One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on February 22, 2023, 08:28:41 PM
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No longer acceptable’: Rival clubs fume at Collingwood’s hold on MCG seats
Peter Ryan
The Age
February 22, 2023 — 7.49pm
The Melbourne Cricket Club is locked in sensitive negotiations with Collingwood to update a long-standing deal that has given the Magpies exclusive rights over reserved seating for members in the Ponsford Stand for both home and away games.
The agreement has upset other tenant clubs Richmond, Hawthorn and Melbourne as they have been forced to relocate their reserved seat members when playing home games against Collingwood at the MCG.
Those clubs argue that their capacity to service their members is compromised and that the agreement potentially stops the MCG being a full house when they play a home game against Collingwood if seats they might be able to fill are left vacant by Magpie members.
They want the agreement amended in a way that would allow their reserved seat holders to sit in the Ponsford Stand in home games they play against Collingwood at the MCG.
Frustration has been growing among those clubs about the pace of negotiations as they want a deal locked in by mid-year so they can plan for 2024 with Tigers’ CEO Brendon Gale saying the away game entitlements in the deal was “no longer acceptable”.
The other tenants have been lobbying for a change for the past decade with industry sources saying the MCC notified the Magpies five years ago that the agreement needed to be modernised during 2023, so it could take effect next year.
Collingwood and the Tigers have been arch rivals on the field during that period with both teams competing for top four spots and attracting big crowds.
Carlton, which are likely to play home game blockbusters against Collingwood in front of big crowds, during this decade, are also keen for an update in the agreement, although they were not an original tenant at the MCG.
Melbourne, with former Collingwood CEO Gary Pert now at the Demons, did not want to comment.
New Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly and president Jeff Browne have been getting up to speed with where the agreement sits, determined to ensure a modernised agreement works for the club and have moved to inform Legends and Club 5 members that the deal expires at the end of this year.
Kelly told The Age the Magpies were prepared to engage in productive talks over the issue to obtain an agreement that works for their members but say the contribution they made to the economic viability of the stadium as a result of them committing to the MCG when leaving Victoria Park should not be forgotten by clubs critical of the agreement.
“Collingwood moved from Victoria Park to the MCG and the deal Eddie McGuire and the board devised was one to support the redevelopment and the long-standing growth of the MCG. We were the founding tenant club and we brought all our members across,” Kelly said.
“We wanted our people to have their home and their seats, and it was consistent for them and they felt like they were still at Vic Park all those years, because we helped drive the economics of that stadium whereas clubs such as Carlton and Essendon went to what is now Marvel Stadium.
“We are now in negotiations and working through with the MCC and, ultimately, we will work with the other clubs and the AFL to get an outcome that works importantly for our members but especially with Richmond and the issues they have got with our arrangement.”
When contacted by The Age, MCC CEO Stuart Fox confirmed mature discussions were happening between the MCC and relevant clubs, but he could not comment further due to his commercial in confidence obligations.
Other sources said that Richmond, with their huge membership base and growing attendances in the past 10 years, are the most affected by the current deal and have made their views clear to the MCG over a long period of time however the other tenant clubs also support the push to amend the agreement.
Tigers CEO Brendon Gale said he understood why the Magpies did the deal, but he had been open and transparent with Collingwood that he would keep pressure on the MCC to update the agreement to ensure their members were treated fairly.
“We have got thousands of reserved seat members that have to get up and move and vacate their reserved seats when we play a home game against Collingwood,” Gale said.
“There is the inconvenience which impacts their match day experience and the value of that membership but there is also a financial aspect to it as well.
“We are a club that has been at the MCG since 1965 and have been pulling millions of supporters through the gates. We have a huge connection with this ground and in the interests of fairness we would like this addressed as it is no longer acceptable.”
Collingwood’s away game entitlements sees them also retain the same dressing rooms at the MCG regardless of whether they are the home or away team, which is different to what happens when other tenant clubs play each other.
Many of the reserved seat packages Collingwood sells to members in the Ponsford Stand ensure guaranteed seats at the grand final if the Magpies make the decider.
