Stadium Australia as home ground?

[Charlie]

What would you think if the Swans ever decided to move full-time to Stadium Australia? Would you support it? Do you think that we should always play games at the SCG?

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

The SCG Trust.

Originally posted by Charlie
What would you think if the Swans ever decided to move full-time to Stadium Australia? Would you support it? Do you think that we should always play games at the SCG?

This is something I have given a fair amount of thought of recent months.

Personally I can seriously see the Swans as having little option but to do so, if they keep up their present development going. Basil Sellars Centre, Lake Oval (untrainable at the moment, which apparently has the players ropable ), it doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned the SCG is living on borrowed time as a major sports venue in Sydney.; The facilities are awful, getting to the ground is nothing but a hassle, the staff rude and atmosphere-unfriendly.

Those who go out to defend the SCG should seriously consider a trip north to the Gabba for the match in Round 1. As I think Mike B said when we were up there, sitting behind the goals at that ground is heaps heaps better than at the SCG. You don't have to wait for a drink, and every seat in the ground has an excellent view of the match.

Why am I so adversarial towards the SCG Trust? I have a long memory. The way we the Swans and we the Cheer Squad have been treated by the SCG Trust over the years has been near on a disgrace. Things have improved to some degree, but it totaly pisses me off that anyone coming to the Cheer Squad area for a chat is instantly moved on by the goons. Yet whenj I have a Western Bulldogsw drunk come up looking for trouble, I get a bad name for having 'stirred up trouble'

And to think that their 'customer service' staff have the audacity to wear "SCG the home of the QBE Sydney Swans" these days.

This elephant, whilst appreciating that things on many scores may be better than they were, is still somewhat cynical to the motives of the SCG Trust. They were never building training facilities at the SCG when we didn't have Stadium Australia, were they?

Unless they do drastic ground improvements to bring its capacity up to 50000, I can see no option but for the Swans to play more matches at Homebush.

I'd be interested as to how you react to my comments here. If you disagree, go right ahead. Debate is healthy!

JF

[Charlie]

Re: The SCG Trust.

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG


I'd be interested as to how you react to my comments here. If you disagree, go right ahead. Debate is healthy!

JF

I agree. Debate is, really, the purpose of a messageboard.

I've been pondering it for ages, and I just can't make up my mind. The SCG is the closest thing to something traditional that we have, really... except for the salute to history with the new "SMFC". On the other hand, Stadium Australia is twice as big and on the lookout for a major tenant.

I went to both grounds this year, and I enjoyed the SCG more. Might have had something to do with the state of my nerves before the prelim though.

[robbieando]

At the moment I'm happy with the set up of having the SCG host 8 home matches (9 if you include the Bulldogs game) and Telstra Stadium the Big 3 home matches. At the minute its not holding us back greatly, however if say for the next 5 years we keep up this end of the ladder and interest gets back to 1997 levels, then we just may have to look at moving more games out West.

I really can't see a move happening full time to Telstra Stadium for a while yet because most of our core supporter base is still seen to live out East and a full time move in one go could in effect cost us fans and members (silly I know, but it could happen). I think if we keep going the way we are, we'll play 5 games a season at Telstra in no team at all.

For once we are in a position to play 2 grounds off against each other and hopefully we can use this fact to our advantage.

[liz]

It's a tricky one.

On one hand, if the Swans do achieve a level of sustained success such that the level of interest in the club is raised right across the city, the SCG is not big enough for the crowds we ought to be able to attract, even during lean times. But the club is not there yet, shown by crowds of low-20s during 2001-2.

Also, a large part of the traditional support base of the Swans comes from the Northern and Eastern suburbs and the SCG is easier for them to get to. I know of some people who interest has waned somewhat since the partial move to Homebush.

The SCG has the added advantage that the surrounding precinct is far more amenable to a day or night at the footy - the cafes and pubs within an easy walking distance of the ground mean there are lots of places to meet friends before or after games. SA lacks this badly - with one dreary and over crowded drinking establishment and a last train back to the city about an hour after the game finishes.

I like going to SA as an "occasion" but prefer the sightlines and atmosphere at the SCG, especially when there's a decent crowd. No doubt change will come, particularly if the club does achieve the growth we hope it does, but I think (and in some ways, hope) we many years off that at the moment.

