Prayer Rooms at AFL venues??????????

[Melbourne_Blood]

I believe there running free personality tests out of the prayer rooms...

[Norris Lurker]

Think of the marketing opportunities. A new revenue stream for a cash-stapped home club.
For $200, you get a Bronze Prayer Room membership, entitling you to use the room, subject to capacity.
For $400, you get a Silver Prayer Room membership, with your own reserved mat.
For $500, you get a Gold Prayer Room membership, which guarantees you a place in the room at the MCG should you be successful in getting a grand final ticket.
And for the well-to-do muslim, there's the Corporate Caliph package; your own box catered with halal food except for day games in ramadan where the box is uncatered, and no alcohol is served. The box comes complete with your own ensuite prayer area.
Outside the room is a merchandise stall, with a full range of hijabs, niqabs and burqas in club colours.

[Triple B]

.....and burqas in club colours.

Sounds reasonable, though you wouldn't want to show your face in a Collingwood burqa....

[Dosser]

respect should be shown to all peoples and their beliefs, as long as all parties are respectful about it. Maybe when you travel next time you'll appreciate when a "local" makes an effort to accommodate you by maybe speaking English or being considerate that you may not understand local customs.

Islamophobia is common but I don't think it is a trait that the swans would preach.

I can just see it now as a muslim prays with shoes off, right next to a christian praying with their shoes on (therefore corrupting the space). Yeah, it will work well.

I actually have no problem with it, but it will open the door (no pun intended) for other minorities. Do we have a gay room? Do we have a room for the Norf supporter?

[Untamed Snark]

I can just see it now as a muslim prays with shoes off, right next to a christian praying with their shoes on (therefore corrupting the space). Yeah, it will work well.

I actually have no problem with it, but it will open the door (no pun intended) for other minorities. Do we have a gay room? Do we have a room for the Norf supporter?

I believe there is a fledgling Pink Swans group , no special room but the uniforms are fabulous
As for the norf supporter (Hi Kanga) they just make sure the leash is properly attached and the shots are recent

[goswannie14]

I don't have a problem with this.

I must say though, along the lines of Bacha Houli, when I worked with the Military we had some Muslims who were training to be Army Officers, the only concession made or taken by them was that they were never asked to eat pork whilst on exercise. Their prayer regimen did not interfere with their training. For example, if they were in the middle of a strategic advance or defence, they would pray either before or after the action was taking place.

That being said, it probably is a publicity stunt, but probably more to do with trying to make GWS more relevant to their geographic area.

[goswannie14]

Should Muslim prayer rooms be introduced to AFL grounds...I say no your there to watch footy thats it

I assume from your comment that if you are there to watch the footy ONLY, you don't drink while you are there? Because if you do, you are doing more than "just watching the footy that's it".

[R-1]

I don't have a problem with this.

I must say though, along the lines of Bacha Houli, when I worked with the Military we had some Muslims who were training to be Army Officers, the only concession made or taken by them was that they were never asked to eat pork whilst on exercise. Their prayer regimen did not interfere with their training. For example, if they were in the middle of a strategic advance or defence, they would pray either before or after the action was taking place.

That being said, it probably is a publicity stunt, but probably more to do with trying to make GWS more relevant to their geographic area.

Yeah, this basically. Islam isn't so inflexible for most Muslims in Australia that you can't work prayer around 4 hour leisure activity (as opposed to countries where call to prayer get broadcast over muezzins at set times and the rhythms of life work around that). So I can't imagine that in practice the room would get too much use. But hey with 60 000 people at a game, you never know. Maybe there's a group of devout sport loving Muslims who would welcome the ability to pray in private during games and maybe there are a group of people who like footy but don't attend for partly this reason. It's certainly a decent gesture at the very least.

[DA_Swan]

Surprised they even have room's available - good luck to them and hope they enjoy the experience - it does not interupt my view of the game

[Kirkari]

What people choose to do with their private lives is their own business and should be of no concern to the AFL.

[ScottH]

As long as they don't stand up in front of me to go and do it.

[goswannie14]

Not really a win win if we do that for them what about catholics,anglicans etc etc do we give a room to every religion.Fair enough they hav to pray 5 times its not guna kill em to miss a couple when their at the footy,you cnt please every 1.So IMO abide by our rules and regulations if they dnt like it dnt come to the footy

You sort of shot down your argument with this statement.....you can't please everyone.

[DamY]

I work with a Muslim woman at work. She feels it is important to be able to pray. I feel that her dignity should be respected, and should be able to pray in privacy. Like others have mentioned, the timing of the prayer is not so strict, but it would be considerate if the appropriate place was offered to people to do something that is important to them and doesn't harm others.

[Wardy]

I don't know what the big deal is as both grounds - scg and mcg have prayer rooms because of when the Pakistani cricketers come here . Then you get wind bag Rebecca Wilson banging on about it in todays terror and that made me really embarrassed that this woman is actually a Swans ambassador.I reckon I'd be right on the money that we here wouldn't even discuss this if we had a Muslim player/ players on our list

[swantastic]

Think of the marketing opportunities. A new revenue stream for a cash-stapped home club.
For $200, you get a Bronze Prayer Room membership, entitling you to use the room, subject to capacity.
For $400, you get a Silver Prayer Room membership, with your own reserved mat.
For $500, you get a Gold Prayer Room membership, which guarantees you a place in the room at the MCG should you be successful in getting a grand final ticket.
And for the well-to-do muslim, there's the Corporate Caliph package; your own box catered with halal food except for day games in ramadan where the box is uncatered, and no alcohol is served. The box comes complete with your own ensuite prayer area.
Outside the room is a merchandise stall, with a full range of hijabs, niqabs and burqas in club colours.

hahahaha good 1 but dnt laugh it mite happen