The ANZ/SCG myth

[Jewels]

It's starting to resemble a personality disorder...

Gee that's the pot calling the kettle black!

[Big Al]

The fact that AFL and NRL are jostling to use ANZ on the same weekend in the finals tells says it all - there's no other large stadium in Sydney. ANZ will be a Swans ground for a long time yet.

Souths and Canterbury play all their home games at ANZ and the AFL has a contract with ANZ to host finals so they have no choice but to jostle for position on that weekend. If Souths and Canterbury played home games elsewhere they would be using the SFS as a venue. What happens when the AFL contracts ends will be the interesting thing.

[Dirtyburt]

The fact that AFL and NRL are jostling to use ANZ on the same weekend in the finals tells says it all - there's no other large stadium in Sydney. ANZ will be a Swans ground for a long time yet.

Jostling?

[Cheer Squad]

I would think The Cats would jump through hoops to play their finals at Kardinia.

Navy blue and white hoops?

[Cheer Squad]

What happens when the AFL contracts ends will be the interesting thing.

It certainly will, because that's when the Giants are expected to be seriously competitive.

What happens when we meet the Giants in a final, as we surely will one day?

An all-Sydney final, with the Giants as the "home" team, would need to be played at ANZ Stadium. They couldn't use Skoda Stadium, as it would be too small.

[jono2707]

It certainly will, because that's when the Giants are expected to be seriously competitive.

What happens when we meet the Giants in a final, as we surely will one day?

An all-Sydney final, with the Giants as the "home" team, would need to be played at ANZ Stadium. They couldn't use Skoda Stadium, as it would be too small.

The Canberra Giants would likely want to play their first home final at Manuka....

[SwansFan1972]

Err how soon some forget!! the best atmosphere during finals for us were both played at the SCG!!!! The prelim final in '96 and Plugger kicked the point on full time and then the best ever - Davo's last qtr 2005 semi final against Geelong- nothing at ANZ comes close to those 2.

+1

That Geelong semi was (and remains) unmatched by any atmosphere I've experienced anywhere. The ground and stands shook that night. Only have to think back on it to STILL get tingles down the spine. Wasn't at the 96 prelim, but imagine it was pretty similar.

[SwansFan1972]

The biggest knock I have on ANZ is that you can barely buy a decent seat there.

Most seats on each side physically cannot see the entire playing surface WHEN THE PLAY COMES CLOSEST TO YOU. How warped is that?!?!

If you go for the seats that can see the whole ground, the far ends look like they are in another suburb. The rise between rows is abysmal and in some sections the bays don't even face the centre of the ground, instead looking straight across the 50m arc (reflecting the rectangular standard configuration for the predominant tenants - league, rugby and soccer).

AFL requires seats to be placed in a circular setting right around the ground facing into the centre for optimum viewing, not straight along the sidelines. Hence cricket grounds tend to be a natural pair with the game.

Whatever configuring took place to 'suit' AFL when the stadium was redesigned was never going to be satisfactory on a ground whose main purpose was always to suit the rectangular field codes. The surface has improved out of sight compared to previous years (admittedly coming of a rock bottom - literally!! - base). The wings will always be a problem though, since they spend much of their time under grandstand seating!

Bottom line - just don't like the place. Some do (for whatever reason - culinary, closer to home, whatever whatever) and their reasons are as valid as anyone's. There just don't seem to be as many in that camp though, and at the end of the day we are all customers of the club and the AFL. Would be sensible for both of them to take note and react accordingly when the strictures of contract arrangements expire.

[DamY]

I got second release silver tickets at the same price as GA and we were 7 rows back from the swans goal posts! Happy chappy

[Big Al]

Err how soon some forget!! the best atmosphere during finals for us were both played at the SCG!!!! The prelim final in '96 and Plugger kicked the point on full time and then the best ever - Davo's last qtr 2005 semi final against Geelong- nothing at ANZ comes close to those 2.

The 1998 semi against the Saints was pretty amazing as well. Not only was it a tight tough final but there was a sense of craving revenge against the Saints who had belted the Swans at the SCG by 100+ points earlier in the year and had acted without a lot of grace in victory.

Who would ever forget the the Saints players linking arms at the end of the match and skipping across the ground to their supporters like some ugly chorus line impression. Something the Swans replicated at the end of that Semi Final victory.

[Beerman]

The fact that AFL and NRL are jostling to use ANZ on the same weekend in the finals tells says it all - there's no other large stadium in Sydney. ANZ will be a Swans ground for a long time yet.

+1.

A prelim against another big club with ok weather could draw 50-60k. The SCG just doesn't have that kind of capacity and it's hard to see the AFL (or Swans) knock back the chance for that many people to watch their team.

I think it's great that both Giants and Swans have smaller grounds with great atmosphere to use for regular games and can use ANZ for big games (despite its limitations). Incidentally, I believe Blacktown was was only used while Skoda was being prepared, so it isn't a future AFL venue.

It's like Melbourne clubs being able to play games at their home ground, and use the MCG when they have a bigger game.

[jono2707]

If the AFL makes us play finals at Homebush once the SCG is renovated I would have to really start to consider whether I would want to bother. I might even call it a boycott. I would be extremely disappointed to be dragged away from our world-class home with a capacity of 48,000 on a purpose-built oval to play at an inappropriate venue which is in our opposition's territory.

[Beerman]

I would be extremely disappointed to be dragged away from our world-class home with a capacity of 48,000 on a purpose-built oval to play at an inappropriate venue which is in our opposition's territory.

Purpose-built? For cricket maybe! You can only just call the SCG an oval, it is almost a circle Or were you referring to the stands?

OTOH, I'm excited to see that the capacity is going to be as high as 48,000. I had no idea and thought it was more like 40k. Nearly every game we play could fit at the SCG and it should have a pumping atmosphere with that many people.

[jono2707]

Purpose-built? For cricket maybe! You can only just call the SCG an oval, it is almost a circle Or were you referring to the stands?

OTOH, I'm excited to see that the capacity is going to be as high as 48,000. I had no idea and thought it was more like 40k. Nearly every game we play could fit at the SCG and it should have a pumping atmosphere with that many people.

Purpose built as in round/ovular and not the rectangular thingy that Homebush is.... I really think the new stand will be a great addition to the SCG, like the Trumper Stand is, and that once done it will really help enhance the atmosphere of the place. A bit of short term pain now and for next year will be worthwhile in the long run.

Word is that there will be some sort of seating in the new stand ready to go next season - I would guess at ground level - does anyone know any more about that?

I must say I have been ok with Homebush in the past and haven't missed a game out there for ages, including finals, but last Saturday night has left me scarred. I don't want to see us play there again vs the awful black & white mob until we get over the hoodoo.

[Cheer Squad]

OTOH, I'm excited to see that the capacity is going to be as high as 48,000. I had no idea and thought it was more like 40k. Nearly every game we play could fit at the SCG and it should have a pumping atmosphere with that many people.

For the general public, the increased capacity won't make that much difference in terms of access to tickets.

The redevelopment isn't aimed at the average punter. There's only about 500 extra seats for Mr. and Mrs. Average. The other couple of thousand extra seats are for SCG members.