Ouch! Another $750k loss

[Cheer Squad]

A leagues club and Club Swans are two different things. You are comparing apples with oranges.

All of the leagues clubs in Sydney are mini-casinos. The greater majority of their revenue is (ill)gotten from the pokies. I think there are about 20 poker machines at Club Swans, so I don't think they're pulling in much moolah from those.

All of the leagues clubs (with the exception of the City of Sydney Leagues) are in the SUBURBS - where the people are - not in the middle of trash-can alley, that would make a difference to the bottom line.

Do you really think there's room in Bondi for Club Swans - what with all the posers and all? Too much ego in Bondi for the likes of us.

I think the problem with Bondi (or BJ) is that yes, it's easy to get to FROM the SCG, but it's a total bitch to get FROM there to anywhere else. The Club wouldn't do that to it's loyal supporters.

The Swans should have bought the City of Sydney Bowling Club when it was up on offer. It's now a pool.

Your points are fair enough, but I don't believe Club Swans is an oversized venue at all. I think it has a very welcoming feel to it. And it looks down Macleay Street, which is definitely not trash-can alley.

As for the location, I don't think I suggested Bondi itself - that would certainly be an unsuitable. I was thinking of Bondi Junction, which is well serviced by buses and has it's own train station.

The only other suburban hub in the eastern suburbs suitable for a social club would probably be Randwick.

[Cheer Squad]

When I don't go to interstate games, I always go to Club Swans to watch them. I love the atmosphere and being with like minded people to watch the boys is worth the drive (I live at Castle Hill so it's a fair hike). I enjoy Craig Davis' hosting and the sweeps and games they have adds to the fun (though it was better when they had injured players in attendance).
I've gone to the club to watch the Grand Final the last two years and it's a great day out. The facilities are great and so is the food and the drink prices are fair.

I agree with you here - that's why I think it would be such a pity if we lose the venue.

I understand where you're coming from with parking - it's a pity there's no train line into the north-west.

[hammo]

A Bondi Junction (or anywhere for that matter) venue could be well accessed after a home game with shuttle buses.

[Molly dooker]

I would LOVE a venue to patronise before a game, after a game whilst waiting for the traffic to subside and anytime throughout the year when looking for a place to dine with friends (just on the off chance someone interesting was there) or any excuse to be somewhere "Swans".

I TOTALLY REFUSE TO GO TO THE CROSS.

I have followed the Swans for nearly 50 years and I fly interstate to watch games and do anything I can to support the team, I also trust that Club Swans is a great venue, but....

I WILL NOT GO TO THE CROSS.

It would be wonderful if you could drive or public transport yourself to the SCG and then not have to go somewhere else to celebrate a great game or commiserate a loss with fellow supporters.

I REFUSE TO GO TO THE CROSS.

What a bloody stupid idea to think that most Swans fans would go to Sydney's a..hole. Children or no children it is just not the right place for us to go. Why did it not occur to the brain's trust who set it up in that area that we (or most of us) don't want to be in an area that has the countries biggest reputation for the sleaziest side of life, the place that people go if they want to see the sleaziest part of life or to participate in it? What were they thinking?

I live for the Swans to win another Premiership.

I WILL NOT, CANNOT, JUST WON'T GO TO KINGS BLOODY CROSS.

[Triple B]

I TOTALLY REFUSE TO GO TO THE CROSS.

I WILL NOT GO TO THE CROSS.

I REFUSE TO GO TO THE CROSS.

"I'm Brian"

"I'm Brian"

"No, I'm Brian.....and so is my wife"

They didn't want to go to the cross either.

[Lucky Knickers]

Hasn't the Aussie Rules Club (pre Club Swans) been around for 25+ years in the Cross? I think it was sensible of the Swans to piggy back this and hopefully in future we are powerhouse with enough funds to consider other alternatives but Sydney is a very competitive market in terms licensed clubs and real estate prices make holding on to a venue tricky if you're base you are relying on is from 15,000 members of a club spread far and wide. Everyone here has pointed the competition in terms Bowlo's, RSLs and other.
As for Club Swans, have only been a couple of times after the Sat Arvo games and to the last couple of Trivia Nights. The after matches are enjoyable with Davo Senior keeping all the kiddies amused and the players (Jude, ROK, Eski, Shaw) all being their usual approachable and charming selves. Happy to sign, pose for photos and just have a casual chat.
The shuttle bus is very easy to jump on after the game. To get home I just catch a taxi back to the city to catch my usual bus or pick up my car. I'm sure the Wilson's car park is horrible and feels unsafe but as someone alluded to what Wilson's car park isn't?
I was reluctant to go initially based on the reputation of the Cross but I was pleasantly surprised.
I've found that the face of the cross is changing. Lots of great restaurants, bars, cafe's full of ordinary citizens. If you are there at 3am in the morning then like anywhere with a lot of bars/restaurants and nite clubs it can be unattractive and unsafe.

[Cheer Squad]

Hasn't the Aussie Rules Club (pre Club Swans) been around for 25+ years in the Cross? I think it was sensible of the Swans to piggy back this and hopefully in future we are powerhouse with enough funds to consider other alternatives but Sydney is a very competitive market in terms licensed clubs and real estate prices make holding on to a venue tricky if you're base you are relying on is from 15,000 members of a club spread far and wide. Everyone here has pointed the competition in terms Bowlo's, RSLs and other.
As for Club Swans, have only been a couple of times after the Sat Arvo games and to the last couple of Trivia Nights. The after matches are enjoyable with Davo Senior keeping all the kiddies amused and the players (Jude, ROK, Eski, Shaw) all being their usual approachable and charming selves. Happy to sign, pose for photos and just have a casual chat.
The shuttle bus is very easy to jump on after the game. To get home I just catch a taxi back to the city to catch my usual bus or pick up my car. I'm sure the Wilson's car park is horrible and feels unsafe but as someone alluded to what Wilson's car park isn't?
I was reluctant to go initially based on the reputation of the Cross but I was pleasantly surprised.
I've found that the face of the cross is changing. Lots of great restaurants, bars, cafe's full of ordinary citizens. If you are there at 3am in the morning then like anywhere with a lot of bars/restaurants and nite clubs it can be unattractive and unsafe.

I have to agree with just about everything you've said, especially about the way the Cross is changing for the better.

[SimonH]

The Swans should have bought the City of Sydney Bowling Club when it was up on offer. It's now a pool.

Cook + Phillip Park Pool opened in 1999. Gee, missed it... by that much. Hopefully there might be one or two other spots appropriate for us to run licensed premises open up over the next 20 or 30 years.

[ShockOfHair]

OK so Club Swans is a bust, despite its good intentions.

Is it connected to the fact that the Swans board is stuffed full of business high-flyers with almost no experience in the ordinary economy, or pubs. Almost all of then are from the financial sector, the exceptions being Bob Campbell (ex-Channel Seven), Bob Pascoe (Visy!) and a couple of guys who flog real estate.

On paper, and in reality, these don't look the kind of people capable of making multimillion decisions about licensed premises.