Demons Grand Plan for Yarra Park Training HQ

[old dee 23,799]

3 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

I like what Carlton and Hawthorn have. A cafe/bar  area where fans can have a coffee at the ground, interact discretely with staff while watching training.

Ok so lets suppose there was one at G how often would you go considering no parking etc?

[drysdale demon 4,837]

14 minutes ago, old dee said:

Serious question dd " Do you need a fan club facility and or would you use one ?

If they had one I might use it, but I don't see it as a high priority at the moment. All I want is for the team to become successful for a sustained period of time.

As a redlegs member for 38 years I have always had an area to go to before and after games.

I'm quite sure the club is working on  various plans to have their own facility, but I do not think it will be easy process.

[old dee 23,799]

13 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

If they had one I might use it, but I don't see it as a high priority at the moment. All I want is for the team to become successful for a sustained period of time.

As a redlegs member for 38 years I have always had an area to go to before and after games.

I'm quite sure the club is working on  various plans to have their own facility, but I do not think it will be easy process.

A fair comment dd. means zero to me. My objective is to have the best facilities for our players, FD and office team to give us the best chance of winning games. Everything after that is expendable IMO. My view is don't stop achieving  the first because of the need for the second.

[Sorry kids 635]

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Ok so lets suppose there was one at G how often would you go considering no parking etc?

Not a lot if at the G. At Elsternwick,  Prahran or similar a lot more regularly. Personally I do not driving a bit if parking is fairly accessible. That said I would sacrifice my coffee for us to be based again at the G.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Ok so lets suppose there was one at G how often would you go considering no parking etc?

The answer for 99 out of 100 supporters is never. Too hard to get to. Plus, the MCC don't offer a bar or cafe at the G during the week because it would affect their contract with Spotless.

The priority is to get a good training ground, good indoor facilities and an admin base that are reasonably close together.

My guess is that if we were to build the latter two near Goschs, the ground itself wouldn't be an issue. Eg. the triangle of land near the tollway off ramp or towards Olympic Blvd

Edited June 2, 2019 by Moonshadow

[george_on_the_outer 7,611]

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

This is what we should be pushing for. The MCG is our home, we were born out of the ground. The MCC needs to come to the party on this, we no longer have reserves and under 19s playing every weekend, the field is immaculate and can handle a couple of training runs a week. Then it's just a matter of sorting out indoor facilities which shouldn't be hard to accommodate.

Stuff being near the G, we should be AT the G.

How many times....how many times do people have to be told....Cricket is played on the ground 6 months of the year! 

Where do you do a pre-season from November to March? 

Then if you visit the ground during the football season, you will see lights about 2metres apart on mobile racks covering the ground after dark to make the grass grow. 

[old dee 23,799]

7 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

The answer for 99 out of 100 supporters is never. Too hard to get to.plus, the MCC don't offer a bar or cafe at the G during the week because it would affect their contract with Spotless

Exactly my point Mr Shadow. The idea and the actual are miles apart. Most members want a facility but very few would actually go to it on any more than once every pancake Day. I have a number of friends who are keen Tigers members they go to every game at the G and they tell me they have not been to the Tigers facilities in ten years. They are more concerned about maintaining their seats at games. I also know  a number of Pie members who have never been to see the pies at their OP ground let alone gone inside. I know three Hawks members who have never been to Waverley. Because Dees supporters have never had a facility it has become some sort of mystical spot to be desired beyond all else. IMO the value is outweighed by the  cost/ location problems. 

[old dee 23,799]

9 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

How many times....how many times do people have to be told....Cricket is played on the ground 6 months of the year! 

Where do you do a pre-season from November to March? 

Then if you visit the ground during the football season, you will see lights about 2metres apart on mobile racks covering the ground after dark to make the grass grow. 

To many it is the holy grail George. As a result normal logical vanishes in the chase to obtain it. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,596]

2 hours ago, old dee said:

Ok so lets suppose there was one at G how often would you go considering no parking etc?

Liverpool played in Madrid last night in what is arguably the biggest sporting event of the year.

They had bugger all tickets for the fans and it cost a fortune to get there.

One would have thought that there was a  call to fill Anfield with supporters etc etc but no there were just a couple of relatively small gatherings.

The social club is dead... they went the way of the drinking barns of the seventies. Sure to some extent they were replaced by pokies venues but you cannot run a business based on 13 odd Saturday night's in winter.

