ANZ Stadium vs SCG

[Mike_B]

The other thing to factor in was that the Roosters were playing at the same time at the SFS, and there is a decent number of people who are members of both clubs and would have had to make a choice. But the fact is, the only game we will play this year where the crowd might not have fit at the SCG will be the Collingwood game. The crowd numbers are consistently sitting around the 30k mark even for games at Homebush, and with the SCGs increased capacity in recent years, the argument of playing games at Homebush because of crowd size are farcical.

[msb]

Geez im surprised the crowd was only 28,000, it looked quite healthy on the TV....ive been to ANZ a few times, with one of them being the 72,000 against collingwood in 03 and the other the following year in 04 against them aswell, and the atmosphere was great. We obviously lose a distinct advantage by playing there though and it would be great to have all home games at the SCG, where I am craving to have a crack at collingwood at!

[mariachi]

I think that the AFL has consistently missed the chance to get bigger crowds at Homebush and to grow the supporter base for the game at the same time. They simply charge too much for a ticket at Homebush. With so many activities competing for the family dollar, why would you pay big money to go to a game if you weren't already a fan? But if it was a cheap day out for a family with tickets in the top deck at around $10 each, then you would get plenty of first timers. And they'd come back because its a good day out. Surely selling seats cheaply that would otherwise be empty makes sense. Bigger crowds, more atmosphere and the chance to buy some new fans.... come on AFL HQ.

[GoSouth33]

I know of some Swans members who didn't turn for yesterday's game and that's their loss. I really hope they enjoyed the TV coverage! Weather wise it was a terrific day and it's hard to beat the atmosphere of being there especially when your team wins a close one.
I couldn't believe the state of the ground either. Viewing with binocs I thought the centre square looked like a cow paddock. Going out onto the ground for post match kick to kick confirmed that the state of turf was quite sparse and patchy all over the ground. I don't understand it: it gets good sun and so early in the season the grass should be really thick. I can't believe that the NRL games would have knocked it around so much. And, we haven't had that much recent rain. Please explain.

[Mike_B]

I couldn't believe the state of the ground either. Viewing with binocs I thought the centre square looked like a cow paddock. Going out onto the ground for post match kick to kick confirmed that the state of turf was quite sparse and patchy all over the ground. I don't understand it: it gets good sun and so early in the season the grass should be really thick. I can't believe that the NRL games would have knocked it around so much. And, we haven't had that much recent rain. Please explain.

The only explanation for the Centre Square would be the drop in cricket wickets through summer, but they were taken out weeks ago. Add to that, the MCG manage to make the ground look a picture within days of replacing the cricket wickets, so really, while it may be an explanation, its no excuse.

[Primmy]

I have a theory that we used to get really big crowds when playing out of state teams for the first game or two until the supporters found the transport and all that truly painful and preferred to not bother.

I also think they will continue to play out at ANZ for the larger anticipated games until the SCG trust finish upgrading the stands there over the next few years....Once they are done and finished we will have a few more seats available and better facilities....I hope.

[swansrob]

Yeah I was under the impression the contract runs till 2015 or 2016.

In any case, the Swans need to be careful not to alienate current and potential members from western Sydney (think alot of our 3 game superpass members are people in the west).

Is the contract with the Swans or the AFL?

[desredandwhite]

I think the current mix of 8 SCG and 3 ANZ games is about right, however more thought needs to go into the teams we play, match scheduling and promotion.

We should absolutely not turn our backs on the Western suburbs - we still have a lot of members and supporters out that way (myself being one of them... I drive about 30 minutes EAST to get to Homebush!) and it's important that we continue to nurture that support even in what are now nominally GWS suburbs.

"Big" games and finals will continue to be played out at Olympic Park for the forseeable future, but I wouldn't mind betting that this will be monitored on an annual basis with the entry of GWS.

[Big Al]

In any case, the Swans need to be careful not to alienate current and potential members from western Sydney (think alot of our 3 game superpass members are people in the west).

Maybe we should concentrate on not alienating the majority of our supporter base who don't like giving up a significant Home ground advantage to go to ANZ. If we consistently got 50k + at Homebush then you could make a case to play there. The demand just isn't there any more and as Mike_B says we can confortably fit the current ANZ crowds into the SCG.

[GoSouth33]

I don't mind going to the SCG for games but, as a "westie" it suits to have a few games at Homebush especially as it's around 30 mins door to door as opposed to an hour and ten to the SCG. The other thing that is being overlooked is the chance to play a differently sized ground but still with a home ground advantage. After yesterday, we've played 35 times at Homebush for 21 wins (60%). On the other hand, we've played 307 at the SCG for 173 wins (56%). But I think more importantly we get the opportunity to not become too "one dimensional" by always playing at Fortress SCG.

[Bas]

I think the current mix of 8 SCG and 3 ANZ games is about right, however more thought needs to go into the teams we play, match scheduling and promotion.

We should absolutely not turn our backs on the Western suburbs - we still have a lot of members and supporters out that way (myself being one of them... I drive about 30 minutes EAST to get to Homebush!) and it's important that we continue to nurture that support even in what are now nominally GWS suburbs.

"Big" games and finals will continue to be played out at Olympic Park for the forseeable future, but I wouldn't mind betting that this will be monitored on an annual basis with the entry of GWS.

I agree. The funny misperception in all this is that by train Central is only 10 minutes down the road (I mean track) from Strathfield. So in terms of travel it doesn't make that much difference in travel time. I would have thought it was a much easier ground to get to unless you live in the Eastern Suburbs. However, for those living in the eastern suburbs then tough it out for 3 games.

Homebush (as much as I hate the sardine like seating arrangements on level 4) has a much greater "big game" feel than the SCG, if it has the crowd size to match.

[sfan]

playing at 210 on a Sunday afternoon stops interstate fans coming. Too hard to get home again for work Monday. I thought the Essendon fans were well down. Also we had to move from our Eastern Seat tickets as it was very hot.

[swansrule100]

ive only been to a couple of home games, two at each i think it is. As a fan i felt like when i went to the scg i was at the swans home ground- just the signs and offices, the set up, it felt like id finally got to go to a home game. ANZ just felt like someone hired the stadium for 2 teams to clash, wasnt anyones home ground

[CJK]

I voted with my wallet this year and have gone a Lakeside membership. Put my money where my mouth has been for the last 2 years.

No more ANZ for me.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

What we need to be doing is getting the SCG Trust to hurry up & get started on their redevelopment of the MA Noble & Bradman Stands. Then we'd have an SCG that has nearly a 50000 capacity.

Pure & simple, Homebush is NOT our ground. It doesn't feel like our ground. The surface is nigh on disgraceful. Plus, most important,we play it poorly.

Now that the Swans are no longer the be-all & end-all to the evil AFL's plans to control the world & get more corporate money for itself, I hope we play there as little as possible. We are not a marketing and advertising institution. We are a football club who has a style of play that suits our own home ground.

But the AFL are intent on money, so regardless of how many games there are at the SCG in the minor round, they will still shunt us out there come finals time. So in a way I guess we have to keep playing out there so we don't get any rude shocks in September.

JF