Western Bulldogs and their partnership with Ballarat a success

[geoffjennings79]

Question about tomorrow as it’s been a few years since I came to a game in the ‘rat. How is the best way to get to the stadium? Do they still do parking at the golf course and run a bus to the ground? I’ll have my 2 year old with me so need to make it easy with her

Not sure about shuttle buses from the golf course, but if you're there early enough, and with no rain now, Howitt St along the old showgrounds side is a short walk around the corner, also just north of the stadium (same side of Creswick Rd/Midland Hwy) past the social club, there is parking off the road.
I usually park further west along Howitt St (past the Day & Sons mower repair) as you can nab parking quite late, but might be a bit of a walk for little legs - or a parent with toddler on their shoulders.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Looks like MYOB beat me to it , and in more detail.

 

[GetDimmaBack]

The Western

Cool.
Pleased to hear it's not the Eastern

 

[Kermit]

Much appreciated- thanks to you both

 

[King Harold]

Can you just rock up and buy a ticket for standing room ?
I assume membership counts for nought ?

 

[Freshwater]

Can you just rock up and buy a ticket for standing room ?
I assume membership counts for nought ?

Membership doesn’t cover these games unless you have a Ballarat special membership that I don’t know about. I’ve just ‘rocked up’ up there before, if there’s room you’ll get in. I’ve always enjoyed the games in the ‘rat, in some ways more than other games in the year.

 

[King Harold]

Membership doesn’t cover these games unless you have a Ballarat special membership that I don’t know about. I’ve just ‘rocked up’ up there before, if there’s room you’ll get in. I’ve always enjoyed the games in the ‘rat, in some ways more than other games in the year.

Thanks for the info Fresh
I am a fair weather fan and been watching the weather report.
Might now “rock up “

 

[lachy]

I would hope we are going to get significantly more money to play down in Ballarat once the current deal expires at the end of next season.

Had the opportunity for 2 trips down there this season. First stayed a couple of days second train.

Can't see myself or family heading there again, experience really is not that great

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[BallaratBulldog]

crowd was 9,080.

Bit short of adelaide game but to be expected vs GWS.

 

[lachy]

crowd was 9,080.

Bit short of adelaide game but to be expected vs GWS.

Given this game would have drawn around 25,000 mainly Doggies members and supporters at Marvel, hope we really do make a heap from these games as turning away at least 12,000 members from a home game does not make for good business in the medium to long term

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[BallaratBulldog]

Given this game would have drawn around 25,000 mainly Doggies members and supporters at Marvel, hope we really do make a heap from these games as turning away at least 12,000 members from a home game does not make for good business in the medium to long term

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Only one GWS game at Marvel has gone over 20,000. 2017 (30K straight after flag)

 

[Roogal]

crowd was 9,080.

Bit short of adelaide game but to be expected vs GWS.

That was a good figure considering that they normally get in the sixes for Gold Coast games. But easily 90% of the crowd yesterday were Bulldogs supporters.

 

[Roogal]

From yesterday's Ballarat Courier online site:

Western Bulldogs keen to continue Ballarat partnership​

On the day they return to play at Mars Stadium for the final time in 2023, the Western Bulldogs have re-affirmed their long-term commitment to Ballarat. The Bulldogs will run out on their home away from home on Saturday afternoon to face arch rivals the GWS Giants in what looms as a season-defining contest as both chase a finals berth.

But away from the on-field action, the club is ready and willing to start negotiations with the City of Ballarat to extend its current contract far beyond season 2024 when it runs out.

The news of the Bulldogs commitment to the region is being seen as a massive boost for the region, which has been dealt the savage blow of having hosting rights for the Commonwealth Games stripped due to the cost blowouts, and will also likely see the loss of the AusCycling Road Nationals Cycling Championships after 2024. Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains said the club saw itself as the key driver to make sure Ballarat retains elite level sport into the future.

The Western Bulldogs are ready to start negotiations on a new contract to remain in Ballarat after 2024. Picture by Kate Healy.

"We are in the second year of our latest three-year partnership with the City of Ballarat and the Victorian Government, which ends at the end of 2024," Mr Bains said. "It has been a strong and fruitful relationship which we continue to nurture. We are eager to start partnership renewal discussions as soon as we can, to both reinforce our long-term presence in the region beyond 2024 and to make a formal commitment to the Ballarat community to ensure elite level sport remains in Ballarat for the foreseeable future given recent announcements."

The City of Ballarat's component of the current three-year commitments totals $1.375 million, and includes the hosting rights of two AFL and one AFLW game each year, the Sons and Daughters of the West Health Program, the Youth Leadership Program and the Bulldogs Read Program. "We have an existing long-term commitment to the Ballarat region, and we're proud of the way we've deeply engaged with the community over the last eight years," Mr Bains said.

"Our players and staff love coming to Ballarat. As each year passes, the feeling of being at home in Ballarat only grows."

Western Bulldogs fans will flock to Mars Stadium on Saturday to see their side take on the GWS Giants. Despite the loss of the Commonwealth Games in 2026, the state government has committed to an upgrade of Mars Stadium, including adding 5000 new permanent seats to extend the capacity towards 20,000.

City of Ballarat chief executive Evan King said he was delighted that the Bulldogs had shown a commitment to the city.
"The City of Ballarat treasures our relationship with the Western Bulldogs and their commitment to Ballarat has been exceptional," Mr King said. "It is promising to see the Western Bulldogs signal their intent to enter renewal discussions and we look forward to future conversations with both the club and state government about extending the partnership. We also look forward to working with the state government to deliver new additional 5000 permanent seat upgrade at Mars Stadium, which will further enhance the experience when the Western Bulldogs come to town."