[Diamond_Jim 12,596]

45 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

The answer for 99 out of 100 supporters is never. Too hard to get to. Plus, the MCC don't offer a bar or cafe at the G during the week because it would affect their contract with Spotless.

The priority is to get a good training ground, good indoor facilities and an admin base that are reasonably close together.

My guess is that if we were to build the latter two near Goschs, the ground itself wouldn't be an issue. Eg. the triangle of land near the tollway off ramp or towards Olympic Blvd

Moonshadow ... have you seen the size of the modern facilities....

anyway you need to partner.... Here is what Essendon did for example...

Essendon partnered with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and identified land within the Melbourne Airport as a site for a Sporting and Community Facility. The key stakeholders who provided funding for the facility were the Federal Government, AFL, Victorian State Government, Melbourne Airport and the Essendon Football Club. The development comprised two large ovals (one the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the other the size of Etihad Stadium), a running/walking track and a training and administrative building measuring approximately 10,000 square metres built over four levels.

We are just so far off this level. By the way Essendon admin and their executive is located at Tullamarine as well.

 

[Moonshadow 17,676]

31 minutes ago, old dee said:

Exactly my point Mr Shadow. The idea and the actual are miles apart. Most members want a facility but very few would actually go to it on any more than once every pancake Day. I have a number of friends who are keen Tigers members they go to every game at the G and they tell me they have not been to the Tigers facilities in ten years. They are more concerned about maintaining their seats at games. I also know  a number of Pie members who have never been to see the pies at their OP ground let alone gone inside. I know three Hawks members who have never been to Waverley. Because Dees supporters have never had a facility it has become some sort of mystical spot to be desired beyond all else. IMO the value is outweighed by the  cost/ location problems. 

Exactly right Mr Old.

IMO members would probably prefer a dedicated club members bar at the G during home games, bit like the Betty Cuthbert bar, level 2 in the northern stand. 

A privately run coffee cart at training would be enough, given it's usually a morning thing

[old dee 23,799]

12 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Exactly right Mr Old.

IMO members would probably prefer a dedicated club members bar at the G during home games, bit like the Betty Cuthbert bar, level 2 in the northern stand. 

A privately run coffee cart at training would be enough, given it's usually a morning thing

You have my vote

[old dee 23,799]

32 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Liverpool played in Madrid last night in what is arguably the biggest sporting event of the year.

They had bugger all tickets for the fans and it cost a fortune to get there.

One would have thought that there was a  call to fill Anfield with supporters etc etc but no there were just a couple of relatively small gatherings.

The social club is dead... they went the way of the drinking barns of the seventies. Sure to some extent they were replaced by pokies venues but you cannot run a business based on 13 odd Saturday night's in winter.

Could not  agree more DJ but try telling that to the holy grail chasers.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

16 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Moonshadow ... have you seen the size of the modern facilities....

anyway you need to partner.... Here is what Essendon did for example...

Essendon partnered with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and identified land within the Melbourne Airport as a site for a Sporting and Community Facility. The key stakeholders who provided funding for the facility were the Federal Government, AFL, Victorian State Government, Melbourne Airport and the Essendon Football Club. The development comprised two large ovals (one the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the other the size of Etihad Stadium), a running/walking track and a training and administrative building measuring approximately 10,000 square metres built over four levels.

We are just so far off this level. By the way Essendon admin and their executive is located at Tullamarine as well.

 

Yes, I've seen the Ess Hanger and Western Oval facilities. Also I've been to the Arden St set up a number of times: they have a link with my family's primary school.

I'm a novice at these kind of visions, as we all probably are. But i believe we could keep Goschs for drills and match sims and use the grass pitches nearby for rehab, sprints, etc (as we currently do). The Tan is nearby for running.

For me it's the land and building/s that are needed. Of course, this requires major funding through partnernerships, as you mention. 

I have no inside info, but I doubt PJs Yarra Park plan had much detail or any real funding behind it. IMO it was always pie in the sky, given that no gov't supported it and the park has protection overlays

Can't remember who on here doctored the maps images superimposing the Magpies Holden Centre buildings next to Goschs, but it seemed reasonable and not a big impact on the parkland.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

2 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

How many times....how many times do people have to be told....Cricket is played on the ground 6 months of the year! 

Where do you do a pre-season from November to March? 

