NRL, AFL and Union to shutdown for 8 weeks

[Teddyboy]

Teddyboy, I think you are wrong on the upgrades, it will be good.

As has been said, the NRL won't be run during the world cup if we get it. Teams will be camped at grounds, eg Brazil is at WIN stadium, England at Parramatta, France at Brookvale et cetera. 32 teams requiring world class facilities. This will mean training facilities at our clubs will be upgraded big time.

Canberra probably loses quite a few fans because the weather at their stadium is terrible. If they get a nice all seater with a good roof and improved transport, their crowds will probably go up. I hate sitting there in the freezing wind and rain, fog settling in. Not fun.

Most of the 45k venues (latest goss being Penrith, EA Stadium, Dairy Farmers, Canberra, (and ovals Adelaide Oval, Carara)) would be reduced after the event and would end up longer term more like Skilled Park. The removable stands would be relocated to other grounds (such as behind the goals at Parra or Campbeltown), better facilities and capacity brought to 30k ish for those used in the bid, so its win win for everyone.

The only places where there will be more empty seats will be the grounds permanently upgraded, but they will be the big city venues or venues that want to draw bigger events (possibly Canberra and Newcastle) so its not a problem.

Penrith becoming a 45000 seater:lol:

 

[Goddo]

Bribery will be required I guess. FFA plan to build up a war kitty from it and use that against league and AFL, but they will need to pay out huge bribes to AFL and NRL to go ahead.

Good to hear Gallop and Demitreauaeuae are talking to each other to see how much $ they can get out of the Government and FFA. Odd thought AFL and NRL uniting though...

If we get major stadium redevelopment, improved training facilities and stadiums for all our teams and a HUGE bribe to the NRL to not play for 8 weeks, it doesn't seem a bad deal. Thats what FFA will have to do for it to happen.

 

[Goddo]

Penrith becoming a 45000 seater:lol:

I know, I think its rediculous too, but that is the word on the street, that location 12 will be Western Sydney. Concidering Wollongong is out with its new stand at WIN Stadium, where else could the 12th stadium be? Tasmania has said it won't. Where else could it go? Geelong? They have to go Western Sydney, and with a new A league team out there, FIFA might just allow it.

This article talking about funding guarentee for Dairy Farmers to 40k mentions it...
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/10/24/88891_news.html

Newcastle's Energy Australia Stadium, Carrara on the Gold Coast, Canberra's Bruce Stadium and a venue in Sydney's west would also be redeveloped.

Won't be Parramatta as its too close to Homebush. The idea is it would be a rebuilt Penrith to 30k permanent seats (mostly in east and west grandstands) with North and South stands 15k relocatable temporary stands (would be great if shifted to Parramatta and Campbeltown afterwards). Only other location would be Blacktown AFL ground, >< which would be stupid concidering the number of Ovals already in the bid. There are some huge hurdles the FFA and government will have to overcome before the end of this year.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Can someone tell me why Carrara is going to be used instead of Robina?

Seems kinda pointless to finally make it rectangular after we just built Skilled Park...

 

[Perth Red]

Wonder how much the "sweetner" would need to be to get AFL and NRL to agree to shutting down or moving out of town? AFL have alot less to gain as at least we will end up with decent stadia for the NRL for the future. Ideally the NRL should be pushing those stadia most in need of work as the preferred ones.

For $100mill to fund NRL expansion over the next 15 years and updated stadia for 6-10 NRL clubs I could live with 8 weeks disruption!

If the NRL has any sense they would be using this as a push to get a new rectangular 44,000 stadium in the West somewhere for Tigers, Bulldogs and Parramatta to share.

 

[Teddyboy]

Wonder how much the "sweetner" would need to be to get AFL and NRL to agree to shutting down or moving out of town? AFL have alot less to gain as at least we will end up with decent stadia for the NRL for the future. Ideally the NRL should be pushing those stadia most in need of work as the preferred ones.

