Coronavirus: AFL & MFC

[Jaded No More 68,915]

14 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Sorry, that's what I meant. Just didn't explain myself well.

AFL, MCC and club members book online on a first in first served basis for each category.

Under this scenario, non members won't be permitted to games which is unfortunate but fair.

The way restrictions are quickly being wound back, I expect crowds in the second half of the season if the appropriate social distancing rules are in place and followed.

 

I think non members would be allowed in, but only if members don't exhaust ticket allocation.

What will get tricky is for those of us with reserved seating at the G, and how you go about to ensure that all those members are able to get a decent alternative seat. I don't want to be thrown up behind the goals on level 3, when I paid over $700 for a seat I can't even use this season. 

There would be a lot of things to figure out before anyone is allowed into a stadium, including whether they perform temperature checks on spectators, how they distribute hand sanitiser and how do they police people social distancing at the game.

And then of course we need to work out who needs to social distance at games. Can I sit with my father at games, even though we don't live together? Can groups of 20 people or 50 people sit together? Will we have to provide the ground with contact information for tracing purposes?

There are a lot of questions that the AFL will need to figure out together with each individual state. But lets hope they do and we can all go watch a game this season!

[poita 3,902]

15 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The way restrictions are quickly being wound back, I expect crowds in the second half of the season if the appropriate social distancing rules are in place and followed.

 

I was at Chadstone SC on Saturday, and it was absolute bedlam. The individual shops were following protocol, but the centre as a whole was absolutely packed as people milled around or queued to get into shops.

To think that this can happen in an enclosed environment, but you can't sit in the open air to watch a football match beggars belief. I'd be amazed if the NRL don't get crowds in to some degree in July as they wish, with the AFL to follow shortly after. 

[Moonshadow 17,676]

On 5/24/2020 at 10:43 PM, Jaded said:

Wouldn’t be too hard to social distance at a Melbourne game... Richmond games on the other hand....

BBO has had no troubles social distancing at the G.

Even when it's a full house he gets a seat on his own.

[Demonland 72,193]

 

[whatwhat say what 22,757]

bartlett and pert are on the latest official mfc podcast

pretty dark:

• increased debt of $6-10m in 2020
• expected ongoing debt for the next 3-5 years
• clearly we are a club reliant upon afl funding
• future of the vfl program uncertain
• aflw likely to have same investment as previous years
• no change to aim for a 'home' precinct but have been in 'crisis mode' for the last few months, so it's obviously on the backburner
• casey is only a short-term training option environment

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,832]

35 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

bartlett and pert are on the latest official mfc podcast

pretty dark:

• increased debt of $6-10m in 2020
• expected ongoing debt for the next 3-5 years
• clearly we are a club reliant upon afl funding
• future of the vfl program uncertain
• aflw likely to have same investment as previous years
• no change to aim for a 'home' precinct but have been in 'crisis mode' for the last few months, so it's obviously on the backburner
• casey is only a short-term training option environment

Pretty grim but expected reading.

I’m blown away by the Bulldogs. One of the very few clubs that isn’t reliant on the AFL. They were always the first club to be talked about re:mergers or going bust, and now they’re financially independent. 

Was this mainly due to winning a flag, Peter Gordon or a combo of both? I note that every side to win a flag since 2013 is financially viable.

Can Bartlett and Pert weave their magic and get us through this?

 

[Demon trucker 1,800]

51 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

bartlett and pert are on the latest official mfc podcast

pretty dark:

• increased debt of $6-10m in 2020
• expected ongoing debt for the next 3-5 years
• clearly we are a club reliant upon afl funding
• future of the vfl program uncertain
• aflw likely to have same investment as previous years
• no change to aim for a 'home' precinct but have been in 'crisis mode' for the last few months, so it's obviously on the backburner
• casey is only a short-term training option environment

This is the same for most sides, saints, and port are already over 12 million debt before the season, our position will be better then half the sides.

[Pates 9,660]

1 hour ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

bartlett and pert are on the latest official mfc podcast

pretty dark:

• increased debt of $6-10m in 2020
• expected ongoing debt for the next 3-5 years
• clearly we are a club reliant upon afl funding
• future of the vfl program uncertain
• aflw likely to have same investment as previous years
• no change to aim for a 'home' precinct but have been in 'crisis mode' for the last few months, so it's obviously on the backburner
• casey is only a short-term training option environment

It’s pretty grim, sign of where we still sit. We’re a little unlucky in that COVID has followed a year in which our two blockbuster games were away games (still feel as though we should’ve pushed to have them flip every year) as well as a horrid time on the field really hurting the bottom line. 

