24,000!!??!! - Move to Telstra for 2007!

[Matt79]

SCG looks more and more like a "provincial" ground and it's showing its age. Sydney and the club deserve better.

Although I do like the SCG and it is the Swans 'true' home ground, I was commenting at the footy on Sunday how the SCG is looking so old and facilities poor compared to all the other major footy grounds around Australia.

I mean heck, even Kardinia Park has had a major facelift with their new grandstand. Gabba has been updated, Subi, Football Park, MCG and sadly the SCG is being left behind.

A new grandstand built mainly for corporates is not going to fix the other 75% of the ground that is crying out for a facelift and new facilities.

[Damien]

Does anyone know when our SCG contract is up for renewal?

I was under the impression it was the end of 2009, but I have heard conflicting reports on this.

With the Swans being the most consistent crowd pulling side in Sydney for the past number of years, I imagine Telstra will offer us one hell of a deal to move the majority if not all our games out there when it comes up for renewal.

[Doctor]

I was under the impression that the Swans had applied to have more games moved to Homebush and had been denied that request by the wonderful people at the SCG Trust who waved the contract in front of them. Having that restricted capacity for 2 years will definitely harm the short-medium term growth of the Swans in Sydney.

Those who have mentioned the Essendon game are right about the potential crowd but that's the game that clashes with Australia V Uruguay so that one can't be moved.

I don't care if there are 40000 "noobs" at a game sometimes. Some of them will come back, learn more about the game and become as passionate about the game as the rest of us. It's not too many years ago that the SCG crowd was just as quiet (unless it got kicked to Plugger!).

[AnnieH]

six regular members near us never turned up.
there were plenty of empty member reserve seats.
a pity.

[Dave]

They have treated us with disdain for 25 years, and are scrwing the club financially this year all for the addition of a couple of thousand extra seats.

That's what really gets me going.

The guys still can't train there till cricket season is over (I don't know why it couldn't be done during Pura Cup time - it's not like anyone gives a toss about that)
If it wasn't for the Swans they wouldn't have jack in revenue. Maybe 3 games of cricket a year come close to filling the joint. But they constantly give the Swans the raw deal.
If the ground had 20m added to it and all the stands looked like the Brewongle, then it might be half decent.
Ugly, disfunctional architecture run by blazer wearing tossbags...

[Tuco]

I reckon 5 games at Telstra and 6 games at the SCG would be a good split. Provides the club with more chances to showcase the team and build the base (that round 1 crowd points the way). But it would still mean the majority of games were at the SCG, where a lot of fans love to watch footy.

It's the only way we'll reach our goal of being the biggest footy club in Australia (and if that isn't the club's vision they're not thinking big enough).
I'd like to see West Coast vs Sydney in front of 70k as an annual contest up there with anything Carlton/Collingwood, or Carlton/Essendon has to offer.

Imagine if we had Collingwood, Essendon, West Coast and a couple of other huge games fixtured against top sides every year in front of 60k+ fans. It's the only way we'll get close to the 450k-600k fans the largest clubs bring through the gates. It's defintely possible. We've pulled 54k against Essendon when both sides were well out of the 8.

Makes that pissweak 24k look like the joke it was.

[bloodboy]

I am definitely on the moving games to Telstra Stadium bandwagon...I don't think this should just be for 2007 though, I think they should do it permanently. I realise this would be hard with the Rugby League also being there, but surely they could work it out. I'm not a big fan of the SCG and I think we have outgrown the stage we were at at one point where we had a significant advantage whilst playing there. I mean, we still definitely have an advantage, but it is not as big as it once was. I also still think back to the days gone by when the SCG Trust treated us like a joke, and maybe they still do judging by the whole lighting saga that has just taken place. Call me a bitter old man if you will, but I think it is time to make the move.

[Matt79]

According to this article there will be no moving of games...

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/swans-tied-to-scg-as-hordes-miss-out/2007/04/16/1176696759268.html

[Tuco]

According to this article there will be no moving of games...

