Author Topic: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)  (Read 3095 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Resurgent Richmond aims for a greater presence at the MCG, not Etihad
Jon Pierik and Caroline Wilson
The Age
May 29, 2012



ALREADY experiencing a resurgence on the field, Richmond wants to shut the door at Etihad Stadium and play all 10 home matches at the MCG.

Richmond's contract with the Melbourne Cricket Club expires after this season, and the Tigers, like Collingwood, have begun internal discussions about what a new deal should look like.

The Tigers have nine home games at the MCG this season and one each at Etihad Stadium - attracting more than 28,000 against West Coast in round five - and Cazaly Stadium in Cairns.

If the MCC agrees to 10 matches, it could help the Tigers' push for the AFL, which controls fixturing, to add an extra match.

Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale yesterday said the club's preference would be to drop its lone match at Docklands.

''We understand the AFL has a lot to deal with in fixturing 18 teams,'' he said. ''We understand that everyone must share the load to get those extra games at Etihad, but the AFL is very aware that our fans much prefer the MCG.''

Etihad Stadium boss Ian Collins said last night the decision was in the hands of the AFL and a 10th match at the MCG would need to ensure contractual obligations already in place at both venues were not impaired.

''The AFL controls the draw and it's sacrosanct to them, as it should be, as are the TV rights,'' he said.

''Richmond can do whatever they like but, in the end, unless they go and get the imprimatur of the AFL beforehand, it doesn't carry much weight. They can go and talk to the MCC but, in the end, it's the AFL that controls the draw.''

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said there was no guarantee the Tigers would be given an extra game at the MCG. ''The AFL has a contractual agreement with Etihad that requires a minimum number of games at the venue … they are spread across the competition,'' he said.

The Tigers had more than 51,000 fans at their home game against Hawthorn on Saturday despite the inclement weather that forced the closure of the Yarra Park car park. If the Tigers can attract close to 40,000 to their round 11 clash against Fremantle at the MCG, they believe this will bolster their push for an extra game at the venue.

They averaged almost 52,000 at home MCG games last season, and are averaging more than 55,000 in four games this year.

That they are now a tenant of the MCC, with their Punt Road training base falling under the new distribution of land surrounding the MCG, has strengthened their resolve.

The Tigers have made it clear to the AFL the size of their supporter base means it's no longer practical to play an away game at Simonds Stadium in Geelong.

The Magpies are awaiting full details of the $55 million revamp of the Great Southern Stand before they continue talks. The Magpies' current deal involves playing 16 matches at the venue.

It's understood the Magpies have the best deal of the MCG's tenant teams, for their contract isn't solely based on match returns.

It has also emerged MCG tenant clubs find it galling Hawthorn does not have one home game at Etihad Stadium, yet the Hawks can still enjoy one of the more lucrative venue deals through its contract with the Tasmanian government to play ''home'' matches in Launceston.

Melbourne may be forced into talks with the MCC if its financial projections are not met. The Demons are the only club that receives special assistance from the MCC.

The MCC will provide $1 million a year over the next three years which comes on top of the recently renegotiated AFL special assistance deal.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/resurgent-richmond-aims-for-a-greater-presence-at-the-mcg-not-etihad-20120528-1zfdk.html#ixzz1wAyFXeLK

Offline mightytiges

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2012, 11:13:57 PM »
Play hard Benny and go for all 11 home games at the 'G rather than 10. We now have some leverage to play with thanks to a resurgent team onfield and a massive Tiger army off it  :thumbsup.

Quote
Richmond's contract with the Melbourne Cricket Club expires after this season, and the Tigers, like Collingwood, have begun internal discussions about what a new deal should look like.
What great timing for Benny Gale. Richmond has been taken for granted by the MCC as a long-term tenant for decades. About time we got a deal from the MCC that reflects our crowd drawing status as Collingwood have. 

As for Collo - what's good a 50k capacity stadium to Richmond if from next year onwards we'll have well over 50k members! The MCG has been our home ground since 1965 so we're only asking for what we used to have year in year out before Docklands came along.
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Offline one-eyed

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2012, 01:54:13 AM »
Stuck under roof
Jon Ralph - the Buzz
Herald-Sun
May 30, 2012


CLUBS like Carlton and Richmond seeking to move home games away from Etihad Stadium to the MCG have right on their side.

The AFL should maximise their attendances at every opportunity.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely to happen because of a rock solid contract held by Etihad Stadium.

Under the terms of their agreement with the AFL they need a certain number of high-drawing games every year at the Docklands stadium.

It is exactly the type of games like Richmond-St Kilda on Friday night that keeps the contract on track.

Which means it would take something extraordinary to shift them away from Etihad.

