MFC and the Bentleigh Club

[Sir Why You Little 34,511]

Its a tacky dump with little endearing it but the fact MFC owns it. The name is not the issue. There are better alternatives for locals and others to go than there.

The only value is the land and the pokies licence

ok fine, so let's sell it and find a better alternative. No problem at all

But i seriously believe the club needs a social club called the MFC social club so that we can attend during the week. That's my point.

It doesn't have to be the Bentleigh Club, but we do need somewhere that is advertised as the MFC social club.

[Sir Why You Little 34,511]

I get the feeling that we will oneday, have a social scene setup around docklands,,, Event,,, ually... As well as the Bentleigh area, and the Casey Zone.

Another alternative site would be handy is the Elsternwick Hotel,,,, close to Great transport Facilities, trams up Brighton rd & along Glenhuntly Rd... trains nearby, Sandy Line, or the tram to Glenhuntly Station/Frankston Line... Night Rider Bus outside late @ night to City or to Point Nepean...

Great locality.

There is no parking at the Wick. its Rubbish, i live 10 minutes away from there.

The highway means the traffic doesn't stop.

[Guest DeesPower]

After reading The Bentleigh Club Merger Discussion Paper I am not sure if such a merger would be the right move.

What worries me is the financial impact it would have on the club. We are about to wipe out debt with Debt Demolition but with this proposed merger of the MFC and The Bentleigh Club could send us back to the red zone.

I think the MFC should provide more information. It appears the location of a new site for The Bentleigh is the key to it being a financial success. Is there any suitable sites?

My gut feeling is that we may have to walk away from the Bentleigh Club. Though on the other hand we have an extra 48 gaming machines so if a better site is found then maybe it could be viable.

Lets hope the MFC and Bentleigh Club boards can workout a positive outcome for both, but protecting the viability of the MFC.

I agree. I have always thought Bentliegh was a bit peripheral to the Demons heartland. If we are serious about making the MCG our home, and the AAMI precinct our admin headquarters, wouldn't it make sense to have our social headquarters there as well. I for one would love to entertain business colleagues, both local and overseas visitors there, if they were able to develop a good entertainment venue in that area. There is no way though I would go all the way to Bentleigh.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,435]

The Casey Scorpions already have approval for a pokies venue at Casey Fields. Getting a new pokies venue approved anywhere is difficult and can be expensive. Just ask the Western Bulldogs - after a long battle to get Club Edgewater approved, they are still yet to turn the first sod. I suspect that if the MFC takes obver the Bentleigh Club it will be to keep it going where it is. Any other option would be too expensive. Whether it's a good idea or not, it's impossible to tell without seeing and understanding the due diligence information which the MFC presumably has undertaken.

[hoopla 418]

The Casey Scorpions already have approval for a pokies venue at Casey Fields. Getting a new pokies venue approved anywhere is difficult and can be expensive. Just ask the Western Bulldogs - after a long battle to get Club Edgewater approved, they are still yet to turn the first sod. I suspect that if the MFC takes obver the Bentleigh Club it will be to keep it going where it is. Any other option would be too expensive. Whether it's a good idea or not, it's impossible to tell without seeing and understanding the due diligence information which the MFC presumably has undertaken.

Difficult to see how any proposal to remain at the present site would survive any reasonable due diligence .... unless of course the plan is to shut down the pokies and subdivide the land!

[rpfc 27,476]

I guess the club is willing to take on $1.8m debt if it gets the $9m asset.

Will be interesting.

I guess the best way forward for all concerned would be to get a more modern venue nearby to appease members, still have room for the pokies, and sell the land through whichever method is most profitable (subdivision, seeling as a block, etc).

If all goes according to plan - we get a large asset, don't lose a great amount on it, and get to be in control of profitable enterprise.

It's at this point I say that I disagree with The Whitlams...

[dee-luded 2,958]

There is no parking at the Wick. its Rubbish, i live 10 minutes away from there.

The highway means the traffic doesn't stop.

You can't drive WYL, if you've had a few. It would be good for many.

[dee-luded 2,958]

I agree. I have always thought Bentliegh was a bit peripheral to the Demons heartland. If we are serious about making the MCG our home, and the AAMI precinct our admin headquarters, wouldn't it make sense to have our social headquarters there as well. I for one would love to entertain business colleagues, both local and overseas visitors there, if they were able to develop a good entertainment venue in that area. There is no way though I would go all the way to Bentleigh.

I think you'll find that the DEES are trying to establish New social contacts with the Casey community, whilst catering for the existing heartland centred around the Bentleigh area.

It does sound like we are also interested in developing long term, a social link to the docklands area.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Nothing wrong with that, unless of course the merger ends up with us being called the Bentleigh Demons

[Sir Why You Little 34,511]

You can't drive WYL, if you've had a few. It would be good for many.

HaHaHaHa! Ya cheeky Bugger-You owe me a beer or two for that remark!!!

