ANZ stadium - the home of footy

[Doctor]

I couldn't get anybody to go to ANZ with me for the final, so we're watching it from the pub...

At least 3 people said they would go if it was at the SCG, but refused the trek to ANZ...

The trek??!! Good on you for trying Daisi but as for the three people you asked, a little perspective might be in order.

[Go Swannies]

Shouldn't the title of this thread be changed to "the home of mud wrestling"? It's a long time since a ground cost us a win the way ANZ had the usually surefooted Ted slip at the critical moment.

The surface in the wings was visibly more mud than grass. The weather this week won't help (well, it'll help Freo). But I thought the crap wing surface was the result of the stands being pushed out into NRL configuration while last night on TV it was said it was the NRL logos that did the damage. Which is it?

Of the five of us that go to ANZ in H&A three have dropped out but four have stepped up. When the Swans dropped the "no ANZ" pass option we lost another two who decided they'd prefer to lose their membership than go to ANZ. So ANZ contracts do cost the Swans membership. I love heading to the SCG but go to ANZ out of a sense of duty. Last Saturday with a Tiger's friend was fun though - I didn't care if we won or not (as long as noone was injured) but he's still on a finals-bound high - and he planned his trip up from Melbourne in April not knowing it was to see the Tigers claim their 2014 destiny.

[Dave]

Sydney people choosing not to go to the game because it is at ANZ Stadium and not at the SCG are nothing but fair weather, Chardonnay drinking bandwagon supporters that many supporters from other clubs are making fun of. A disgrace. This is the first QF since 1998 and people are making a stand where the final should be played. Unbelievable!

This is true. I can accept some people choosing not to go to ANZ for a H&A game (well almost) but to miss out on a final and not be there to support the team purely because it's across town is pathetic. Try having kids play in the Sydney JAFL and you will know what travelling to get to games is all about.

You are either a true footy /Swans supporter or you are just hanging around at the SCG to make a fashion statement.

As for ANZ, I am concerned about the surface and some of the seating angles aren't that great, but the catering still leaves the SCG for dead and at least they still have Vilis pies.

I would actually prefer the finals to be at the SCG as I think it holds more of an advantage for us but I'm not going to make some sort of petulant stand and boycott the game cause I have to go a few km further than normal. You people are a joke.

[Dave]

- - - Updated - - -

Anyway, back on topic - whats the weather lookign like in Sydney today?

Any hope that there can be some sunny days to dry out the mud before Saturday?

Wind coming from the NW and the rain seems to be staying away for the moment. Even patches of sunlight every now and then. Hopefully the wind will do some drying to the surface.

[Dave]

As far as fair weather supporters go, how dare ANYBODY on here criticise our supporters, to each their own! If people don't like ANZ or the Swans aren't their number one priority or they have something on and can't get to the game -IT'S THEIR RIGHT!!!!!!

Sorry, if you decide not to go to a final strictly because you prefer the SCG then you are very much a fair weather supporter. Sure it's your right, but you are still pretty lame.

I fail to see what type of membership has to do with it. That is more an indication of how cashed up you are...

[mcs]

Again Barry I ask what level of Sydney Swans membership do you have?

I'd be interested to know the answer to this one as well.... althought I think I already know the answer to it

[Untamed Snark]

Calm dowm Jewels. I'm having a great day.

But it's not all about you is it?
And this is where the problems lay-you have an obsessive need to make each thread about you and which ever opinion you are pushing at that particular time

[mcsquirta]

Unfortunately I can't make it to the game this week. Luckily it's in the afternoon this week though, because my main problem with ANZ, apart from the horrible surface, is the lights. They need to be higher up, on towers and tilted down more. Currently they're designed for a game where the ball rarely takes to the air,.

