Essendon V Melbourne @ Etihad

[PeterJames 46]

Heading to alumbra for a few pre match drinks... its 2 for 1 and a $10 barbie!!!

With regards to carparking does anyone know how much? ill be leaaving straight from work and will get there between 4.30 and 5... will it be open? i dont want to get there before the early bird prices and get slugged 40 bucks! times are tough!!!

[Bates Mate 4,487]

Should we lump you in with the MFC supporters that would rather have a go at other MFC fans rather than stick together?

The Docklands is a [censored] venue, with no heart, limited atmosphere, consumer driver capitalistic based, most non-traditional crap hole you will find - yet for some reason I'm going along to the same ground I said two years ago I'd never go to again, which then became I'd only go to Melbourne home games.

What a crap ground though. Decent place to drink...drink at you local then travel in, there's no place to drink in Corporate Dome because it is just that, corporate driven with no lifeblood, no heart, no substance and no thoughts towards the fans.

I find it stupid how people get on the high moral ground and choose not go support the team becuase they don't like a venue.

Yes it's a corporate driven stadium , that does not look after the fans 1st.

BUT

when all is said and done , I am going to watch the team I love with the added bonus of seeing LIAM JURRAH & JACK WATTS the future of this club strut around. I for one would travel to far worse places than the dome to watch this

[H_T 3,049]

i'm meeting at the ground at 6 and gonna get seats together then. we're panning on getting a meal between then and the game. any ideas where a good feed is near by?

There is a good establishment adjacent or accross the road (intersection) to the steps leading up to Etihad. They've got some tv screens, bar and meals area. Nice & warm there too. Last time I went there was StK v Melb - remember our awful clash strip game wehn Robbo did his achilles. Can't recall the name of it though. It's got a good Meals Menu though. Short walk. Ideal. Enjoy.

[Rogue 585]

Yeah thats right its sold

~24 hours after you posted this there were still plenty of seats on level one (gen adm).

As of 9AM today there were still some seasts available for AFL members on level one.

Can i just rock up on the night after work with my 17 gamer?? I know I wont get a seat, but can I get standing room at least without pre purchasing?

First, you can rock up on the night, yes.

Second, you will very likely get a seat for no charge (level 3) unless they're all taken.

Worst thing about this hole is the dog security dogs making $12 hr decisions.

I'm pinching my bro in laws AFL ticket and not giving them a cent. I'll have standing room thanks and yes the beer is rude.

With the AFL membership you don't need to give them a cent for a seat on level 3 (providing they're not all taken, of course). Just turn up on the night and show your AFL membership at the ticket box.

[Jaded No More 68,965]

With regards to carparking does anyone know how much? ill be leaaving straight from work and will get there between 4.30 and 5... will it be open? i dont want to get there before the early bird prices and get slugged 40 bucks! times are tough!!!

If you want to park at the actual stadium, then event parking is something insane like $20!

Not sure whether they'll charge you less if you get there early, but I doubt it.

There is other parking available at Docklands, which will cost you less, but means you'll need to take a short walk. No big deal really.

Never parked there myself, by try the new shopping precinct place, you know, the one under the stupid giant wheel that broke in the heat (probably designed by the same genius who designed Etihad). Parking is apparently very cheap, but I'm not too sure whether that's too far for you to walk. I'd guess it would take 15mins tops.

I drove to Etihad once, when I was on crutches, but never ever again.

I refuse to pay such an insane amount of money for parking. FFS the carpark is not made of gold! :angry:

[True Believer 1]

i'm meeting at the ground at 6 and gonna get seats together then. we're panning on getting a meal between then and the game. any ideas where a good feed is near by?

our group going to Medici ... reasonably priced Italian Rest. on New Quay. Very short walk to stadium. Our meeting place ( as a reward) for attending Etihad Stadium.

[e25 5]

That is just sad. Do we lump you in with the other MFC supporters who only rock up to the G?