It means that despite some games being sold out there are empty seats available at Collingwood away games in the Ponsford Stand that other tenant clubs believe would be filled if the agreement was amended.
Other sources suggested clubs such as Hawthorn or Melbourne might have benefited at times from Collingwood having the away entitlements when they had a home game against the Magpies at the MCG.
Clubs are increasingly aware of the vital importance of stadium deals to their bottom line with the AFL also keen that club growth is not restricted by agreements that don’t reflect the competition’s changed circumstances.
Collingwood will play a Friday night home game against Richmond at the MCG in round three.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/no-longer-acceptable-rival-clubs-fume-at-collingwood-s-hold-on-mcg-seats-20230222-p5cmpv.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true
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Disgusting deal - FU Lollingwood and the flogs at the MCG that allowed this to happen. Disrespectful pricks
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This arrangement that C'wood has directly impacts on me.
Club XIII has function room in the ponsford stand. Our seats are directly outside that room. Every home game against the Pies we lose both. We have no function room, so we get a prematch function at Punt Road in the sports hall but nothing for half time. We get poor replacement seats. It's bloody frustrating
I get that Pies did a great deal for It's members, we weren't successful so our hands were tied to a degree. But we are a hugely successful Club now. We have the most members now. It needs to change ASAP
I am really pleased to see the Club trying to right this
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The AFL as the ability to lean on Collingwood to right this inequity,
They just say to Collingwood more Sunday afternoon and evening games next year until this is sorted out.
Or even better all of Collingwoods away games against Melbourne based teams to be played at Marvel where Collingwood have no seating arrangement.
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Or even better all of Collingwoods away games against Melbourne based teams to be played at Marvel where Collingwood have no seating arrangement.
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I don't think so.
What you are suggesting is that our home game against Collingwood should be played at Marvel
It is bad enough we lose our seats at the MCG but to suggest we have a home game at Marvel is absurdity of the absolute highest order. That impacts on every single RFC member not just those of us who have seats in the Ponsford
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How about all 11 of Lollingwood's home games are scheduled at Marvel next year? That might make them change their mind quick smart.
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Benny discussing this on SEN this morning.
“IT’S NOT FAIR”: TIGERS DETAIL PUSH TO END MEMBERS’ ‘INJUSTICE’ AT THE ‘G
By Seb Mottram
SEN
23 Feb 2023
Richmond has confirmed its intentions to overturn an agreement between the Melbourne Cricket Club and Collingwood that sees Magpies members afforded exclusive rights over reserved seating in the Ponsford Stand at the MCG during both home and away games.
Other MCG tenants Richmond, Melbourne and Hawthorn have to relocate their reserved seat members when playing home games against the Magpies.
The Age reported on Friday that the MCC notified Collingwood half a decade ago that the agreement would need to be “modernised” during 2023.
It’s understood Collingwood relocating from Victoria Park to the ‘G made a significant economic contribution to the stadium and was a factor in the original agreement.
When Richmond CEO Brendon Gale was asked why he wanted the deal changed on SEN Mornings, he offered an uncomplicated response.
“Very simple, because it’s not fair,” he responded.
“We understand the circumstances in which this deal was struck years ago, Collingwood, they came out of Victoria Park and I guess their tenancy at the MCG has meant they’ve made a significant contribution to the stand and allowed the MCC to invest in it.
“But we’ve been a huge contributor to the whole MCG economy, we’ve been there since 1965… we’ve brought millions of people through the turnstile into the stadium and we just think that if we have 11 home games we should have the same access right and benefits for every home game.
“At the moment, we have our important and valued members, thousands of them, and they have to vacate their seats and find another seat somewhere if they can at all when we play Collingwood as the home team.
“At the most fundamental, we just don’t think it’s fair.”
Melbourne has been a tenant of the MCG since 1858, Richmond since 1965 and Collingwood since 1993.
Gale said he’s not expecting the deal to change for the 2023 season, but from 2024 onwards instead.