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/new...696759268.html

Sad but true.

[blinddog]

My POV is that while the football itself is better at Olympic stadium - as a member I prefer the SCG. Why?
Well I like meeting friends that I meet only at the footy at the back of the SCG in the Noble stand.
I cannot stand the "brewery" or whatever it is called at Olympic Park. There is no character in the whole place, it sells Tooheys (at a higher price than the SCG). You can't buy a beer in the 4th quarter.

In the SCG I can by a beer 5 minutes before the end if I want to, I can casually sing the song for a while, then the family can wander upstairs at the Noble stand, meet friends, the kids can sit down and collect autographs.
We can have a beer or two more.
To me the beauty of being a Swans fan is not just the footy but knowing you are part of the Swans family - and I do not believe that Olympic Park accommodates that side of it.

[Triple B]

My POV is that while the football itself is better at Olympic stadium - as a member I prefer the SCG. Why?
Well I like meeting friends that I meet only at the footy at the back of the SCG in the Noble stand.
I cannot stand the "brewery" or whatever it is called at Olympic Park. There is no character in the whole place, it sells Tooheys (at a higher price than the SCG). You can't buy a beer in the 4th quarter.

In the SCG I can by a beer 5 minutes before the end if I want to, I can casually sing the song for a while, then the family can wander upstairs at the Noble stand, meet friends, the kids can sit down and collect autographs.
We can have a beer or two more.
To me the beauty of being a Swans fan is not just the footy but knowing you are part of the Swans family - and I do not believe that Olympic Park accommodates that side of it.

Blinddog, let me tell you something. You may or may not know.

I've been in the SCG members area coutesy of a mate since they came to town in 82. Actual member of the SCG since 96.

In around 88ish, my then 9yo daughter decided she wanted to come to the footy with Dad. This necessitated a move to the Noble Stand because no tin lids in the members. For all those years until the Swans became fashionable, ie. after 96, the bar would shut at 3/4 time in the Noble. No after matches etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if the Swans moved permanently to Homebush, I have no doubt that member pressure would drive the club to establish a base for after matches and your crew that you normally sit with will find a place to meet up before and after the game if that floats your boat.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Blinddog, let me tell you something. You may or may not know.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if the Swans moved permanently to Homebush, I have no doubt that member pressure would drive the club to establish a base for after matches and your crew that you normally sit with will find a place to meet up before and after the game if that floats your boat.

I like the idea of that. Socially Homebush is a complete mess. You go to the one 'pub' guarded by apes in white shirts & ties who stop you singing yelling or kicking your footy around. The prices are high & the range is crap. And no have no choice at all. There is no after-match facility for members, with attempts ranging from Luffy being outsung by the Carlton Grog Squad in the Brewery forecourt to an even more farcical situation up in a corridor inside the ground!

Ok, Sunday was my farewell day & willingly shirked going out on the banner which was bloody awesome to be honest. But I just think that whilst Homebush may have the better facilities it most definitely has some points that detract from it as a venue.

Maybe send the Red Baron an email; he is actually pretty good at replying & IS genuinely interested in what members have to say.

JF

[blinddog]

But then you also have the location, and no matter if I am catching the train with the kids or riding my bike home, we can easily stop off at a pub or restaurant. Surry Hills is filled of so much more character (and facilities) than Homebush.

The only equivalent is if you walk 20 minutes thru the park to Concord West and goto the Concord West Hotel.

If we walk thru Surry Hills you have
The Trinity Hotel
The Crown
The Shakespeare
Bar Cleveland
and thats just to tip of the iceberg. You then have all the restaurants in the area where my family and friends have often celebrated a victory.

If the great white elephant can fix this then maybe I will change my tune.

[cruiser]

Lights OK'd for the night game against Melbourne at the SCG:

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/scg-gets-goahead-for-night-clash/2007/04/17/1176696836982.html