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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
The Ballarat Game is scheduled for early afternoon, around 1.45 pm kick-off. That means that the game will finish around 4.15 pm meaning plenty of time to get to the train station or well on your way home while it is still light. More importantly, fans won't be subjected to the brutality of a chilly Ballarat winter evening. If the weather is grey on the day, the new lights at the oval will take the edge off the dullness on the field. They're not bright enough for AFL TV broadcasting but are still very bright for night football games in the VFL, they can add more lights onto the towers if needed, but they are also putting supplementary lights onto the grandstand to brighten the oval more without pissing the local residents off too much.
Putting the weather aside, we'll keep our fingers crossed and just hope that it doesn't rain on the day. It's Ballarat and even if the sun's out in August, it'll still be frigid and chilly. As long as you are rugged up (wear a coat, gloves and scarf) and get a couple of hot pies and a couple of beers into you, you'll be more than comfortable.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Some good images of Eureka Stadium have emerged on Facebook on the Ballarat Council's page. The ground's coming along nicely. I think that it's scheduled for completion late next month.
https://proxy.bigfooty.com/forum/pro...e3c9fab068c767
https://proxy.bigfooty.com/forum/pro...f136c1715cad12
https://i0.wp.com/theminer.net.au/wp...-FOR-SPORT.jpg
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot': "Ballarat represents a great opportunity to grow our membership base in a football area. Cairns offers nothing other than coin.
Any Cairns locals at the game are going to be supporting Gold Coast.
As for the climate for our players comfort, i think a cold game will be more easier in termsof post match recovery than a humid game in Cairns."
That's exactly what it's all about mate, growing the footprint and reach of the 'WESTERN' Bulldogs beyond Footscray and Caroline Springs.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndrewP6
The attraction? How about getting out of Melbourne's oppressively cold winter and seeing the sun for few days.
That's fair enough for those who can afford it. I think that Cairns offers equal conditions for both teams where as Ballarat for the Dogs will become what Hobart is to North Melbourne. 'A total shock to the system for visiting teams'. Eureka Stadium plays very similarly to Hobart's Blundstone Arena. The winds can be so strong at Ballarat that 90% of the scoring will happen at one end of the ground on a really bad day. Eureka Stadium is described by locals as like playing in a cyclone. It might be a bit different once the stands are all built because the wind will be largely blocked around the goals. But later this year, it will be entertaining because the South boundary is still very much open and will only be partially blocked by the new scoreboard. But at least the goals at that end of the ground are sheltered by some trees and the old scoreboard.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndrewP6
Not necessarily. Spoke to quite a few, and there were neutrals there happy to see us.
I was in Cairns 25 years ago and there seemed to be a lot of bulldog supporters.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Woofer
The Ballarat Game is scheduled for early afternoon, around 1.45 pm kick-off. That means that the game will finish around 4.15 pm meaning plenty of time to get to the train station or well on your way home while it is still light. More importantly, fans won't be subjected to the brutality of a chilly Ballarat winter evening. If the weather is grey on the day, the new lights at the oval will take the edge off the dullness on the field. They're not bright enough for AFL TV broadcasting but are still very bright for night football games in the VFL, they can add more lights onto the towers if needed, but they are also putting supplementary lights onto the grandstand to brighten the oval more without pissing the local residents off too much.
Putting the weather aside, we'll keep our fingers crossed and just hope that it doesn't rain on the day. It's Ballarat and even if the sun's out in August, it'll still be frigid and chilly. As long as you are rugged up (wear a coat, gloves and scarf) and get a couple of hot pies and a couple of beers into you, you'll be more than comfortable.
Looking forward to it. I kind of wish Bendigo had got its act together.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
That's a fair bit of standing room. If that's what the green area is.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
How long have you been a qualified Sports Scientist?
In all seriousness, why do you think we struggle to win post-Cairns matches?
That's never stopped anyone on WOOF before. Other teams travel too. It's a self fulfilling prophecy, keep believing we can't win post travel and we won't.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndrewP6
That's never stopped anyone on WOOF before. Other teams travel too. It's a self fulfilling prophecy, keep believing we can't win post travel and we won't.
Melbourne travels to NT for their one off money games and also struggle on the return fixture. It's not a self fulfilling prophecy, it's just a fact that teams don't recover as well after playing in humid tropical conditions when they're acclimatised to winter in Melbourne. I'd rather us have the best chance of winning as many games as possible over providing a weekend away for those fans fortunate enough to attend.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
What does half done mean though? There was only funding for phase 1.