For $100mill to fund NRL expansion over the next 15 years and updated stadia for 6-10 NRL clubs I could live with 8 weeks disruption!

If the NRL has any sense they would be using this as a push to get a new rectangular 44,000 stadium in the West somewhere for Tigers, Bulldogs and Parramatta to share.

But what happens to the stadiums after the Soccer circus leaves town and the Big White Elephants stroll into Australia.

 

[The Tank]

But what happens to the stadiums after the Soccer circus leaves town and the Big White Elephants stroll into Australia.

NRL and A-League clubs, obviously. Possibly union aswell.

 

[duck_dodgers]

Whose comparing countries sizes? Im comparing the disruption caused by a soccer WC.


Surely the cannot expect the nations workforce to grind to a halt, which is what you are suggesting if the nations infrastructure cannot cather for the needs of the woprkforce. During peak hour (now 8 hours per day in Sydney) there IS no available public transport.



Were there not 32 soccer teams in the Sydney Olympics in 2000? We coped then - and a hell of a lot bigger than a 32 team comp with 11 players per side spread over an entire country.

Ending the season 2 weeks early for the greater good of sport was the right thing to do. An 8 week disruption for a competitor is a totally different thing, and if FIFA are going to use 10 rl grounds, the SCG, Showground, Concord, NSO, the Redfern training facility, and Belmore and the Union grounds like Milner Field, Manly Oval, Coogee Oval, Trumper Park as well as Bluetongue and Win when they are only playing games at SFS and ANZ - what's that - almost one ground per player? All would be suitable for training venues, plus specialist training venues belongong to clubs and other sports.

There are plenty of training locations available. Hell, they can even be shared.

You started the USA analogy and the size discrepancy & subsequent stadia advantage is a significant one . Our size and lack of stadia is a major reason why we probably won't get the WC and as others have mentioned in this thread , a reason why we want the WC . We need to build new and ugrade existing stadia to cater for the WC , the USA initially identified 70 stadia for their WC bid and since trimmed it to 32 with an average capacity of 74,000 .


Even though it won't be their "turn" geographically , I reckon the USA will get it again in 2022 after England in 2018 . I reckon we'll have to settle for the Asian Cup in 2015 .

Olympic soccer tournaments have only 16 teams and are u/23 with 3 overage players allowed , most of the major stars of world football don't play . The tournament , like the Olympics , runs for 2 weeks .

Your fear of allowing a "competitor" 8 weeks of 1 year is humourous . If the NRL & AFL were in a competition with FIFA for resources then it would be all over for the oval shaped ball games . The 2008 RLWC recorded a profit of $5 Million ... the 2006 Soccer world cup recorded a profit of $6 Billion .

Maybe that's why Kevin 07 is so keen on the round ball version , after all he's such a soccer tragic :lol: .

Anyway , like I said earlier , I don't think we've got a hope . To FIFA , gaining a greater presence in a country of 300 million far outweighs farting around in a country of 20 million .

 

[Loudstrat]

:lol: Soccer is not a competitor of Rugby League.

Can I have your drugs?

 

[bobmar28]

Wonder how much the "sweetner" would need to be to get AFL and NRL to agree to shutting down or moving out of town? AFL have alot less to gain as at least we will end up with decent stadia for the NRL for the future. Ideally the NRL should be pushing those stadia most in need of work as the preferred ones.

For $100mill to fund NRL expansion over the next 15 years and updated stadia for 6-10 NRL clubs I could live with 8 weeks disruption!

If the NRL has any sense they would be using this as a push to get a new rectangular 44,000 stadium in the West somewhere for Tigers, Bulldogs and Parramatta to share.

Revisit the 2000 plan for a 40k seater at liverpool proposed by the Bulldogs at the time as part of the oasis development.

 

[Goddo]

Duck we do have a huge hope, the reason being, holding the thing in an Asia friendly timezone maximises the TV revenue for FIFA. A key part of Australia's bid is that they have done economic estimates and aparently holding it here will make a lot more money for FIFA than holding it in Europe or America.

