Eels move two games to Telstra Stadium

[MarkInTheStands]

There is an upgrade coming isn't there?

Yes a 12 Million Dollar, Stand in the South which will include a Gym and Function Centre. Of which the state pledged about a 1/3rd at the Election. So you still need to find a way to pay for 2/3rds of that.

Then you will need another of the same sort on the North end.

Then the Corners filled in, and moving / changing of the lights.

Plus a 5 Million Dollar Big Screen, that will last on average about 5 years. So we need to the up keep on that. It would be better if it was where everyone could see it. Which will either increase cost or decrease capacity.

In effect it will take years at the current rate. Parramatta Leagues club could fund this themselves, if certain problems were not encountered.

 

[Suitman]

Yes a 12 Million Dollar, Stand in the South which will include a Gym and Function Centre. Of which the state pledged about a 1/3rd at the Election. So you still need to find a way to pay for 2/3rds of that.

Then you will need another of the same sort on the North end.

Then the Corners filled in, and moving / changing of the lights.

Plus a 5 Million Dollar Big Screen, that will last on average about 5 years. So we need to the up keep on that. It would be better if it was where everyone could see it. Which will either increase cost or decrease capacity.

In effect it will take years at the current rate. Parramatta Leagues club could fund this themselves, if certain problems were not encountered.

Twizzle will be 200 years old when all that happens.

Suity

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Twizzle will be 200 years old when all that happens.

Suity

Wow so it will be done in 5 years.

You have inside information I don't

 

[strider]

Twizzle will be 200 years old when all that happens.

Suity

it'll happen next year?

edit: man - u gotta be quick with the "twizz is old" jokes these days - everyone is in on them

 

[B-Tron 3000]

The More Money we get, the More Fans will be able to see us play football.

No, you've got it entirely the wrong way around.

The more fans we get, the more atmosphere at our home games, the more buzz there is around town, the more fans we get, the more atmosphere ...etc etc... the more corporate interest, the more flogging of Parraphernalia, the more money we get.

You (and by 'you' I'm not aiming this at you Mark, but the general 'you') can talk all you like about alternative money-making schemes, but it all starts with getting fans to the games. The best way to do that is to make them feel like they are a part of something, that the club is a community that they belong to. Then the bandwagon lightens and the stayers increase. And we've had quite a big bandwagon of late, wouldn't you agree?

Once you increase your base the $$ follow, because sponsors and corporates want to associate themselves. That's why the NRL went through its 'become a member' drive last year - it saw how AFL teams do it, and the Victory (Melbournites in general are much more into their clubs and memberships as opposed to just rocking up), and wanted to follow suit. But it didn't work. Why not? Because you can't just say "oh, please become a member". You've got to give something to get something. And our club has been all take when it comes to the fans.


I repeat:

this club has stood by and done absolutely nothing to increase the fanbase. With the growth in areas like Kellyville etc on the outskirts of Parra, you'd have thought that our fanbase would be increasing. But it's not. It has treated us like f**king sh*t for years, and now we're all paying the penalty.

It is human behaviour to identify a risk and not invest in it. People become very worried when businesses are reporting losses or less than predicted gains.

Everyone can see how well the Football Club or Leagues club is going. It's no big secret.

It's not - as the Colonel said - that I (and others, but I won't speak for anyone but me on this obviously devisive issue) can't see the forest for the trees. It doesn't take a genius to realise that it's about money! The issue is that I'm not happy that it has come to this, and the way it was done.

It's not like the attraction for sponsors etc is going to be any less if they say "The Parramatta Stadium games are costing us money, Telstra is offering us a significant financial windfall which we see as productive for our future" and then - if they so desire - even a political shot at the councils about the amount of investment into upgrades for Parra Stadium. They tried to pay the political game and pretend it was about the fans, and they failed. Miserably. Again.