Yeah, lump me in by all means. I have a hard time getting to games, the most I've ever been able to attend is 10 in a season.

Its a real effort and considering all the factors involved, i'd rather make an effort to get to our home games, at a ground I want to attend and so the club gets money for me showing up.

I still buy my MCC/MFC premium membership and have sent over $2K in the club's direction over the last 12 months -- not bad for a full time student if you ask me.

And I buy my parents and siblings memberships as bday & xmas presents whether they want them or not

Never parked there myself, by try the new shopping precinct place, you know, the one under the stupid giant wheel that broke in the heat (probably designed by the same genius who designed Etihad). Parking is apparently very cheap, but I'm not too sure whether that's too far for you to walk. I'd guess it would take 15mins tops.

Its around $5-$10 from memory (had an engagement party near there a few months back)

Is there a decent bar there? They have a couple of bars just to the left of gate 1 (as in the stadium itself), think it is gate 2. You go up the escalators and there is a bar that looks over the ground or you have the Cougar bar at the ground as well.

Should I go somewhere for a drink beforehand instead? The Nixon Bar!!!!! Mate took me to the Saints vs North game, we meet some of our younger mates at the Nixon Bar and let me just say the bar staff (ladies) were very happy with the boys and we paid for about 3 drinks between 7 of us over 5 hours of drinking plus some free food thrown in! If you wander past gate 1, on your left is a set of stairs that head down away from Docklands across the intersection on the diagonal is the bar, it is on the corner but doesn't really look like a bar from up on top.

Anywhere decent post-match..? NIXON BAR!

Thanks for the advice guys, Nixon Bar it is!

Hope to see you all there

[Jaded No More 68,965]

Its around $5-$10 from memory (had an engagement party near there a few months back)

I thought it was $4 for a full day, but maybe I'm wrong.

Either way it's better value than Etihad!

[JJJ 1,302]

Should we lump you in with the MFC supporters that would rather have a go at other MFC fans rather than stick together?

The Docklands is a [censored] venue, with no heart, limited atmosphere, consumer driver capitalistic based, most non-traditional crap hole you will find - yet for some reason I'm going along to the same ground I said two years ago I'd never go to again, which then became I'd only go to Melbourne home games.

What a crap ground though. Decent place to drink...drink at you local then travel in, there's no place to drink in Corporate Dome because it is just that, corporate driven with no lifeblood, no heart, no substance and no thoughts towards the fans.

Spoken like a true MCC member.

I was merely asking a question of E25? I understand that the ground does not suit everyone IE MCC members who get disgruntled at ponying up extra cash to watch a game or that rolling up to the ground 15 minutes before the game may mean you will miss the start. You cannot argue with the fact that it is the best ground to view a game of footy and that 30,000 fans creates a better atmosphere than at the G. It may have no 'heart' as you say but neither does the MCG anymore.

My last issue is the amount of MFC games I have attended at the Dome, both home and away, only to find that there are very few supporters at the ground. The 'supporters' who decided against coming to the games were only penalising the team. Same as with the situation a few years ago with us playing home games at Optus. My mindset has always been, 'Attend any MFC home game no matter where'.

[e25 5]

Spoken like a true MCC member.

I was merely asking a question of E25? I understand that the ground does not suit everyone IE MCC members who get disgruntled at ponying up extra cash to watch a game or that rolling up to the ground 15 minutes before the game may mean you will miss the start. You cannot argue with the fact that it is the best ground to view a game of footy and that 30,000 fans creates a better atmosphere than at the G. It may have no 'heart' as you say but neither does the MCG anymore.

My last issue is the amount of MFC games I have attended at the Dome, both home and away, only to find that there are very few supporters at the ground. The 'supporters' who decided against coming to the games were only penalising the team. Same as with the situation a few years ago with us playing home games at Optus. My mindset has always been, 'Attend any MFC home game no matter where'.

Its not a home game...

But I think both your point & 45hg's were valid to an extent.