I think they’ll do a donation drive at some point but they should make sure to let everything breathe for a bit while people count the cost of what they’ve lost. 

Just on the doggies and why they are one of the self-sustainable clubs, do they own Whitten Oval? They’ve had a very good membership ever since their premiership year and I feel like they rode a wave of good fortune and good management since then. Their crowd figures are still pretty mediocre so it’s not from there they get their money. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,588]

45 minutes ago, Pates said:

Just on the doggies and why they are one of the self-sustainable clubs, do they own Whitten Oval? They’ve had a very good membership ever since their premiership year and I feel like they rode a wave of good fortune and good management since then. Their crowd figures are still pretty mediocre so it’s not from there they get their money. 

The premiership win didn't deliver anywhere near the money that the power clubs get. IIRC it was around 20-30% of what Richmond received from additional merchandising etc.

The Whitten Oval upgrade was substantially funded by Federal money and they run it in conjunction with Victoria University. Revenue streams include a childcare centre for example.

How they have managed to stay in the black is a real credit to them and to their Board. Never thought that the Bulldogs would join forces with Kennett and Hawthorn but I have noticed that Gordon when on the ABC Jon Faine program often questioned the lack of a solid business case for many of the AFL's exotic ventures (China etc)

Interesting that there is a story in the Age today saying that the increase in TV money as a result of the ninth game each week is marginal.

[Sir Why You Little 37,038]

Winning is even more important now....

We get good exposure from winning, and money will flow...

[Diamond_Jim 12,588]

7 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Winning is even more important now....

We get good exposure from winning, and money will flow...

winning this year is important for the future but money wise this year it means nothing.

Could we be the only team in the AFL era to register a loss in a premiership year... now that would be typical MFC ?

[Sir Why You Little 37,038]

1 minute ago, Diamond_Jim said:

winning this year is important for the future but money wise this year it means nothing.

Could we be the only team in the AFL era to register a loss in a premiership year... now that would be typical MFC ?

Of course Winning is important this year. 
Memberships and Sponsorship for 2021

[rjay 24,928]

On 5/25/2020 at 3:21 PM, poita said:

I was at Chadstone SC on Saturday, and it was absolute bedlam. The individual shops were following protocol, but the centre as a whole was absolutely packed as people milled around or queued to get into shops.

To think that this can happen in an enclosed environment, but you can't sit in the open air to watch a football match beggars belief. I'd be amazed if the NRL don't get crowds in to some degree in July as they wish, with the AFL to follow shortly after. 

I would have thought this would be reason whey the government won't allow crowds at games, at least here in Victoria.

Can you imagine the crowds trying to get in to the grounds & get to the grounds? good luck with social distancing.

 

[whatwhat say what 22,757]

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Interesting that there is a story in the Age today saying that the increase in TV money as a result of the ninth game each week is marginal.

what has always been said is that the cost of gc17 and gw$ >>>>> the benefit of the 9th game, but it's a sunk cost that will benefit the competition long-term

which i get, but....eh.........franchises..........

[Diamond_Jim 12,588]

9 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

what has always been said is that the cost of gc17 and gw$ >>>>> the benefit of the 9th game, but it's a sunk cost that will benefit the competition long-term

which i get, but....eh.........franchises..........

The argument for GCS and GWS was that you needed the second team to maintain interest in the home market. The ninth game being marginal is I think more a message for Melbourne clubs...

Mind you I think we could easily do without GCS.... GWS I hold some hope for based on the Western Sydney/ ACT/Riverina corridor.

I find 3 games ample over a weekend from a TV viewing angle. I have a friend who watches them all so there are some people glued to the box.

[whatwhat say what 22,757]

Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

I find 3 games ample over a weekend from a TV viewing angle. I have a friend who watches them all so there are some people glued to the box.

i can happily watch them all if the margin is +/- 24 points or thereabouts, but if it's a blowout, it's easy to lose interest fast

judging by the numbers last year, drop off after quarter time and then half time was significant, so i'm not alone there

too many teams, too many ordinary footballers, too much substandard football

i know gil said today that they won't look to bring in shortened quarters permanently, but i think the afl will do anything to fiddle with the game "improve the product"

[Demonland 72,193]

[binman 42,970]

3 hours ago, rjay said:

I would have thought this would be reason whey the government won't allow crowds at games, at least here in Victoria.

Can you imagine the crowds trying to get in to the grounds & get to the grounds? good luck with social distancing.

 

It will be no issue at all Rjay. Unlike Chadstone the AFL will be able to exercise a large measure control over movement.

