3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

You just know we're going to get a raw deal when the "commercial in confidence" details are finally revealed.

On a more general note why would the MRC put the development in the prime public racegoers area thus closing off expansion when there's acres of land in less public areas. Something is not right

I reckon we've just got to hang tight a few more weeks/months and we'll get a clearer explanation of how it works. Herald Sun articles need to be taken as little more than gossip.

So.... to the knowledgeable.. Does the area earmarked ( this new version) encompass the area where various circuses and similar often pitch ??

1 minute ago, beelzebub said:

So.... to the knowledgeable.. Does the area earmarked ( this new version) encompass the area where various circuses and similar often pitch ??

Yes. And the big tent has been taken down.

2 hours ago, wheaters31 said:

Spotted (30 Aug 2025): Brad Green and John Kanga (Melbourne Racing Club Chairman) are currently at Caulfield Racecourse in deep conversation.

Trying to get out on the last in Adelaide?

On 22/12/2024 at 19:08, DemonWheels said:

Totally understand that Waverley could be seen as an upgrade on our current situation allowing us to bring Admin and the Footy Dept together. But it would really only be a band-aid solution and we’d be in the same position Hawthorn have found themselves in, needing more space and eventually moving further out.

IF we can pull Caulfield off we’ll have all the space we need and (finally) our own first class admin / office and training grounds / gyms / rehab areas etc etc all together in the one CLUB. It’s a no-brainer.

IMV it’s a no-brainer .we can be at Waverley next year. Caulfield in 5. Go to W now, even if it turns out to be temporary. All set up, great facilities NOW whilst we sort out issues at Caulfield. Personally I doubt we can. Ever heard of VCAT.

This is the third change of area, and we still don’t have a deal of any sorts, you can be certain where this is headed.

23 minutes ago, bluey said:

This is the third change of area, and we still don’t have a deal of any sorts, you can be certain where this is headed.

🤔 Hopefully its not Melbourne Cup-esque otherwise we're going around more than once 😆

8 hours ago, KozzyCan said:

This reads like we'll be tenants at our own ground.

You do realise that we are not going to own the ovals???? This has never been part of the arrangement. The ovals will be shared facility with the public. The HQ and office will be freehold and owned by the club.

2 minutes ago, Oxdee said:

You do realise that we are not going to own the ovals???? This has never been part of the arrangement. The ovals will be shared facility with the public. The HQ and office will be freehold and owned by the club.

Yes I am aware. That we have made 'concessions' around the use of the ovals/facilities and rent implies there are certain privileges we would have liked to enjoy that we have now let go. Ultimately it will be good to know exactly what deal we are getting.

1 hour ago, Oxdee said:

The HQ and office will be freehold and owned by the club.

Dont think so. It is Crown Land so it will be leasehold, I assume with a reasonably long lease. Just like the same arrangement the MRC has with the Trust.

Where will the ovals be placed if this ‘new’ location proposal where the circus tent was located gets the tick? Still same place inside the track?

18 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Dont think so. It is Crown Land so it will be leasehold, I assume with a reasonably long lease. Just like the same arrangement the MRC has with the Trust.

You're correct F&T. We will not own any land. We will have a lease of the relevant Crown land.

18 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Where will the ovals be placed if this ‘new’ location proposal where the circus tent was located gets the tick? Still same place inside the track?

I would imagine ovals will now be closer to North side of the course than the South. Or closer to Normandy Road than Neerim Road.

48 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Dont think so. It is Crown Land so it will be leasehold, I assume with a reasonably long lease. Just like the same arrangement the MRC has with the Trust.

I dont think so. Mt Scopus didn’t spend $200m to buy a leasehold. I think the Carpark in question can be sold off as a freehold

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Oxdee

One does have to ask the question....why in the hell did a "feasibility study" take 12 months, and then a "business case" take another 12 months, when we still don't know where the building will be built.