 

[TheHawk76]

Yesterday was my first game at Mars. The GWS supporters really got lost in the crowd. At one stage I thought the cheers from the GWS mob were being amplified through the P.A system to increase their presence at the ground. On a side note, I reckon GWS should start calling themselves 'Canberra', they'd be taken more seriously that way.

 

[Freshwater]

Given this game would have drawn around 25,000 mainly Doggies members and supporters at Marvel, hope we really do make a heap from these games as turning away at least 12,000 members from a home game does not make for good business in the medium to long term

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Except no one actually got ‘turned away’ because they were flogging off cheap $15 GA ticket’s yesterday morning. Anyone who wanted to go did. We don’t start making a profit at Marvel until we get over a certain figure. These are the games other clubs sell interstate, even Richmond were doing this a few years back. Hawthorn want to go to Cairns after Tasmania gets their own team. We must think of these games as interstate games that we can actually get to, sure it’s not as easy as Marvel for most, and it’s colder and the viewing isn’t as great. But it has its own unique atmosphere and adventure. I personally love it. And playing outside of the Dome also is important because finals are all played in outdoor venues, not in sterile conditions.

 

[Dogs 13]

Except no one actually got ‘turned away’ because they were flogging off cheap $15 GA ticket’s yesterday morning. Anyone who wanted to go did. We don’t start making a profit at Marvel until we get over a certain figure. These are the games other clubs sell interstate, even Richmond were doing this a few years back. Hawthorn want to go to Cairns after Tasmania gets their own team. We must think of these games as interstate games that we can actually get to, sure it’s not as easy as Marvel for most, and it’s colder and the viewing isn’t as great. But it has its own unique atmosphere and adventure. I personally love it. And playing outside of the Dome also is important because finals are all played in outdoor venues, not in sterile conditions.

$15 tickets because they can’t fill the 3rd rate venue and the vast majority don’t want to go there.

 

[Freshwater]

$15 tickets because they can’t fill the 3rd rate venue and the vast majority don’t want to go there.

I agree people don’t necessarily want to go. But my response was that people were ‘turned away’ which they certainly were not. If you wanted to go you could.

 

[dogwatch]

I feel for the people of Ballarat. First the Commonwealth Games. Now GWS.
What a fortnight.

 

[Libba39]

Went for the first time yesterday. Have to say I enjoyed the experience. A few observations:

The overall vibe was like playing at the western oval. Bit of a drive (ilive south east) and then parking in the side-streets and walking up.

Maybe it was the wind but the atmosphere just seemed to get sucked out of the ground. I was lucky enough to have a seat in the pocket near the players races. There was a good crowd in, but it was almost like the people on the outer wing were gagged.

Food options for the game were pretty average and pretty limited. Surely the club could arrange for a couple of Shane Dalia's trucks to make the journey? The would make a mint.

Anyway overall I found it enjoyable and will go again when the opportunity presents.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

$15 tickets because they can’t fill the 3rd rate venue and the vast majority don’t want to go there.

We do the same thing at Marvel. Usually on Tuesday or Wednesday. But still don’t profit on some of these games.
Our crowds and membership is improving but a reality check is needed by some on how many turns up against these type of teams.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Went for the first time yesterday. Have to say I enjoyed the experience. A few observations:

The overall vibe was like playing at the western oval. Bit of a drive (ilive south east) and then parking in the side-streets and walking up.

Maybe it was the wind but the atmosphere just seemed to get sucked out of the ground. I was lucky enough to have a seat in the pocket near the players races. There was a good crowd in, but it was almost like the people on the outer wing were gagged.

Food options for the game were pretty average and pretty limited. Surely the club could arrange for a couple of Shane Dalia's trucks to make the journey? The would make a mint.

Anyway overall I found it enjoyable and will go again when the opportunity presents.

As someone who has called the Greater Ballarat area home for the last 10 or so years, and was born in Footscray and spent nearly 50 years in the inner north-west of Melb, I was rapt when the club followed me to Ballarat.

But I agree, the wind is the major factor that counts against these games. Rain has not been an issue for most of the games, and cold is unavoidable, but the lack of protection from infrastructure even once any additional seating eventuates will always detract from the game as a spectacle.

I know WO almost always had a decent breeze (wind, gale!) to contend with, but the narrower ground negated the impact somewhat, plus its orientation meant it was often straight up and down the ground. Mars/Eureka being limited by the ability to orientate it too much creates some awkward conditions.

Maybe it was the result yesterday, and partly my objection to being stung for reserved seats when I already pay a significant amount for our membership and seats at Marvel, but I'm not sure I'll be attending too many future Ballarat games, even though we live within half an hour of the ground.

 

[lachy]

I agree people don’t necessarily want to go. But my response was that people were ‘turned away’ which they certainly were not. If you wanted to go you could.

No where was it said people were turned away. At least 12,000 members didn't even bother and even if they did the majority still wouldn't have got in.

This is a very poor initiative for the majority of supporters and members and is at best marginally better than selling a couple of games interstate where at least you can make a holiday of it

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[lachy]

It is interesting hearing the pollies speak in Ballarat. It is clear this is purely a State Government initiative, I am sure it is part of a regional strategy but also one in a seat that could change hands.

The club invests a lot in Ballarat for the dollars it gets paid, I am not sure if any Medium to Long Term benefits other than the cash that could be tightened given the government's cash position. Will follow the 'negotiations ' for an extension to the current agreement with interest

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[BallaratBulldog]

If we could play at developed WO for these games, that would obviously be better as our proper home. But there is so much external factors that will stop that.

 

[Mr. Walker]

The Ballarat Courier article above says that the City of Ballarats continuation to the 3 year deal is $1.375 million. That is around $450k per annum to us if it is all cash. Plus the state government contributes something. Assuming it’s the same that means $900,000 per annum less our costs. Does anyone know what we actually get?