End nears for suburban NRL grounds

[Ozzy]

If the Sydney teams were still located in similar areas to what they were 100+ years ago (Newtown, Redfern, Glebe, Balmain, Sydney Uni, etc) then it's fair enough. However, with teams spanning from the Northern Beaches to the Shire and out to Campbelltown and Penrith the Victorian model just doesn't work. You could throw a blanket over half the suburbs represented in the VFL and the rest are from diffferent states.

These are actually cities in their own righ as is Parramatta.

 

[Valheru]

This.And I would have thought Annesley the Min of sport who lives in the shire,would understand the point.The public transport and road transport from the area to the SFS or ANZ on a monday or friday night, with family is plain dumb.
What applies in Melbourne doesn't apply to Sydney.
Have expressways going direct to the SFS and ANZ or direct rail link ,and there may be a chance.
Rest assured playing at the SFS Cronulla crowds would drop.
The Sharks owning their own ground should tell those in power to get knotted,that they will improve their own facilities.
The idea,much like the journo who wrote the article,plain stupid.
Imagine a Monday night,and its pissing down rain for a Shark's home game at the SFS,oh goodee,we will drag the family out after school ,battle our way through the peak hour traffic to get there.Then after the game has finished with the kiddies going to school next day, get home about 10-30pm.Yeah what a great marketing innovation.
How to make your club membership an even smaller one,without really trying.

Sydney public transport has its issues but the Cronulla/Waterfall line is not one of the problem areas. It is 40 minutes max from Sutherland to Central and 1 hour from door to door to the SFS if you plan it right on match day. I will concede that the SFS could do with a dedicated light rail line to it which would help its accessibility for all commuters but the buses on match day are more than sufficient.

The only night that is a school night is a Monday and that is more an issue with Monday night football itself rather than the sharks playing games at the SFS. Friday nights wouldn’t be ideal for the kids but that is the case regardless of where you play.

 

[seanoff]

This has been argued a thousand times - but its not a case of 'if Melbourne and the AFL can do it, than so can we'. Melbourne's AFL clubs all fit in a geographical area that is the equivalent to the Sydney Roosters (and a little bit of Souths) territory, and they have two world class stadiums in less than 5km away from each other.

From a State Government perspective, it isn't feasible to maintain and fund every stadium in the state. But this doesn't mean the NSW Government will be giving any funding to these grounds, but that it would not be a major contributor. The Sharks planned works for Toyota Park are still going ahead, because it is being funded as part of the development plan.

this argument is so fallacious it's breathtaking. the people that attend AFL games are spread all over melbourne and geelong. The population of Collingwood is 6500, they have 10X that number of members. they're like flies in the desert, everywhere. same with all the other teams.

 

[Raiderdave]

This has been argued a thousand times - but its not a case of 'if Melbourne and the AFL can do it, than so can we'. Melbourne's AFL clubs all fit in a geographical area that is the equivalent to the Sydney Roosters (and a little bit of Souths) territory, and they have two world class stadiums in less than 5km away from each other.

.

you think all of Melbournes AFL fans live in the old geographical locations ... so 10 to 15 mins from the CBD ?
the fans that follow AFL clubs in Melb come from all ova that city

the only real difference between the 2 cities is its easier to get to the centre of Melb , then either of the 2 main stadiums in Sydney

the ... all of the Melb AFL clubs territories cover a tiny area isn't a factor here

 

[Raiderdave]

this argument is so fallacious it's breathtaking. the people that attend AFL games are spread all over melbourne and geelong. The population of Collingwood is 6500, they have 10X that number of members. they're like flies in the desert, everywhere. same with all the other teams.

we were typing exactly the same thing ..... thats creepy :sarcasm:

 

[Ozzy]

I was born in Liverpool hospital. I lived the first half of my life in Sydney. I know Sydney.

So you weren't even born in Sydney.

 

[webbland]

Good. Suburban grounds are a blight on the game and make us look amateur on the world stage. A professional sport should use state of the art stadiums, not run down ugly pieces of dog turd.

what looks uglier - a suburban ground full of cheering supporters or a state of the art stadium 1/3 full with no hill,20 min walk to food/drink 20 min wait for food/drink and supporters divided into 2 sides of the stadium.
if this is to occur it is the beginning of the end for the average joe who goes to the footy.ticket prices will soar as will all that goes with it.
then you won't be able to scream at the other teams players as there will be some knob ready to kick you out because you may upset another knob.
watching footy with binoculars ain't fun
fkn suits keeping us plebs inline,trying to destroy OUR values

 

[Panfas]

I was born in Liverpool hospital. I lived the first half of my life in Sydney. I know Sydney.

First half of your life? WTF would you know about sydney now. How old are you then?

Lets say you are now 20, means you were 10 when you left Sydney. You would know f**k all about Sydney

Lets say you are 30, means you were 15 when you left Sydney. Again you would know f**k all about Sydney

Lets say you are 40, means you were 20 when you left Sydney. Means it has been 20 years since you lived here. You would know f**k all about Sydney TODAY.

But you are probably only 15 or something, again you would know f**k all about Sydney.

Derp!

 

[betcats]

I was born in Liverpool hospital. I lived the first half of my life in Sydney. I know Sydney.

You're like young 20's right?

So at most you were 11 or 12 when you moved north.

You never lived here while you had a drivers license, never had to commute to work across town or further everyday and you can probably count on 2 hands the amount of times you have been to Sydney since.

