The Eels Centre Of Excellence - Parramatta Jail

[MarkInTheStands]

So does it all boil down to whether the club sells out iuts location for money (and does it need to, with increased club grants from the ARLC on their way), or does it hold true a key element of the identity that (for many/some) makes the club in the first place?

Sure, different fans will have different views on the pros and cons of that, all views equally valid and none right or wrong. I live closer to Homebush these days, and we can argue about drinks queues and parking etc but that's not what it's about imo.

To me it's about the bigger picture of what would be behind a decision like this, and the issue of what elements of the entity make a club a club (and result in continued support). Is it the name? The colours? The nickname? The mascot? The location games are played? The individual players? The coach? Whether the club is caught cheating or not? The answer for everyone will be a slightly different mix of these, but for some/many supporters the location is (rightly or wrongly, but validly) a factor in their support.

At the end of the day supporters are (considered) transient, and so long as the club can replace the particiular supporters it might lose (through age, changing practicalities, or differences in philosophy) with new ones, then overall the club as a rugby league entity will continue to be healthy. Whatever the club decides and does and whatever each of us think about it, imo supporters past and present (and future) can all look at (or look back at) their years of experiences and of supporting the club (on the terms most important to them as fans) with pride, regardless of any issue that means they take different decisions on their future involvement.

and does being "From" somewhere mean we have to play in the Suburb?

 

[MarkInTheStands]

I'll go wherever we play (within reason of course).
I'm not one of the people who hate ANZ Stadium - I think it's a good ground.
But I just don't think it's for us. At least not until we can start selling out Parra Stadium regularly.
In my view they don't do the whole experience better. They don't have Parramatta Leagues club. Instead a generic pub. The parking costs more. The views at Parra are better and you are closer to the action. Also the history is part of the experience. To come to the stadium I've been coming to for years. Sure we can write a new history...but why do it when we already have one.

Fantastic points imo.

We will never sell out Parramatta Stadium regularly because people know it is limited in number and don't risk just turning up on the Day / night, At ANZ they know they can turn up and get a seat.

Parramatta leagues club, I might be able to swing something a bit better at ANZ if we went there full time. Parking costs more only if you are prepared to walk 15 k away to park at Parramatta or Arrive a silly AM.

Views are closer and as I said that is Parramatta stadiums redeeming feature.

Why do we re-write history, because as a game we are starting to grow out of niche suburban grounds, and need to move to stadia commensurate with the game we all enjoy.

 

[Twizzle]

when did these decision not become about money ?

unfortunately is a fact of life and we are one of the few Sydney clubs with our own ground

enjoy it while you can but its probably only a matter of time

 

[Tony Bongo]

Irrespective of the overall pros and cons of each venue the main issue IMO is once again such a big decision being made without any consultation with the fans and members whatsoever. We don't know if the majority of fans prefer one stadium or the other or whether the general consensus is fairly evenly divided. Would it really hurt those running our club too much for them to at least ask those affected most by it?

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Irrespective of the overall pros and cons of each venue the main issue IMO is once again such a big decision being made without. any consultation with the fans and members whatsoever. We don't know if the majority of fans prefer one stadium or the other or whether the general concensus is fairly evenly divided. Would it really hurt those running our club too much for them to at least ask those affected most by it?

I am sorry, Parrramatta board members giving up power. Some would say that has been the biggest complaint about the club for 30 years.

However we did elect this board, democratically to make the big decisions.

 

[parra-matters]

Irrespective of the overall pros and cons of each venue the main issue IMO is once again such a big decision being made without. any consultation with the fans and members whatsoever. We don't know if the majority of fans prefer one stadium or the other or whether the general concensus is fairly evenly divided. Would it really hurt those running our club too much for them to at least ask those affected most by it?

Tony the board was voted in by members to make these type of decisions, thats why we have a board.
There were complaints that the last board before 3P had no business sence, this board is making decisions based on the business and viabilty. Everybody is not going to be happy all the time but the bigger picture is ANZ is better business wise. If the board make all the decisions based on emotion or history then the club as a business will fail in the long run.
You as a business man Tony would understand all of that.

I would not like to take all games to ANZ but games that draw good crowds against other sydney teams should be move to ANZ, games like Canberra, Broncos, Cowboys Storm etc should be played at Parra for the short term anyway.

 

[Mickyd39]

The saga about where we are playing next year and beyond tells me one thing about the club, it is a shambles.
Is there another club in the NRL that does not know where it is playing next year? I think not.
This matter should have been sorted out long before now.

 

[Stagger eel]

Our club has been screwed over by Coleman and the trust for too long, 1 season without us will hurt them and they'll eventually come to the party, I'm happy to put up with ANZ for a year for that happen.

 

[Tony Bongo]

Tony the board was voted in by members to make these type of decisions, thats why we have a board.
There were complaints that the last board before 3P had no business sence, this board is making decisions based on the business and viabilty. Everybody is not going to be happy all the time but the bigger picture is ANZ is better business wise. If the board make all the decisions based on emotion or history then the club as a business will fail in the long run.
You as a business man Tony would understand all of that.

I would not like to take all games to ANZ but games that draw good crowds against other sydney teams should be move to ANZ, games like Canberra, Broncos, Cowboys Storm etc should be played at Parra for the short term anyway.