That's it, Ballarat Council had to build the first phase on time, on budget, and of course the final test will be if they can fill it it at 11,000 capacity. If they can cross those lines and run the game without any glitches on game day, then we'd expect an announcement on ongoing development either on the day or very soon after. My tip is that we should expect an announcement perhaps on game day when all of the media will be there and Mr Andrews won't miss the political capital/opportunity to perhaps announce further development then.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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 Ballarat 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.
You're right on the money there. Why build a 20,000 capacity ground for only two games a year? Current plans only call for developing the ground to 15,000 capacity in three stages. Although according to one of the promotional videos released a couple of months ago, the architects have made provision in the design of the new Eastern Stand which is presently eight rows deep, to remove the back and the roof and extend it rearward by another 16 rows to add a further 2000 seats if that is ever required. That would boost the ground to 17,000 seats. A 17,000 seater would be quite unique because Manuka Oval only seats 10,000 (the other 3,000 stand); Blundstone Arena and Aurora Stadium both hold 20,000 but each only accommodate 13,000 seated. The Western Bulldogs would have to commit to playing four games in Ballarat per-year to justify a 20,000 seat venue.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Twodogs
That's a fair bit of standing room. If that's what the green area is.
There are two hills. One is at the foot of the old scoreboard (and can accommodate around 1500 people) which will eventually be cut into and removed so that the grandstand can be extended around behind the southern goal (Stage 2 (4000 seats)). The asphalt gap between the two green hills is where the new 50 sqm video scoreboard is going (sometime soon). The larger green hill was created last year from the excess soil when the oval was rebuilt in 2015/16. That mound holds around 4000 people (but is only intended to be temporary to boost the capacity of the oval) planned to eventually go and be replaced by a third stand (seating around 5000) which will extend from Stage 2 and around the ground almost joining the smaller eastern terrace.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndrewP6
That's never stopped anyone on WOOF before. Other teams travel too. It's a self fulfilling prophecy, keep believing we can't win post travel and we won't.
I think its pretty clear that there is more upside for the club in forging a partnership in Ballarat than there is in playing a single game in Cairns.
Whilst I appreciate that the Cairns game may provide you with a nice opportunity to get some colour in your cheeks I fail to see how, other than $'s it is anything but a negative for the club.
1. Adds unnecessary travel with all of the inherent logistical and recovery issues it presents to the players.
2. No real home game advantage.
3. No meaningful benefits to membership growth
4. No growth opportunities. Its just one game, in a non football market, with little relevance to the local population.
5. The climate. Even in winter its a humid place. That takes a toll. Perhaps that and the travel goes some way to explaining why we don't back up well the following week.
Ballarat, even at its chilliest is still more like what our guys are used to playing in most weeks. Add in that the strategic benefits of pushing our brand in a local market and its just a clear winner.
Fair enough its not your cup of tea & you're not going to ever make the journey to watch a Ballarat game, but i can't see anyway you can seriously suggest a Cairns game over a Ballarat venture makes more sense.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
We need to move beyond chasing money over on field results. Check our record in the round following the Cairns match. It's not pleasant.
What is our record in the actual Cairns matches? Would have to be almost 100%.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
We need to move beyond chasing money over on field results
I agree, but that includes Ballarat. If we're selling games, Cairns is probably worth 4 games in Ballarat
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sedat
What is our record in the actual Cairns matches? Would have to be almost 100%.
Haven't lost. Had to kick 10 goals in the last quarter once, but we did it
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sedat
What is our record in the actual Cairns matches? Would have to be almost 100%.
Don't think we've lost there & don't think we've won the week after.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
Don't think we've lost there & don't think we've won the week after.
And we'd be 100% against GCS at Etihad too, if we played them at our actual home.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Ballarat represents a great opportunity to grow our membership base in a football area. Cairns offers nothing other than coin.
Any Cairns locals at the game are going to be supporting Gold Coast.
As for the climate for our players comfort, i think a cold game will be more easier in termsof post match recovery than a humid game in Cairns.
Respectfully I think you've got this wrong. Ballarat is already an AFL town meaning most of the people there who might be interested already have a team. The growth is in other areas that aren't an hours drive from weekly games. We'll sell more memberships and merch in Cairns than in Ballarat
Why do you think North ditched Ballarat for Hobart?
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boydogs
Respectfully I think you've got this wrong. Ballarat is already an AFL town meaning most of the people there who might be interested already have a team. The growth is in other areas that aren't an hours drive from weekly games. We'll sell more memberships and merch in Cairns than in Ballarat
You could say that Tassie is a footy region and everyone there already has a team, yet it hasn't stopped Hawthorn or even North from adding thousands of members from the area.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boydogs
Why do you think North ditched Ballarat for Hobart?
