The inevitable problem with AFL on the Gold Coast...

[Matchu]

The AFL requires finals matches to be played in a stadium with a minimum capacity of 35,000. Carrara Stadium currently fits 25,000 with the plan to be upgraded to 40,000 (TEMPORARILY) in 2017. It's not hard to imagine the Suns winning the rights to host a finals match between now and 2017 so the question is, what can the Gold Coast do to prevent this problem? Of course, the first Gold Coast finals match will be played at the Gabba to screw over the fans.

Will there be enough outrage for the QLD government to bring forward plans to upgrade Carrara and make them permanent upgrades? The Gold Coast Titans faced a similar problem when they first hosted a finals match and played in Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. From that game onward the Titans hosted finals match at Robina. This would be nice but I don't see the AFL budging on their 35,000 minimum rule. Thoughts?

 

[Puntroad]

Comm games upgrade? What will that bump the capacity up to?

I should have read the first line.

 

[Matchu]

Comm games upgrade? What will that bump the capacity up to?

I should have read the first line.

It will be upgraded to 40,000 seats with the upgrade expected to be completed in 2017. It only holds 25,000 right now and I can't see the AFL allowing a 25k stadium to host a finals game when a 42k stadium is an hour away.

 

[Thermo]

Would be a damn shame if we did get a home final and had to play at the Gabba. I wasn't aware of the 35k rule, but doesn't this mean whenever Geelong have won a home final they've had to also play elsewhere like MCG or Etihad (not skilled)? I can't recall.

 

[Matchu]

Would be a damn shame if we did get a home final and had to play at the Gabba. I wasn't aware of the 35k rule, but doesn't this mean whenever Geelong have won a home final they've had to also play elsewhere like MCG or Etihad (not skilled)? I can't recall.

Correct.

Geelong and Kardinia Park

Under the current contract, Geelong is not permitted to host a finals match at Kardinia Park; however, as the ground has since been redeveloped, Geelong have asked for a review of this clause, stating that they wish to play there if they are to play a home final against the Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney or Port Adelaide (the lowest drawing teams in the competition).
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL_finals_system

The most important thing really is ensuring that the upgrade of Carrara for the Commonwealth Games is permanent so this isn't a problem in the future.

 

[SUNS]

Part of the 20ONE3 plug is so the in 2015 if/when the Suns reach their goal of 20k members they can approach the powers that be and ask to make the Comm Games extension permanent.

 

[FavoriteSun]

This problem is far off. Look how quickly they rehabbed the old Carrara to make it ready for AFL competition. Also I think that this is a problem to worry about the year after we finish just outside the 8.

 

[Dammit]

This problem is far off. Look how quickly they rehabbed the old Carrara to make it ready for AFL competition. Also I think that this is a problem to worry about the year after we finish just outside the 8.

There will be no such year. Second last - flag - flag flag. That's how we do.

 

[RodneyMaynard]

I'm sure the AFL would love to budge on the issue (25k fans at Metricon would be a better advertisment for the game than 27k at the Gabba IMO), but they've forced Geelong to play at the MCG for years now, and there's likely no wiggle room on th eissu as a result.

Also, don't the AFL have an agreement with the QLD Govt. that finals have to be played at the GABBA?

 

[Lord_Flashheart]

...so if we finish second and Brisbane finishes 3rd??

Yeah, that would suck

 

[Iva Bigun]

The Club is NOT in favour of a PERMANENT increase in capacity from the current 25,000. This is first hand information, the reasoning is the increased maintenance and cleaning cost involved in a bigger stadium. as Matchu stated the changes to be temporary.

There is hope that the Comm Games will deliver a new admin and indoor training facility, however with the Blaze now defunct this too is in danger off not happening. It is annoying as the Giants have been gifted a state of the art facility at Skoda stadium.

 

[Dammit]

Iva Bigun do you know if that means that the club don't plan on playing finals at home?

 

[Iva Bigun]

Iva Bigun do you know if that means that the club don't plan on playing finals at home?

I didn't ask that question directly, so can only speculate but what I can say is that the Club thinks it cannot support the cost increases of a larger stadium. While the state government owns the stadium the Suns have the operational rights which is a boon for us if we can get a second tenant (big bash) or 3-4 concerts a year, but if not the maintenance costs are only going to increase draining our limited revenue so the increase in capacity would only widen the gap.

Personally if the above wasn't an issue I would love to see the scoreboard end built in and a admin / training facility built in under it, the admin staff and players are currently dealing with some of the worst facilities in the league.

 

[Dammit]

Thanks mate. Good to see that the men in charge are making some shrewd financial decisions early and are not just splurging.

This finals issue really is a worry. I honestly think the AFL will have to make a special exemption for us. There doesn't seem to be a viable solution other than that?

 

[Silent Alarm]

If you guys average, say, only 14k but manage to get a home final, I'd imagine they'd bend the rules so you could play at Metricon. If it were against Collingwood or Brisbane, you'd probably go to the Gabba. But this is all speculation.

 

[Iva Bigun]

If you guys average, say, only 14k but manage to get a home final, I'd imagine they'd bend the rules so you could play at Metricon. If it were against Collingwood or Brisbane, you'd probably go to the Gabba. But this is all speculation.

Well in light of the resent AFL decisions ANYTHING is possible

 

[SC_GC]

The Club is NOT in favour of a PERMANENT increase in capacity from the current 25,000.

I'm certainly glad that is the case as not only would 15, 000 people in a 40, 000 stadium look terrible but the proposed design would have massively detracted from what is a great looking stadium.

 

[Matchu]

I'm certainly glad that is the case as not only would 15, 000 people in a 40, 000 stadium look terrible but the proposed design would have massively detracted from what is a great looking stadium.
View attachment 12134

After taking a closer look at that picture, is anyone else convinced that a stadium fill in of 10k seats would be possible with the current structure? I am just looking at the 15k stand that will be added and thinking if one third of that was removed I'm sure it could fit in the open space. I also think video screens would be doable with that structure but they would obviously have to be smaller than the current video screen. That way the stadium is big enough to host an AFL finals match while still looking great. Problems solved?