The reason being, Europe and the Americas will watch regardless, where Asia is more iffy, and by holding it in an Asia friendly timezone it maximises tv dollars. And I don't have to tell you guys the value they have to a sport.

Revenue raising is the same for them as it is for us, its just they are on a much larger scale

 

[Goddo]

Can someone tell me why Carrara is going to be used instead of Robina?

Seems kinda pointless to finally make it rectangular after we just built Skilled Park...

Unfortunately when they build Skilled Park, they built it in a way that means it can't be upgraded. Really stupid and short sighted of the QLD Government.

So they are using a new oval ground which will be used for AFL and 20Twenty Cricket (it has been touted as a possible ground for the Commonwealth games). They will possibly be using temporary seats in front of the grandstands to get fans closer to the game and squeze a few more in, without changing the shape of the ground. I don't know what that means for sight lines but it can't be pretty.

 

[Perth Red]

Unfortunately when they build Skilled Park, they built it in a way that means it can't be upgraded. Really stupid and short sighted of the QLD Government.

So they are using a new oval ground which will be used for AFL and 20Twenty Cricket (it has been touted as a possible ground for the Commonwealth games). They will possibly be using temporary seats in front of the grandstands to get fans closer to the game and squeze a few more in, without changing the shape of the ground. I don't know what that means for sight lines but it can't be pretty.

can be done well, MES is 75% temp seating and works well with good sight lines.

 

[Green Machine]

I think the AFL has got the most to gain with new stadia. The AFL would be pushing for Subiaco and AAMI Stadiums to be upgraded, locking out MES and a new rectangular stadium in Adelaide. I’m sure they would push for a third stadium to be built in Melbourne (possible 35k) so that AFL games could be scheduled during the World Cup. Carrara will get an upgrade because of the limits to upgrades at Skilled Park. I wouldn’t be surprised if the AFL lobbies to have the Showground upgraded for the Celtics. WIN Stadium could not be upgraded to 44k. So, that would leave Energy Australia, Canberra and maybe Dairy Farmers to be upgraded.

 

[Lambretta]

People keep mentioning training stadiums as the reason the NRL cant be played here during the 8 week period

It's far cheaper, and more sensible to create or maintain professional playing surfaces on training facilities at places like MacQuarie University where Sydney FC train than it is to close down opposing codes and use their playing surfaces instead.

You'll find that training grounds that are specifically training grounds would be used, rather than NRL grounds camped on.

The biggest hurdle will be the availabilty of Police for NRL games, but as long as they're not scheduled in the same City at the same time as World Cup game our competition will be able to play on. Or is someone trying to tell me that a game in Adelaide between Holland and Japan would cause a game at Leichhardt between the Tigers and the Storm to be called off?


I think having the World Cup here would be an amazing boost for Australia on the World Stage and I'd love to see it here, but this story has the smell of "we dont want that game here" jealousy about it.

Yes there will be disruption, but one of the biggest sporting events in the World IS going to cause some disruptions. We as sports fans should be welcoming this once in a lifetime opportunity to see such an amazing event come here.

PS. I cant see a 45,000 seater in Penrith, but this is a great chance to build a 45,000 all seater stadium in the West to match the SFS and Rugby League could be the long term beneficiary.

Chances are it will be made as part of a case for a West Sydney football franchise and be used as their home ground. I'd bet Liverpool would be a pretty good location if that's the case. Good for the Dogs maybe, but not for anyone else. Possibly the Tigers or Parra.

If Blacktown got it, then Parra and Penrith could ground share for BIG games.

 

[maccattack]

whats the bet that any new stadium/upgrade will also have to accomodate gAFL.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Look like Canberra is pulling the pin ...

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/act-shelves-world-cup-support/1659991.aspx

ACT shelves World Cup support


BY CHRIS DUTTON AND MICHAEL INMAN
27/10/2009 7:41:00 AM
The ACT Government is preparing to turn its back on the world game and withdraw its support for Australia's FIFA World Cup bid and future A-League matches.