But really, when it boils down to it, I question the entire direction Rugby League is taking. With Phil Gould blabbering on about "keeping our players in the game", I'd like to ask "How?" We simply cannot, and - here's the thing - will never be able to compete with Union, AFL, cricket, even soccer in the future. It just won't happen. We should be selling this game as a boutique sport. To do that we should be playing it at boutique grounds.

I can see the forest for the trees alright, and it's overgrown with the weeds of other codes. We need to find a nice little hut and shelter down where we can watch our own backyard and fight off invasion. If we try and fight them out in the open we will lose. Think about it - this decision might help Parra for a few years, but what is going to happen in 10, 20, 50, 100, when there is minimal community feel to the league and soccer and AFL are swamping us? In business you either compete with the big boys or you find your niche. League - and our club - can't work out which one it wants to do.


You know the funny thing - it doesn't mean squat if people don't attend Telstra. We'll be making cash just from being there. So it's not as if boycotting it is hurting the club's new money-making ideals anyway.

 

[butch82]

No, you've got it entirely the wrong way around.

The more fans we get, the more atmosphere at our home games, the more buzz there is around town, the more fans we get, the more atmosphere ...etc etc... the more corporate interest, the more flogging of Parraphernalia, the more money we get.

You (and by 'you' I'm not aiming this at you Mark, but the general 'you') can talk all you like about alternative money-making schemes, but it all starts with getting fans to the games. The best way to do that is to make them feel like they are a part of something, that the club is a community that they belong to. Then the bandwagon lightens and the stayers increase. And we've had quite a big bandwagon of late, wouldn't you agree?

Once you increase your base the $$ follow, because sponsors and corporates want to associate themselves. That's why the NRL went through its 'become a member' drive last year - it saw how AFL teams do it, and the Victory (Melbournites in general are much more into their clubs and memberships as opposed to just rocking up), and wanted to follow suit. But it didn't work. Why not? Because you can't just say "oh, please become a member". You've got to give something to get something. And our club has been all take when it comes to the fans.


I repeat:

this club has stood by and done absolutely nothing to increase the fanbase. With the growth in areas like Kellyville etc on the outskirts of Parra, you'd have thought that our fanbase would be increasing. But it's not. It has treated us like f**king sh*t for years, and now we're all paying the penalty.




Everyone can see how well the Football Club or Leagues club is going. It's no big secret.

It's not - as the Colonel said - that I (and others, but I won't speak for anyone but me on this obviously devisive issue) can't see the forest for the trees. It doesn't take a genius to realise that it's about money! The issue is that I'm not happy that it has come to this, and the way it was done.

It's not like the attraction for sponsors etc is going to be any less if they say "The Parramatta Stadium games are costing us money, Telstra is offering us a significant financial windfall which we see as productive for our future" and then - if they so desire - even a political shot at the councils about the amount of investment into upgrades for Parra Stadium. They tried to pay the political game and pretend it was about the fans, and they failed. Miserably. Again.



But really, when it boils down to it, I question the entire direction Rugby League is taking. With Phil Gould blabbering on about "keeping our players in the game", I'd like to ask "How?" We simply cannot, and - here's the thing - will never be able to compete with Union, AFL, cricket, even soccer in the future. It just won't happen. We should be selling this game as a boutique sport. To do that we should be playing it at boutique grounds.

I can see the forest for the trees alright, and it's overgrown with the weeds of other codes. We need to find a nice little hut and shelter down where we can watch our own backyard and fight off invasion. If we try and fight them out in the open we will lose. Think about it - this decision might help Parra for a few years, but what is going to happen in 10, 20, 50, 100, when there is minimal community feel to the league and soccer and AFL are swamping us? In business you either compete with the big boys or you find your niche. League - and our club - can't work out which one it wants to do.


You know the funny thing - it doesn't mean squat if people don't attend Telstra. We'll be making cash just from being there. So it's not as if boycotting it is hurting the club's new money-making ideals anyway.

spot on 100 %

 

[eels_fan_01]

You'd think the Eels team have killed someone.

