Western Bulldogs and their partnership with Ballarat a success

[BulldogJake]

Ballarat is well on the way to having a fantastic new sports venue to allow the city and region to watch AFL and VFL footy, cricket and possibly other events. The big draw card being the link to the Western Bulldogs and their first regional AFL game in 2017. MRL media are bringing a new series of videos following the progress of the Eureka Stadium Construction.

Share this with your friends in and around Ballarat as there will be some interesting information to come in these videos:

I thought 15k would of been minimum capacity. Bit disappointed it's only 11k with 5k seats... if we're top 8 material by the time we play there next season (which we should be) will be a lot of people locked out.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Time will tell. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Who honeatly says that the Bulldogs will have the same degree of success next season? Remember that there are 15 other clubs out there working as hard to ensure that they won't. The Bulldogs wanted a 15,000 seater in order to make money and not lose it ... nothing else. There's no guarantees that Eureka will be built beyond Stage 1 or 2 either. If it turns out to be a spectacular flop then the government won't shell out more money to develop the 2nd or 3rd stages.

The Liberals have been nothing but total nay-sayers about the whole Eureka Stadium concept from Day 1. When the LNP were elected in 2010 they immediately killed Premier Brumby's $70 million plan to build a 20,000 seat ground for North Melbourne which would have seen North Melbourne playing AFL games in Ballarat by 2014. The Local Ballarat Liberal politicians and councillors have done nothing but trash and talk down the project and refuse to attend or support any media events, stadium promotions and so on to this day. If the LNP are elected in 2018 then it's possible that they may not fund any further development.

At the 2014 State election, the best that the LNP's Mr Napthine could promise toward Eureka Stadium’s future development was $1.5 million to fund installation of 1000 lux lighting (for TV broadcasts) and a video scoreboard and that was it. They didn't promise enhanced spectator facilities or any grandstands, so one wonders what they thought would be achieved by installing TV standard lighting and a video scoreboard on a ground which at the time had a capacity of 6000 (400 seated and 5600 standing)? The LNP's official line then and now is that AFL games in Ballarat are not supported by the AFL and are not viable.

All of that said, if Eureka Stadium proves to be a run away success and generates good revenue into the Ballarat economy and good profits for the Western Bulldogs, and if the LNP are elected at the 2018 State Election, I do wonder how the the LNP will save face and respond to public demand to further upgrade the stadium? How are they going to pretend that they have been strong supporters of it all the long?

But that's politics, what politicians and parties can say one day, can have absolutely no currency the next.

You work for Ballarat Council right?

 

[Pugz89]

Drove past it a couple weeks ago. Getting excitedddd! I just better get a ticket.

 

[DognBones]

I'm very much open-minded about the Ballarat venture but its relative success as suggested by this thread's title will not be endorsed until we the members are satisfied with the experience of attending games there.

 

[maddog37]

I reckon a fair few local neutral footy lovers will be keen to attend games too.

 

[compact72]

Bulldogs AFLW Team Training in Ballarat this Weekend

The Western Bulldogs women’s team will hold an open training session in Ballarat this weekend, as they commence their first week of pre-season.

The team will spend the weekend in Ballarat for a training camp, as they become acquainted with their new teammates.

They will undertake various team-building and group activities, as well as hosting an open training session on Saturday 26 November.

Training will commence at 2 pm at Eureka Stadium, with players available to sign autographs following the session.

Love your work, thanks heaps

 

[Pugz89]

Geez ... it'll be one of the hardest games to get a ticket to. It might possibly "be harder to get into than Marcia Brady" ☺☺☺

I imagine that it will trouble AFL heads in how to cater on the day. I can visualise almost a lottery to get to see the game, but Ballarat may well lay on a party outside the ground. This will be interesting as there is no doubt that any game played there is going to be a total sell out. Legally the first stage is designed for around 11,000 but the ground will have seating and standing capacity for around 13,000. In all fairness you cannot cheat the 11,000 odd people who pre-book so the council will likely put on other festive distractions to accommodate those who want to be there just to be part of the first game event. I don't think that anybody will leave Ballarat disappointed.

Maybe they should just make it social club members only allowed since that is capped at 10k. We will let 1,000 Port fans in coz we are nice.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Asking existing Ballarat members (i.e. myself and kids) to fork out an extra $75 per adult as a one-off cost to attend this game should do wonders... for keeping existing Ballarat members away from the game. Even kids have to pay $66.