[dee-luded 2,958]

HaHaHaHa! Ya cheeky Bugger-You owe me a beer or two for that remark!!!

OK, your on soon, for an away game. Not this week.

[jackaub 1,402]

Suburban pokie venues are soulless mausoleums where one goes to get euthanised. How can anyone have a good time when it's populated by only the lonely doing their dough and all you hear is PING, PING, PONGO. The club should get out of the business or get a venue back to where the soul of the club resides that is the inner city, close to the MCG and near a tram and train line. And offer attractions that attract real supporters and not just suburban losers. I've lived in the Melbourne area most of my life and don't even know where Bentleigh is and never been to that other place Leighoak nor do I want to.

Agree completely!

I have tried a number of times to enjoy facilities at the club

Got lost every time i tried to visit!

Was treated appallingly by lazy slow dim-witted staff who didnt give a damn

The venue offered absolutley nothing to demon supporters

Had to request several times to have television replay turned on

Tried to get a group regularly to join me for dinner and a few beers watch the replay all aggreed atmosphere was bad

Worst venue I have ever attended

MFC either changes management or dumps the place

It will nver make money being run as it is!

The club must get this right

[jayceebee31 669]

Here is a report from the Melbourne Leader dated 11 Aug 2010:

'Melbourne chief operations officer Matt Green told the meeting the Bentleigh Club’s profitability had fallen 92 per cent since 2000 and up to $3.7 million was needed for an upgrade.

Mr Green said the venue had been unsuccessful in attracting new and younger members, and that its location on residential Yawla St was the biggest problem.'

The MFC have now revised their offer to the members of the Bentleigh club. Here are exerpts from an open letter to Bentleigh Club members received today (10/2/11) from the Bentleigh Club subcommittee.

FACT

Club has lost money for last 3 years

Has Debts of over $1.8m and bank seeking solution as no repayments are being made

Has Gaming machines 2012 commitment of $1.3 mil

• Is faced with new legislation in regards to gaming machines and ATM’s. Both are

considerable risk to the club if it operated as a an independent

Most gaming venues are now part of bigger groups to “share costs and risks”

Given the potential personal risk it will be difficult to get board members/ management to

be involved if it remains an independent club.

MFC REVISED DEAL

1. Minimum 12 Year commitment to location unless original BC members vote to move

2. Never moves unless members vote to (all members included after 12 years)

2. First $100k of profit goes to capital upgrades every year

3. 2 positions on sub-committee to oversee management and financials

4. Commitment it will be run as a “club” going forward

5. MFC takes over debt of $1.8m and gaming machines liability.

In summary, we are proposing to swallow up a poorly situated venue that is losing money and dropping in revenue. We are willing to cover the Bentleigh Clubs' debts to the tune of $1.8 million and the gaming machine expenses of $1.3 million, plus the venue needs another $3.7m in renovations. But what is the point of renovating a club that is regarded by Matt Green and every consultant as a dud venue?

One option is the possibility of selling 2 blocks of Whitmuir Road end of the car park to reduce the debt by approximately $1.5m, but there are significant planning issues around selling the blocks.

Another option is moving to a new venue. However the current Victorian Commission Gaming Regulations make it more difficult to transfer machines to other zones compared to a transfer within the current zone (Caulfield, Carnegie, St Kilda East, McKinnon, Bentleigh, Elsternwick, and Bentleigh East). So it seems a transfer to Casey Is unlikely.

In the original proposal by the MFC last year, the club stated 'There is a clear incentive for MFC to relocate to a venue within the zone.'

Yet here we are committing to at least 12 years at this venue, unless the original Bentleigh Club members vote to move. And what are the chances of that?

We have finally paid off our debts and turned a small profit. We are now planning to sink our football clubs profits into 'Melbourne's hidden treasure' that is the Bentleigh Club. This could cost us more than Tom.

Well written my friend- a very dangerous move I think- however note the skills several Directors on the Board whom have finance(Don McLardy-as well as insurance,Stuart Grimshaw-banking & finance, as well as legal(Guy Jalland) along with property development (David Thurin along with Peter Spargo)-accounting/strategy John Trotter,advertising/marketing Russel Howcroft and having sound business operators in Jim Stynes, Karen Hayes -I have the trust and respect that they have the matter in hand to be a success,if Bentleigh club votes to amalgamate.

[Sorry kids 635]

Stand by for the next disaster. Trying to find a buyer for the Bentleigh Club when it collapses after the pokies are gone. Many posters here who knew the venue gave it a thumbs down nearly a decade ago.

[Demon Disciple 10,965]

17 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

Stand by for the next disaster. Trying to find a buyer for the Bentleigh Club when it collapses after the pokies are gone. Many posters here who knew the venue gave it a thumbs down nearly a decade ago.

Yeah umm no. Clearly you have no idea about the real estate game.

I wouldn't be selling it at the moment, but when the market picks up (it is showing signs of slowly turning around), it will sell for quite a bit.............pokies or none.

