Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity

[bornadog]

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THE Western Bulldogs hope their historic Ballarat fixture this season persuades the state government to almost double Eureka Stadium’s capacity.

In Round 22 the Dogs host Port Adelaide in what looms as a September-shaping clash with both clubs targeting the top four.
But thousands of the club’s approximated 43,000 members could be locked out due to an expected capacity of 11,000 when the stadium’s $15 million upgrade is completed in June.

The renovation will shrink the playing surface to mirror Etihad Stadium and add a 5000-seat grandstand.
Bulldogs chief executive Gary Kent wants Eureka Stadium to grow to about 20,000, similar to Tasmania’s Hobart and Launceston venues.
The Dogs are exploring the possibility of hosting two Ballarat matches for premiership points next season plus an AFL Women’s fixture.



Kent said the club made a strategic decision to “win over the town of Ballarat” given the region is home to 100,000 people and remains an untapped market.
But Kent said the extra Ballarat game in 2018 might not come at the expense of the Dogs’ annual Cairns fixture against Gold Coast.

That would drop the Dogs to only eight home matches at Etihad Stadium.
Hawthorn plays four home games in Launceston each season but struggles to fill the venue.
“We’ve got to make this a real success and convince the state government to go to the next stage, so it’s closer to the capacity at Launceston and Hobart in future years,” Kent told the Herald Sun.

“We need to make (Round 22) a great success and show what demand there is in Ballarat for a venue of that size.”
Kent said the allocation of tickets wasn’t finalised, but urged Dogs fans to secure seats quickly.


“It’s only 11,000 capacity and out of that we’re allocating tourism packages, because part of the whole arrangement with us, the state government and the city of Ballarat is to promote the city.

“We’ve got over 43,000 members, so they won’t all be coming.
“People are used to not buying their tickets and seats until quite close to the game. That’s one of the things we’re trying to get the message out to people to take up these offers.

“When general tickets go on sale there’s going to be a pretty big rush.”

The Dogs are selling $140 three-game Ballarat memberships and $75 add-ons to residents in the region.
Power business and marketing manager Matthew Richardson said their fans were already making inquiries.
“Our members and supporters like when we play in Victoria and we get a good number travelling to games,” Richardson said.


Bob Murphy will lead the Dogs in Ballarat. Picture: AAP Images

“We also have several thousand Victorian members who have access with their memberships. The ‘away’ club always gets an allocation for their members and we are sure this game will be no different.”

AFL fixturing boss Travis Auld said it was too early to predict demand for the Round 22 clash.
“At the moment (Eureka Stadium) is considered to be a good size, certainly to launch games into Ballarat,” Auld said.
“The facility is going to be outstanding as a regional ground. It’ll have everything you need to host a home-and-away game.
“Over time we’ll have to assess whether there’s opportunity to further expand the ground.”

[Remi Moses]

Would have thought they'd build a stadium with at least 20 thou to begin with.

[comrade]

Would have thought they'd build a stadium with at least 20 thou to begin with.

More money required and if local/state government was to tip in, you'd expect they'd want more than 1 or 2 AFL games a year. Would you be happy with 4 games in Ballarat a year?

[ledge]

Yes it's not like 11000 is a big crowd . Would like to know the Last time we played a game with less in Victoria.
Even if it was 20,000 it would still be full.
I don't like the way this could end up being so small, member revolt, complaints etc. we could end up losing members.

[GVGjr]

Understandably they started off slowly but i dont think our fans will have the patience to wait another 3 years for an extension to 20k.
I know dealing with councils and governments is often a slow process but they need to attack this with some urgency now.

It always looked to be half done and before we've even played a game we want it expanded. I think many of us predicted this.

[comrade]

Understandably they started off slowly but i dont think our fans will have the patience to wait another 3 years for an extension to 20k.
I know dealing with councils and governments is often a slow process but they need to attack this with some urgency now.

It always looked to be half done and before we've even played a game we want it expanded. I think many of us predicted this.

What does half done mean though? There was only funding for phase 1.

