Swans set to abandon Western Sydney/ANZ Stadium

[Big Al]

given you live in surry hills not suprising comment.

I live closer to ANZ than the SCG and I love this new direction. The SCG is our spiritual home and and it's where we belong.

[Captain]

The less games at ANZ the better for mine. That place is rubbish to watch any sport.

[royboy42]

The less games at ANZ the better for mine. That place is rubbish to watch any sport.

It was great for an Olympic games..forget the rest!

[Jewels]

At least we'd have a decent chance of beating collingwood at the SCG instead of ANZ IMHO!

Agree

That's bloody fantastic news. 11 games at the SCG and the local derby at ANZ is absolutely ideal.

Imagine 45,000 jammed into the SCG against the Pies. The place would rock.

Agree

Not sure why you think the SCG affords us any special protection. Collingwood beat us the last time we played them there. Actually, Collingwood have beat us wherever we've played them recently.

We haven't played them at the SCG since 2000 and whilst they did win that one, prior to that they had only won five of fifteen played there.

[andyn]

ANZ was worth a try for us, but it hasn't ever really caught on consistently ... not in the fickle Sydney market. People in Sydney don't support live sport like Melbourne does. The Rugby League celebrates 30,000 to a game between 2 of the most well supported Sydney teams! So I think that if Sydney was going to expand into Western Sydney, we would have already achieved it. If people aren't with us now, they're going to support GWS because it'll be their local team. There will be a great blockbuster on between GWS and Swans that will be held at ANZ, but everything else should be at the SCG. In the Premier League, the crowds are greatly restricted and its hard to get tickets unless you're a member. If we can expand our club's support so that there is an average crowd of 40,000 and people need to think ahead to make sure they get a seat, that should be our first priority.

[swansrule100]

as long as we play finals at the scg and dont suddenly have to go out to the bigger stadium

[andyn]

as long as we play finals at the scg and dont suddenly have to go out to the bigger stadium

I know. I still remember sitting with 19000 people in a lonely grandstand in 2008. Worst finals crowd since when?

[aardvark]

How about a few games at the good ol' Lake oval...........although the grandstand could use a coat of paint....... and a fence...........and some posts........whoops sorry daydreaming again.

[floppinab]

How about a few games at the good ol' Lake oval...........although the grandstand could use a coat of paint....... and a fence...........and some posts........whoops sorry daydreaming again.

Good call, I like both, they both bring aspects to the game for mine and would be disappointed if they gave up Homebush completely (it's a @@@@load easier for most to get into and out of Homebush compared to the SCG), would like to see the Swans home version of the derby there + 1 other game.

[laughingnome]

In the Premier League, the crowds are greatly restricted and its hard to get tickets unless you're a member. If we can expand our club's support so that there is an average crowd of 40,000 and people need to think ahead to make sure they get a seat, that should be our first priority.

There's two sides to this. The SCG will be a 50,000 seat stadium when the next renovations are complete, and 40,000 (sydney or near sydney based) members is certainly a eager site in such a ground. It should be kept in mind though that some tickets are usually reserved for the other team (I don't know the figure, but I imagine somewhere up to 5000), leaving only 5000 tickets for general sale plus any member resells. It assures a near full-house every game but I worry about the appeal to potential fans if getting a ticket becomes too hard. Additionally, there would be very little growth room for new members, adding to the exclusiveness of a game that should be for all.

[Damien]

When the capacity is 50K, a Sydney member cap of 28 or 30K (more than reasonable) would be put in place, allowing the Members area, corp and away fans plenty of room and around 10-15K a week for new and casual fans.

I think it will allow for real growth and it's a realistic stadium size for us. Let's remember we have made the finals most years since ANZ has been open (including a Premiership), and despite some great crowds there, have we even threatened to get near 30K Sydney based members in that time?

We will have a 50K capacity ground, in the heart our of "official zones" from 2012 that we train on, have our offices at and has been our home since 1982. I really can't see the value in being out at ANZ for any reason once GWS comes in and Sheedy converts the masses

[Adelaide Swan]

How about a few games at the good ol' Lake oval...........although the grandstand could use a coat of paint....... and a fence...........and some posts........whoops sorry daydreaming again.

The Lake Oval(if we're talking about our old ground down in South Melbourne) no longer exists as far as I know.

It is now Bob Jane Stadium which is used for South Melbourne Soccer Club and is a rectangular stadium.

Austadiums.com :: Bob Jane Stadium

The only link to us the ground still has is the old main grandstand which is now disused.

[Primmy]

Suits me big time. I can get to the ressies games without drama. I don't like ANZ. I have to walk a hell of a distance to even reach my bus, or the game (whichever), and I am not as spry as I think I am and its taking a toll. Of course I am sure the Swans are not taking this particular problem into consideration, but I am. However, if the SCG can loo it up like the ANZ I would be a lot happier!

[aardvark]

The Lake Oval(if we're talking about our old ground down in South Melbourne) no longer exists as far as I know.

It is now Bob Jane Stadium which is used for South Melbourne Soccer Club and is a rectangular stadium

What a shame. I have fond memories of standing in the rain in the outer on steel beer cans trying to see the game through the fog and being unable to recognise the players because of the mud. the highlight of the day being the hot pies at half time (14 cents each) and the occasional swannies win.
I guess the point i'm trying to make is that either stadium is fine and maybe people are being a bit precious.

[nicko18]

Proabably the swans won't have the crowds to play 3 games a year out at Homebush, but i'd like to think we'd retain the flexibility of choosing to play marquee matches there.

As beaussie says, throwing away a good chunk of Sydney if we play out of the SCG only. It's a @@@@house venue to get to if you live north of the bridge as opposed to Olympic Park which is heaps easier.