100m Football Park Upgrade

[Psyber]

Spending money on Football Park would have an almost gauranteed return though right?
They average about 40,000 a footy game over 22 rounds which by that rough sum comes to almost a million, and that is in just half a year. Upgrade it and it becomes better to host other sports also. Looks like money that should make money to me.

Not really - the people who attend major weekend sports are a minority, even 100,000 in Melbourne out of a population of over 5 million. They would barely generate reasonable interest on that much capital. The money may be better spend benefitting the whole community and leaving the sporting clubs to fund themselves.
$100 million needs to earn $8 million a year to be a worthwhile investment.

I take it you understand how much Footy Park makes a year?
I don't think it really matters if it is a minority if it turns over a big profit. Your last statement is what interests me. Mr Whicker mentions that it is an investment made by the Government. That could mean a lot of things so I would want to hear more about what interests this secures for the Government in Footy Park, and what (if any) share of the spoils the Government will take.

No idea - I was thinking in terms only of what the extra $100 million would need to add to the existing income to be a viable investment.
I agree we would have to see what was promised to the government in return, and make some assessment of how realistic it was, to really know whether it was an investment or a publicity stunt.

Organisations often promise great benefits that are quite unrealistic when they are trying to sell a project. You should have seen some of the rubbish CommSec invited me to invest in, primarily because the Commonwealth Bank was funding the scheme and wanted to make sure their funds were secure by encouraging others to share the risk.
Result - I've just dumped CommSec!

[Booney]

What is it with people bagging Footy Park? Is it really that bad? I dont thin so,and I go there a dozen or more times a year.

With individual seating ( I admit,the old cold aluminium ones were horrible),improved catering (walk in get food,walk out and pay,ala MCG),choice of three beers on tap,a new Northern stand to seat about another 10,000 under cover and the improved Footy Express bus service,what is wrong with the place?

I think SANFL fans who have bad memories of the early 90's of going there in miserable conditions (not the stadiums fault) to see their team get belted and have hardly returned since have to take another look.Sure,nothing much has changed,but you go there for about 3 hours at a time.Do you want Telstra Dome style nightclubs and cafes? Not me.Do you want a roof over it? Not me.

IMO,a serious waste of money when I would rather see my kids get better teacher/student ratios in their schools,or better health care for my ageing parents.

[Magpiespower]

World Cup matches, if they come to Australia at all, will be in Melbourne or Sydney, nowhere else.

Suncorp will hold a few...

[zipzap]

The thing that I don't get is why the AFL aren't expected to contribute $ to this ground, which is ostensibly to showcase their brand of the game, when they do underwrite or contribute to grounds in Victoria and other parts of the land. National comp or not? I guess it's because the SANFL wants full autonomy which is commendable but they're happy to do the AFL bum-lick when it suits, why not now?

[evans01]

What is it with people bagging Footy Park? Is it really that bad? I dont thin so,and I go there a dozen or more times a year.

With individual seating ( I admit,the old cold aluminium ones were horrible),improved catering (walk in get food,walk out and pay,ala MCG),choice of three beers on tap,a new Northern stand to seat about another 10,000 under cover and the improved Footy Express bus service,what is wrong with the place?

I think SANFL fans who have bad memories of the early 90's of going there in miserable conditions (not the stadiums fault) to see their team get belted and have hardly returned since have to take another look.Sure,nothing much has changed,but you go there for about 3 hours at a time.Do you want Telstra Dome style nightclubs and cafes? Not me.Do you want a roof over it? Not me.

IMO,a serious waste of money when I would rather see my kids get better teacher/student ratios in their schools,or better health care for my ageing parents.

agreed!!!........sure its not the best stadium in the world but it aint half bad either.....and surely any money spent cant be a bad thing??

[Dirko]

World Cup matches, if they come to Australia at all, will be in Melbourne or Sydney, nowhere else. Not that it would matter much.
I can't imagine a big percentage of the Oz population caring much one way or the other, but the big Greek community in Melbourne may support it.

Absolute CRAP. The 100 odd thousand of travelling supporters may support it as would a hell of a lot of Australians. The Greek comment is short sighted and a blight to the Soccer loving supporters/players in Australia which there are a hell of a lot of. IIRC FIFA's mandate is too have a minimum of 8 - 10 stadiums available to host the World Cup, which is the BIGGEST sporting event held in the WORLD. No way would Melbourne & Sydney be able to co-host it. Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth would all need to be involved...

[Magpiespower]

No way would Melbourne & Sydney be able to co-host it. Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth would all need to be involved...

I'd imagine New Zealand would put its hand up as well...

