town centre and railway station. There is virtually no existing spectator infrastructure and it was a horrible place to watch a game. It's going to take a lot more than $15m to make it suitable for AFL games in Victoria.

 

[The_Wookie]

I went to the NAB cup game there in 2012 when we played North and a large crowd turned up. The ground is badly located in Ballarat away from the town centre and railway station. There is virtually no existing spectator infrastructure and it was a horrible place to watch a game. It's going to take a lot more than $15m to make it suitable for AFL games in Victoria.

The North v Carlton game didnt look all the flash either this year

 

[finders]

The North v Carlton game didnt look all the flash either this year

More like 50- 80 million to get this hicksville ground up to AFL standard

 

[Ned_Flanders]

this is perfect for the bulldogs ... play the low drawing games out of ballarat

not sure north can sell games to hobart and play games out of ballarat ?

Wasn't the idea when this was originally floated it would be something like 3 in tassie, 3 in Ballarat, and the rest in Melb (forget exact numbers, but the idea was they would play in all three areas)

 

[Rob]

Any reason they don't develop Eastern Oval instead? Appears to be in a much, much better spot.

I'd love to see what sort of 5000 seat grandstand they have in mind too. Especially given probably a third of the $15 million budget is going to be spent on TV standard lights and a video screen.

 

[Goady138]

But Victorian Sports Minister Damien Drum said up to $80 million would need to be spent on the ground to get it up to AFL standard.

“This looks like a speculative stab in the dark that appears to be under-funded for its goal of AFL matches,’’ he said.

More like 50- 80 million to get this hicksville ground up to AFL standard

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/t...blundstone-arena/story-fnj4f7k1-1226878626463

 

[RTTF]

Too cold in winter for night games and there's a perfectly good regional stadium in Geelong.for the doggies/north to experiment with.

 

[Silvagnis]

What a hole. Hated the look of the ground with Carlton playing there in the pre-season. Hope they don't waste other people's money to have one team play in Ballarat. Game attracted 8,000 people.

It really makes you laugh if you consider that people used to bitch about Princes Park due to the reserved seating and the lack of public transport. Try getting to Ballarat if the AFL fixtures Freo, WC or Port there after an expensive upgrade.

 

[Albert Ross]

Any reason they don't develop Eastern Oval instead? Appears to be in a much, much better spot.

It is squeezed into a small block in a residential area, you'd have to buy a lot of land and the neighbour's properties. In contrast Eureka is a big block where the Showgrounds, Nth Ballarat's ground and Lake Wendouree's grounds all join together. Eureka is also on the Midland Highway and anyone driving there can bypass Ballarat completely and is only 2 minutes off the ring road.

The problem is that it is basically a field with a fence around it. You'd have to build a whole stadium from scratch.

 

[Kwality]

What a hole. Hated the look of the ground with Carlton playing there in the pre-season. Hope they don't waste other people's money to have one team play in Ballarat. Game attracted 8,000 people.

It really makes you laugh if you consider that people used to bitch about Princes Park due to the reserved seating and the lack of public transport. Try getting to Ballarat if the AFL fixtures Freo, WC or Port there after an expensive upgrade.

An Eagles supporter would only go there once & its reputation would soon put off travelling fans.

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Ballarat is probably too close to Melbourne. I do like the idea of partial relocation. A few regional arenas can only be good for footy.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Can't see this one happening.

That amount of money to build a regional stadium that will only be used a few times a year, when they've just done Geelong?

Don't think so

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Can't see this one happening.

That amount of money to build a regional stadium that will only be used a few times a year, when they've just done Geelong?

Don't think so

Not to sure ... if they can play games in launceston they could certainly play games in ballarat .... just requires a govt wanting to win a regional seat and it could happen

 

[RUNVS]

I think eventually the Western Bulldogs will have either a partial or full relocation to Ballarat. Perhaps 8 home games at Ballarat, 3 home games in Melbourne not to mention all the away games they would play in Melbourne as well. Western Bulldog fans really would not be losing out.