Atm, I have a full social club membership with a reserved seat - as do my kids. Attending a game in Melb is almost a whole day event for us, but we do it. I can get to Eureka in 20mins, but looks like I won't need to next year.

Sorry, but this, on the surface, appears to be a blatant money-grab.

This is the text of the link I received:

BALLARAT GAME ADD-ON
The Western Bulldogs will host Port Adelaide in Round 22, with the Club's plans to play for premiership points in Ballarat now a reality. Get first access to reserved seats in what is anticipated to be a sell out fixture.

To be eligible member must hold 5-game membership or higher and live in Ballarat region^

BENEFITS INCLUDE
1 x reserved seat at Eureka Stadium

Special Ballarat membership Card*

Ballarat fulfilment item**



BALLARAT GAME ADD-ON PER YEAR PER MONTH*
ADULT $75 $7.50 BUY NOW
JUNIOR $66 $6.60 BUY NOW
CONCESSION $36 $3.60 BUY NOW
FAMILY $210 $21 BUY NOW


<BACK TO PACKAGES
*Based on a 10 month plan

*Membership card must be used to gain access to fixture at Eureka stadium, and will delivered closer to the fixture date.

**Ballarat fulfilment item will be available for collection on match day during the Round 22 fixture.

Adult $75


Not happy Gordo...

 

[Substance]

$75 for one game at a stadium that's an hour away by train... and I thought my 17 game membership was going to get me in...

I'm going to think on this for a few days, because maybe there's something I'm missing.

 

[The Slitherin' Snake]

Asking existing Ballarat members (i.e. myself and kids) to fork out an extra $75 per adult as a one-off cost to attend this game should do wonders... for keeping existing Ballarat members away from the game. Even kids have to pay $66.

Atm, I have a full social club membership with a reserved seat - as do my kids. Attending a game in Melb is almost a whole day event for us, but we do it. I can get to Eureka in 20mins, but looks like I won't need to next year.

Sorry, but this, on the surface, appears to be a blatant money-grab.

This is the text of the link I received:

BALLARAT GAME ADD-ON
The Western Bulldogs will host Port Adelaide in Round 22, with the Club's plans to play for premiership points in Ballarat now a reality. Get first access to reserved seats in what is anticipated to be a sell out fixture.

To be eligible member must hold 5-game membership or higher and live in Ballarat region^

BENEFITS INCLUDE
1 x reserved seat at Eureka Stadium

Special Ballarat membership Card*

Ballarat fulfilment item**



BALLARAT GAME ADD-ON PER YEAR PER MONTH*
ADULT $75 $7.50 BUY NOW
JUNIOR $66 $6.60 BUY NOW
CONCESSION $36 $3.60 BUY NOW
FAMILY $210 $21 BUY NOW


<BACK TO PACKAGES
*Based on a 10 month plan

*Membership card must be used to gain access to fixture at Eureka stadium, and will delivered closer to the fixture date.

**Ballarat fulfilment item will be available for collection on match day during the Round 22 fixture.

Adult $75


Not happy Gordo...

That is a joke

 

[Dog Rising]

You'd think anyone that lived in Ballarat with a reserved seat at Etihad would just be able to go. That wouldn't be that hard to arrange. Making them buy a Ballarat Membership also is just wrong.
It's much closer than Etihad for us, but I won't be selling the farm to go.

 

[maddog37]

Another Ballarat resident here. Was super excited about this but now I desperately hope I have misread something.

No way I am paying for a family full social club gold membership and then paying more to be a Ballarat bulldog.

You can shove that right up your clacker.

 

[compact72]

Was looking forward to this game, not anymore

 

[LondonBulldog]

Unfortunately this confirms all my concerns. Terrible deal for true Bulldogs Fans in Ballarat or anywhere for that matter.

I guess the club are aiming at getting some "theater" goer supporter for the game who live in the region in the hope they become full time members.

Was very suss of the deal when I had to pay my membership with gold reserve seat at Etihad for a higher price than last year with 1 less game. When I call the club they would not tell me anything about the ballarat deal and could not even understand my point!

Please Dogs treat your supporter with respect and not like fools.

If Ballarat is our home game then treat it as such. Not like its a final!!! Plenty of ways they could have done this better.

Normal price, priority to Ballarat and Ballarat region first, then social, reserve seat etc etc.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

I fully understand the qualms here but you can't ignore the fact that:

There's a limited number of seats at Eureka
It's an opportunity to gain revenue for the club.