[Dirko]

I'd imagine New Zealand would put its hand up as well...

I don't think they can as I am pretty sure you can't have different associations hosting it i.e Australia is AFC, New Zealand is Oceania.

Rann said it's be at a World Cup level, so just hope he's right, as one day it will be inevitable that we'll host a World Cup.

[Hondo]

I think it's become trendy to bag Footy Park. Especially through SANFL circles because the teams only use it 1 day per year these days.

People with other agendas (ie, State Liberal Opposition) find it easy to promote the idea of an inner-city stadium because, of course, everyone would like it. I would like 2 new Mercedes. If Hamilton-Smith said every family should get a free, new car we'd all say "what a great idea".

It's another thing altogether to actually find the $1.5 billion and then justify the cost against health & education needs in this State, as Booney very rightly pointed out. Plus to find the land to build it given the dramas of the Vic Park race-course fiasco. Bonython Park is often mentioned as the site but has anybody tried walking from Kind William St to Bonython Park in one go?

With a rail-link, AAMI Stadium is perfectly fine where it is and $100m is a lot less than $1.5 billion.

[am Bays]

I'd imagine New Zealand would put its hand up as well...

I don't think they can as I am pretty sure you can't have different associations hosting it i.e Australia is AFC, New Zealand is Oceania.

Rann said it's be at a World Cup level, so just hope he's right, as one day it will be inevitable that we'll host a World Cup.

Excuse me how teh F*** can it be the biggest sporting event in the world when the Olympics includes teh equiavlent of teh FIFA U/23 world championship - similar Qualifying as World Cup. Whree as the Soccer World Cup excludes half the worlds population, is limited to ~700 particpants (the Finals) and is merely one Sport.

**** in management participation and size teh Olympics dwarfs the Soccer World Cup. Just some SBS bias to try and justify are carp sport to teh rest of Australia.

Yes they might say its big in terms of 30 days of action comapred to 16. But in size of logistics, number of sports participants and people world wide who participate in the sports included in the Olympics (i.e who can potentially qualify for them) the Olympics dwarfs the Soccer World Cup.

[Dirko]

Good points hondo, but the one thing that I'd be worried about is they do this and then in 20 years realise they still need another stadium and the original cost of 1.5 billion is then 10.5 billion...

The problem also is we as a state have a issue with only doing things half arsed i.e Southern Express way, Tram extension, Vic Park Grandstand..

I'd hate to see this come back and bite us on the arse in 20 years...

Having said that, if they can get light rail/tram down Port Rd, and have a shooter over to Footy Park, ease congestion around the area etc then they should do OK. The one thing I don't like about Footy Park is the rake of the seating. Feels like you're miles away from the action compared to Docklands, where you feel as if you're sitting close to the Oval...

[Dirko]

Excuse me how teh F*** can it be the biggest sporting event in the world when the Olympics includes teh equiavlent of teh FIFA U/23 world championship - similar Qualifying as World Cup. Whree as the Soccer World Cup excludes half the worlds population, is limited to ~700 particpants (the Finals) and is merely one Sport.

**** in management participation and size teh Olympics dwarfs the Soccer World Cup. Just some SBS bias to try and justify are carp sport to teh rest of Australia.

Yes they might say its big in terms of 30 days of action comapred to 16. But in size of logistics, number of sports participants and people world wide who participate in the sports included in the Olympics (i.e who can potentially qualify for them) the Olympics dwarfs the Soccer World Cup.

OK, so how does the Soccer World Cup exclude half the World's population ? Just as many countries try to qualify for the World Cup (204), then they send to the Olympics (205). The World Cup, embraces more then the finals, it's the whole lead up including qualifiers.

I also quote "The sporting event with the largest worldwide audience is the FIFA World Cup in football. FIFA initially estimated a cumulative audience of 28.8 billion viewers watched the 2006 FIFA World Cup on television, and 1.3 billion viewers watched the final match. However, actual figures showed figure much lower - approximately 715 million for the final. This would still make the World Cup the most watched sporting event in the world".

SBS bias...FFS that is a very narrow minded view showing an obvious dislike for the "World Game". If you don't like the game then fine but to call it a crap sport and say SBS are trying to justify it, shows how little you understand. Everyone to their own, but considering Soccer is the most highly participated sport world wide must say something....

[smac]

I think both sides make some good points in that argument, but we are in Adelaide and the 'world game' is a minor sport - and the possibility of hosting a couple of finals matches (let's face it, we'll get group Z matches between countries we don't give a frog's about) is hardly something that will set Adelaide alight.