2 friggin games of the whole friggin year and in other years we had one in ANOTHER country, these are both in Sydney. Lame.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

It really is stupid isn't it? i mean two f**king games a couple of k's away. Oh boo f**king hoo season ticket holders didn't know! go and get a f**king refund then! the games away actually do non season ticket holders now a favour, guarentee us a seat at a big game unlike before where there was a potential chance it wouldn't occur. And there are alot more non season ticket holder that support Parramatta then season ticket holders.

This thread is now 16 pages because it invloves DF. I don't like DF but i'm very happy with this move, and he has now done something if he hadn't before. DF hasn't done much to attract new supporters, or introduce initatitives which out do other clubs in relation to membership drives etc, hell even our website wouldn't even rate close to a porn website specializing in former league players using a corner post as another form of foreplay, but in this instance he is trying to do something proactive ( which it is) and i hope he continues to improve.

If i were supporters i would be more angry at the ticket sales to each game for young families, and the medicore, costly food associated with it. Or the fact that our legends continue to diassociated with our club...there's a couple of gripes for everyone to get there tits in a tangle over in relation to Dennis.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

double post

 

[Nikki]

OK.. There are a few points floating around in my head that I probably wont articulate as well as B-Tron has... But here goes..

As I have stated before, I am not happy about the move. IMO it was announced deceptively. The leagues club/football club send out annual reports every year. If we were in financial difficulties and this moves fixes that then why not include even a one page report with the Season ticket renewals? Show where we are running at a loss and how these two games can contribute and maybe where the funds would be used. We are not idiots, but DF seems to treat us like so.

Secondly, the issue of the NZ home game keeps popping up. I have never really had an issue with this as I think I have stated before. Again, we made money from this (?) but for mine it also did right by our overseas fans (at least the club was treating someone right). Dont underestimate the amount of Eels fans, or Rugby League fans in general over in NZ. Also, we have a few polynesian boys in our team. Was nice for them to have overseas family at the games as well.. Then there was the extra money made on merchandise sold over there (I would like to hope we used to take some over there). People there probably cant easily get their hands on Parra stuff.. Two birds, one stone.

On that note, just out of interest, does anyone know roughly what our merchandise stands at home games would bring in each week, and how much of a percentage goes the the club itself.

TBH, I am still uming and ahing about purchasing a Season Ticket for next year. Personal factors weigh into that decision too. But if I do decide to renew and the price still hasnt been adjusted to take the Telstra games out of the equation, or its not a option given to me then I probably wont renew.

 

[The Engineers Room]

You'd think the Eels team have killed someone.

2 friggin games of the whole friggin year and in other years we had one in ANOTHER country, these are both in Sydney. Lame.

It was the way it was done. We knew about the NZ game and we weren't already paying for it. Now we have had an increase in the fee and are paying for two games when we don't know whether we will get good seats or not. And we still don't know if we will have to fork out extra.

 

[The Colonel]

I can see the forest for the trees alright, and it's overgrown with the weeds of other codes. We need to find a nice little hut and shelter down where we can watch our own backyard and fight off invasion. If we try and fight them out in the open we will lose. Think about it - this decision might help Parra for a few years, but what is going to happen in 10, 20, 50, 100, when there is minimal community feel to the league and soccer and AFL are swamping us? In business you either compete with the big boys or you find your niche. League - and our club - can't work out which one it wants to do.

:lol:

I don't think you can see the forest for the trees because your head is stuck somewhere else quite comfortably.

If we become insular the game will not survive against the likes of AFL and soccer. The game is already insular enough in that the NRL only sees the NRL and doesn't consider the grass roots of rugby league anymore.

To pursue your vision the game will lose sponsorship money, fans and players who will find other avenues because the money will not be there for them to make it a career choice worth taking. Making the game a boutique game will turn rugby league into park rugby union (three men and a dog) and league doesn't have the international game to survive in that atmosphere. Remaining insular will only see the hard core fans sitting and watching the best of our players either head across to Union or the English Super League and watch their competition turn into the premier competition.

