Tell me they're taking the piss....

[ugg]

I wonder if this has something to do with the last quarter finishing early (19 minutes-something) in the last reserves game.

[Frog]

It's not being precious at all Primms. What is precious is not opening a lousy 5min earlier so it's members can be in theirs seats for the first bounce. It happens at ANZ as well so it's obviously a directive from the club.

Why does it have to be a directive from the club? Why can't it be the SCG and ANZ stadium that do not want to pay their staff any more than necessary? How many people come to watch the reserves? How many buy beer and pies and chips and coffee? How much staff do they put on for that? I'll stop now. Just let it be known if I owned the SCG and there was a reserves game that attracted diehards that bring a thermos of coffee and sandwiches, I'd open my gates a minute before the start. I have to employ staff to let you in and watch you.

[Triple B]

Why does it have to be a directive from the club? Why can't it be the SCG and ANZ stadium that do not want to pay their staff any more than necessary? How many people come to watch the reserves? How many buy beer and pies and chips and coffee? How much staff do they put on for that? I'll stop now. Just let it be known if I owned the SCG and there was a reserves game that attracted diehards that bring a thermos of coffee and sandwiches, I'd open my gates a minute before the start. I have to employ staff to let you in and watch you.

As noted earlier....

"The frustrating thing is and always has been, is the gate staff are ALWAYS there at the gate at least 10 minutes before gates, just waiting for the 'all clear' on the 2-way radios. It's not a case of having to pay them an extra 5 minutes wages, they are there ready to go anyway."

[stellation]

Why does it have to be a directive from the club? Why can't it be the SCG and ANZ stadium that do not want to pay their staff any more than necessary? How many people come to watch the reserves? How many buy beer and pies and chips and coffee? How much staff do they put on for that? I'll stop now. Just let it be known if I owned the SCG and there was a reserves game that attracted diehards that bring a thermos of coffee and sandwiches, I'd open my gates a minute before the start. I have to employ staff to let you in and watch you.

I disagree with that logic, there's no obligation at all for the various shops inside the ground to have to open up for the reserves- this is purely about access to the ground itself, not to the shops. A few of the shops near where we sit at the SCG aren't ready to go and serve until well after half way through the reserves, I don't think anyone really has an issue with it.

If staff have to be on hand somewhere in the ground, for people to be in there, Security would already be toddling around the ground for a good 30 minutes before the gates are open (and those food shops will have people setting up anyway, they just don't have to serve).

[Big Al]

Why does it have to be a directive from the club? Why can't it be the SCG and ANZ stadium that do not want to pay their staff any more than necessary? How many people come to watch the reserves? How many buy beer and pies and chips and coffee? How much staff do they put on for that? I'll stop now. Just let it be known if I owned the SCG and there was a reserves game that attracted diehards that bring a thermos of coffee and sandwiches, I'd open my gates a minute before the start. I have to employ staff to let you in and watch you.

I have done some research on other games at ANZ and it does seem that the 5min I'd standard across the codes so I'll concede it's probably not a directive from the club.

However the rest of your post is just petty nonsense. We're talking an extra 5min to allow people to get to their seats. The staff are already there (security are set up ready to go 15min before the scheduled opening). The bars/food outlets aren't open anyway at that time so no extra wages there. It's just petty crap from the venues and I'm surprised at you Frog for not seeing that it's fairly important to the diehards of the club you love.(it's 5min ffs)

Also because I'm in the Brewongle I can get to my seat before the first bounce but I know a lot of people can't and it's those people I'm supporting.

[Frog]

I have done some research on other games at ANZ and it does seem that the 5min I'd standard across the codes so I'll concede it's probably not a directive from the club. ... snip ... I'm surprised at you Frog for not seeing that it's fairly important to the diehards of the club you love.

I never said it wasn't important for diehards.

It's like this ... there are two sides to every story. Whether you want to hear both sides is up to you.

I do see it is important to you (and Primmy, and Triple, and Ugg etc) - The other side doesn't give close to a single iota about you and how diehard you are (both you's in plural).