And if the TV figures are inflated for the final, almost doubled as it turns out - then perhaps we should halve the rest of the TV figures as well?

And jabber, it is a carp game.

[am Bays]

OK, so how does the Soccer World Cup exclude half the World's population ? Just as many countries try to qualify for the World Cup (204), then they send to the Olympics (205). The World Cup, embraces more then the finals, it's the whole lead up including qualifiers.

I also quote "The sporting event with the largest worldwide audience is the FIFA World Cup in football. FIFA initially estimated a cumulative audience of 28.8 billion viewers watched the 2006 FIFA World Cup on television, and 1.3 billion viewers watched the final match. However, actual figures showed figure much lower - approximately 715 million for the final. This would still make the World Cup the most watched sporting event in the world".

SBS bias...FFS that is a very narrow minded view showing an obvious dislike for the "World Game". If you don't like the game then fine but to call it a crap sport and say SBS are trying to justify it, shows how little you understand. Everyone to their own, but considering Soccer is the most highly participated sport world wide must say something....

Despite the absence of urinals in soccer changerooms, last time I watched the Soccer World Cup finals there was an absence of women participants....

Mind you the amount of girls playing in the final was staggering or where teh italians trying to qualify for the Olympic Diving event??

In plane English how can it be the biggest event in the world when women (1/2 the worlds population) can't participate.

Wouldn't the lead up qualifyers for Olympic: Swimming, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Handball, Volleyball and teh othe 20 odd sports and their television audiences dwarf the World Cup Soccer.

As I said symplistic ideology and flawed statistics on behalf of FIFA to try and justify their claims to sponsors.

If someone wants to count the partipiation and TV adiences for the lead up Olympic Events (read qualifyers as FIFA claims for their World Cup stats) and can equivocally prove that they are less than those for the Soccer World Cup then I'll shut up.

Until then the Olympics in terms of participation, who can qualify and TV audiences IMO is a bigger event than the Soccer World Cup.

[Adelaide Hawk]

My point is this...

I think the GOVERNMENT money could be far better spent... alot could be achieved with $100 Million.

Agree 100%. There are far greater issues to be addressed by our Government than upgrading Fottball Park.

[Dirko]

I think both sides make some good points in that argument, but we are in Adelaide and the 'world game' is a minor sport - and the possibility of hosting a couple of finals matches (let's face it, we'll get group Z matches between countries we don't give a frog's about) is hardly something that will set Adelaide alight.

And if the TV figures are inflated for the final, almost doubled as it turns out - then perhaps we should halve the rest of the TV figures as well?

And jabber, it is a carp game.

smaccer get back on your Llama...

We had Olympic soccer games here ? Yep...Did they sell out real quick...yep. If Adelaide got to host a group game or a final, it would be a sell out.

Sorry

Just hope Footy Park in enabled to host such event...

[ca]

I think it's become trendy to bag Footy Park. Especially through SANFL circles because the teams only use it 1 day per year these days.

I bag it and it’s not because it’s trendy. It's because it is an ordinary sporting venue. I frequent it about 18 times a year but in recent years have not gone to a few games just because it is all too hard and I hate the place.

[smac]

We had Olympic soccer games here ? Yep...Did they sell out real quick...yep. If Adelaide got to host a group game or a final, it would be a sell out.

And then 'poof'... It's gone.

[Dirko]

And then 'poof'... It's smac.

[ca]

I think both sides make some good points in that argument, but we are in Adelaide and the 'world game' is a minor sport - and the possibility of hosting a couple of finals matches (let's face it, we'll get group Z matches between countries we don't give a frog's about) is hardly something that will set Adelaide alight.

And if the TV figures are inflated for the final, almost doubled as it turns out - then perhaps we should halve the rest of the TV figures as well?

And jabber, it is a carp game.

I don't think there is such a thing as Group Z matches for the World Cup. I think it would set Adelaide alight however I don't think we will get it to Australia. perhaps the Asian Cup. AAMI will never be a world class stadium in my eyes.

The FFA will want new stadiums out of it and have made that clear. It depends if they push the point in Adelaide or save the fight for other states. The SANFL can be big winners from this by securing the money and staying put, but could also be big losers if on the odd chance a city stadium is built with a rectangular field. It would be a huge advantage to those sports in getting people to games but it is hard to see how it could be cost effective. I don't think the old boys club at the SANFL and North Terrace would let it happen but you never know.

This sounds strange but to me $100m on doing up AAMI is a waste of money but I would have been happy to have seen anything up to $500m go towards a new stadium in the city. I know that doesn't really make much sense but thats how I feel.