I don't generally agree with much of what the NRL and for that matter a lot of the clubs, including our own, actually do but in this instance they have recognised that league can't be kept inside the boutique suburban grounds anymore if they are going to compete in the Australian sporting scene.

As much crap as PHaC and Crowe get about pushing the image of Souths forward in some ways they have managed to get the administrators of rugby league to move forward rather than stagnate and be taken over by the likes of soccer and AFL. I'm not 100% sure about the Hollywood nature that surrounds Souths but rather than build a 12,000 seat stadium and be happy with filling that every second week they are actually looking forward to increasing their STH base up to 30,000 people inside 5 years. Now as much as I think that is pie in the sky they are at least setting a target and trying to move forward. The Eels club can either sit back and adopt your vision and most likely become like Newtown and North Sydney or they can compete in the NRL for years to come.

I can appreciate that the likes of Nikki and Hellsy are upset about the way the club have moved the games but I can't appreciate your insular vision for rugby league.

 

[B-Tron 3000]

Fair enough Colonel.

I see your point. I didn't mean that Rugby League shouldn't try to move forward, but it's the way you try and move forward that is important. My little metaphor about staying in your hut was a bit silly, but really I was just enjoying staying with the 'forest for the trees' line and got a bit carried away.

I don't believe you can move forward in the battle of the codes without first shoring up what you already have. It seems to me that the stagnating, even dwindling, attitude towards the Eels from people in the area is dangerous for our long-term future. How often do you go into Parramatta nowadays? I'm there all the time and rarely see people in Eels stuff. You never see banners or streamers up anymore. People just don't care.

Marketers will tell you that sport now competes with movies and the like for the entertainment dollar, but sport has a big advantage - it can put its roots down in the community. It can make people feel part of a club. If you don't do these things properly then you are in serious danger when 'expansion' takes place, because who are you expanding for?

Anyway, we're not going to get anywhere in this debate. I still understand why the club did this, and I understand to a degree why people are accepting it. But it doesn't change the fact I think the club has failed us by getting into this situation. It doesn't change the fact that there are teams out there with lesser profiles and worse stadiums than us that have managed to stay at their homes, and that our club has been found incredibly wanting in many regards. Look at the Sharks, at least they have changed their CEO a few times in an attempt to fix things.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

No, you've got it entirely the wrong way around.

The more fans we get, the more atmosphere at our home games, the more buzz there is around town, the more fans we get, the more atmosphere ...etc etc... the more corporate interest, the more flogging of Parraphernalia, the more money we get.

No, I think you will find it is you who are mistaken, about a great many things. The Club has stated in the press release, this is to help the Fans, to accomodate the fans. The thing is we can always get the fans in. It is the Corporates we can't get in. But there is a reason for that. WE ARE FULL.

B-Tron I don't know where you sit at Parramatta Stadium, I normally Sit in the Cronin Stand, but one thing I can tell you, each and every week, the Corporates are full. Each time we play those seats and the Corp Boxes are Full. We can't get anyone in. Part of the requirements for the new Stand is a function room that can hold 500 people. So they can watch the football cocktail style if need be after the other corporate seats it will have are filled. We have the Ability to attract more support. We just don't have the room. The More room we have, the More Corporates we can get. Normally you can have smaller sponsors rotate through the Open Air Boxes at different games each year, but the games they want to see the most are the big ticket items. If we can accomodate all of the Open Air Boxes and More Corporates at Telstra for the big ticket games. Then I say it is a good move. We can generate more sponsorship and support.

You (and by 'you' I'm not aiming this at you Mark, but the general 'you') can talk all you like about alternative money-making schemes, but it all starts with getting fans to the games. The best way to do that is to make them feel like they are a part of something, that the club is a community that they belong to. Then the bandwagon lightens and the stayers increase. And we've had quite a big bandwagon of late, wouldn't you agree?