20 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

One does have to ask the question....why in the hell did a "feasibility study" take 12 months, and then a "business case" take another 12 months, when we still don't know where the building will be built.

i imagine that is all part of it

12 hours ago, dice said:

So we've gone from the SW corner to the SE corner to the NE corner lol

https://youtu.be/3JcmQONgXJM?si=399gxwvF4JUccvHx&t=97

So we’ve ‘jumped’ from the barriers at the 1800m and are now turning for home.

At least we’re going the ‘Melbourne ‘ way and not the Sydney way.

FWIW, worked many Saturdays ‘pencilling’ under that Stand.

51 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

One does have to ask the question....why in the hell did a "feasibility study" take 12 months, and then a "business case" take another 12 months, when we still don't know where the building will be built.

We really have no clue as to the workings of the negotiations. It appears there’s egos and the requisite ineptitude of both our club and this Kanga bloke.

9 hours ago, Oxdee said:

I dont think so. Mt Scopus didn’t spend $200m to buy a leasehold. I think the Carpark in question can be sold off as a freehold

i think the mt scopus site was always private property and not crown land

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

i think the mt scopus site was always private property and not crown land

Yes. 2 very different situations

Mr. rEDleg?

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by TRIGON
Ahhh fiddlesticks, didn’t manage to attach the right quote to it.

46 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i think the mt scopus site was always private property and not crown land

Correct.

I can understand why we went from first area to second area as second was bigger and had easier access.

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

All three areas are Crown land leased to the MRC.

I suspect the MRC are happy for us to go in this third area and see some synergy in it. There is plenty of room for what we would need and car parking as well.

Given recent comments of the MRC Chairman, it appears we are all now aligned and it is happening and hopefully announced soon, maybe even at the B and F and maybe even with the new Coach present. Maybe even the Judd McVee signing announced finally, making it a big night after a disappointing season. That is all just my speculation of course.

I can imagine for starters a new type of membership being a MFC/MRC one where you become a member of both clubs giving rise to more benefits for the members, increased sponsorship opportunities and of course increased membership of both clubs.

We are both called MELBOURNE of course.

There may even be some new joint facilities mooted, again my speculation only.

As Big Kev used to say on TV years ago, “I am excited” and not just because I am a lifelong Demon fanatic and former official of the club, have owned and bred racehorses, still racing a few, am a Life Governor of the school, that will be a neighbour on the other side of the racecourse, though I went to MELBOURNE High School, live nearby and will be able to go to a lot of training and spend time with Ghosty and her mates, but because this will be the best thing for the MFC, besides premierships, that has happened in ages and maybe ever, our own state of the art Demon home.

Go Dees, I love this club. ❤️💙

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Redleg

10 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

One does have to ask the question....why in the hell did a "feasibility study" take 12 months, and then a "business case" take another 12 months, when we still don't know where the building will be built.

Maybe look at who's been involved.....

6 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

I would say that is the reason.

I was in the area on Friday and noticed it is about 2km from the Neerim Rd end to Caulfield station end.

For those that don't know the area the Neerim Rd end is quite suburban. The station end has a pokies/sports type club (The Glasshouse) on the edge of the course and it is a short walk to various eateries on the NE side of the station. The club won't need to provide a social club/gathering place on site. Also, various tram lines are nearby.

The station end will make it easier to keep admin and FD staff (and attract new ones) if using public transport otherwise they would face a decent walk. Ditto for fans.

A home at last! Can't wait to congregate there on the day after another premiership ❤️💙

btw, thanks for keeping us updated.

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Lucifers Hero

21 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Correct.

I can understand why we went from first area to second area as second was bigger and had easier access.

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

All three areas are Crown land leased to the MRC.

i think the main problem with the 2nd option (south east corner) was no close access to ovals. i.e. no tunnel and probably mrc not wanting a new tunnel to be built, and of course the extra cost of a tunnel.

and of course the reasons of transport difference luci explained

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by daisycutter