http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,2189627…
Quote:Night lights possible for VFL Grand Final 13 June 2007 Herald-Sun Mike Sheahan GRAND Final weekend could soon become an even bigger footy feast in Melbourne. The Victorian Football League plans to explore the concept of a night grand final at Telstra Dome on the eve of the AFL's biggest day. AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab said last night: "It's an interesting concept; I'm happy to explore the idea." The revelation comes 10 days before the AFL Commission considers a Ten Network proposal to reschedule the AFL Grand Final as a twilight event. While AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou remains committed to an afternoon event, the commission hasn't dismissed the Ten push. The VFL, which usually plays its grand final on the Sunday of the AFL's preliminary final weekend, has struggled to "sell" the event in recent years. The change to the following Friday night has obvious merit with tens of thousands of visitors in Melbourne for the weekend. "The idea has merit because there are so many extra people in town that weekend," Schwab said. The night final idea came from Port Melbourne president Peter Saultry after an informal meeting of presidents a few months ago. Saultry, a former AFL umpire, said last night: "We talk about things we think should be put on the agenda. "We've got to try new things. If it does click, it would be the greatest thing ever. "If it bites us on the bum, bad luck, we know we've tried something. I raised it with him (Schwab) after his first meeting (as chief executive)." Sandringham and Geelong attracted an estimated 12,000 people to the 2006 grand final at Princes Park. Saultry said the VFL grand final had lost its aura since the days 30 years ago of crowds as big as 32,000. "Personally, I feel we've got to try other avenues," he said. Schwab said: "I don't think we should rule anything like that out. It might be a bit hard to get it up this year, but, as a concept, it's not bad. It's just got to fit in with a few criteria." Schwab said the obvious concerns were the two-week break between the preliminary finals and the grand final, costs, and the attitude of the clubs. The grand final at Princes Park costs $80,000-100,000, but would cost considerably more at Telstra Dome. "The first step would be to discuss it internally, speak to the board, carry out what they call the due diligence," Schwab said. "You never know until you try, but you wouldn't want to lose a heap of money." One obvious impediment is the VFL's arrangement with the ABC, which telecasts games on Saturday/Sunday afternoons. The ABC is highly unlikely to consider interrupting regular Friday night programs for a football game.
Getting back to the subject of this post - Grand Final!
Play the VFL Grand Final as a twilight game after the AFL Grand Final! VFL people could enter MCG after AFL victory celebrations, using seats vacated by many of the AFL supporters. Hopefully, lots would stay, but VFL supporters would have plenty of room and would not have to pay AFL admission prices.
Maybe 2 Records - one for AFL including VFL, and one just VFL.
:?: :?: Is this being too flippant :?:
No body would turn up, if they were not at the AFL Grand Final, they would be attending bbq's etc., else where.
I reckon the critical issue is atmosphere. I don't care when they play it but have it at a venue that will give the impression that people care enough to go along.
I know that the halycon days have gone but a crowd of 8,500'ish at Princess Park generates as much electricity as many of the last cricket world cup games.
I'd rather see it played at Port or at the Junction Oval
What about the players, they like to socialise and watch the AFL Grand Final, then there is all the Officials & volunteers that help run VFL clubs, they also take part in AFL Grand Final celebrations, give them a break. It is the AFL day of the year, everything else pales into insignificance, don't interfere with it.
Take it back to Teac Oval.
In the 1997 Grand Final played there when Sandringham played Frankston the atmosphere was great and it looked good on screen with a packed ground. If they can update the facilities to cover the corporates then there is no reason why they can't have it at teac Oval. To say the ground is too small is not a valid reason. They do play most other finals there. As for Kardinia park curtain raiser there this week between Geelong and Williamstown. Thanks but no thanks. I will not be there and do not support curtain raisers. Time to also drop ABC matches at Kardinia Park. Dreadful atmosphere and it looks like Geelong would not give a hoot about catering for opposing teams.
An updated Toorak Park would also be a great venue.
Better for a smaller ground to be packed with great atmosphere of 12,000 people than an empty ground that looks sparse, epsecially with the cameras on it.
I know this year it will be at Princes Park and next year they are seriously looking at telstra Dome.
Debate will rage on.
I dont understand where this came from?
Where would Geelong play the allocated ABC TV match then?
I dont understand where this came from?[/quote]
Iceman, read previous page (page 3).
This would be one of the best posts I have ever read, I completely agree with it all.
As for Kardinia Park games, well there are quite a few grounds in the Geelong district which could adequately house crowds of up to 3 or 4,000, so that's not really an issue. All I know is that Skilled Stadium must be given the flick as a VFL venue.
Why should Skilled be given the flick as a VFL venue?
The surface is the best in Geelong, and if the VFL team doesnt use it then who else will? Can't have a ground being only used for 8 AFL games a year. To be honest I like VFL/TAC Cup games there, you can sit anywhere and get a great view of the action.
As for curtain raisers, well I have no issue with the odd one of them as well. Sad thing is in the second half on the weekend, that'll be the biggest crowd many of the Williamstown players have ever played in front of. I see no problem showing off the VFL in that situation, you never know it might encourage a few to take interest in the competition and come back to watch it again.
There's a few on here who live in the past, the 'glory days' of Junction Oval grand finals and the VFA rivalries are things of the past. I never experienced those, sadly, but as a competition we'll never have back what it was 20 years ago. It's time to face fact and accept progress and that means playing Grand Finals at good venues, not ones with derelict grandstands and limited car parking. So I'd support a Telstra Dome trial.