9000 free tickets to Kangas match in Canberra

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

From Bigfooty

Anyone care to back me up on the thread on Bigfooty.com. There are several ignorant North supporters who are having a go because they have NO IDEA about promoting the game of AFL football in NSW.

How about it kids? Footyhead, you are silent on this issue. I thought it would be right up your alley.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3241524#post3241524

JF

[ROK Lobster]

JF, the Roos have a pretty god profile here. They have visited twice doing clinics, as well as a clinic/family day after the Swans match. There was a marketing/merchandise/free balloons to the kiddies etc in the Belconnen shopping centre the other day. They are doing their bit and I am glad that they bring 4 games here per year. Footy is reasonably strong here but with a population of 310,000 it is never going to support a full time side, even if all the AFL supporters in the ACT did follow a local team. What FOX do, and what North Melb do are surely two separate things. I think it does nothing to cheapen the brand - it might even make a few converts (god knows our effort here this year was unlikely to). So why don't you let it go. How 'bout you come down and join me in the stand watching the Roos and the Demons battle it out in our fresh clean air. I think I can get you a ticket

[Destructive]

I think that if the Roos are serious about Canberra being their home, they should move there permanently, instead of prancing in there every few months and acting like they own the place.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Destructive
I think that if the Roos are serious about Canberra being their home, they should move there permanently, instead of prancing in there every few months and acting like they own the place.

They'd go broke, unless the AFL pumped the big bucks in. They have never pranced and never given any indication that they own the place.

[prenda]

why it wiil fail reasons

manuka oval not up to scratch,its a pretty little ground but 13,000 capacity is a joke.

it will always be a novilty thing for the roos,to send matches there that are going to get the same crowd in melbourne without having to pay the expensive ground fees of mcg or the dome.

canberras goverment blew it with there redevelopment of bruce stadium,canberra's best stadium cannot host afl footy any more.

canberrians are shallow when it comes to sport,games at manuka are with out a doubt the most atmosphere less events i have been to,most of the locals have no idea when it comes to a day out and are better off staying a home kniting or catching butterflys or having and afternoon snooze.i would rather drive to melbourne to watch a game then go to canberra again.

in conclusion it will always be a novilty it will never be a permanant thing in canberra
plus they love the brumbies that much most other teams will always struggle.

[j s]

Originally posted by prenda
why it wiil fail reasons

I disagree.

The Roos will never move there but it's good in the long term for the AFL to have a presence. The current capacity is quite adequate and could be bumped another 3-5k if/when needed. I like the ground (but not the below ground level front rows).

You mention Bruce stadium - the falure there was of the AFL not the ACT government. Before the Raiders arrived Aussie Rules was level pegging in popularity with League, especially at junior levels. The AFL stupidly let the market go.

Fortunately the AFL learnt the lesson and made sure the same mistake was not made with Stade Oz.

The Tassie/ACT/NT niche presence of the AFL is important to maintaining the national image of the game.

That's my opinion .

[satchmopugdog]

The York Park experiment seems to be working though because we are a long term Aussie Rules state with the two teams Hawthorn and St.Kilda having strong Tassie ties. The game I went to the other week was great and I noticed that the visiting teams that come here once a year,Eagle,Dockers,Power and Crows are gaining supporters too.

[prenda]

Fortunately the AFL learnt the lesson and made sure the same mistake was not made with Stade Oz.

js
stade oz havent heard about it,have you got any more imfo

[j s]

Originally posted by prenda
Fortunately the AFL learnt the lesson and made sure the same mistake was not made with Stade Oz.

js
stade oz havent heard about it,have you got any more imfo

I'm inclined to think that Stade Oz already knows about the retractable seating they installed so that AFL could be played there and the funding the AFL provided to make it happen.

[ROK Lobster]

All gone

[cruiser]

That's good. I really hope AFL succeeds in Canberra ad that one day it gets its own team.

[Destructive]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
They'd go broke, unless the AFL pumped the big bucks in. They have never pranced and never given any indication that they own the place.

Judging by the ads on Canberra telly, thats the impression that I get.

[David Votoupal]

The problem facing the Kangaroos in Canberra is this. Aussie Rules is popular in Canberra, but many fans have existing allegances and won't want to embrace the Roos as "Canberra's team". IMHO.

Canberra is a city in which all four football codes are strong. The ACTAFL is one of the strongest regional footy leagues. The local RL comp (Canberra Raiders Cup) is one of the strongest in country League. And there are decent Union and soccer bases as well.