Once you increase your base the $$ follow, because sponsors and corporates want to associate themselves. That's why the NRL went through its 'become a member' drive last year - it saw how AFL teams do it, and the Victory (Melbournites in general are much more into their clubs and memberships as opposed to just rocking up), and wanted to follow suit. But it didn't work. Why not? Because you can't just say "oh, please become a member". You've got to give something to get something. And our club has been all take when it comes to the fans.


I repeat:

this club has stood by and done absolutely nothing to increase the fanbase. With the growth in areas like Kellyville etc on the outskirts of Parra, you'd have thought that our fanbase would be increasing. But it's not. It has treated us like f**king sh*t for years, and now we're all paying the penalty.

Don't try to tell me all this sort of stuff. I knew this two years ago. I have put my suggestions to the club to fix it. I am currently Co-authoring a report with Fellow forumites that show this. But in the Harsh Reality, we can survive without them all, but we don't want to survive, we want to thrive and grow, and Telstra Stadium, even for those two games will see us grow.

Everyone can see how well the Football Club or Leagues club is going. It's no big secret.

It's not - as the Colonel said - that I (and others, but I won't speak for anyone but me on this obviously devisive issue) can't see the forest for the trees. It doesn't take a genius to realise that it's about money! The issue is that I'm not happy that it has come to this, and the way it was done.

It's not like the attraction for sponsors etc is going to be any less if they say "The Parramatta Stadium games are costing us money, Telstra is offering us a significant financial windfall which we see as productive for our future" and then - if they so desire - even a political shot at the councils about the amount of investment into upgrades for Parra Stadium. They tried to pay the political game and pretend it was about the fans, and they failed. Miserably. Again.

But is that good business when we are still trying to get the stadium upgraded, or even to get the State Goverment, who own the Stadium, Via the Trust to pay us to play there.

You know the funny thing - it doesn't mean squat if people don't attend Telstra. We'll be making cash just from being there. So it's not as if boycotting it is hurting the club's new money-making ideals anyway.

No the Boycott only hurts you. But we are a family on this board, and no one likes to see a member of the Family hurt now, do they?

 

[MarkInTheStands]

It was the way it was done. We knew about the NZ game and we weren't already paying for it. Now we have had an increase in the fee and are paying for two games when we don't know whether we will get good seats or not. And we still don't know if we will have to fork out extra.

I am pretty sure they have said Comparable Seats, so that means, if you have seats on the half way line, You are going to get seats on the half way line.

I am also Pretty sure they have said they will accommodate the Season Ticket Holders, which to my mind would mean, No extra Charge. If there is a charge, then I would expect the refunds to be applicable for those games.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

OK.. There are a few points floating around in my head that I probably wont articulate as well as B-Tron has... But here goes..

As I have stated before, I am not happy about the move. IMO it was announced deceptively. The leagues club/football club send out annual reports every year. If we were in financial difficulties and this moves fixes that then why not include even a one page report with the Season ticket renewals? Show where we are running at a loss and how these two games can contribute and maybe where the funds would be used. We are not idiots, but DF seems to treat us like so.

But Nikki, that makes so many assumptions. You are assuming, we knew we would have to go to Telstra when the STH booklet was sent out. The Last annual Reports were sent out last year. You then also assume that we knew exactly how this year would effect us. Now Denis is good, but forcasting that, nah I think you are over estermating.

Secondly, the issue of the NZ home game keeps popping up. I have never really had an issue with this as I think I have stated before. Again, we made money from this (?) but for mine it also did right by our overseas fans (at least the club was treating someone right). Dont underestimate the amount of Eels fans, or Rugby League fans in general over in NZ. Also, we have a few polynesian boys in our team. Was nice for them to have overseas family at the games as well.. Then there was the extra money made on merchandise sold over there (I would like to hope we used to take some over there). People there probably cant easily get their hands on Parra stuff.. Two birds, one stone.

On that note, just out of interest, does anyone know roughly what our merchandise stands at home games would bring in each week, and how much of a percentage goes the the club itself.

The Games in the Wiakato, we are talking about a place, that is at Most an Hours Drive from Auckland.