[bulldogtragic]

It feels a little Edgewater to me. Another $15,000,000 or so to increase crowds for 2 games a year is irresponsible by any government. Irrespective of what we want as members of a football club. North Ballrat could fold (like Bendigo Gold) and then it's a big money pit with little return on investment for the branches of government. They'd probably need 4 games to argue the case, and mirror the Hawthorn example. That we are obviously not interested in dropping the Cairns match, has me concerned as a member. Firstly, that we've lost every week, every time after playing in Cairns which hurts us on field, but if we are flogging off 3-5 games to make more money then that also hurts us potentially by reducing our games at Etihad. Then as above, if members can't get in, then members get pissed off. There's a fair bit of risk financially, on field and impact on members - I hope the reward is worth it and eventuates.

[comrade]

It feels a little Edgewater to me. Another $15,000,000 or so to increase crowds for 2 games a year is irresponsible by any government. Irrespective of what we want as members of a football club. North Ballrat could fold (like Bendigo Gold) and then it's a big money pit with little return on investment for the branches of government. They'd probably need 4 games to argue the case, and mirror the Hawthorn example. That we are obviously not interested in dropping the Cairns match, has me concerned as a member. Firstly, that we've lost every week, every time after playing in Cairns which hurts us on field, but if we are flogging off 3-5 games to make more money then that also hurts us potentially by reducing our games at Etihad. Then as above, if members can't get in, then members get pissed off. There's a fair bit of risk financially, on field and impact on members - I hope the reward is worth it and eventuates.

Agree that we must cut ties with Cairns if we are to proceed with Ballarat.

Disagree that this is an Edgewater type scenario. For one, the club isn't on the hook for millions, nor are they tasked with running the stadium. The Ballarat council is about to pay millions to take over the stadium from North Ballarat to ensure its long term survival, so even if the Roosters fold, the ground isn't at risk.

[GVGjr]

What does half done mean though? There was only funding for phase 1.

Read the post again and draw some obvious conclusions.

[comrade]

Read the post again and draw some obvious conclusions.

The club wants the capacity to double, is that what you're referring to as half done? I agree that dealing with governments and councils is slow going, and by publicly stating our desire for capacity to increase, it seems like we are trying to force this through.

I doubt the club ever thought an 11,000 capacity stadium was going to be sufficient, hence the multiple phases in the initial planning brief. So no one here predicted it per se, increased capacity was always the plan.

[Sedat]

The wheels of govt and beurocracy grind slowly. Establishing a presence in 2017 with a fully funded 11k stadium and a genuine footprint in a fast growing footy mad region of Victoria that is our region alone makes very smart business sense IMO.

It is actually risk averse for the club - we are diversifying and spreading our risk so as to not be exposed if we put all our eggs in the one basket. Do we honestly believe Etihad will survive the next 20 years? It is some of the most lucrative land value in the country and it is now owned by the AFL, who let's be honest have shown a propensity in the past to be motivated by nothing more than filthy lucre. I would be staggered if Etihad was still in operation by 2037.

[comrade]

The wheels of govt and beurocracy grind slowly. Establishing a presence with a fully funded 11k stadium and a genuine footprint in a fast growing footy mad region of Victoria that is our region alone makes very smart business sense IMO.

It is actually risk averse for the club - we are diversifying and spreading our risk so as to not be exposed if we put all.our eggs in the one basket. Do we honestly believe Etihad will survive the next 20 years? It is some of tbe most lucrative land value in the country and it is now owned by the AFL, who have shown a propensity in the past to be motivated by filthy lucre.

Yeah, I don't see too many downsides to investing in the Ballarat region, on the proviso that we cut ties with Cairns. To me, that is the obvious move and needs to be implemented from 2018 onwards.

[hujsh]

Please drop Cairns. Really should be replaced by Ballarat (hell even up it to three games there and invest in the area if you want)

[ledge]

Funny isn't it . We can play at a stadium that only fits 11,000 but can't play a game at Whitten oval.

[Sedat]

Yeah, I don't see too many downsides to investing in the Ballarat region, on the proviso that we cut ties with Cairns. To me, that is the obvious move and needs to be implemented from 2018 onwards.

I'm not quite as anti Cairns as others - happy to get rid of it once the next stage of Eureka is completed. But $500k plus for one game is still critically important for our bottom line, and this game would be a massive loss if played at Etihad in front of 17-18k.

If we play 4 games at Eureka in front of 20k (GC, GWS, Port and Freo as examples) and 7 home games at Etihad against all the higher drawing clubs that is a fantastic mix IMO.