Sitting near the HF flank on Saturday night, looking across field, any time the ball went any higher than a hand pass you're looking straight up into lights. Combine that with shallow rake of the seating (taking you further from the play) and drizzle wafting down onto my glasses and I spent a lot of time looking at the big screen - I might as well have been at home. There was 41,317 at the Port game at the SCG and my spine was tingling from the crowd that day - there were 31,000 on Saturday, and if it wasn't for the Richmond supporters it would have been like watching a game of chess for the first 3 quarters.

you aren't the one to judge whether its a homophobic slur or not - if someone has taken offence to it, then to them, it is a homophobic slur.

The idea that 'I can say what I want and be the judge of whether its racist/homophobic/whatever' is exactly why homophobia and racism continue to be significant problems in society today.

Nail, head, bang. I don't want to keep this going, since mcs has put it so well and Barry's apologized, but just because something said is unintentionally racist/homophobic doesn't make it any less so. Denying it's offensive just makes it moreso. Barry's apologized so it's all good.

[Mr Magoo]

Is the beer issue fixed yet?

[Primmy]

Hence the bickering and low level spite

well that made me laugh.
Better now.

[barry]

Can we all just agree, that ANZ will be a significantly better ground with a roof. Addressing many concerns, especially those that arose last weekend. When the new negotiations are up in 2016, lets make sure that better oval and rectangular scheduling is part of the deal.

Its our finals venue for Sydney, lets all get there, make some noise, and get the boys over the line. Its tuesday, final on saturday. Lets not spend anymore time bickering about this side issue.

[mcs]

Can we all just agree, that ANZ will be a significantly better ground with a roof. Addressing many concerns, especially those that arose last weekend. When the new negotiations are up in 2016, lets make sure that better oval and rectangular scheduling is part of the deal.

Its our finals venue for Sydney, lets all get there, make some noise, and get the boys over the line. Its tuesday, final on saturday. Lets not spend anymore time bickering about this side issue.

I will agree that it 'should' make it a better venue Roofs are not a be all and end all however, and as seen at Docklands in Melbourne, and in many other places around the world, they can have significant negative impacts on the quality of the surface (if not managed well).

It will improve the experience in relation to the weather and comfort for fans, but will not substantially improve the turf issue caused by the sliding in and out of the stands(the greatest solution to this issue would be far better cooperation between the NRL, AFL and ANZ to fix up fixturing).

It will also definitely not improve the viewing angle issue (for us common folk down in the red zone).

But I will concede, it is a step forward for ANZ, but I doubt it will make me particuarly more fond of the place.

[Doctor]

I do agree that it'll be better with the roof. It should address the heavy dew they tend to get out there. I'm not sure that it'll address the covered turf issues that occur when they play League there though. What accompanies that is that the grass needs to be kept longer than is desirable for the AFL in order to cater for the rugby codes.

I agree much more strongly with your second point.

In terms of the beer, it's still mid-strength but it's now XXXX GOld or Hahn Super Dry rather than that hideous Tooheys New Mid.

[Ludwig]

Hey Scott, I think you loaded the Big Footy database onto our website.

[Mr Magoo]

I do agree that it'll be better with the roof. It should address the heavy dew they tend to get out there. I'm not sure that it'll address the covered turf issues that occur when they play League there though. What accompanies that is that the grass needs to be kept longer than is desirable for the AFL in order to cater for the rugby codes.

I agree much more strongly with your second point.

In terms of the beer, it's still mid-strength but it's now XXXX GOld or Hahn Super Dry rather than that hideous Tooheys New Mid.

Yaddah Yaddah Yaddah - we all agree a roof will be better .

But the SCG wins still because they have seen the light and introduced full strength decent tasting beverages.

And why Mid Strength - I can buy a full strength Wine or can of Smirnoff but I cant buy a full strength beer - are we such a nanny state now that the venue owners think that its for my own good , that I should drink crap midstrength beer at the same price I would pay at a restaurant for a full strength decent tasting imported beer or high end aussie beer.

YOu know it wasnt that long ago when it was okay to take your own esky , with your own choice of beer to the SCG - I still remember as a kid watching the blizzard that was the can fight on the hill. Ah the good old days