Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

[Mofra]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

The idea really pulls on the heart strings doesn't it. Yeah 2 games a year sounds like it's not enough to spend millions of $$$. It's the age old debate but it doesn't make sense spending that sort of coin when the afl will buy Etihad stadium in the coming years.

It would take 1 or 2 games at Skilled Stadium to make more $$$ than we do in a year at Etihad.

My issue is the ROI would not be worth it post-2025 when Etihad Stadium becomes the property of all clubs. If we can crunch the numbers and make it work, great (I remain unconvinced).

[Mofra]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Have a look at these attendance figures for games over 35k. Amazing what on field success can do.

All against larger drawing Victorian clubs. Any WO games would be played against lower-drawing interstate clubs.

[jeemak]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

It would take 1 or 2 games at Skilled Stadium to make more $$$ than we do in a year at Etihad.

My issue is the ROI would not be worth it post-2025 when Etihad Stadium becomes the property of all clubs. If we can crunch the numbers and make it work, great (I remain unconvinced).

My concern is once the stadium is paid off, in 2025 or beforehand, the AFL will see little use in us and make moves to relocate or wind up the club. We're useful to the AFL as it stands because the current broadcast rights require 18 teams to be running around, and somebody needs to take the bullet that is the poorly negotiated commercial terms at Docklands.

[hujsh]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Great post mate,

It's funny how the answer to most club related financial issues always comes back to the simple fact that when the team is winning games, the people will come! You're right about the amount of money needed to bring the stadium up to scratch and I guess that's why my vision would need to see it become a multi-use boutique stadium to firstly attract the right amount of capital to develop and secondly to make it sustainable to justify the investment.

I suppose we need to sure-up our finances so we do still have reliable revenue even if we aren't successful. After all we can't expect to always be at the top of the ladder (and if we are then that's quite the bonus)

[Ozza]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Having the VFL team play there is great. Great for those of us that remember playing there, and those in the inner west.
But I don't see it as feasible as an AFL ground.
We've laid the ground work for Ballarat - I'd prefer to see that through and look to capture that market.

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Maybe we will play Freo there if Victory end up in Finals.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/battle-ground-ffa-enlists-labor-in-fight-with-afl-over-etihad-fixture/story-e6frf4gl-1227245268454

[Eastdog]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Would love it to happen but certainly would cost.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

This just makes me cringe. So are we trying to play games in Ballarat, Whitten Oval, or build our supporter base to the point we're selling out Etihad? Or is it all 3?

We're starting to sound like the AFL's other perennial nomads Norf.

I tend to agree - too many balls in the air. We should focus on getting the basics right, including building our membership base, our Etihad attendances and developing our supporter base in Ballarat, which is already a significant set of objectives.

[Webby]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

I'll be getting my fix of WO from 9 or so VFL games this year. I honestly think that we can build a fantastic VFL venue. The perfect VFL venue with great change rooms, appropriate toilets, can bars (!!!!), electronic scoreboard etc. compliment it with a few trees, hedges and shrubbery and really make it a picturesque venue. We can also play nab Cup games and intraclubs etc.

Then we can paint Ballarat R,W&B by playing our two games a season there. That pretty much stamps our territory from Williamstown to Werribeeto Ballarat, back to Maribyrnong. The "Western" region.

Finally, the AFL takes ownership of Etihad Stadium
In 2025. They've been trying to rattle the cage for a couple of years now re purchasing it early. As we get closer to 2025, that scenario becomes more and more likely. I'd be really surprised if the AFL doesn't own Etihad Stadium by 2020. That will also put us in a good position.

We essentially have a club based in Footscray who plays some nab Cup games in Footscray, most of its footy at the end of Footscray Road, two games up the Western Highway in Ballarat and a VFL side playing 9 regular season games in Footscray...

Compare that to, say, Sht Kilda. They train in Seaford (40km from St Kilda), play at Etihad (other side of town from St Kilda, Moorabbin and Seaford) and their reserves are blended into an old VFA club's..!

We should stop and smell the roses for a moment! We've got it pretty damn good as things stand!

I am looking forward to taking my tin lids to the family day on Saturday and I am champing at the bit to get up to Ballarat with a couple of mates for the game against Melbourne the following Saturday. I think we've got it as good as we've ever had it, really!

[Eastdog]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Yeah it's great playing the VFL there. I said in another thread will try to get to some Footscray VFL matches there if the times are good.

[boydogs]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

**WARNING: Simplistic view ahead**

Having been to Manuka, but not Darwin or Cairns, how different are they?
If the AFL deems those grounds suitable, surely there's not that much work to do? Chuck some seating above the ELC and Geelong Rd end, keep the Hawkins Wing as standing only.

Some info here

http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?13859-2015-Fixture-What-do-we-want-for-the-Bulldogs&p=410573#post410573

http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?13859-2015-Fixture-What-do-we-want-for-the-Bulldogs&p=410610#post410610

[jazzadogs]

Re: Western Bulldogs start work on possibility of bringing AFL games back to the Whitten Oval

Some info here

http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?13859-2015-Fixture-What-do-we-want-for-the-Bulldogs&p=410573#post410573

http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthr...610#post410610

So from that we now have fencing, coaches boxes, changerooms, a high quality surface and have plans to get a scoreboard.

We still need ?permanent vs larger quantity of temporary toilets, better food facilities, and potentially changes to the timekeeper/siten/video review systems.

A lot of the roadblocks have already been cleared IMO. The issue is what sort of crowd they expect, and whether they need more seating to accommodate those numbers.