Carlton with the financial Blues

[robbieando]

Originally posted by tara
Bandwagon How do you explain record membership numbers then? The last thing you could accuse Carlton supporters of are bandwagon.

Funny how do explain the drop in membership numbers this year then??? How do you explain membership numbers of over 30,000 yet 30,000 Carlton fan rarely turn up at matches. Carlton fans have their element of bandwagon jumpers, just like every single club.

Also until 1968 Carlton had a drought of 31 years without a premership only going close on two occasiaons 49 and 62. It has only been our recent history that has been particularily successfull 8 premerships in 27 years and now nothing again in the past 10 years.

Buying your way out of "drought's" means jack all. Under the current AFL draft system Carlton have won 2 Premiership's in 20 years, one off the back of interstate recuiting before the draft system came into place and the other because of systematic salary cap cheating.

I can handle the lean times like most real supporters.

You would even begin to know what "lean times" mean.

What happens when the AFL decides that the time is right for a second Sydney side? Ill bet that you lose you additional funding and incentices becuase to have two teams you must now be viable regardless of the market you have to compete in.

When a second club does enter the Sydney market, you'll find that the Swans won't be effected like you believe, because for starters the extra funding is given to NSWAFL, not the Swans and is used for junior development. We don't receive an extra cent from the AFL on top of normal club dividend's. We aren't the club wanting the AFL to bail us out.

Why was Carlton forced to give up Princes Park and go to the Dome and not the G as they wanted?

You might want to ask your club President that question.

Why get rid of PP when its playing surface was second to none in Victoria and can hold 30K fans when we have serious concerns over the Domes playing surface and teams from interstate who draw low crowds (not refering to the Swans here) and losses are made when they play at either the G or Dome.

Why, maybe because it was outdated and needed even more money put into it than it deserved. The ground was a death trap waiting to happen. The Legends Stand which was build only a decade ago, wouldn't even be up to standard for most sporting grounds for leagues around the world from the EPL to the NFL.

Doesnt make smart business sense does it.

Make's business sense until someone hurts themselves due to the state of the stands.

Before anyone mentions the 3mil that Carlton received for going to the Dome note this was to enable Carlton to break its catering contract with Spotless at PP.

Ron Evans sure makes a quick buck doesn't. That money is fair enough and your not the only club to get such payments.

Carlton continues to experiece a 1.8mil annual expense for the up keep of PP (dont ask me why its so expensive) and will continue to do so for the next 30years until the lease runs out.

Try and get the rent lowered. Knock down most of the stand ala Waverley. Do something to make it a 7 day a week 365 day a year money making buisiness.

All in all. Carlton have no one to blame but themselves and no one should feel sorry for them. They tried to vote us out of the league when we had debts that totaled less than Carlton's current level so I feel nothing for them.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by robbieando
All in all. Carlton have no one to blame but themselves and no one should feel sorry for them. They tried to vote us out of the league when we had debts that totaled less than Carlton's current level so I feel nothing for them.

Tara...If you want sympathy about your clubs plight, you've come to the wrong place. Given they wanted to vote us out of existence and muscle in on the Sydney market. They were generous enough to offer to play all of their away games in Sydney and their home games at PP, but it all depended on them getting rid of us from the AFL.

[tara]

Originally posted by robbieando
[B]Funny how do explain the drop in membership numbers this year then??? How do you explain membership numbers of over 30,000 yet 30,000 Carlton fan rarely turn up at matches. Carlton fans have their element of bandwagon jumpers, just like every single club.

Carlton tend to have members sign up late, as has been the case in recent years. This is probably due to the fact the the membership department doesnt seem to be too efficient.

Secondly I agree with your statement regarding an element of bandwagoners however my reply was directly in reponse to Reggi stating our support is made up of mostly bandwagon supporters.

Im a fully paid up member however I dont attend matches. Probably becuase I play suburban footy every Sat in winter (oh and the fact that Ive been living in Sydney for the past 18 years.)

If anything this would suggest anything but bandwagon supporters who I couldnt see spending money to support a club they generally dont have an interest in.

To be honest most complaints and hatred that is generated towards Carlton in reality stems for Jack more than anything.

When recruiting laws were different it sure didnt stop the Swans from attempting to purchase a premership.

The only thing I object to people calling for blood due to the systematic rorting of the salary cap is the fact that almost all clubs have done it regardless of what each club claims. The AFL went after us because of Jack and his contempt for anyone who wouldnt tow his line. Its as plain as day that Essendon did this and probably did it to a greater extent however I guess it depends on where your powerbrokers eat.

The AFL's offer to compensate Carlton for the leaving of PP was only available if we went to the Dome. So maybe that litte @@@@@ Demitriew could explain. I understand Collo runs the place but he wouldnt be the one at the AFL making compo offers.

Also I know all about lean times. Just becuase im only getting a taste of lean times at Carlton doesnt mean I havent experienced them. I had my fair share and Im not the type to jump ship as Im sure Pekay and others on the local boards could attest to.

Goswannie im not looking for sympathy I just got annoyed by the comment "Carlton supporters are mostly bandwagon jumpers" given the same could easily be said of the Swans supporters.

I actually dont hate any club. I love Carlton with a passion but love the game itself so I enjoy watching most games each week, I just do get as loud watching other sides. I also have a particular soft soft for the Swans becuase I see them as crucial the the future and hopefully strong growth in the NSW metro region.