Tigers on prowl for credibility - Sheahan

[Tiger Spirit]

The reason given for this game being scheduled at Telstra Dome is that last season the two games played only drew crowds of around 31,000 and 25,000 and who would’ve thought our fortunes would turn around so quickly.

The AFL does not believe Friday night's clash could produce a lock-out at Telstra Dome. Executive Ben Buckley predicted a crowd of 45,000 at Telstra Dome for the match-of-the-round clash.

I always love the rationale the AFL uses to defend its decisions, just wish I could keep up, because they seem to change their minds depending on what day of the week it is.

We get told that you need a crowd of around 30,000 just to break even at TD and less at the ‘G’, so whichever way you look at this it makes no real sense.

Just to confuse things, somewhere along the line we get told that games against interstate teams will be scheduled at TD, to avoid people being locked out of bigger games, but we’re now playing Melbourne at TD and WC at the ‘G’.

At some stage, it was revealed that TD management kicked up at getting ‘lesser’ games and now want more of the ‘big games’, never mind that they are quite possibly stopping more people from attending games, just by playing them at TD.

I wish they’d all grow up and stop messing with people and use a bit of common sense and logic to do the scheduling, because I’m getting a tad confused.  It would help if they didn’t base all their decisions on the almighty dollar and their egos.  We might then have a chance of understanding things.  The way things are, it’s never gonna make any sense to anyone.  Instead, supporters are just expected to believe whatever they get told.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the AFL could try keeping in touch with what’s going on at Clubs and plan for best case scenarios, rather than worst case, because they’re pushing people away from going to games.  If they don’t see that then they’ve go rocks in their heads.

And the only reason the crowd would be around 45,000, this week, is that people will be put off going to the Dome.  At the “G” it would easily draw a crowd of 50,000+.  But we won’t get to find out.

It only has to rain Friday night and they’ll be patting themselves on the back for another good decision.

[WilliamPowell]

Wouldn't the Dee's have had options about what games they would play at the Dome?

I have posted this before - all MCG co-tennants (with the exception of Hawthorn bcos they play home games in Tassie) are required to play 3 games a year at telstra. We play 4 because we have an agreement with Telstra that pays us a guaranteed figure per year no matter the crowd size or gate receipts. If we didn't have this contract we would have to play there anyway with no guarantee against the gate.

[one-eyed]

By Karen Lyon
The Age
May 25, 2005

While the sight of MCG co-tenants Melbourne and Richmond playing at Telstra Dome has surprised many, Wallace said he had understood and accepted the fixturing. "I am not surprised at all because as far as I have seen in recent years, it gets to almost a cut-off point where the AFL don't play games at the MCG because of weather conditions," he said.

"I would rather put on a show for 50,000 people and all the people watching around Australia . . . with the place packed and knowing that you are going to be able to have a really good game than perhaps going to the MCG, where we might have got an extra 10,000 through the gates but it's six degrees and pouring with rain, and no show."

But Wallace did say Richmond and Melbourne should play earlier in the year at the MCG. "You would like to think in the future that it might be in that earlier part of the season where Melbourne play Richmond and it can be at the MCG," he said.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/05/24/1116700712860.html

[cub]

"I would rather put on a show for 50,000 people and all the people watching around Australia . . . with the place packed and knowing that you are going to be able to have a really good game than perhaps going to the MCG, where we might have got an extra 10,000 through the gates but it's six degrees and pouring with rain, and no show."


http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/05/24/1116700712860.html

No No No No No TW you must get this right the G is our spiritual home after Punt Road and we MUST play as many games as possible there.

When we are going well it wont matter what the weather is the diehards will be at the G to at least = the numbers they would get at the dome.

Just from my perspective as an example. I have been going to see the Tigers since the late seventies and matches missed have been as rare as hens teeth. Admittedly I am now an MCC member - although I still buy an 11 Game adult ticket so as I can sit with my nephew whom I also by an 18 game ticket for (with reserved seats at home). I am not really rolling in the dough and the extra costs of getting a decent seat at the dome are really starting to get to me. I am from the old school and as such could not give a rats if I was standing in the rain at one of the old suburban grounds, as long as I had a can and the Tigers were playing. 

I am now considering extending my membership so I can have reserved seats at Telstra for the HOME  games we play there still leaving me to fork out and scurry for tickets when we play away blockbusters there. While all the corporates or cashed up dix that are not real diehards just waltz in willy nilly  and drink there chardonnay or latte's. and say how wonderful the Tigers are but pee off just as quick when we hit the skids.

If TW seriously is looking at Richmonds future and the kids which will be the next generation of supporters there is nothing better than poping into punt road for a kick of the footy before/after the game and the atmosphere and freedom of the G - enough said.

[mightytiges]

No No No No No TW you must get this right the G is our spiritual home after Punt Road and we MUST play as many games as possible there.

When we are going well it wont matter what the weather is the diehards will be at the G to at least = the numbers they would get at the dome.

If TW seriously is looking at Richmonds future and the kids which will be the next generation of supporters there is nothing better than poping into punt road for a kick of the footy before/after the game and the atmosphere and freedom of the G - enough said.

Agree CUB although under the current arrangements we'll be stuck with a least 3 home games (club smartly negiotated 4 to get gate guarantees) at the Dome. I'd guess Terry's just saying don't waste time worrying about things we can't control. He also knows our style of play is now suited to fine conditions.

I've been going to the footy for over 20 years and I'm struggling to remember a Friday night game involving Richmond with bad weather. Granted I don't particularly feel the cold especially under the light (and heat) coming from those light towers. I can think of a few day games (Freo in 2003, Haw at Waverley in 95) though. There's nothing better than the atmosphere at a packed MCG.