Our new seats

[Bindo]

Just wondering how others from the old Bradman Stand liked their new seats today? In order to get under cover and secure reserved seating, we had to upgrade to premium gold, only to find today that we are in the oxygen required seats in 404, windy as hell and still had rain coming in. Food outlets don't look much better than before and you need binoculars to see the players. Seems we have been shafted at the expense of the SCG members. As a member of 15 years, I think this is pretty poor form.

I will be onto the Swans membership in the morning to see what can be done as they also changed our ANZ seats this year, and they are worse! Not happy Jan!!!

[Mauzza]

Just wondering how others from the old Bradman Stand liked their new seats today? In order to get under cover and secure reserved seating, we had to upgrade to premium gold, only to find today that we are in the oxygen required seats in 404, windy as hell and still had rain coming in. Food outlets don't look much better than before and you need binoculars to see the players. Seems we have been shafted at the expense of the SCG members. As a member of 15 years, I think this is pretty poor form.

I will be onto the Swans membership in the morning to see what can be done as they also changed our ANZ seats this year, and they are worse! Not happy Jan!!!

I wrote numerous letters and emails and had umpteen conversations with Swans membership on that very issue in January. I just couldn't see how it would be better and they said no I wouldn't be happy in the gold seats up the back as there were very high. In the end I opted not to move and stay in Victor Trumper but moved from row q to row a and it was well worth it. Got a few spots of rain but nothing to worry about today at least. So yes get straight on the phone in the morning as I'm sure others maybe thinking the same.

[Xie Shan]

I was in 404 too. You do get a great view of the whole field, it is a bit like watching moving pieces on a chess board. That said, it is very high up, and I personally think all of Level 4 at that end should be gold. Maybe it would have been nice to have known that the escalators are in the MA Noble side of the stand, for those with mobility issues, since the only other way up seems to be to take the stairs.

I think there are more food outlets under construction, still quite a bit of work to be done to the rooftop terrace on Level 4.

[Claret]

Couldn't agree more.

We (family of 5) are tucked in the extreme front left of the old Bradman Stand (Bay 405). We copped the full brunt of the elements before we were forced to go home at half time. And we didn't leave because of the football (six point game at the time). We were saturated and infuriated. How can PREMIUM Gold be so much worse than Red Zone? At least Red Zone is out of the jetstream (strong winds above 20,000ft), has better facilities, and a better view, and you can actually see the big screen. How is that even possible?! Premium my bum. Unless I can downgrade to Red Zone seating I'll be accepting that SCG membership next season.

[erica]

Come over to the Brewongle. Best seats in the house!

[desredandwhite]

We moved from the O'Reilly to the new Bradman Stand, and I'm 50/50 at the moment.

What I liked: The view was great. We are in row G and the distance is probably the same as our O'Reilly Stand seats but a bit higher. You get a nice view of the ground, and for me the change in angle will be interesting. I like how you see the ground essentially from a players' point of view and can see how it sets up - the view from the wings can make the angles to goal seem deceiving. I can also see how the facilities will be pretty good once finished. The facilities on level 1 and 2 of the Noble are pretty good.

What I disliked: Well, the stand's not finished is it? Okay, it's "Return of the Jedi" operational, but it's a stretch to say that it's finished. I'm not sure if there's going to be escalators or a lift up the Bradman end, but right now stairs are the only option. It's a hell of a hike to get down to Level 1 and 2 of the Noble where the good food outlets live. The back of the Bradman on level 4 is essentially a construction site, with very few food outlets available. The PA was virtually non existent in the top level of the Bradman and so you can't hear a single thing that's announced, or the siren. The roof section is unfinished. The height of the roof means that if it's windy and spitting rain (as it was in large portions today) you will get all that spitting rain on you.

[giant]

I'm with you Bindo, a very ordinary experience my first time in seats. And yes Xie Shan, we shlepped our way up four floors (along with some poor old dear who was basically told she could only use the lift if she were disabled) only to find out about the escalators later. Vastly inferior seats to my old Trumper Stand seats I think - and why is it that you always seem to be surrounded by opposition fans (only they're in the better seats!).

[O'Reilly Boy]

That's very disappointing for you all. If it's any consolation, we could not hear the siren from our O'Reilly Stand seats either. The siren seems to have taken its lead from the players: a bit bloodless.

[AnnieH]

Brewongle all the way kiddies... try and get your seats moved to there.

[Bindo]

Brewongle all the way kiddies... try and get your seats moved to there.

Not so easy when we have a group of about 15 (3-4 different families) with different levels of affordability. We were all very happy in the old Bradman stand and now it looks like we will be split up. I am on the phone at the moment to Membership Services.

[erica]

Hope you can get a better solution, Bindo.

We were looking at the new stand from our seats in the Brewongle yesterday and observed that it didn't seem to be a practical stand. It might look good but the speed at which people ran for cover when the rain started showed that it didn't provide protection from rain and wind for a lot of them. Not much point having a fancy design if it can't provide the basics?

[ugg]

I'm a Red Zone member and we sat on Level 1 of the Noble. We wanted to sit on Level 2 but after going up there and experiencing the wind, we decided it wasn't a good idea and decamped to the lower level under cover. I think on a good day Level 2 would be my preferred vantage point. I can understand those who are not happy with their Level 4 seats, especially after paying more for the 'privilege'.

Seats are pretty good, could still feel the rain at times but that was due to the wind blowing the drops sideways! When the rain cleared in the final quarter, we ventured down to the fence. It looked like the ground level of the playing surface was much higher than the ground level of the stands which I found interesting.

Food was nice but you're definitely paying a premium for the 'gourmet' stuff. TV screens were a nice touch although from where we were seated we could also see the main scoreboard too.

And despite the hard push by the club on dress regulations I didn't see anyone checking and I'm sure there were more than a few males getting away without a collared shirt.

[Doctor]

What was the thinking behind that huge gap in the roof? Seems excessively large, even for letting in a breeze.

[Meg]

What was the thinking behind that huge gap in the roof? Seems excessively large, even for letting in a breeze.

I asked that question when I recently did a SCG public tour. The answer I was given: grass needs three things to grow healthily - sun, water and wind. Wind becomes an issue for a stadium totally surrounded by grandstands. Hence the gap at the back of the new SCG stands.

At the Allianz Stadium (with a lower roof) there is a sail cloth type structure outside the stadium which catches the wind and funnels it over the roof into the stadium.

[Bindo]

I'm a Red Zone member and we sat on Level 1 of the Noble. We wanted to sit on Level 2 but after going up there and experiencing the wind, we decided it wasn't a good idea and decamped to the lower level under cover. I think on a good day Level 2 would be my preferred vantage point. I can understand those who are not happy with their Level 4 seats, especially after paying more for the 'privilege'.

This is what really p***** me off. Happy to pay a bit more for a reserved seat, yet we get shoved to the 4th level. Yesterday wasn't a cold day, yet up there it felt like mid winter. God only knows what it will be like in August! There should be reserved seating available for Swans members at the lower levels in these stands.

Anyway, we won't be there to experience it from now on. Upgraded to platinum and back in the Trumper Stand for SCG and aisle 111 at ANZ. Hopefully next year we can regroup with our friends, and for those that can afford it, try for the Brewongle (as long as it isn't in the plans for an upgrade any time soon!).