Collingwood is the home side against Richmond in Round 3 but Gale added: “Next year we’d expect to be playing Collingwood as the home team.”
The Tigers boss also stated that while it’s an issue for the MCC to resolve, he’s had positive discussions with new Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly, who only officially began his role earlier this week.
“Really, it’s for the MCC (to resolve). They’re the stadium owner and manager and they enter the agreement with various clubs. We’ve submitted the MCC that we’d like to see some change, circumstances have changed since then and we’ve been getting a fairly good hearing which is encouraging,” Gale explained.
“It’s fair to say all clubs are dissatisfied with the arrangement.”
He continued: “10 years ago we walked into the front door and have been very honest and transparent… they wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about changing them back then.
“I had a good chat with Craig yesterday, he’s just come in and is getting his head around it all”.
The Age confirmed Collingwood and the MCC are currently in negotiations to update the deal. As it stands, Collingwood’s entitlements also see the club given access to the same change rooms at the MCG, regardless of their home or away status.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/02/23/its-not-fair-tigers-detail-push-to-end-members-injustice-at-the-g/
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpkBJJ1aAAAAL5N?format=jpg&name=medium)
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/collingwood-magpies/afl-2023-collingwood-advantageous-deal-at-the-mcg-ponsford-stand-reserved-seatings-other-tenants-angry-richmond-response-latest-news/news-story/52eab174e2154e3f0f35e069c8c6dc85
"founding tenant club" (https://images.emojiterra.com/twitter/v13.1/512px/1f914.png)
Melbourne (1858) and Richmond (1965) might have something to say about that :stupid.
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He’s has gone to the Maguire bs school of gaslighting, maybe he can take his members back to Victoria Park
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Eddie's swipe at Tigers in MCG seating row
‘Never underestimate Collingwood members’: Eddie fires up
Eddie McGuire has come out swinging over moves by rival clubs to steal Collingwood members’ reserved seats at the MCG.
Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fiona-byrne/never-underestimate-collingwood-members-and-what-they-have-done-for-this-game/news-story/d445ec972dcb0c95cc5c65fc920a6225
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What a prick Fat Ed is. Fantastic that this club has choked more times than John Holmes co-star
By never under estimating Scum members does he mean Joffa? A guy Fat Ed turned into a F grade celeb. What a great person he is!
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp32XN-akAA9i2A?format=jpg&name=large)
https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1629730349839441922
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‘I am actually insulted’: McGuire rages over talks to take back Magpies’ MCG advantages
Staff Writers from News.com.au
February 26th, 2023 5:20 pm
Eddie McGuire is not a happy man.
The former Collingwood president has hit out at rival clubs and the AFL over attempts to quash the Magpies’ hold on seats at the MCG.
McGuire was left fuming at both Hawthorn and Richmond as they tried to force the AFL to cut up an agreement between the Magpies and the MCG over exclusive reserved seating in the Ponsford Stand.
The agreement gives Collingwood members rights to the section of the stadium for both home and away games, meaning teams have to relocate their members even if they’re the home team at the MCG.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, McGuire let rip at his rivals and said the league contemplating it was a slap in the face to every single Collingwood fan.
“I am actually insulted to be honest on behalf of all Collingwood people that the MCG and the AFL would even contemplate it,” McGuire said.
“All these clubs had the chance to do a deal with the MCG and all of them ran out the door.
“In the end Collingwood stayed and did the ripping deal at the MCG.
“When the new Northern Stand was opened, I invited all the Collingwood members to turn up, I showed them where their seats were and stood with MCC boss Stephen Gough and told our supporters ‘that is your seat for life’.
“That was the deal in word and spirit.”
The former Pies boss said the club had done more for the game and had helped elevate the MCG into a world renowned stadium.
It was on that basis that McGuire said the agreement should remain in place for the foreseeable future.
“I’d remind the MCC and the AFL who built the MCG and who financed it and the deals that were done and why they were done,” he said.