Games like North Melbourne-Brisbane just don't pay the bills for Etihad Stadium.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert-opinion/will-cats-trade-away-a-star/story-fn6cisdj-1226372735627

Offline TheUmpire

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2012, 02:20:25 AM »
Resurgent Richmond aims for a greater presence at the MCG, not Etihad
Jon Pierik and Caroline Wilson
The Age
May 29, 2012


AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said there was no guarantee the Tigers would be given an extra game at the MCG. ''The AFL has a contractual agreement with Etihad that requires a minimum number of games at the venue … they are spread across the competition,'' he said.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/resurgent-richmond-aims-for-a-greater-presence-at-the-mcg-not-etihad-20120528-1zfdk.html#ixzz1wAyFXeLK

What a load of crap Patrick. You Sir are an A-Grade liar. The games forced on teams to be played at Etihad are not spread across the competition. Patrick please inform me when any of Sydney, Brisbane, West Coast, Adelaide, Freo, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast or GWS last (or rather first) played a designated home game at Etihad. If your unsure Patrick, the answer that you're looking for is never.

Offline eliminator

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2012, 06:58:59 AM »
Gale spot on. We should play all our home games at the MCG and we should not have to play at Kardina park. Etihad already has enough tenants to fulfill the contractual obligations between the Afl and the stadium regarding games

Offline Penelope

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2012, 07:44:01 AM »
if we want games moved from docklands to the mcg then we have to pack out dockloads games to force the AFLs hand.

As long as we have games at docklands not close to capacity the AFL have an argument not to move those games to the larger capacity stadium
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Offline WilliamPowell

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2012, 08:39:39 AM »
Play hard Benny and go for all 11 home games at the 'G rather than 10. We now have some leverage to play with thanks to a resurgent team onfield and a massive Tiger army off it  :thumbsup.


Can't have 11 games while the club is still prepared to sell one to Cairns - we have a contract that requires us to play there in 2013.

11 MCG home games in 2013 is not an option I'm afraid  ;D
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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2012, 08:49:03 AM »
Play hard Benny and go for all 11 home games at the 'G rather than 10. We now have some leverage to play with thanks to a resurgent team onfield and a massive Tiger army off it  :thumbsup.


Can't have 11 games while the club is still prepared to sell one to Cairns - we have a contract that requires us to play there in 2013.

11 MCG home games in 2013 is not an option I'm afraid  ;D

This is why we IMHO we wont get the extra home game. WP is 100% correct, the AFL will turn around and say - YEP you can have your extra game, just dont play it in Cairns - thats where our argument falls over, as long as we are prepared to play 1 game in Cairns we dont have much of a chance of getting 10 at the MCG and 1 at a ground other than Etihad.

Offline WilliamPowell

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2012, 09:01:53 AM »
Play hard Benny and go for all 11 home games at the 'G rather than 10. We now have some leverage to play with thanks to a resurgent team onfield and a massive Tiger army off it  :thumbsup.


Can't have 11 games while the club is still prepared to sell one to Cairns - we have a contract that requires us to play there in 2013.

11 MCG home games in 2013 is not an option I'm afraid  ;D

This is why we IMHO we wont get the extra home game. WP is 100% correct, the AFL will turn around and say - YEP you can have your extra game, just dont play it in Cairns - thats where our argument falls over, as long as we are prepared to play 1 game in Cairns we dont have much of a chance of getting 10 at the MCG and 1 at a ground other than Etihad.

To be honest the only way I can see us having any hope of getting 10 home games at the MCG next year (and I reckon it's a long shot) is if we take on another interstate away game and IMHO that's not a great result for the club from a membership sales point of view
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Offline one-eyed

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2012, 06:01:41 PM »
Demetriou says no to no more Etihad home games  ::)

Dual stadium Tigers
By Matt Thompson
afl.com.au
Fri 01 Jun, 2012



RICHMOND will likely be forced to continue playing some home games at Etihad Stadium, despite pleading with the AFL to host 10 games a year at the MCG.

Currently, Tigers fans are forced to travel to the west of town for a home game at the Docklands venue. This season it was against West Coast.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale had signaled his intention to lobby the League for all Richmond home matches to be scheduled at the MCG, apart from the one it plays at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns.

But AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says it's unlikely the Tigers' request will succeed.

"No, I don't think so," Demetriou told reporters on Friday.

"We've got lots of clubs who put in requests about the fixture but we control the fixture solely.

"It's important that we fulfill our contractual obligations to both Etihad Stadium and the MCC. We will continue to do that and that means that everybody's got to make sure that they contribute.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/137478/default.aspx

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2012, 07:00:28 PM »
Keep winning and keep the crowds increasing and hitler will start marching to the allies beat

Offline Danog

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2012, 07:16:05 PM »
I'd be happy if we could play Geelong at Etihad or the G instead of going down to that dumpster stadium.

Offline Smokey

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Re: Richmond aims for 10 home games at the MCG & none at Etihad (Age)
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2012, 10:47:28 PM »
Biggest crowd of the year so far at Etihad tonight (by about 4K).