Lets say 30, 000 at the G (and worth noting that perhaps a quarter will be kids under 15 who are extremely unlikely to have the virus).

They can make it ticketed entry for specific seats. use all stands and all gates. From memory there are ten gates, so 3,000 enter each gate and each gate has say 4-5 turnstiles so 600 though each turnstile. 

People naturally stagger their arrival to the ground but easy enough with that number of people to create staggered lines with barriers etc and waiting say 30 seconds between people going though the turnstiles. They could even do temperatures test and refuse entry to anyone high.

Four seats between all people and no food or drink options. Attendants at the toilets counting people in an out and controlling entry. No bars open will mean less traffic to the toilets anyway (and on the causeways for that matter). So, very little issue with social distancing in the ground during the game.

Getting there is also not really an issue. Most will drive these days but even if half don't that is only 15, 000 on various transport routes - two trains stations and two tram lines.

The only real issue i see is at games' end.  But in reality it would only be 3,000 people leaving each gate (assuming no one leaves early) and given they are moving, it is basically in the open air and people are not really passing each other as they are going one direction (meaning social distancing is easy) it is very low risk. Your average Bunnings is more risky, let alone a Chadstone (how many people will go to Chadstone this weekend - or in say 2 months when i reckon fans will go the G?).

Given all of the above and the the fact that by making it ticket only you could create system to record contact detail of all fans gong to the footy will be one of lowest risk social activities people can participate in.  

[Pates 9,660]

2 hours ago, binman said:

It will be no issue at all Rjay. Unlike Chadstone the AFL will be able to exercise a large measure control over movement.

Lets say 30, 000 at the G (and worth noting that perhaps a quarter will be kids under 15 who are extremely unlikely to have the virus).

They can make it ticketed entry for specific seats. use all stands and all gates. From memory there are ten gates, so 3,000 enter each gate and each gate has say 4-5 turnstiles so 600 though each turnstile. 

People naturally stagger their arrival to the ground but easy enough with that number of people to create staggered lines with barriers etc and waiting say 30 seconds between people going though the turnstiles. They could even do temperatures test and refuse entry to anyone high.

Four seats between all people and no food or drink options. Attendants at the toilets counting people in an out and controlling entry. No bars open will mean less traffic to the toilets anyway (and on the causeways for that matter). So, very little issue with social distancing in the ground during the game.

Getting there is also not really an issue. Most will drive these days but even if half don't that is only 15, 000 on various transport routes - two trains stations and two tram lines.

The only real issue i see is at games' end.  But in reality it would only be 3,000 people leaving each gate (assuming no one leaves early) and given they are moving, it is basically in the open air and people are not really passing each other as they are going one direction (meaning social distancing is easy) it is very low risk.

 

This is an interesting point, with no crowds the venue will be getting very little revenue with them then having to pay for more staff at the games (security in particular). I think food and drink is still a possibility, like you have said with the toilets if you have someone at the entrance counting the number of people and possibly having someone outside ensuring the line is distanced. 

I also wonder whether they may leave entire bays empty to make it so that you are sectioned in a specific area and reduce the potential numbers of people. 

I agree that end of the game could be a difficult prospect as you can have staggered entrances but everyone will want to leave at the same time. It might have to be as simple as asking people politely to be patient and wait, or perhaps suggest to people they leave a little early if the result is clear.

[rjay 24,928]

7 hours ago, binman said:

Most will drive these days

Not likely, particularly with games at docklands...

...and do you have to keep the roof open, even on wet days.

...and if so, how will it's surface cope being played on in conditions it wasn't built for.

[Cards13 9,117]

59 minutes ago, rjay said:

Not likely, particularly with games at docklands...

...and do you have to keep the roof open, even on wet days.

...and if so, how will it's surface cope being played on in conditions it wasn't built for.

Get Torvill and Dean out for a skate, it was built for that wasn’t it?

[binman 42,970]

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Not likely, particularly with games at docklands...

...and do you have to keep the roof open, even on wet days.

...and if so, how will it's surface cope being played on in conditions it wasn't built for.

Maybe. But even if 20000 go to docklands that is monbusier than trains are right now during the week, let alone in 2 months time.

Surely they will close the roof at night and when wet, even with crowds. Hardly an enclosed space.

[Ethan Tremblay 30,861]

Simple solution, get rid of the social distancing laws. 

[whatwhat say what 22,757]

the carpark roof will remain shut for the entirety of 2020 

[Demonstone 22,523]

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Simpletons' solution, get rid of the social distancing laws. 

Fixed.