homebush

[Xie Shan]

I think the club needs to address the negative perception about playing games at/travelling to Homebush, following on from what AA said it is still a pretty good place to watch the footy and the flatter atmosphere there (other than the EF against North) is more due to the nature of the games we've played there and the different mix of supporters that attend those games. Facilities-wise I don't think anyone could argue that the SCG is starting to show its age.

Definitely seems to be an issue with feasible public transport, it can take a long time to get there if you don't live close to a train line (though most of us are no doubt familiar with Sydney's public transport woes so it's not unique to Homebush!)

Having said all that, I think us playing the 'blockbusters' there is fine though now the SCG renovations are finished I'd like to see us go back to the 3 games per year there (or at least don't play any more than the current 4) as the SCG is still our traditional home and I do believe ANZ to be an inferior home & away ground (it's just too big to host 'regular' matches, just look at the NRL!)

The final vs. North should have been played at the SCG as it was never going to pull a huge crowd at ANZ even regardless of the weather. Maybe modify the agreement to play any home preliminary finals at ANZ, cuz Sydneysiders will turn up regardless if we're playing for a GF spot. If we get a home final in week 1 or 2, the venue should be determined by who we're playing.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

i heard recently from the membership department that they will be introducing scg only memberships next year ...

personally i think i would take that one ..

but of course that means that all of the "big" games that they send out there i wont be able to attend...

maybe if no one takes up a homebush membership then the club might try to renegotiate its agreement with the big western white elephant

A former member of the marketing department once told me that you often get people who travel to Melbourne 2-3 times a season yet REFUSE to go to Homebush. I find this completely unfathomable. People can seriously not be SO fickle & self-centred, could they?

People should get Homebush free memberships when the SCG stops being the worst ground in the AFL. Which the way things are going will not be until they get rid of the Bradman & Noble stands.

Fact-at Homebush we can draw over 50000 a game because people know the ground won't be full. At the SCG people think they can't get in, so don't go.

At neither ground when it rains will people go. Their fake tans might run!

JF

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Right on!!
If travelling to Homebush to an issue for a Sydney-sider, then sorry, you're NOT A REAL FAN.

Give them an SCG membership with just SCG games. And make sure people like this are NOT eligible for Grand Final tickets!

You can't not be prepared to support the team at the Olympic Stadium & think you can get GF tickets over people who make the effort every time we go out there. That sort of attitude is just not on.

Remember it is NOT all about you sometimes!

JF

[Cheer Squad]

Give them an SCG membership with just SCG games. And make sure people like this are NOT eligible for Grand Final tickets!

You can't not be prepared to support the team at the Olympic Stadium & think you can get GF tickets over people who make the effort every time we go out there. That sort of attitude is just not on.

Remember it is NOT all about you sometimes!

JF

I agree wholeheartedly. The way some people are prepared to put their own interests ahead of the team is disturbing.

[CJK]

i heard recently from the membership department that they will be introducing scg only memberships next year ...

We can only hope!

Homebush can GTFO.

[annew]

I hate Homebush but I love watching the Swans so I do go to the games out there. The SCG does have a better atmosphere.

[timthefish]

no wonder the atmosphere at homebush is lacking what with all these passionate dyed-in-the-wool fans stamping their little feet and refusing to go.

get real.

[Cheer Squad]

What's really strange about the Homebush-haters is their lack of pride in what we've achieved there as a club.

For the first time, we've been able to draw Melbourne-size crowds to our games. Last year we got 60,000+ on three consecutive occasions, and a few years ago we got a couple of 70,000+ crowds, the biggest for the AFL outside Victoria. We should be proud of our ability to do that. And Homebush - venue for the "best games ever" - helped us do it.

You would think only 3 or 4 trips there each year was worth it.

[alison.z]

I think all the talk about not going to a game because of the ground is ridiculous. I couldn't care less whether the swans were playing at a muddy local oval but the fact is they're my team and i love watching them play - regardless of where it is.