TBH, I am still uming and ahing about purchasing a Season Ticket for next year. Personal factors weigh into that decision too. But if I do decide to renew and the price still hasnt been adjusted to take the Telstra games out of the equation, or its not a option given to me then I probably wont renew.

Thats Fair, I understand you don't like going to Telstra. I don't know for what reason as I have always enjoyed going to Telstra stadium, I have no Ill Experiences going to that venue. But I guess you would have to contact the club to ask if it will be an option, or wait for the Season Ticket Holders December news letter.

 

[The Colonel]

Lived in Parramatta for six years before recently moving, was a season ticket holder before that and then spent the past four years working as an event volunteer for the club...... while there are not many streamers and the like about there are still a number of businesses in the area that support the Eels wholeheartedly.

The problem is however is that the demographic of Parramatta is changing - bigger business is moving into the area and Parramatta is slowly but surely becoming a second CBD. It is just as common now to see a Broncos, Panthers or Dragons jersey in Church St as it is to see an Eels one. And that isn't the fault of the Eels either - more and more people are moving into the area because they are now working and living there.

I am now living out in Moree and there are a good deal of Eels supporters out here as well - you can't just cater for the Parramatta area anymore but consider the size of your market to be bigger than just the area they are in.

Last year the Eels took the step of advertising games in the Chinese, Italian and Greek papers to try and encourage new supporters into the game - pretty much a first by any club apparently when the newspapers reported it. This is because of the demographic change. I'm pretty sure that they will do that again next year in an attempt to draw more supporters into the club.

Putting your roots down in the community is one thing but as that community grows so does your roots.

Look at the Sharks, at least they have changed their CEO a few times in an attempt to fix things.

They have changed their CEO beacuse they have been going nowhere on the field, had one commit suicide and have even had a past CEO attack a young St George supporter and hack his jersey up with a pair of scissors. They haven't necessarily changed to fix things up on the field until now appointing Tony Zappia.

 

[sportive cupid]

Sorry ,I can't see why someone who has no problem with home games going to NZ has a problem with going up the road for a home game. I see the arguments you used such as having a sizable fan base there BUT how then doesn't this also apply to the fan base in the Homebush area.(there are Parra fans everywhere-many who find it easier to access Telstra).

 

[B-Tron 3000]

No, I think you will find it is you who are mistaken, about a great many things. The Club has stated in the press release, this is to help the Fans, to accomodate the fans. The thing is we can always get the fans in. It is the Corporates we can't get in. But there is a reason for that. WE ARE FULL.

Right, you and Colonel make some valid points, and I'm not going to argue them all, I still don't like the move, but it is this point that once again proves that we've been treated like fools.

Why the "Telstra is 4 times bigger than Parra...." crap. Everyone knows we aren't going to go anywhere near the capacity. It was nonsense used to try and fool us into thinking it wasn't all about corporates.

No the Boycott only hurts you. But we are a family on this board, and no one likes to see a member of the Family hurt now, do they?

Ha! That's my point though, isn't it?

You may care about your fellow fans, and most fans do, but the club doesn't.

 

[B-Tron 3000]

Last year the Eels took the step of advertising games in the Chinese, Italian and Greek papers to try and encourage new supporters into the game - pretty much a first by any club apparently when the newspapers reported it. This is because of the demographic change. I'm pretty sure that they will do that again next year in an attempt to draw more supporters into the club.

Putting your roots down in the community is one thing but as that community grows so does your roots.

Yeah I remember how amazed I was that the club was actually thinking about stuff like that. It was certainly a first. But it was only driven by the fact that they could see the pokie-tax writing on the wall. Where were the initiatives BEFORE we hit problems. It mirrored the club's idea that we'd be ok once all the 80s stars retired. Lack of foresight.

Despite their movings in that one area, I still think our leaders are stale. Very. very stale. Why does Mark have to hammer them about what they are doing for the fans before they act?

Anyway, I'll probably calm down by next year and end up going to bloody Telstra. And the club knows this, and they take advantage of us.