[Sorry kids 635]

5 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Yeah umm no. Clearly you have no idea about the real estate game.

I wouldn't be selling it at the moment, but when the market picks up (it is showing signs of slowly turning around), it will sell for quite a bit.............pokies or none.

Do not claim to know much about Real Estate, sounds like you do. We may be a forced seller but tell me this, know it all. What is the present zoning of the Bentleigh Club and twhat is involved in the process for re zoning a commercial venue in a tightly held conservative suburban area.

[Sir Why You Little 34,511]

28 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

Stand by for the next disaster. Trying to find a buyer for the Bentleigh Club when it collapses after the pokies are gone. Many posters here who knew the venue gave it a thumbs down nearly a decade ago.

No. It’s all about the Land

bentleigh is now inner city of Melbourne 

will be a good sell. Not today but in future. 

It will be Apartment land. Not a Club

[Sorry kids 635]

4 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

No. It’s all about the Land

bentleigh is now inner city of Melbourne 

will be a good sell. Not today but in future. 

It will be Apartment land. Not a Club

I know the location. Live 5 minutes away. The local plan is to have large scale apartments lining the railway tracks, McKinnon to Bentleigh and along Centre Rd. Will watch with interest how a quiet backstreet qualifies for a large scale development. And further. Genuine question to which i do not know the answer. As a Club can it be sold without Member consent or relocation. 

[Sir Why You Little 34,511]

Just now, Sorry kids said:

I know the location. Live 5 minutes away. The local plan is to have large scale apartments lining the railway tracks, McKinnon to Bentleigh and along Centre Rd. Will watch with interest how a quiet backstreet qualifies for a large scale development. And further. Genuine question to which i do not know the answer. As a Club can it be sold without Member consent or relocation. 

Not sure on the rules and regs today. They can change. All i know is Bentleigh is now highly sought after, when i was a kid it was the cheap suburb. 

It is actually a good asset. The building can be knocked down in 20 minutes 

[Longsufferingnomore 1,466]

3 hours ago, Sorry kids said:

Do not claim to know much about Real Estate, sounds like you do. We may be a forced seller but tell me this, know it all. What is the present zoning of the Bentleigh Club and twhat is involved in the process for re zoning a commercial venue in a tightly held conservative suburban area.

As it is surrounded by suburbia, you would think it would be easier to have the land rezoned residential than the other way around. 

[Demon Disciple 10,965]

5 hours ago, Sorry kids said:

As a Club can it be sold without Member consent or relocation. 

I think such a decision from the members would be in the form of a proxy vote.

The money from its sale would no doubt go towards our new digs (if and when that is ever decided).

Edited August 31, 2019 by Demon Disciple

[Sorry kids 635]

52 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

I think such a decision from the members would be in the form of a proxy vote.

The money from its sale would no doubt go towards our new digs (if and when that is ever decided).

I expect so DD although I was refering to the Members of the Bentleigh Club who are local redidents.

[Supermercado 2,617]

17 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

I think such a decision from the members would be in the form of a proxy vote.

The money from its sale would no doubt go towards our new digs (if and when that is ever decided).

The club wouldn't need any permission to make a commercial deal, even of an asset they held.

I can just imagine we'll bulldoze it to build flats then there'll be some planning fiasco that ends with 10 years of vacant land.

[gs77 3,328]

6 minutes ago, Supermercado said:

The club wouldn't need any permission to make a commercial deal, even of an asset they held.

I can just imagine we'll bulldoze it to build flats then there'll be some planning fiasco that ends with 10 years of vacant land.

That would be very Melbourne.  It's set in very residential streets a distance from Centre Rd commercial district.  Surely it wouldn't be too difficult to rezone as residential and sell it to a developer?  On Google maps it looks like approx 12 residential blocks of land - that's got to be worth about $17-mil for knock-down/rebuild in Bentleigh. Maybe more given the land size and the potential for higher-density development - or aged care or whatever.  Not sure how much of an inner-city state of the art training facility that buys though.

[Sorry kids 635]

1 minute ago, gs77 said:

That would be very Melbourne.  It's set in very residential streets a distance from Centre Rd commercial district.  Surely it wouldn't be too difficult to rezone as residential and sell it to a developer?  On Google maps it looks like approx 12 residential blocks of land - that's got to be worth about $17-mil for knock-down/rebuild in Bentleigh. Maybe more given the land size and the potential for higher-density development - or aged care or whatever.  Not sure how much of an inner-city state of the art training facility that buys though.

It requires a lot of careful planning. Once the pokies go it will run at a loss. Back luck for the members of the Club. So we need to sell before that pokies deal expires. That leaves a window of time to get it rezoned, work through the inevitable planning objectives that will come in a tightly held quiet suburban street and get our money out. It is not as simple as selling a similar pokies venue that operates as a hotel. I hope we have good people on the job.