 

[Kwality]

It certainly will be a reality after some significant staged redevelopment. The overall cost of building an arena that will seat up to 15000 under cover will be around $45 million.

Stage 1 which will be completed by mid 2017 will seat approx 6000, and there will be spectator mounds capable of holding around another 5000.

Stage 1 involves building several new rows of terraced seating around the Northern and North Eastern boundaries with about 2000 seats. These will include the existing pavilion and a new roof. Additionally a new 4000 seat stand will be constructed to the West. Four new light towers and a video scoreboard are to be included.

Stages 2 and 3 will be built by 2025/6 and will add another 8-9000 seats. There's no doubt that the pre-developed ground was inadequate, but the new redevelopment won't be underdone. Ballarat usually gets these things right and has some of the best sports venues in Australia already. Its harness racing centre, aquatic centre, indoor stadiums, and other entertainment venues are second to none.

Pull a VFL crowd.

 

[Kwality]

I don't think that there is any intention at this stage to play any more than 3 home games as the venue is also home to three other League users, including the VFL, BFL and CHFL.

Although in consideration of the significant work that is being done to develop the nearby CE Brown Reserve (Wendouree Oval) to a playing standard comparable to the Eureka Stadium and also the North Ballarat No 2 oval will be developed to a very high standard for training and games. Each venue will be very modern by any standard so it's not out of the realms of possibility that future BFL, VFL, and CHFL games could be shifted from Eureka if the AFL were to consider playing more WB games or even perha[s some St Kilda Games there. After all the doggies aren't the only team affected by small game attendances at Etihad.

Who will be the (opposition) victim clubs FIXtured in Ballarat ? Could a Doggies/Saints game fill the place?

 

[The_Wookie]

Who will be the (opposition) victim clubs FIXtured in Ballarat ? Could a Doggies/Saints game fill the place?

its not going to be a victorian side, id bet a lot of money on it.

 

[Goady138]

T

Who will be the (opposition) victim clubs FIXtured in Ballarat ? Could a Doggies/Saints game fill the place?

The SA clubs.
Ballarat has set up to cater for the SA sides before when they have played in Melbourne finals matches.
Road trip tourists.

 

[Rob]

I think eventually the Western Bulldogs will have either a partial or full relocation to Ballarat. Perhaps 8 home games at Ballarat, 3 home games in Melbourne not to mention all the away games they would play in Melbourne as well. Western Bulldog fans really would not be losing out.

Do you know how big Ballarat is? It's smaller than Launceston.

 

[The_Wookie]

Do you know how big Ballarat is? It's smaller than Launceston.

...less than 2 hours from Melbourne by car or train.

They wont go for 8 games, but I reckon a similar type deal to North, hawthorn and GWS will work for them - 7/8 Melb, 3/4 Ballarat. Im honestly amazed this hasnt been done before. the answer to some victorian clubs issues may well almost literally be in their backyard.

 

[Goady138]

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2474019/abs-boundary-change-hits-launceston-population/

Do you know how big Ballarat is? It's smaller than Launceston.

Launceston was ranked 21st with a population of 86,188 and a five-year growth rate of 2.5 per cent, behind Victorian centres Ballarat (18th, 96,940, 10.3%), Bendigo (19th, 90,280, 8.4%) and Albury-Wodonga in NSW/Victoria on 86,274 with 5.8 per cent growth.

 

[Rob]

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2474019/abs-boundary-change-hits-launceston-population/

Launceston was ranked 21st with a population of 86,188 and a five-year growth rate of 2.5 per cent, behind Victorian centres Ballarat (18th, 96,940, 10.3%), Bendigo (19th, 90,280, 8.4%) and Albury-Wodonga in NSW/Victoria on 86,274 with 5.8 per cent growth.

LOL, first I heard of that.

Still....18th biggest city in the country and someone's suggested putting a team there? Absurd.