Then if you visit the ground during the football season, you will see lights about 2metres apart on mobile racks covering the ground after dark to make the grass grow. 

Didn't cricket Victoria just create a large facility at Junction Oval?

I'm sure we could find a way to work around the boxing day test and a few one dayers/20/20

I take your point but it's just frustrating that our home, the best home, is right there yet we are forever homeless. It would solve all our issues, not just training but actually having a "home" for the club.

If summer training is such a big deal then just use Goschs as we do now.

If the hydroponic set up is only after dark that's not an issue as pretty much all our training is done during the day now anyway.

 

[Romey 163]

With the Southern Stand to be redeveloped in the next 10 years, I wonder if there is a opportunity for the new stand to incorporate our headquarters / social club and for an oval oval to be built on top of Brunton Ave and  the railway lines? It would help better connect the MCG to the sporting district and it would be adding to the parklands which should appeal to residents. 

Not the cheapest of options but maybe with Government support and lots of time it is achievable. Any thoughts?

Edited June 2, 2019 by Romey

[old dee 23,799]

10 hours ago, Romey said:

With the Southern Stand to be redeveloped in the next 10 years, I wonder if there is a opportunity for the new stand to incorporate our headquarters / social club and for an oval oval to be built on top of Brunton Ave and  the railway lines? It would help better connect the MCG to the sporting district and it would be adding to the parklands which should appeal to residents. 

Not the cheapest of options but maybe with Government support and lots of time it is achievable. Any thoughts?

Sadly I will be dead before that happens Romey. I hope you enjoy it.

Edited June 2, 2019 by old dee

[george_on_the_outer 7,611]

Perhaps there is a small glimmer of hope, in terms of getting Melbourne Victory out of Goschs. 

https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/victory-secures-funding-maribyrnong-academy-site

If they were ever to move, then that area currently used as a soccer pitch, alongside Swan st could be used to build something we need.  The Rebels then can have the whole of the inside of AAMI to themselves for training, and wouldn't need their training ground outside either. 

[beelzebub 23,380]

Have the Pies returned home yet ? ?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,816]

Just now, beelzebub said:

Have the Pies returned home yet ? ?

As much as I hope the Pies return to Victoria Park, we may need to find ways to encourage the move. I think two additional facilities that should be included in any new Magpie home to encourage their supporters to support, or even demand, the shift would be a tattoo parlour and a free dental clinic. For those supporters who don't know what a dental clinic is, they can be told it's a museum which is giving Victoria Park some culture.  

[Dee Dee 1,108]

Just a couple of points about the MCG that need to be cleared up.

Firstly the portable lighting system used to stimulate grass growth. It’s on most days during the winter, and fills much of the northern side of the ground, thus making the ground impossible for training purposes. I don’t think it’s used at night.

And just on facilities for visitors. There are 2 cafes open on week days, used mainly by tradies and tourists. (Enter gate 3).

Any thought of returning to the MCG as a training facility is real pie in the sky stuff. I wish it was not so, but it is!

[old dee 23,799]

8 minutes ago, Dee Dee said:

Just a couple of points about the MCG that need to be cleared up.

Firstly the portable lighting system used to stimulate grass growth. It’s on most days during the winter, and fills much of the northern side of the ground, thus making the ground impossible for training purposes. I don’t think it’s used at night.

And just on facilities for visitors. There are 2 cafes open on week days, used mainly by tradies and tourists. (Enter gate 3).

Any thought of returning to the MCG as a training facility is real pie in the sky stuff. I wish it was not so, but it is!

It is like the search for the Holy Grail DD it will never happen.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,816]

47 minutes ago, Dee Dee said:

Just a couple of points about the MCG that need to be cleared up.

Firstly the portable lighting system used to stimulate grass growth. It’s on most days during the winter, and fills much of the northern side of the ground, thus making the ground impossible for training purposes. I don’t think it’s used at night.

And just on facilities for visitors. There are 2 cafes open on week days, used mainly by tradies and tourists. (Enter gate 3).

Any thought of returning to the MCG as a training facility is real pie in the sky stuff. I wish it was not so, but it is!

I've been at the ground for a couple of night functions in corporate lounges and the grass-growing lights were on. It's possible they only put them on when corporate facilities are in use to add to the ambience of the night time event. They make the ground look pretty cool.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

[old dee 23,799]

Let's take over Carlton!