Bulldogs, Mars Wrigley together for three more years with Ballarat Mars Stadium deal

[CAC]

I wonder what the capacity will be

I can't see any more than 13,000. The redeveloped hill won't be as big as the last.

[CAC]

Define success

Expanding membership beyond the tram tracks. If the club doesn't claim Western Victoria, then somebody else graciously will. Otherwise, how can we honestly proclaim to be "Sons of the West" if we aren't proactive to seize Melton (and beyond) out to the Victorian/South Australian border? Ballarat is the fastest growing inland city in Australia, even growing faster than Toowoomba. It's outpacing Greater Bendigo which dubiously claims the title based on a much larger 50 km radial footprint. The urban areas as of June 2024 were Ballarat 119,500 compared with Bendigo's 110,200. Ballarat is now consistently growing at 1.8% per annum against her Northern sister at 1.6%. For the record Toowoomba holds the title of 2nd biggest inland city (After Canberra) with an urban population of 142,000. What is working in Ballarat's favour is its position relative to Melbourne, close enough to be seriously convenient, but far enough removed to maintain its distinction and individual identity (Unlike Werribee and Melton). Many are now discovering Ballarat's charms and affordability. It serves as the regional hub or capitol of Western Victoria serving a population basin of half a million. It is a natural second base (or satellite) for the Western Bulldogs. At least we get our second base only a little over an hour from our home ground in Footscray. Other clubs have to sell home games well and truly interstate. Personally I would rather travel a couple of hours by car to see a "Home Game" in our own state than to have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to travel to the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland or Tasmania to watch a sold home game.

Yep, we have indeed struck a successful deal.

[Grantysghost]

Expanding membership beyond the tram tracks. If the club doesn't claim Western Victoria, then somebody else graciously will. Otherwise, how can we honestly proclaim to be "Sons of the West" if we aren't proactive to seize Melton (and beyond) out to the Victorian/South Australian border? Ballarat is the fastest growing inland city in Australia, even growing faster than Toowoomba. It's outpacing Greater Bendigo which dubiously claims the title based on a much larger 50 km radial footprint. The urban areas as of June 2024 were Ballarat 119,500 compared with Bendigo's 110,200. Ballarat is now consistently growing at 1.8% per annum against her Northern sister at 1.6%. For the record Toowoomba holds the title of 2nd biggest inland city (After Canberra) with an urban population of 142,000. What is working in Ballarat's favour is its position relative to Melbourne, close enough to be seriously convenient, but far enough removed to maintain its distinction and individual identity (Unlike Werribee and Melton). Many are now discovering Ballarat's charms and affordability. It serves as the regional hub or capitol of Western Victoria serving a population basin of half a million. It is a natural second base (or satellite) for the Western Bulldogs. At least we get our second base only a little over an hour from our home ground in Footscray. Other clubs have to sell home games well and truly interstate. Personally I would rather travel a couple of hours by car to see a "Home Game" in our own state than to have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to travel to the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland or Tasmania to watch a sold home game.

Yep, we have indeed struck a successful deal.

Did you ever go to Cairns?

Soooo nice.

I'm glad you like it CAC. Many are aligned with you.

Financially it's certainly a winner.

PS I'm from Melton ( don't tell anyone)

[CAC]

Did you ever go to Cairns?

Soooo nice.

I'm glad you like it CAC. Many are aligned with you.

Financially it's certainly a winner.

PS I'm from Melton ( don't tell anyone)

I lived in Townsville for nine years so I did go to Cairns on occasions. The contrast between Cairns and Townsville was amazing. One was very green and tropical, while the other sits in the dry tropics. Even the character of the two cities was in many ways completely different. Cairns had a more cosmopolitan feel with firm roots in tourism and international visitors, where as Townsville was firmly the more Australian and heavily influenced by the presence of a large Defence Force community. For the record, I don't mind Melton. I have watched it grow from a small town of a few thousand that we used to drive through when travelling from Ballarat to Melbourne back in the 70s, to a large city in its own right, to now almost becoming the western most outer reach of greater Melbourne. Sadly it may perhaps lose much of its distinction and character when the train line to Melton is eventually electrified as this will symbolically complete the absorbing of Melton into the metropolitan area. Every time I drive out of Melbourne I am still mesmerised by the speed at which the city is now expanding westward, filling out the once large tracts of empty land between what were once distinct townships and settlements between Deer Park and Melton. When using the V/line trains from Ballarat, it is an eye opener to see how many people literally pour onto the trains at Melton, Caroline Springs, Rock Bank and Deer Park.

[Grantysghost]

So true, it's crazy how big it is now.

And the trains! The libs floated electric trains to Melton in the 70s. Still hasn't happened. Problem with a safe labor seat.

Re Ballarat I love the town spent a lot of my time there. Personally I think one game a year is about right. Very early on so the weather is good.
Make it opening game with big fan fare even.