Whilst clearer communication and possibly a cheaper or more scaled cost to go to Ballarat, all of you are bonkers for thinking that a standard membership could get you in - our membership is likely to be two and a half times the capacity of Eureka, so there was clearly going to have to be some sort of reservation or one-off membership aspect involved.

 

[maddog37]

I fully understand the qualms here but you can't ignore the fact that:

There's a limited number of seats at Eureka
It's an opportunity to gain revenue for the club.

Whilst clearer communication and possibly a cheaper or more scaled cost to go to Ballarat, all of you are bonkers for thinking that a standard membership could get you in - our membership is likely to be two and a half times the capacity of Eureka, so there was clearly going to have to be some sort of reservation or one-off membership aspect involved.

Would you classify social club gold reserved seat a standard membership?

 

[Substance]

I fully understand the qualms here but you can't ignore the fact that:

There's a limited number of seats at Eureka
It's an opportunity to gain revenue for the club.

Whilst clearer communication and possibly a cheaper or more scaled cost to go to Ballarat, all of you are bonkers for thinking that a standard membership could get you in - our membership is likely to be two and a half times the capacity of Eureka, so there was clearly going to have to be some sort of reservation or one-off membership aspect involved.

Yeah I've thought about it now and it ain't so bad. As long as a membership still gets you standing room? Surely we don't have to reserve or pay extra for that.

 

[Dog Rising]

I fully understand the qualms here but you can't ignore the fact that:

There's a limited number of seats at Eureka
It's an opportunity to gain revenue for the club.

Whilst clearer communication and possibly a cheaper or more scaled cost to go to Ballarat, all of you are bonkers for thinking that a standard membership could get you in - our membership is likely to be two and a half times the capacity of Eureka, so there was clearly going to have to be some sort of reservation or one-off membership aspect involved.

Surely if you hold reserved seats, have a 3350 or region postcode, you should be in some sort of priority group. Similar to the game in Cairns where people with a Long Distance / Qld membership can access tickets pre-sale.
Respect those that travel 5 hours return trip(we are 1.5 hrs west of Ballarat) to home games each week...don't ask them to pay more.

 

[bobby2]

I'm not from the area, but I agree that members who live close to Ballarat should be given some sort of preference. If we want to expand our membership and support in the area, we need to make it enticing for people.

 

[Pugz89]

I drive past Ballarat every week when I head down for games in Melbourne. I look at it as a local game. Not sure if I'll bother upgrading given I want to go with two others who aren't members.

 

[Spiritof82]

I'm not from the area, but I agree that members who live close to Ballarat should be given some sort of preference. If we want to expand our membership and support in the area, we need to make it enticing for people.

Happy to give people from Ballarat preference, but if the club wants to charge members for seating for 11 home games then only provide 9 home games then I'd expect prices for reserve seating to go down each year not up.

 

[bobby2]

Happy to give people from Ballarat preference, but if the club wants to charge members for seating for 11 home games then only provide 9 home games then I'd expect prices for reserve seating to go down each year not up.

Yeah, absolutely, it's pretty frustrating. Hopefully they'll have a couple of replacement games.

 

[bontshow]

Asking existing Ballarat members (i.e. myself and kids) to fork out an extra $75 per adult as a one-off cost to attend this game should do wonders... for keeping existing Ballarat members away from the game. Even kids have to pay $66

For a reserved seat. Not for general admission

 

[DognBones]

And so it begins. Irrespective of who gets priority and what seats are available, the bottom line is that most of us Melbourne-based members will be watching the game on Foxtel just like another away interstate game. Good luck to the club to expand its supporter base in the western region but the Ballarat initiative was never going to suit everybody.

 

[geoffjennings79]

I fully understand the qualms here but you can't ignore the fact that:

There's a limited number of seats at Eureka
It's an opportunity to gain revenue for the club.

Whilst clearer communication and possibly a cheaper or more scaled cost to go to Ballarat, all of you are bonkers for thinking that a standard membership could get you in - our membership is likely to be two and a half times the capacity of Eureka, so there was clearly going to have to be some sort of reservation or one-off membership aspect involved.

I understand I don't have to purchase the reserved seat, also that some nominal cost would be incurred if I did want a reserved seat - although reserved seating is what I already pay for in my existing package. It is bonkers to ask people to pay an EXTRA $75 for a SINGLE GAME when they have EXISTING MEMBERSHIPS.

That is not revenue raising, that is outright price gouging.