I also know it makes good business sense to consult your customers. It's not just about emotions and history at all. There are huge implications logistically for thousands of season ticket holders who have held their season tickets for years at Parramatta Stadium. I know of quite a few families who will not renew their family memberships simply because going to games at ANZ is logistically impossible for them with young children.
I understand that we voted this board in just as we vote in councils and other levels of government, but when it comes to big decisions (and this is arguably the biggest decision in our clubs history) there is always public consultation. What we have looks more like an Oligopoly than a democracy.
I can't see how you can take the history and emotion out of it anyway. It is the history, the tradition and the emotion that makes me a Parramatta Eels fan. Who is a fan for any other reason let alone financial reasons?
Parramatta Stadium is the home of the Eels. It is my home and your home too. How many families move home without consulting the other members of the family? I know I wouldn't. How sad that not only do we have a board that serve us our first spoon in half a century but we may all be served an eviction notice as well. I don't know about you but for me seeing all the grandstands renamed to soccer players with Pricey's statue in front of 'The Home of the Wanderers" just isn't right. Ironically we have become the 'Wanderers'. The A League team has a home - OUR HOME and at present it is us who are homeless!

 

[Tony Bongo]

The saga about where we are playing next year and beyond tells me one thing about the club, it is a shambles.
Is there another club in the NRL that does not know where it is playing next year? I think not.
This matter should have been sorted out long before now.

This

 

[Maroubra Eel]

It seems suburban grounds will become a thing of the past. We might as well move to Homebush and merge with either the dogs or Souths. No point having all these teams playing out of the one home ground. Better off expanding the game in another location.

 

[mrt_spec]

ANZ is awesome when you are a corporate guest. (Sounds like MITS is, or an ANZ member, $$$$)

The average punter isn't interested in or is unable to spend that kind of money.

 

[Suitman]

ANZ is awesome when you are a corporate guest. (Sounds like MITS is, or an ANZ member, $$$$)

The average punter isn't interested in or is unable to spend that kind of money.

That is a generalisation of the highest order. Sounds like you've been to the Alan Jones School of Typecasting.

Suity

 

[born an eel]

Seems like a strange time to be having this debate.

We finally have the Stadium potentially being utilised more and should be using this as a bargaining tool to get more money injected into an upgrade of facilities but instead we are playing silly buggers threatening to withdraw our patronage.

No government is going to inject money into the stadium without a benefit to a larger section of taxpayers. we have just made sure that facilities will stay in the 80's for longer. We only have ourselves to blame.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It seems suburban grounds will become a thing of the past. We might as well move to Homebush and merge with either the dogs or Souths. No point having all these teams playing out of the one home ground. Better off expanding the game in another location.

Only three AFL teams don't share a ground. And that's only because there are no other teams nearby.

 

[born an eel]

ANZ is awesome when you are a corporate guest. (Sounds like MITS is, or an ANZ member, $$$$)

The average punter isn't interested in or is unable to spend that kind of money.

you can actually go to ANZ for every regular season game for about $150 for the year and sit in the members area.

What MITS doesn't mention about it though is you have to turn up before sunrise to be able to get a decent seat and also get an interrupted view every time a plane crosses your line of vision. A couple of times I couldn't tell if the game was in motion or just ants crossing the field.

 

[Tony Bongo]

Only three AFL teams don't share a ground. And that's only because there are no other teams nearby.

Who cares? I don't want to share our ground with the Sydney Swans.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Who cares? I don't want to share our ground with the Sydney Swans.

My point is, just because you share a ground with another club is no reason to f**king merge with them.

Sydney clubs already share a local junior pool. Is it such a big deal if we also share a stadium?

I admit I much prefer Parra Stadium. Sadly some of my life's best moments happened in North Parramatta.

 

[Noise]

Yes it would suck to leave Parra stadium but Souths and the Bulldogs fans were all shitty when they moved to ANZ too. They seem to have got over it, their home crowds and membership numbers shit all over ours

 

[MarkInTheStands]

ANZ is awesome when you are a corporate guest. (Sounds like MITS is, or an ANZ member, $$$$)

The average punter isn't interested in or is unable to spend that kind of money.

I am an ANZ Stadium member, and funnily enough, so are the people who sit in front of me at Parramatta Stadium, and those who sit behind me at Parramatta stadium. . .

But it doesn't cost Mega bucks to be a member these days. Especially when compaired to a Season ticket at Parramatta Stadium.

That is a generalisation of the highest order. Sounds like you've been to the Alan Jones School of Typecasting.

Suity

Thanks mate.

you can actually go to ANZ for every regular season game for about $150 for the year and sit in the members area.

What MITS doesn't mention about it though is you have to turn up before sunrise to be able to get a decent seat and also get an interrupted view every time a plane crosses your line of vision. A couple of times I couldn't tell if the game was in motion or just ants crossing the field.

Yes yes RAS membership is given reciprocal rights, and you can get into the Easter Show every day for free I think with that.
I normally get the seats I want, Just to the side of the Platinum Members bay, the reason I get my seats week in, week out is that it is a 10 metre walk from the doors to the next aisle where my seats are, and most people don't bother.

As for the Planes, you only have to wear a hard hat when you are in Level 6 Upper which aren?t members seats. As for not being able to tell the game, it is the same view the TV Cameras have or close enough to it, trust me I can see everything just fine, you might need to get your eyes checked. ;-)