“They should never underestimate the Collingwood members and what they have done for this game. They built that ground, the Southern Stand and the Northern Stand.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/collingwood-magpies/i-am-actually-insulted-mcguire-rages-over-talks-to-take-back-magpies-mcg-advantages/news-story/cc2c925182e4c20d8423f3aa4cbd44ef
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Pies to lose MCG seats as ‘angry’ clubs win stand-off
Rival clubs were angry Collingwood received a sweetheart deal at the MCG gifting the club an extra 15,000 seats for away games but things will change for 2024.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/collingwood-will-lose-access-to-some-of-its-bonus-member-reserve-seats-for-away-games-as-part-of-new-peace-plan/news-story/5206a8b892852aa96cea0bb9a2fbf8d7
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Pies to lose MCG seats as ‘angry’ clubs win stand-off
Rival clubs were angry Collingwood received a sweetheart deal at the MCG gifting the club an extra 15,000 seats for away games but things will change for 2024.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/collingwood-will-lose-access-to-some-of-its-bonus-member-reserve-seats-for-away-games-as-part-of-new-peace-plan/news-story/5206a8b892852aa96cea0bb9a2fbf8d7
Old Fat Ed just doesn't get it. No one actually believes the complete BS he sprouts even his own supporters. Fancy suggesting Lollingwood is a foundation club that paid for the Ponsford Stand. FO Ed that stand existed long before Lollingwood ever arrived at the G as a Johnny come lately.
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So Eddie's position is this:
The Swans and Brisbane had cost of living payments added to their salary cap but Eddie led the valiant charge on behalf of all other clubs as that position was not fair and a disadvantage for the other clubs.
The Magpies have a sweet deal with the MCG that is to the disadvantage of a number of clubs but this is more than OK as the Magpies are saving the game and the MCG and therefore all the other clubs should bow down and pay homage to the great Magpies
Do I have that right??
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So Eddie's position is this:
The Swans and Brisbane had cost of living payments added to their salary cap but Eddie led the valiant charge on behalf of all other clubs as that position was not fair and a disadvantage for the other clubs.
The Magpies have a sweet deal with the MCG that is to the disadvantage of a number of clubs but this is more than OK as the Magpies are saving the game and the MCG and therefore all the other clubs should bow down and pay homage to the great Magpies
Do I have that right??
Yeah that's a good summary. Only you missed the bit where the Mugpies have been largely irrelevant for everyone other than themselves and now a long way behind the disadvantaged clubs like Richmond in terms of members and attendance at the MCG.
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Ed, that deal is as dated as your comments about GWS, disabled women tossing coin at G, Adam Goodes and of course, not apologising for overseeing a report that categorically stated you presided over a club that engaged in systematic racism of it’s players.
Above all else, noone cares what you think.
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According to the Herald Sun, 3000-4000 seats allocated to Collingwood members in the Ponsford Stand will be removed next year and divided among the other clubs in a bid to balance sit access and profits in a move expected to satisfy all parties.
Collingwood will still retain around 11,000 reserved seats in a key advantage for their members.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/collingwood-magpies/afl-2023-collingwood-magpies-to-be-stripped-of-mcg-seats-ponsford-stand-advantages-new-deal-latest-news/news-story/95265b9b83f4b688f9f375f98e5a2e80
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Gill still sucking off Eddie despite the fact he had gone
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Reckon I know where those 3k-4k seats will be
If they're where I think they will be me and Premiership Circle reserve seat holders will be pleased
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Hawthorn wants Collingwood to be stripped of all 15,000 of its member reserved seats at away games as tensions escalated over the MCG seat stoush.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/collingwood-will-lose-access-to-some-of-its-bonus-member-reserve-seats-for-away-games-as-part-of-new-peace-plan/news-story/5206a8b892852aa96cea0bb9a2fbf8d7
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Eddie McGuire expects a development on Collingwood's MCG seating at away games soon (https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f447.svg)
WATCH HERE: https://twitter.com/3AWisfootball/status/1683666930954301440
McGuire: You've got to be careful. You've got to look after the people who fill it.
Bartel: So we haven't got a resolution there?