The history behind that is that North were effectively horse-traded out of Ballarat. Their separation from Ballarat definitely wasn't by their choice. They were quite happy to stay there and were offering four games per season if Eureka Stadium was redeveloped. But it was the Ballarat Council who announced in early 2015 that they would cease their $300,000 per year sponsorship of North Melbourne to maintain a VFL presence in Ballarat and instead pursued an association with the Bulldogs backed by the State Government, noting that the Bulldogs had expressed a desire to the AFL and the Ballarat Council back as far as 2012 to harbor Ballarat as a potential playing venue. As far back as 2014, the Tasmanian government and Tourism Tasmania were concerned that North Melbourne was being courted by Ballarat and may be lured away from Hobart so in 2015 they gave North an offer that they couldn't refuse. North were forced to quit Ballarat and to go where the money was being offered. The Bulldogs have definitely gotten the better end of the deal.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
You could say that Tassie is a footy region and everyone there already has a team, yet it hasn't stopped Hawthorn or even North from adding thousands of members from the area.
In effect Tassie is an island of 520,000 which has two AFL teams vying for the affections and loyalty of 250,000 each. Ballarat is adding as many people per year as what the whole of Tasmania does combined. North Melbourne are effectively working in a region of 250,000 people in southern Tasmania and Hawthorn have effectively the top half of the island. Where as the Bulldogs are now expanding across an area that includes Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton, and Horsham. So you can now picture that they are now dominating an area of regional Victoria with a population of half a million people with Ballarat at its heart.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
1,000 Victorian public sector jobs are moving into Ballarat very soon too. Counting that some will have families, that maybe 2,000-3,000 people moving up there on top of their decent growth rate too. A footy team up there will give them a little bit of Melbourne over there. If the venue can grow to 20,000 and if it's maybe 3 games a year, then I'm happy enough if the financial returns help us enough that Cairns is dropped. A lot of 'if's'. We should be passed being the poor nomads of the competition playing wherever for a buck.
A home away from home is much more palatable, especially if we get the old school WO type home good advantage where clubs Fong know how to play wet, cold & windy conditions like we do. Our link to Maryborough (60km away) through Crameri & Stringer who have significant business and community reach into Ballarat should be an advantage, and hopefully getting some pups from up that way could really grab the towns attention and affections.
But at the moment, it looks like a suburban ground with one bigger grandstand.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
You could say that Tassie is a footy region and everyone there already has a team, yet it hasn't stopped Hawthorn or even North from adding thousands of members from the area.
Hawthorn and North both play multiple games down there and offer packages designed around attending those games. The venues sell out and so the memberships become your only option as a ticket. Anyone who wants to go and see the biggest thing in town becomes a card carrying member of the Hawthorn or North Melbourne football clubs
People in Ballarat aren't as footy starved, they can and do go to games in Melbourne. We're only playing one game there. You can see we're trying to do the same thing with selling out a small venue, tourism packages, Ballarat memberships etc. but it won't be as successful purely because people in Ballarat can go to the footy every week if they are that passionate
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Woofer
The history behind that is that North were effectively horse-traded out of Ballarat. Their separation from Ballarat definitely wasn't by their choice. They were quite happy to stay there and were offering four games per season if Eureka Stadium was redeveloped. But it was the Ballarat Council who announced in early 2015 that they would cease their $300,000 per year sponsorship of North Melbourne to maintain a VFL presence in Ballarat and instead pursued an association with the Bulldogs backed by the State Government, noting that the Bulldogs had expressed a desire to the AFL and the Ballarat Council back as far as 2012 to harbor Ballarat as a potential playing venue. As far back as 2014, the Tasmanian government and Tourism Tasmania were concerned that North Melbourne was being courted by Ballarat and may be lured away from Hobart so in 2015 they gave North an offer that they couldn't refuse. North were forced to quit Ballarat and to go where the money was being offered. The Bulldogs have definitely gotten the better end of the deal.
Yes, North didn't want to leave Ballarat, but they were forced to choose between Ballarat and Hobart. Why didn't they do what we are doing, try and own the rural extension of their inner city homeland instead of playing interstate? Because Tassie offered more money. It's worth more to them because people fly there, stay there, eat there etc. Same as Cairns
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boydogs
Respectfully I think you've got this wrong. Ballarat is already an AFL town meaning most of the people there who might be interested already have a team. The growth is in other areas that aren't an hours drive from weekly games. We'll sell more memberships and merch in Cairns than in Ballarat
Why do you think North ditched Ballarat for Hobart?
