4 hours ago, CBDees said:

Despite the enthusiasm of Binman (which I share), the initial concept is focussed on players and administration rather than a gathering place for the MFC faithfull. There is still a fair bit of concept work to go as I understand and hopefully the patient MFC membership base can end up with a high profile facility next to the “G” which they can own rather than share with other codes. My belief is that it will include components which will benefit the local community rather than merely the Club’s football operations and have a positive outcome for the local area. It is the most appropriate position by a long shot and it has merit on planning grounds which hopefully the Club can elucidate to convince East Melbourne/Richmond that it is a Win/Win proposal!

I'm not sure we should own it. I expect it would be more economical for someone else to own and build it and for us to take out a long-term lease as a key tenant (say, 20 years with a 20 year option). Or we could master lease the whole thing and then sub-lease components, such as the office space and any F&B outlets. I would have thought the less capital we tie up in something like this the better.  (That goes for any development, whether it's Yarra Park or elsewhere).

The support the State Government has given other clubs is a precedent for some help for us...Yarra Park or elsewhere.

The Age is today reporting that the Bulldogs have reported a profit of...wait for it...$18 MILLION!

That's not increased jumper sales,; it's mostly the value of the freehold of the Western Oval which has been assigned to them as part of the WO redevelopment. In other words, either the State or the Council has handed them this asset.

Geelong has been looked after over 20 years starting with Bracks and it's depressing to think of the help given to other clubs since. I hope something comparable is coming our way.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-record-18m-profit-20181128-p50izu.html

3 hours ago, pitmaster said:

The support the State Government has given other clubs is a precedent for some help for us...Yarra Park or elsewhere.

The Age is today reporting that the Bulldogs have reported a profit of...wait for it...$18 MILLION!

That's not increased jumper sales,; it's mostly the value of the freehold of the Western Oval which has been assigned to them as part of the WO redevelopment. In other words, either the State or the Council has handed them this asset.

Geelong has been looked after over 20 years starting with Bracks and it's depressing to think of the help given to other clubs since. I hope something comparable is coming our way.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-record-18m-profit-20181128-p50izu.html

Good points Pitmaster.

IIRC a lot of the money for the Western Oval came from the federal government under a grant scheme they had running at the time. It was sold as a major upgrade of public facilities in the western suburbs.

"After the appointment of Campbell Rose as Chief Executive of the football club in 2002, discussions commenced on a redevelopment of Whitten Oval. In September 2004, the club secured a deal for a $19.5m redevelopment, with contributions from the Federal Government ($8.0m),^[12][13] Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation ($5.5m), State Government ($3.0m),^[14][15] AFL ($1.5m) and the City of Maribyrnong ($1.0m).^[16] Construction commenced in 2005,^[17] and was completed in 2009. The renovated ground includes a 120 place childcare centre, a conference and convention centre and a state-of-the-art sports, medical, and health care centre for the Bulldogs to use as a training base "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitten_Oval

15 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'm not sure we should own it. I expect it would be more economical for someone else to own and build it and for us to take out a long-term lease as a key tenant (say, 20 years with a 20 year option). Or we could master lease the whole thing and then sub-lease components, such as the office space and any F&B outlets. I would have thought the less capital we tie up in something like this the better.  (That goes for any development, whether it's Yarra Park or elsewhere).

Obviously depends on what and where but ownership is surely the best result. The club needs assets to secure its future.

According to the annual report we had 49 million revenue last year. Sold the Leighoak for 7 million to give us cash assets of 10 million and non current assets of 12 million. 

Reads to me like we need to get that 20+ million (hopefully more with government grants and fundraising) invested in to making money for us. A facility that saves the money we currently spend leasing AAMI Park and mcg office space and makes money leasing the associated spaces has to be the plan. 

Yarra Park is still the dream. Otherwise I remain convinced a partnership with one of the leading Private schools is worth exploring. 

High quality ovals - tick

Inner/middle suburban or even ‘heartland’ location - tick

Either existing or a desire for gym/pool/indoor facilities

This press release from Xavier shows you how serious they are about strengthening and promoting their footy program. It’s obviously very important to the schools PR efforts. 

 

Surely one of the schools out there would welcome a partnership with an AFL club, giving them credibility and access to the elite environment. 

Id be calling Melbourne Grammar immediately and asking if they want to build a facility with us at their Port Melbourne training fields. Leverage Steve May and Toby Bedford for an Indigenous angle, that will get the AFL and Goverments involved. Tie it in with Fisherman’s Bend residential development. Easy!