Oh yes, you know Sydney.

 

[Desert Qlder]

what so make 3 clubs who are basically neighbours, travel to a place near none of them for a local derby?

sounds like a fuggen geniused idea to me.

Well we all hear what we want to hear fella, and you've clearly made up your mind.

But if the SFS has a covered roof, can accomodate 45000 supporters and can generate an insane atmosphere for such clashes, then it will appeal to far more than you and your cohorts.

 

[webbland]

With the 5 year strategy in place to increase crowds, entry will be more price friendly so teams playing infront of 10K will be a thing of the past

name something that has a service side to it ie staff that has come down in prices in the last 5 yrs
it will COST certain clubs to play out of their area so they will get compensated and then the nrl will charge average joe extra

 

[Red Bear]

Can't see how Manly playing out of SFS in front of 10K will make us look 'more professional'???

Sick of this argument that just because it works in Melb for the VFL that it'll work here. NRL and Sydney is very different, that is the spread of clubs is far greater than in Melb, which is why the two stadiums thing works there.

Completely different geography also, with water all through sydney making transport between various places more difficult compared with Melbourne

Hope this doesnt happen, love a sunday arvo at Leichhardt.

 

[LineBall]

Well we all hear what we want to hear fella, and you've clearly made up your mind.

But if the SFS has a covered roof, can accomodate 45000 supporters and can generate an insane atmosphere for such clashes, then it will appeal to far more than you and your cohorts.

Also, if say the sharks and saints played their clash at the SFS and could get 40,000 to the game - wouldn't both teams benefit by sharing the gate takings?

 

[webbland]

Meh, if Manly don't want to travel then fold. Simple. The NRL does not need the club with the least amount of fans anyway. Survival of the fittest.

YOU ARE A FKNG IDIOT NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT
you don't hunt chickens but c**ks in my opinion

 

[Frailty]

this argument is so fallacious it's breathtaking. the people that attend AFL games are spread all over melbourne and geelong. The population of Collingwood is 6500, they have 10X that number of members. they're like flies in the desert, everywhere. same with all the other teams.

I actually live in Melbourne, and I can tell you that from the outskirts of Melbourne it takes no more than 40mins to get to the MCG or Etihad. This can't be done in Sydney.

Furthermore, the original argument had to do with clubs 'spiritual' home grounds... So it is easier and more accessible for Campbelltown fans to go to Campbelltown... Collingwood is 5 mins away from the MCG.

The furthest team from the City (Essendon) is 15 mins away from Etihad stadium...

 

[webbland]

Good. Being positive about suburban grounds is dated thinking.

where or why is it dated thinking.you are forgetting what the game is all about-the people.if you believe that fans will travel upto 2 hrs every week into the cityeither by public transport or by their own vehicle to be booked by non caring councils than you just aren't thinking

 

[newman]

Absolutely, and no doubt such a move would be a resounding success. I've said before on these forums that if my club (North Queensland) was the team to play the game at Belmore, then I would think that to be fantastic. I'd even enjoy making the trip as an away supporter to such a game.

Now from a Cronulla perspective, is it fair for me to say that Cronulla should entertain the notion of moving one or two games to the SFS for their rivalry clashes? If marketed well the could generate huge crowds and be large events.

From my point of view the big matches at shark park are a major highlight of the season. Should there be repeated fan lock outs due to sell outs the idea should be explored, but only then.

We might get an interesting test case in 2014. After the end of the regular season the dozers will roll in to start work on the development and there is some talk internally of playing out of the SFS for the next year to give the builders free reign.

 

[webbland]

Why on earth would people go to watch their team
play home games at a stadium that holds no historical significance what so ever?

Soulless half empty stadium that are a mission to get to
will lose supporters if anything.

The whole idea is absurd.

Rugby league is at its best played to a packed crowd
in a suburban ground.

at last a man with a brain

 

[Desert Qlder]

I actually live in Melbourne, and I can tell you that from the outskirts of Melbourne it takes no more than 40mins to get to the MCG or Etihad. This can't be done in Sydney.

Furthermore, the original argument had to do with clubs 'spiritual' home grounds... So it is easier and more accessible for Campbelltown fans to go to Campbelltown... Collingwood is 5 mins away from the MCG.

The furthest team from the City (Essendon) is 15 mins away from Etihad stadium...

Likewise, and everything you've stated is true.

There is NO comparison between Sydney and Melbourne as geographical entities.

 

[Eels Dude]

this argument is so fallacious it's breathtaking. the people that attend AFL games are spread all over melbourne and geelong. The population of Collingwood is 6500, they have 10X that number of members. they're like flies in the desert, everywhere. same with all the other teams.

you think all of Melbournes AFL fans live in the old geographical locations ... so 10 to 15 mins from the CBD ?
the fans that follow AFL clubs in Melb come from all ova that city

the only real difference between the 2 cities is its easier to get to the centre of Melb , then either of the 2 main stadiums in Sydney

the ... all of the Melb AFL clubs territories cover a tiny area isn't a factor here

Difference is all the clubs in Sydney already have their supporter bases, and they are generally from the local area their club represents. AFL fans in Melbourne are different and have no choice but to support a team of their choosing. If we were to start a comp all over and assign 8 new Sydney clubs from varying regions then you might have a point, bit that's not going to happen. You can't just take Penrith out of Penrith and Cronulla out of the Shire, or Manly out of Manly and expect their fans to follow them.