No doubt it has its challenges, and it would need to a number of things to occur to fully leverage the opportunity - not the least of which are we need to play more than once a year and the stadium needs to hold more than 11,000.
I think North's leaving isn't necessarily an indicator of our prospects, that it may seem on first glance. I think there were other issues at play than it not being profitable.
I just see there are multiple potential positives in growing the Ballarat link that don't exist in Cairns.
People may have teams already in Ballarat, however there are kids there now, and into the future who don't. And given our special zoning access out that way, the club is clearly going to be making efforts at being visible in the community.
A couple of games there a year on top of our promotional, recruiting & games played there could be used to good effect to create an emerging Bulldogs enclave.
The fact they are only an hour a way from Melbourne and thus supporters can see more games, may actually be an enticing reason for locals to sign up.
Clearly though a number of things need to be worked on if the Ballarat proposal is going to have the right conditions to be strategically successful.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boydogs
Hawthorn and North both play multiple games down there and offer packages designed around attending those games. The venues sell out and so the memberships become your only option as a ticket. Anyone who wants to go and see the biggest thing in town becomes a card carrying member of the Hawthorn or North Melbourne football clubs
People in Ballarat aren't as footy starved, they can and do go to games in Melbourne. We're only playing one game there. You can see we're trying to do the same thing with selling out a small venue, tourism packages, Ballarat memberships etc. but it won't be as successful purely because people in Ballarat can go to the footy every week if they are that passionate
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 ;)
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
No doubt it has its challenges, and it would need to a number of things to occur to fully leverage the opportunity - not the least of which are we need to play more than once a year and the stadium needs to hold more than 11,000.
I think North's leaving isn't necessarily an indicator of our prospects, that it may seem on first glance. I think there were other issues at play than it not being profitable.
I just see there are multiple potential positives in growing the Ballarat link that don't exist in Cairns.
People may have teams already in Ballarat, however there are kids there now, and into the future who don't. And given our special zoning access out that way, the club is clearly going to be making efforts at being visible in the community.
A couple of games there a year on top of our promotional, recruiting & games played there could be used to good effect to create an emerging Bulldogs enclave.
The fact they are only an hour a way from Melbourne and thus supporters can see more games, may actually be an enticing reason for locals to sign up.
Clearly though a number of things need to be worked on if the Ballarat proposal is going to have the right conditions to be strategically successful.
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.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
So as a full social club member do I need to "buy" tickets for this game?
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Topdog
So as a full social club member do I need to "buy" tickets for this game?
Yes, I believe so.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Topdog
So as a full social club member do I need to "buy" tickets for this game?
I tried to do an ad on with a Ballarat membership giving me a reserved seat, but it was sold out.
I will have to watch on TV.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Woofer
That's fair enough for those who can afford it. I think that Cairns offers equal conditions for both teams where as Ballarat for the Dogs will become what Hobart is to North Melbourne. 'A total shock to the system for visiting teams'. Eureka Stadium plays very similarly to Hobart's Blundstone Arena. The winds can be so strong at Ballarat that 90% of the scoring will happen at one end of the ground on a really bad day. Eureka Stadium is described by locals as like playing in a cyclone. It might be a bit different once the stands are all built because the wind will be largely blocked around the goals. But later this year, it will be entertaining because the South boundary is still very much open and will only be partially blocked by the new scoreboard. But at least the goals at that end of the ground are sheltered by some trees and the old scoreboard.
Might suit our goalkicking:)
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
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).
Probably doesn't help that games in Hobart are the AFEL-equivalent of the BBL; ridiculous scores coupled with horrific skills at every turn. I didn't keep an "official" count but by my estimation there were approximately 350 kicks that went out of bounds on the full on the non-broadcast wing during the Crows/North game.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boydogs
People in Ballarat aren't as footy starved, they can and do go to games in Melbourne. We're only playing one game there. You can see we're trying to do the same thing with selling out a small venue, tourism packages, Ballarat memberships etc. but it won't be as successful purely because people in Ballarat can go to the footy every week if they are that passionate
The western corridor of Melbourne is the fastest growing region in Australia and is a cornerstone of our own growth strategy. It won't be long before Ballarat (which itself is growing rapidly) is joined to the western corridor. This represents a fantastic opportunity to grow our supporter base incrementally and establish an exclusive 2nd home in a growing market that is already footy mad. I love it and I hope we continue to nurture this relationship and market.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Happy Days
Probably doesn't help that games in Hobart are the AFEL-equivalent of the BBL; ridiculous scores coupled with horrific skills at every turn. I didn't keep an "official" count but by my estimation there were approximately 350 kicks that went out of bounds on the full on the non-broadcast wing during the Crows/North game.