8 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Yarra Park is still the dream. Otherwise I remain convinced a partnership with one of the leading Private schools is worth exploring. 

High quality ovals - tick

Inner/middle suburban or even ‘heartland’ location - tick

Either existing or a desire for gym/pool/indoor facilities

This press release from Xavier shows you how serious they are about strengthening and promoting their footy program. It’s obviously very important to the schools PR efforts. 

 

Surely one of the schools out there would welcome a partnership with an AFL club, giving them credibility and access to the elite environment. 

Id be calling Melbourne Grammar immediately and asking if they want to build a facility with us at their Port Melbourne training fields. Leverage Steve May and Toby Bedford for an Indigenous angle, that will get the AFL and Goverments involved. Tie it in with Fisherman’s Bend residential development. Easy!

some interesting thoughts there, ds

Somewhat on point are the arguments presently raging in NSW about the funding of the new NRL stadium. The Labour opposition have said they won't fund the stadium rebuild and in response the NRL have said they may take the finals out of Sydney. Echoes of some of the more famous stadium wars between big American cities and their NFL teams.

"On Monday, Daley reiterated his promise not to fund the new stadium and called on the government not to demolish it before the election.

“If I’m elected premier I will give the corporate entities, the trust, and others a loan to rebuild and refurbish it,” he said.

“Football fans will get the refurbished stadium, but taxpayers will not get screwed for 100% of the costs.

“The majority of people who live in NSW will never, ever step foot in one of these stadiums but they’re being asked to pay for the lot … if you think people are angry in Sydney you should go and speak to people in the bush and in the regions, they are absolutely white hot on this.”

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/03/nsw-labor-leader-michael-daley-says-he-will-not-be-bullied-by-nrl-over-sydney-stadiums

Edited December 3, 20186 yr by Diamond_Jim

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Somewhat on point are the arguments presently raging in NSW about the funding of the new NRL stadium. The Labour opposition have said they won't fund the stadium rebuild and in response the NRL have said they may take the finals out of Sydney. Echoes of some of the more famous stadium wars between big American cities and their NFL teams.

"On Monday, Daley reiterated his promise not to fund the new stadium and called on the government not to demolish it before the election.

“If I’m elected premier I will give the corporate entities, the trust, and others a loan to rebuild and refurbish it,” he said.

“Football fans will get the refurbished stadium, but taxpayers will not get screwed for 100% of the costs.

“The majority of people who live in NSW will never, ever step foot in one of these stadiums but they’re being asked to pay for the lot … if you think people are angry in Sydney you should go and speak to people in the bush and in the regions, they are absolutely white hot on this.”

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/03/nsw-labor-leader-michael-daley-says-he-will-not-be-bullied-by-nrl-over-sydney-stadiums

If we still had a chance of getting money from the state government it is probably now being used to fund the cost of the Justice system Royal Commission and pay outs to criminals.

Do we seriously need a royal commission for scum bags

28 minutes ago, Demons1858 said:

Do we seriously need a royal commission for scum bags

I think this is one of the greatest posts on Demonland ever. I don't quite know what it means but " a royal commission for scum bags" just rolls off the tongue delightfully. Sounds like Paul Keating in Parliament circa 1990. 

 

just pick one, problem solved?

3 hours ago, Grimes Times said:

great if we can get it.

Has a resident summer cricket team and is also used by the Port Melbourne Colts.

The Council (City of Port Phillip) did a master plan in 2014 or thereabouts.

Worth an ask. The trees around the boundary would be under some kind of preservation order which could present a problem.

The admin centre/gym would need to include a major community facility of some kind to give the Council impetus.

3 hours ago, Grimes Times said:

just pick one, problem solved?

Done, ?

 

Edited December 4, 20186 yr by Demon Disciple

Thought I might post this one here as well...in regard to the Pert interview on SEN.

1 hour ago, rjay said:

I think the most interesting thing he said was that we had 3 or 4 options for the training/admin/supporter base and one of them was Yarra Park.

Many on here have undersold the club by thinking that Yarra Park was the only option. This is a club now run by serious people and they are not going in without a thorough planing and options.

It is also clear to me that the base we are looking at will be somewhere in or around the MCG/Laver sporting precinct.

Exciting times ahead on and off field.

 

5 hours ago, Grimes Times said:

 

no flacking way

I was delightfully surprised to hear Pert say  that the new facilities would have social areas for members/supporters to go before/after games.  Most of us had thought this was unlikely to be included.  So it narrows down the options to be somewhere around the MCG.

