So, I believe it was football park in South Australia that first unveiled the magnificence that is digital advertising during the Essendon Vs Crows elimination final in 2009. Switching on to see how well the Matthew Knights brand of all out attack would fair against the defensively minded Crowbots, I soon became distracted whenever the ball travelled along the outer wing, as it would often be lost in the blazing lights of the digital signage along the boundary line. I grew irritated that I couldn't help but be entranced by offers of 5% discounts for Jim's Plumbing services...meanwhile the Knights brand of footy was beginning it's slow death...

This year digital advertising has sprung up in WA and at the Gabba, and already dominates in many other codes such as the EPL and Major League Baseball.

Now, during the world series for example, I thought it looked pretty spectacular as it wasn't entirely used for advertising, but rather for enhancing exciting moments in the game (as they can be few and far between)...and...the signage is not directly in the line of sight during regular play.

In AFL, during day time matches I hardly even notice it...however...during night matches the advertising drives me up the wall because it is right in the line of sight during play. As the ball travels through the air it also then travels through the advertising, at which point somebody presses a button and changes the ad for enhanced effect (high fives all round in the advertisers corporate box).

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority but I am hoping that the MCG will maintain some sense for aesthetics and not chase a few more dollars through the digital advertising of sponsors along the boundary. I can't believe it hasn't happened yet at the Badlands. During night games I find it completely distracting and it makes me want to utilize the .44 magnum resting in my lap and put a nice big hole in that pixelated screen...this eye-sore must be stopped before it spreads...

Is anyone with me here saying 'keep the 'G digital free'?

Or should we just embrace the commercial nature of the AFL and earn a buck wherever we can?

Peace

Edited November 2, 201014 yr by Bhima

I with you all the way.. with or without the influence of your firearm.

Money rules the world. There will be a time when you can't leave your front door without watching a Coke mini-movie. I hope we can stay away from this epileptic advertising just as much as you.

Missed many goals in the EPL because of this crap. The flashing lights are so pretty..

I hadn't thought of that yet, but you are right. And we must try and keep the MCG free from such hideous distractions.

It's like the music that is played at 1/4 Half Time & 3/4 time IT'S TOO LOUD. ( i love loud music) but not at the Football, i want to talk about the Quarter that has just been with my dad and my mates.

Write to the MCC and tell them of your displeasure, get on SEN and get the ball rolling. If talkback radio gets stuck in, you will at least get an answer.

Along the same lines, I hope the AFL don't follow the path of the NRL in regard to the extent of sponsor logos on the grass.

Those Bundaberg ads and the like every 20 metres annoy the hell out of me. More so than the boundary fence digital 'show'.

Is there more money in it? Yes

There is your answer.

I find it pretty annoying when watching AAMI games on TV.

I imagine it'd be detrimental for fans at the game too, so obviously I wouldn't be keen.

I believe the limitations to this are in the 'curvature' of the actual sign. So it must be that Subi and Moron Park have longer 'straigher' boundary fences than

at the MCG, and thus it isnt technically feasible to do it at some grounds such as these. EPL, NRL, NFL etc are all straight fences.

I quite like it.

Would look great around the upper levels.

When it comes to the ground level fencing, if it HAS to come in, make it static and change it only during stoppages/scoring shots.

Any kind of motion/movement during live gameplay will impact/influence players, imagine 30min in the last quarter, down by a point, deep in defense, a player hears a voice under heavy pressure, sees a flash of red and blue and handballs directly to the line. Still having nightmares about poor barts in the doggies game...

I believe the limitations to this are in the 'curvature' of the actual sign. So it must be that Subi and Moron Park have longer 'straigher' boundary fences than

at the MCG, and thus it isnt technically feasible to do it at some grounds such as these. EPL, NRL, NFL etc are all straight fences.

That is good news Demon Dave...sometimes it just seems like the AFL forgets that the game is King and must be respected in all its glory. Maybe The Rules of the Game committee should be spending more time on rules that outlaw anything that detracts from the spectacle of the game including advertising...

On other annoying advertising initatives, can anyone remember when they started blaring out "Zoom Zoom Zoom" after North Melbourne would kick a goal a few years back. There was a big bloke resplendent with handle bar moustache nearby and he was shouting at the speakers to F@#k off by the second quarter. I felt sorry for him as he looked like he'd come to the game to let off a bit of steam only to be hounded by an African themed Mazda Jingle. He was going nuts and his kids looked terrified. I'm glad that stopped doing that too, it's a form of pollution sometimes.

I quite like it.

Would look great around the upper levels.

When it comes to the ground level fencing, if it HAS to come in, make it static and change it only during stoppages/scoring shots.

Any kind of motion/movement during live gameplay will impact/influence players, imagine 30min in the last quarter, down by a point, deep in defense, a player hears a voice under heavy pressure, sees a flash of red and blue and handballs directly to the line. Still having nightmares about poor barts in the doggies game...

Agree KoD, as mentioned in relation to the world series, it looks pretty awesome on the upper tiers outside the line of sight of play. The brightness of the colours is also the major issue, that's why I'm happy with the current signage, it will always look dull compared to an LED light show. Would be nice if they just left it alone tho.

I quite like it.

Would look great around the upper levels.

When it comes to the ground level fencing, if it HAS to come in, make it static and change it only during stoppages/scoring shots.

Any kind of motion/movement during live gameplay will impact/influence players, imagine 30min in the last quarter, down by a point, deep in defense, a player hears a voice under heavy pressure, sees a flash of red and blue and handballs directly to the line. Still having nightmares about poor barts in the doggies game...

No it wouldn't look great on the upper levels. It would be a complete distraction-which is exactly what it is meant to be.

Play havoc with a wide screen TV at home to, Frame delays and misstimed scanning. Those signs are basically HUGE TV's.

TV's do not like looking at each other.

Edited November 3, 201014 yr by why you little

I think you'll find that the MCC won't allow it. Or will be pretty against it.

Can you imagine trying to spot a ball playing cricket with the lights and images moving on the advert boards???

I couldn't think of anything more annoying as a cricketer!

Gippy