Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Originally Posted by boydogs
North wanted it redeveloped to a 25,000 capacity, without that commitment they chose Tassie. They did have commitment from John Brumby in the 2010 state election, but Ted Baillieu got in
We're doing all this community work with only an 11,000 capacity signed off. Melbourne-based supporters will sell that out and prevent the locals from getting a ticket
No you're rewriting history again Eureka Stadium was never going to ever be built to anything beyond 20,000. David Smorgan (when he was Bulldogs President) first touted the idea of building a 15,000 seat boutique ground in Melbourne 13 years ago and he was laughed at by the Melbourne press. But around the same time in 2005 the first rumblings emerged about developing Eureka as an alternate AFL venue. The idea gathered serious momemtum when Australia first talked about hosting the soccer World Cup and part of the conditions to win the World Cup was that the host country has to have 15 stadiums capable of seating 40,000. Victoria offered up the MCG, Etihad, Simonds Stadium and also have allowed for AMII Park to be able to be expanded in its design to hold 40,000 if needed.
All of this would of course throw the AFL competition into a dilema because every major AFL capable stadium in the country from the SCG and Olympic Park in Sydney, the Adelaide Oval, the Perth Stadium and the Gabba would be off limits for six weeks in the middle of footy season. At the time the AFL did seriously look at alternative venues if a World Cup bid did eventuate. This would have meant for six weeks games would have been played at the Gold Coast, perhaps Subiaco, Darwin, Cairns, Hobart, Launceston, Princess Park and suddenly Ballarat shot onto their radar. In 2010 the Brumby government proposed building a 15,000 seat (20,000) capacity ground in Ballarat as part of their election bid. North Melbourne and the AFL stated that they would only back it once it was built and offered no guarantees of playing in Ballarat unless a stadium was already built. However, after the 2012 NAB cup game in front of record crowd at Eureka Stadium, the Bulldogs announced their interest in AFL games in Ballarat.
North Melbourne had been associated with Ballarat through the North Ballarat Roosters VFL team between 2006 to 2015 and had built up a big support base in Ballarat. We were all surprised when the local council pulled the rug from under them. Eugene Arocca was said to be livid by the decision because both North Ballarat FC and the Roos had shared a very mutually successful association that gave the North Ballarat Roosters 3 VFL Premierships, and offered North Melbourne a strong Reserves base as well as a training facility that was light years ahead of the mess that was at Arden Street at the time.
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Originally Posted by Woofer
No you're rewriting history again Eureka Stadium was never going to ever be built to anything beyond 20,000
I didn't say it was, I said it's what North wanted. They got a 15,000 seat stand out of Brumby as you mentioned
Originally Posted by Woofer
Eugene Arocca was said to be livid by the decision because both North Ballarat FC and the Roos had shared a very mutually successful association that gave the North Ballarat Roosters 3 VFL Premierships, and offered North Melbourne a strong Reserves base as well as a training facility that was light years ahead of the mess that was at Arden Street at the time.
Arocca resigned in 2012
If you kicked five goals and Tom Boyd kicked five goals, Tom Boyd kicked more goals than you.
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Originally Posted by boydogs
I didn't say it was, I said it's what North wanted. They got a 15,000 seat stand out of Brumby as you mentioned
Arocca resigned in 2012
Arocca was quoted in an interview in the Ballarat Courier in 2015 (while head of CAMS) and asked about his thoughts on North leaving Ballarat and he did not hold back. He was livid because he was historically instrumental in getting the Roos into Ballarat in the first instance and became the main proponent encourging local business and media to get behind the concept of a Eureka Stadium. It is funny because I always found it curious that they renamed from its former name 'AUSTAR Arena' and called it a stadium when in reality it was little more than a jumped up country footy ground with crappy vantage points and a first class social pavilion.
But obviously the renaming had an agenda attached whereby they were trying to sell the idea of the site being one day ambitiously developed into a small stadium arena.
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Originally Posted by Woofer
The crowds in Launceston and Hobart have been well and truly down. Aurora Stadium in 2017 has averaged 15,571 out of a capacity of 20,000 and 14,324 over four games last year. While Blundstone Arena with a capacity of 20,000 has averaged 9,411 over both of its games so far in 2017 and 15,649 over its 3 three games in 2016. (Source: http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/2017.html).