Looking at the Ballarat ground - with one side of the ground completely open (no Grandstand), should we expect to see the same type of game riddled with errors and out of the full kicks due to winds?
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boydogs
Yes, North didn't want to leave Ballarat, but they were forced to choose between Ballarat and Hobart. Why didn't they do what we are doing, try and own the rural extension of their inner city homeland instead of playing interstate? Because Tassie offered more money. It's worth more to them because people fly there, stay there, eat there etc. Same as Cairns
No let's not gloss it over or try to re-write any history. I live in Ballarat, make no mistake, North were shown the door and were told that they were no longer going to be sponsored by the City of Ballarat in early 2015. They didn't even get the 2015 NAB cup gig in Ballarat, that instead went to the Bullies and the Dees (that tells you something). There was a lot of back room wheeling and dealing that went on between the Ballarat Council, the AFL and State Government. At the same time, because the Andrews government were still to confirm if they were going to develop Eureka Stadium (which wasn't announced until June 2015), it was the Tasmanian government (Tourism Tasmania) who got in first having made a very lucrative offer to the Roos. They offered the Roos 1 million per year to play three games in Hobart until 2021. The Hawks get around 1.5 million for four games in Launceston.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Woofer
No let's not gloss it over or try to re-write any history. I live in Ballarat, make no mistake, North were shown the door and were told that they were no longer going to be sponsored by the City of Ballarat in early 2015. They didn't even get the 2015 NAB cup gig in Ballarat, that instead went to the Bullies and the Dees (that tells you something). There was a lot of back room wheeling and dealing that went on between the Ballarat Council, the AFL and State Government. At the same time, because the Andrews government were still to confirm if they were going to develop Eureka Stadium (which wasn't announced until June 2015), it was the Tasmanian government (Tourism Tasmania) who got in first having made a very lucrative offer to the Roos. They offered the Roos 1 million per year to play three games in Hobart until 2021. The Hawks get around 1.5 million for four games in Launceston.
Thanks for all your insights Woofer, and a great welcome to the forum.
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
I visited Ballarat a week ago and checked out the ground.
The gap between the large stand and the hill seemed to big for my liking, but with a score board going in there that will be addressed somewhat.
Attachment 858
Attachment 859
Attachment 860
The ground really needs the second phase, without it it's been over-capitalised in my view.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
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 ;)
I'm not sure this logic paints a correct picture.
The joint crowds in Tasmania have been pretty strong and there and there is an element of the north south divide to consider in people being prepared to drive to both venues. I also think North have done a poor job in selling Hobart to it's existing and potential members. They are clearly taking the moment and not putting enough back into it. Crowds would also be down this year based on the performances of both clubs.
At this moment our clubs strength in performance on field means that Ballarat isn't great option for it's Melbourne based members.
11K is less than half of what we can draw against most interstate teams at Etihad. Playing a SA based side and knowing their supporters are prepared to make a weekend of it and travel is also perplexing. Given the challenges of the weather in Ballarat a stadium that isn't enclosed that also offers little coverage to a lot of members standing in the outer could lose appeal very quickly.
I get that there is a financial benefit for us and that when this was originally planned we really needed it but things have change since.
For the venue to become something more meaningful for some members we need phase two and or three to be fast tracked.
I know it's not the council, the state government or the clubs fault but I have some doubts it will stick with a lot of our supporters.
I'll be going but I can see many choosing to do what Andrew P6 suggests and just have an afternoon in front of the tele and we can't blame anyone for taking that option.
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Re: Western Bulldogs hope Ballarat clash persuades state government to boost Eureka Stadium’s capacity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Woofer
I think that Cairns offers equal conditions for both teams where as Ballarat for the Dogs will become what Hobart is to North Melbourne. 'A total shock to the system for visiting teams'. Eureka Stadium plays very similarly to Hobart's Blundstone Arena. The winds can be so strong at Ballarat that 90% of the scoring will happen at one end of the ground on a really bad day. Eureka Stadium is described by locals as like playing in a cyclone. It might be a bit different once the stands are all built because the wind will be largely blocked around the goals. But later this year, it will be entertaining because the South boundary is still very much open and will only be partially blocked by the new scoreboard. But at least the goals at that end of the ground are sheltered by some trees and the old scoreboard.
We would have to play more than one game a year there to adjust ourselves. So much of the Ballarat exercise - a second familiar home ground, membership packages, replacing Cairns revenue - relies on selling more home games than we are now. That's why I'm against it. BT & Comrade are right that we should be looking to move away from selling home games, not increase the number of games we are selling