So, public transport may be an issue (which depends on where you live) or the atmosphere of the ground (which is stupid coz a crowd of 19,000 was one of the best atmosphere's i've experienced there) but it all comes back to the fact that the Swans are playing and i'll be anywhere i can to see them.

[BigD]

I won't be changing from my full membership. I'll go to either ground just to watch the Swannies play.

[Wazza]

I've written them plenty of times in the past Cheer Squad...but I'll repeat...
I've been to about 4 or 5 swans games there...1) lousy atmosphere each time....2) seating is a mile away from the playing surface creating a sense of detatchment from the game....3) It's not the swans home ground and never will be....4) Getting to, and especially from, the ground in either a car or public transport means waiting around endlessly just to get in and out of the area....It looks pretty from the chopper shot at night but that's it's only redeeming feature. It's a great baran white elephant and, unfortunately for me, ruins the live footy experience, I won't be going back anytime soon.

After sitting in the MA Noble for years my pref is homebush and I luv the atmosphere - outside the ground before the game and after and I never have a problem parking just have to walk a little further and no problem leaving the area by car - do you drive when you go to the SCG?

You are spoiled - after watching footy at Football park for years and the frustration of getting into and out of there - Homebush is far easier to get in and out, has better public transport and parking. The issue with atmosphere may be due to the smaller crowd in the larger stadium but it has never detracted from my footy watching experience, after all Im there to watch the footy.

Cya at homebush next season.

Cheers

Waz

[blinddog]

I am a passionate Swans supporter and a passionate white elephant hater. For me part of footy, is the footy family. By that I mean the people you see before and after the game.
The group I see live all over Sydney, some east, some inner and some west. While we can all get to the ground (that ishomebush), the big difference is post game, that sense of community. We all need to take our different directions, some drive, some on the train and some the bus. At the SCG we go to the back of the Noble and talk footy. YOU CANNOT DO THAT AT THE WHITE ELEPHANT.

My kids have grown up (well 12 and 7) going to the Noble Stand, meeting players, grabbing autographs. Can we do that @ Homebush? NO
The soonerwe leave that piece of crap the better. Plus Tooheys new is the worst beer.

[Lucky Knickers]

The complaints about the transport to Homebush bemuse me. I live 12 kms from the CBD and it takes me 1 1/2-2 hrs plus $12 to get to the SCG.
Homebush - transport is free, it takes me 10 mins to walk to the free shuttle and then 20 mins to the ground.

[Cheer Squad]

After sitting in the MA Noble for years my pref is homebush and I luv the atmosphere - outside the ground before the game and after and I never have a problem parking just have to walk a little further and no problem leaving the area by car - do you drive when you go to the SCG?

You are spoiled - after watching footy at Football park for years and the frustration of getting into and out of there - Homebush is far easier to get in and out, has better public transport and parking. The issue with atmosphere may be due to the smaller crowd in the larger stadium but it has never detracted from my footy watching experience, after all Im there to watch the footy.

Cya at homebush next season.

Cheers

Waz

I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes Homebush.

Some of the complaints on here do lack a sense of perspective and others are just plain unreasonable.

[Mr Magoo]

I cant believe people wouldnt attend a swans game just because its at homebush.

While I think the stadium is managed on a short sighted basis (ie expensive catering , stupid rules regarding leaving the stadium once in, silly corporate box rules etc) , I am more than prepared to deal with this for the three to four times a year we play there.

I must admit though , if this became the Western Sydney teams home ground , the AFL will want to sort out the problems out there that are summarised above and have been mentioned in other forums (ie the surface etc) or they will have put another roadblock in the way of their expansion plans. I wouldnt want to go out to that stadium for every home game and playing in front of 5000 - 10000 at that ground is a soulless experience which hardly encourages fans back (lets face it thats all a western sydney team will get for a number of years.)