On your second point, if Eureka is built to a 15,000 capacity it is likely that the crowd will be a mix of local Bulldogs supporters, passionate Melbourne based supporters (who never miss a game regardless of where its played), and of course supporters from across the wider western Victoria (Melton - Horsham). After all for people living in the country ... "I enjoy the trek to Melbourne and negotiating city traffic" said nobody who lives in the country EVER
Haha. So true.
Originally Posted by Woofer
You're dead right! The Bulldogs are actively getting into to schools across the region to win the hearts and minds of future generations od AFL supporters.
I'm so happy that footballers are doing school clinics on a regular basis. One of the things that really tied to me to the footy club as a kid was players like Gary Dempsey, Geoff Jennings, Ted Whitten Jr and Peter Featherby coming to my school. Hopefully the same connections are being made today and tomorrow's members and fanatics are currently sitting in classrooms listening to and having a kick with bulldog premiership heroes.
Originally Posted by Bulldog4life
Might suit our goalkicking
Sounds a bit like Williamstown footy ground.
They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Originally Posted by Eastdog
We are focused into Ballarat now but certainly wish that was a possibility still. Certainly would need a revamp from its current state although it has certainly progressed in getting a lights for night games there. I wonder why we didn't go for the WO option originally? I'd say for our country supporters are great opportunity for them to go to a game closer to home.
Eureka Stadium's lights would need further significant upgrade to boost to AFL TV broadcast level. ATM the lights are only rated for VFL professional competition (about 300 lux). Even if they put all of the lights into the four new towers, the ground will only go up to AFL non-televised competition grade (600 lux). Probably the new lights will be used to reduce shadowing cast by the stand late in the afternoon. There are no plans to conduct night AFL games and seriously do many people want to freeze their bottoms off in Ballarat at night, even the locals don't really embrace night footy the way that other places do.
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
If they build the second stage grandstand across the southern boundary then that should block much wind. Ballarat's Southerlies can be merciless. The western stand has been strategically placed to block the strong Westerlies, and the players benches will be well sheltered. Although, I think that the way that the Council are talking, I would expect that the Stage 2 grandstand will seat 4-5000 and be built across the area currently occupied by the hill on the eastern side of the ground - backing onto Creswick Road. The third stage would see a stand built to link the two and incorporate the new scoreboard.
If they are to raise capacity beyond that then they can enlarge the new terrace on the North Eastern side of the ground and 'vola' ... a 17,000 seat ground. The lighting may be an issue if the AFL want night games. The ground can realistically be upgraded in its current configuration to 800 lux (if they add lights across the roofs of the stands). But to get to TV standard then either two new towers would need to be added or the existing four towers would have to be upgraded further or replaced.
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
With the train station Woofer if we wanted to go via vline train from Southern Cross what would be the best station to stop at to get to Eureka in your opinion?
"Footscray people are incredible people; so humble. I'm just so happy - ecstatic"
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Originally Posted by Eastdog
With the train station Woofer if we wanted to go via vline train from Southern Cross what would be the best station to stop at to get to Eureka in your opinion?
That will come down to how vLine and Council do the transport plan on the day. The Council are still to announce their transport plan, but a key part of it will include provision for ferrying up to 2000 people from and to either Ballarat or Wendouree Stations via hired local busses.
Countdown to Ballarat is officially on with the unveiling of the new scoreboard at Eureka Stadium. (Photo: Mayor of Ballarat via Twitter.)
The countdown to the first game for premiership points in Ballarat is officially on with the unveiling of the new 50-square-metre scoreboard on Monday morning at Eureka Stadium.
The Bulldogs will face Port Adelaide in just over two months’ time at the redeveloped precinct, with just the final fit-outs, including asphalting and coaches boxes, to be completed before the first bounce on August 19.
Speaking to the Ballarat Courier, Western Bulldogs CEO Gary Kent said that Ballarat experience will be great for both players and fans.
“It’ll be great for spectators. I think Ballarat Bulldogs’ fans and generally anyone who sits in that stand is going to love it,” Kent said of the 5000 new undercover seats also in place.
“…Hopefully we can build that (home ground) advantage and the boys will love player here.”
But the ground will be for than football, with the Bulldogs bringing its Sons of the West men’s health program and Youth Leadership Project to the region, while also expanding the Club’s literacy program.
Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh told the Courier that the community as whole would benefit from the new stadium, and not just sports fans.
“You can’t have a beautiful lush oval like this without the whole community to embrace it and the minute you see people doing that you know you’re actually delivering back,” Cr McIntosh said.
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.