[BAM_BAM]

I like both grounds. So here are my pros and cons for each.

SCG:
Pros
I think our seats are better here than at Telstra. We sit one bay over from the Swans players race on the Brewongle concourse (in the pocket between the race the Cheer Squad.). The way the ground is configured at Telstra, we're on the wing and you can't see then boundary line without standing up and leaning forward. AT the SCG we have a view of the enitre field.

I also like the packed atmosphere the SCG can generate, even if it isn't full. For those games where we have not or do draw a huge crowd, I wonder whether Telstra would have that empty hollow echoing sound.

cons
Getting out of Moore park in the car is an absolute pain in the butt. As I have the boys with me most times we don't go to the Fox and Lion, or hang around for any after matches. It's either too late for them, or after getting to the ground at 10 to watch the ressies, it's too long a day. We have often sat in the car park for 30 minutes or more trying to get out. It depends on which side of the entrance row you park. The North side, you can be out in 10 minutes, the south side, take a guess. I know it's my choice to drive, but with 2 young boys, I find it easier, so I put up with it.

The amenities are shocking!! You wait so long for the food queues and then are dealing with staff who have NO IDEA. And lining up for the ladies toilets will take up all of your half time unless you leave before the bell (which is a no no as far as I'm concerned). I'm lucky the boys are now old enough to take themselves and I'm able to hold my bladder!!!

We're four rows from the front and when raining we get drenched (not that I'm really complaining)

Telstra:
good
Pre booked parking is great, it's secure and under cover, and no chance of coming back to a dust covered car. As where're there for the start of the reesies, we get a good car spot and can get out within about 5-10 minutes in most cases. (although upper levels do take some time)

The amenities are wonderful. Relatively no queues to speak of. As I mentioned using the toilets can take the entire half time session for us gals when visiting them at the SCG. At Telstra, the longest I've had to wait is about 2-5 minutes.

The food outlets also don't have extensive queues.

We're 4 rows from the front and stay dry unless the wind blows the rain in on us.

bad
The only down side I have is our seating and the restricted view of the field. Although it's only one downside I can name at present, given I go to the footy to watch the footy, it's a pretty big down side.

Charlie, maybe that's what my dream meant, I want to keep the SCG seating, with the amenities of Telstra. (Still doesn't explain the wiggles connection)

[Glenn]

Personally I would be more inclined to stick with the SCG, as mentioned for the majority of the fan base. Plus the money the Swans have put in there with the new facilities, & Lake Oval (despite its present condition )

[bricon]

Re: Stadium Australia as home ground?

Originally posted by Charlie
What would you think if the Swans ever decided to move full-time to Stadium Australia?

Any more than 3 H&A games at Homebush and I'm outa here.

[A swans fan]

At the end of the day, I go to the football not to eat a hot dog or have a beer, but to watch the football. (Bring your own food if you don't like queueing.)

I really like the scg as a venue for watching sports and thinks its a great stadium and has a great atmosphere. Always get a buzz out of going there. I think that the Olympic Stadium is lacking in atmosphere and the seats we have been allocated there in NO WAY even come close to matching those we have at the scg.

While I will always go to watch the swans play where ever -- it is inconvenient to take three young kids out to Homebush for night matches from the East -- tends to be a very late night for them.

I really hope they don't move more than three matches to the Olympic Stadium.

[desredandwhite]

Well, for me:

<b>SCG</b>

Pros - Great atmosphere and history. Our seats are very good. High up, yet close to the field. Plenty to do around the ground, before and after the game.

Cons - Parking is a shambles, expensive and a dog to get out of unless you leave an hour after the game ends. Costs me more in tolls to get there. A bit further to drive for me.

<b>Stad Aus</b>

Pros - Parking cheaper and easier to get in/out of. Larger capacity. Facilities very good. Seating is very good on the middle deck, or from the top of the concourse.

Cons - Seating is lousy on the top deck unless you're in the first 10 rows. Seating on the wing concourse is worse than at the SCG because the rows are straight. Harder to get to from the East.

<b>Conclusion</b>

Well, it all depends, doesn't it? It takes me 50 minutes, almost $8 in tolls each way and $13 in parking at the SCG, and 30 minutes, $3 in tolls each way and $10 parking for homebush, so Stad Aus is easier to get to for me. However, the SCG is home, such as it were.