He was instrumental in getting the dedicated areas for Pie supporters at their MCG games so he has a good idea of what is required.

8 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I was delightfully surprised to hear Pert say  that the new facilities would have social areas for members/supporters to go before/after games.  Most of us had thought this was unlikely to be included.  So it narrows down the options to be somewhere around the MCG.

He was instrumental in getting the dedicated areas for Pie supporters at their MCG games so he has a good idea of what is required.

 

8 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I was delightfully surprised to hear Pert say  that the new facilities would have social areas for members/supporters to go before/after games.  Most of us had thought this was unlikely to be included.  So it narrows down the options to be somewhere around the MCG.

He was instrumental in getting the dedicated areas for Pie supporters at their MCG games so he has a good idea of what is required.

LH a members / supporters area is the bottom of my list. Now I know that there are probably people who would love this feature and if it attracts new / younger members then great.

But I doubt it makes any difference to our on field performance so it is expendable in my view.

4 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I was delightfully surprised to hear Pert say  that the new facilities would have social areas for members/supporters to go before/after games. 

Sorry LH, when was this?

5 hours ago, old dee said:

 

LH a members / supporters area is the bottom of my list. Now I know that there are probably people who would love this feature and if it attracts new / younger members then great.

But I doubt it makes any difference to our on field performance so it is expendable in my view.

I disagree. As I have said a number of times the idea would be a bar, restaurant type space that would be a natural spot for dees fans but open to all.  Such a set up would make a fortune if done right. Income helps set up the club and contributes to on field success.

But such a space would also have the benefit of being a natural meeting spot and hub for the faithful. Even for away games. I would travel in from altona for a great sport with good atmosphere and plenty of other dees fans for interstate games. Think of the ecmc final. I went to Perth but dees mates, after much humming and aching landed on the sporting globe in Richmond. A place I'm not a huge fan off. But a mfc pub would have been the ideal and it would of been having. 

Think also of the power of seeing the dees crowds grow and the feeling of having so many members. A shared space would fuel that and help build our membership. Create a dees army. All good and tranlatabke to on field success.

 

 

5 minutes ago, binman said:

I disagree. As I have said a number of times the idea would be a bar, restaurant type space that would be a natural spot for dees fans but open to all.  Such a set up would make a fortune if done right. Income helps set up the club and contributes to on field success.

But such a space would also have the benefit of being a natural meeting spot and hub for the faithful. Even for away games. I would travel in from altona for a great sport with good atmosphere and plenty of other dees fans for interstate games. Think of the ecmc final. I went to Perth but dees mates, after much humming and aching landed on the sporting globe in Richmond. A place I'm not a huge fan off. But a mfc pub would have been the ideal and it would of been having. 

Think also of the power of seeing the dees crowds grow and the feeling of having so many members. A shared space would fuel that and help build our membership. Create a dees army. All good and tranlatabke to on field success.

 

 

Pert/club see the benefit of it... OD not so much.  

27 minutes ago, binman said:

I disagree. As I have said a number of times the idea would be a bar, restaurant type space that would be a natural spot for dees fans but open to all.  Such a set up would make a fortune if done right. Income helps set up the club and contributes to on field success.

But such a space would also have the benefit of being a natural meeting spot and hub for the faithful. Even for away games. I would travel in from altona for a great sport with good atmosphere and plenty of other dees fans for interstate games. Think of the ecmc final. I went to Perth but dees mates, after much humming and aching landed on the sporting globe in Richmond. A place I'm not a huge fan off. But a mfc pub would have been the ideal and it would of been having. 

Think also of the power of seeing the dees crowds grow and the feeling of having so many members. A shared space would fuel that and help build our membership. Create a dees army. All good and tranlatabke to on field success.

 

 

All of that may be true and I accept a number of people like yourself would enjoy it. The DEE Army already exists as witnessed by the people at the two MCG finals and a sizeable group that traveled to Perth. My premise is that I don't think the creation of one would increase ability of the playing group. Now I am not saying you and others don't need or deserve one. I just believe the benefits are over stated. Having one or not will not change my devotion to the MFC since 1960. I hope you get your wish.

32 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Pert/club see the benefit of it... OD not so much.  

Fairly accurate Cards. See above.

11 hours ago, Goodvibes said:

Sorry LH, when was this?

SEN interview yesterday, summarised here: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-12-04/a-great-time-to-be-a-melbourne-fan-pert

“We need to build a facility where the club can get together and to create a meeting place for our members and supporters before and after games. That’s what great clubs are about."

 

Full interview