ACT sport minister Andrew Barr declared yesterday his intention to back out of Football Federation Australia's 2018 or 2022 World Cup bids in favour of luring a separate sporting ''bonanza'' to the capital.

And in a further blow to the ACT's relationship with the FFA, Mr Barr said the A-League clash between the Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United on Saturday night could be the competition's last at Canberra Stadium. Mr Barr had initially hoped to host World Cup games or have international teams based in Canberra for the duration of the tournament.

But instead of spending millions of dollars on the infrastructure required to be an active participant in the World Cup, he now hopes to throw stranded NRL, AFL and Super rugby teams a Canberra lifeline.

If a bid was successful those codes would be unable to play on World Cup venues for up to two months before and during the tournament.
''[The AFL, NRL and Super15] are going to have to move away from Sydney and Melbourne and it might be strategically to our advantage not to have anything to do with the football World Cup and take extra AFL, rugby league and rugby union [matches] instead,'' Mr Barr said.

''If the other competitions aren't going to go into obedience [with FIFA and suspend action] for that period, then it could be a bonanza for Canberra.
''So we'll just be strategic in what we do in Canberra because we may be able to get the big tourism benefits that we want without having to outlay $200million on a new stadium.''
Canberra needs $200million to upgrade the Canberra Stadium precinct if it is to meet FIFA regulations and host World Cup matches.
Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval will be upgraded to some extent, regardless of the ACT's involvement in the World Cup. Federal Cabinet meets this week to discuss what funding it will provide to Australia's bid.

We are no hope of getting this...
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/act-shelves-world-cup-support/1659991.aspx#
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/act-shelves-world-cup-support/1659991.aspx#



http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...es-world-cup-support/1659991.aspx?storypage=0

 

[BuffaloRules]

Duck we do have a huge hope, the reason being, holding the thing in an Asia friendly timezone maximises the TV revenue for FIFA. A key part of Australia's bid is that they have done economic estimates and aparently holding it here will make a lot more money for FIFA than holding it in Europe or America.

The reason being, Europe and the Americas will watch regardless, where Asia is more iffy, and by holding it in an Asia friendly timezone it maximises tv dollars. And I don't have to tell you guys the value they have to a sport.

Revenue raising is the same for them as it is for us, its just they are on a much larger scale

I'd love to know your source for this, or is this more "word on the street" like your post about Penrith Stadium being upgraded??

If what you are saying about Asia is true, why has only one previous tournament been played in that time zone??

If anything, the Asians will watch the games regardingless of time they are played, as they are used to watching European League matches at the wee small hours..

I was working in Jakarta during the last World Cup, and I can tell you that the fact that the games were in the middle of the night had no effect on peoples interest in watching the games ....

Also, you mention that Asia will maximise TV dollars..... You must be kidding - European TV stations would pay many multiples of what Asian stations can to broadcast the rights, because the Asian countries cant afford to ( Japan & Sth Korea are exceptions )

A lot of the broadcasters in Asia are government owned channels that wont be paying top dollar to show the games....

 

[Perth Red]

Shame for Canberra fans, if ever a place needed a European style protected stadium it is there!

 

[Lambretta]

I'd love to know your source for this, or is this more "word on the street" like your post about Penrith Stadium being upgraded??

If what you are saying about Asia is true, why has only one previous tournament been played in that time zone??

Until recently there were no professional leagues in Asia, well not ones that counted, and the Asian countries were not even considered for World Cup bids.

It went, Europe, Americas, Europe, Americas, Europe, Americas etc. Urguay, England, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, France etc etc etc.

The J-League or K-League etc didnt exist and FIFA didnt need to consider Asia as being part of the equasion. That has all changed in the past 20 years, with markets for television and advertising growing in Asia and sporting infastructure being put in place. Previously Asia just wasnt ready to be a player. It now is.

Australia would not be considered without timezone parity with Asia - but with it, a World Cup here is more a case of when, rather than if.