I'm happy going to either, but for the moment, I think the size of the crowd should determine where we play. If we're starting to get sell-outs at the SCG, the club may want to start thinking about playing a few more at homebush. There's no way we'll move there fulltime unless we're averaging 50k though!

[monopoly19]

I'm definately pro-SCG. One of the biggest reasons is proximity - though while I'm lucky enough not to have to fight the traffic or pay for parking, I can understand the frustration that others have with it. Still, SA costs extra $$ for us, either the train/parking ticket. It also costs an extra 30mins travel time (worse on a night like the Carlton opening game last year where the traffic was at a standstill and we missed a good portion of the first quarter).

Secondly, as is forever being pointed out, the Sydney crowd is fairly fickle. We are not always going to have years like 2003, where we draw 70 000+ people to two games. As someone else mentioned, SA would have the most hollow feeling with a small crowd. When the SCG only has 15-20000 people inside, it still generates an atmosphere of sorts. My least favourite game of 2003 was against Collingwood at TS, not only b/c of the crappiness of the play, but b/c we had 70 000 people there and it was still so flat. While you might have 30 000 less people at the SCG, you'd only be losing people who don't really care. Having said that, it's obviously better for the Swans if we draw bigger crowds (financially) and so that's a big plus for SA.

I get drenched if it's raining either way so that is of little effect.

In the end I think I'd go with whatever the players prefer... though it would annoy me to no end having to travel to Homebush every home game. At the moment, it's still kind of a treat to do it three times a year, but it could get very old very quickly, especially if the team isn't winning.

Also, SA is okay for night games, but I can't imagine Sunday arvos at SA being anything like at the SCG. It's absolutely my favourite time to watch the footy.

[dendol]

i wouldnt mind if a few more games were played at Telstra Stadium. I live about 15 mins drive away, where as it takes me up to an hour to get the the SCG - not including the nightmare battle through traffic and parking, both on the way in and out of every game.

However, like most will agree, the smaller SCG lends to a much better atmosphere. But 70000+ at Telstra Stadium is an awesome sight!

[liz]

Another advantage of the SCG that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is that it is a very different shape from other AFL grounds. That makes it more difficult for other teams to adapt - especially those from the west, used to playing on Subi. The advantage may be marginal but every little bit helps at times.

[Bear]

i think the SCG actually disadvantages us in that it does not suit our open, running game.

in any case, i would ultimately (by around 2010) like to see a 50-50 split between the two grounds. we have a ten year deal with the SCG ATM i think, but our long term financial success depends upon expanding our core supporter base... so we must look west

[Mike_B]

I too am of mixed mind, like everyone else, there are things I prefer for both grounds.

For the SCG, its definitely much easier to get to for me, living in North Bondi. If I want to get in really early I drive and park by Centennial Park which means I don't face problems getting out of the car park nor do I have to pay the ridiculous prices. If I want to get in a little later, there are the free buses from Easts Leagues and then heading home I usually walk up to Oxford St and get a bus back to Bondi Junction. On the other hand, for Homebush, I really don't mind the drive out, I usually get there with plenty of time and hang out with people at the brewery and keep an eye on the afternoon game. Getting out isn't too much of a problem either, it's really a matter of getting onto Parramatta Rd.

I don't buy food at the grounds so for either option it makes no difference to me.

Seat wise, I'm a little further from Centre Wing at Homebush than I am at the SCG, but I'm still between the 50 and the edge of the square there, so I'm not too fussed about seating. In terms of rain, I'm also in the situation where at Homebush it depends on the wind as to whether I get wet whereas at the SCG quite simply it rains, I get wet.

The big difference for me is atmosphere. A packed SCG can't be beaten for atmosphere, even compared to Collingwood/PF in 2003 which was pretty good. But the fact is that we aren't going to fill either ground very often, and a half empty Homebush is just so big that the atmosphere is totally lost, a half empty SCG does a little better. Having said that, Sunday arvo games at the SCG often seem to be quite flat in terms of atmosphere.

So, what's my overall verdict? Well, I'm happy to keep things as is. The SCG is our home, and really is the only sensible option for games where we aren't likely to sellout the game. But Homebush still remains an important alternative for the bigger games, finals etc, and hopefully the threat of moving more games there when the current contract with the SCG runs out will for the SCG Trust to get their act together when that time comes.