McGuire: I think it's coming. I think Richmond might get a bit of a result out of it, but they want to be careful. That's all I'm saying and what I've always said. Don't burn the people that look after you. Always.
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What is the fat f... talking about. How do they help us?
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I don't think he's referring to us when he says "they" but stuff knows
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Richmond reserved seat members will remain in their allocated seats for home games against Collingwood, following a new agreement struck between tenant clubs and the MCC.
https://twitter.com/Richmond_FC/status/1689139683907993600
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Tiger Army to benefit from Ponsford Stand call
By Richmond Media
9 August 2023
Richmond and the Tiger Army are set to be big winners for the upcoming AFL seasons following a new arrangement between tenant clubs and the MCC regarding seating in the Ponsford Stand.
The previous deal had seen Richmond reserved seat holders forced to move seats for home games against Collingwood, an arrangement that has been overwritten.
“This is a significant win for our members,” Richmond General Manager - Consumer Dino Imbriano said.
“Our members have wanted this situation rectified for many years and we are pleased we have been able to deliver this outcome for them.
“They can now sit together and enjoy blockbuster home games against Collingwood in their normal reserved seats.
“The new arrangements will also give Richmond Club XIII members exclusive access to the Harrison Room. It is a great result for our members.”
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1399013/richmond-reserve-seat-members-update
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Pies forfeit prime reserved seating on level two of MCG Ponsford Stand
The battle between Victorian clubs for seats at the MCG has come to an end, with Pies fans forced to relocate out of their preferred seating for some big clashes.
Jay Clark
HeraldSun
9 August 2023
Collingwood has been forced to forfeit prime reserved seating on level two of the MCG’s Ponsford Stand as part of a revised agreement with the stadium.
Magpies’ members will lose all of their access to level two for away games against Richmond and Hawthorn and will be offered new seats on levels one and four as replacements.
Collingwood stressed it was happy with the overall deal as the overall number of away game reserved seats remained the same.
It is understood about 2000 fans will be moved from level two for away games against Hawthorn and Richmond and about 1300 fans will be affected for the away games against Carlton, Essendon and Melbourne.
MCG chief executive Stuart Fox said the new arrangement was a fairer agreement for all of the stadium’s tenant clubs.
“As we’ve worked through negotiating new tenancy agreements with the MCG’s home clubs, our collective and primary focus has always been about getting the best possible outcome for the Club, its members and fans,” Fox said.
“The MCG is the spiritual home of football and also the home ground for six proud Victorian teams. We approached negotiations with that in mind as we aimed to achieve fairness and equity for all home clubs.
“It’s never an easy task to balance the competing and at times conflicting needs of multiple clubs whilst also respecting a long standing 30-year agreement such as Collingwood’s.
“The AFL industry has grown exponentially over those years and with that so has the demands on us as a stadium to deliver the best seating models, function spaces as well as commercial returns for each home club.
“We’ve been able to resolve and ultimately return some of that premium inventory to the other clubs for their home games where Collingwood is the away team at the MCG.
“With a shared understanding of the complexities at hand, I’m pleased we’ve been able to deliver improved commercial arrangements for each of our home clubs and they should be commended for how negotiations have been worked through”.
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/pies-lose-control-of-ponsford-stand-area-in-updated-seating-allocation/news-story/2bb1b267d1133f618a6f7babc8861261
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Well done to Collingwood for seeing how completely ludicrous the existing arrangements were for opposition clubs.
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As a Club XIII member this is a great outcome.
as I posted on page 1 of this thread we got kicked out of our seats and given pathetic seats as replacements and had no access to any function room at half time. Pre-match was over at Punt Road in the sports hall because we couldn't use the MR room. It was a shambles
So I'm more than happy
And BTW just to clear something up Club XIII is not a coterie. It is just a Premium membership category.
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This has blown me away since it was raised a an issue.
We were reserved seat members for many years, until our MCC membership was activated. The reserve seats are so precious, I can't understand how there was a deal that we lost the seats o cater for Collingwood away fans. It's actually disgusting. Glad to hear it's been fixed.