All I've EVER seen in this argument is

"Why can't they open the gates a bit earlier so we can get to our seats"

I've NEVER seen

"Could someone please explain why there is only 5 minutes".

If we get an answer to the NEVER seen part, perhaps this continual complaint can be laid to rest and perhaps you can tackle the why - perhaps you might even get to help fix whatever the problem is. Maybe it is an insurance issue and there isn't a single thing you can do about it. Does anyone know why it is only 5 minutes? Has anybody ever asked? Or do we just assume they can open earlier "because they are already there?"

[Big Al]

The question has been asked and the response last year was that it's locked in and can't be changed but we'll have a look at it for this year. Do you think if there were reasons that weren't petty they would have been outlined to the people who have asked about this. Maybe your right Frog, it's might be just a matter that the venues couldn't give a toss about the early birds.

Ironically, I might be running 10-15min late this week so I might miss the start anyway. I'm lobbying the club to push back the start time.

[Triple B]

The other side doesn't give close to a single iota about you and how diehard you are (both you's in plural).

All I've EVER seen in this argument is

"Why can't they open the gates a bit earlier so we can get to our seats"

I've NEVER seen

"Could someone please explain why there is only 5 minutes"

Given that the people making an absolutely reasonable request are members, just maybe the 'other side' bloody well should give more than a single iota.

Like our coach, this issue has obviously gotten under your skin for some reason, hence the 'shouting' of EVER and the 'continual complaint' reference.

[Old Royboy]

Lots of things make no sense. Quite apart from the ridiculous gate opening, why are the Ressies starting so early? Game will be over before 1 pm. By my reckoning we will have more than an hour to sit and scratch ourselves before the ones come on.

[Big Al]

I just noted that the SCG trust run Sydney Football stadium is opening 15min before the lower grade NRL game on Friday night.

ORB, I've never understood why the reserves have to start so early. The NRL do it as well. In the old days of watching league you had 3 grades playing and there was only a 5-10min gap between games.

Oh dear, I've gone awfully close to saying "back in my day....." I feel old.

[wolftone57]

Why does it have to be a directive from the club? Why can't it be the SCG and ANZ stadium that do not want to pay their staff any more than necessary? How many people come to watch the reserves? How many buy beer and pies and chips and coffee? How much staff do they put on for that? I'll stop now. Just let it be known if I owned the SCG and there was a reserves game that attracted diehards that bring a thermos of coffee and sandwiches, I'd open my gates a minute before the start. I have to employ staff to let you in and watch you.

Are we allowed to take a thermos and sangas in? I think the catering is one of the main problems at footy matches. They always contract the catering to the highest bidder. This makes the food more expensive for the punters and puts many people off coming to the footy especially if they have a tribe. Mainly because kids always want chips, pie, doggie and drink and at the footy that could end up costing up to $100 for a family.

I think the SCG and ANZ should go back to the old system of providing their own catering. They would make all the profit, the food would be cheaper for the punters and you would get a few more through the gates every week.

[wolftone57]

I just noted that the SCG trust run Sydney Football stadium is opening 15min before the lower grade NRL game on Friday night.

ORB, I've never understood why the reserves have to start so early. The NRL do it as well. In the old days of watching league you had 3 grades playing and there was only a 5-10min gap between games.

Oh dear, I've gone awfully close to saying "back in my day....." I feel old.

In the days of real resie footy before every game it was an 11.00 or11.30am start and the main game started at 2.15pm or 2.30pm. The resies would finish and then they would be the honour guard for the main game or they would leave the oval and the 'A's would come out immediately after and do their warm up. Directly after the warm up the game starts, no second warm up out on the ground.

[erica]

Are we allowed to take a thermos and sangas in? I think the catering is one of the main problems at footy matches. They always contract the catering to the highest bidder. This makes the food more expensive for the punters and puts many people off coming to the footy especially if they have a tribe. Mainly because kids always want chips, pie, doggie and drink and at the footy that could end up costing up to $100 for a family.

Yes you can, just no glass or alcohol. We always take a packed lunch and a thermos of hot drink (or soup on those really cold days!).