I don't see too many people hanging shit on Hawthorn anymore for relocating four of their home games every year to Tasmania.

There's an undisputable fact in the AFL: clubs that generate the greatest revenue stand a better chance of onfield success than those that don't.

Look at St Kilda: they decided to reduce their debt by ripping the guts out of their football department. Result: self-admitted mismanagement resulting in large numbers of injuries to key players during their 'premiership window'.

Money buys you success in the AFL today, just as it did circa 1986.

So there's nothing wrong with chasing a buck. Collingwood were even interested in shifting a game to the GC, until they decided that (politically) it wouldn't go down too well with their supporters. Weak management in my opinion.

This is ONE game a season for a few seasons. Not against Brisbane. And moving from the stadium where we've had the least success in our history.

Plus (and make no mistake here) it's a well-deserved kick in the arse for the Telstra Dome management to lose both a St Kilda and a Carlton home game. This sort of thing is necessary, and is most likely being met with the AFL's seal of approval. While we're there, we DESPERATELY need to force their hand in order to get a better deal. That place is bleeding us dry.

This situation is so far removed from what the Kangaroos had to do in Canberra and the Gold Coast, that to compare them is emotive nonsense imo.

Of the current Victorian teams, you have:

Hawthorn: play four home games in Tassie
Geelong: have the best stadium deal in Victoria, crazy to shift anything
Essendon*: have the second-best stadium deal in Victoria, crazy to shift
Collingwood: considered shifting a game to the GC, but feared supporter backlash, otherwise it was attractive to them
Carlton: getting raped by Telstra Dome, essentially playing there for free unless we get over 40,000 turn up.
St Kilda: see carlton
Richmond: Need to put as much money into the football dept. as possible, massively under-resourced there. this will help them do it.
Roos: have decided to 'die on their feet' in melbourne, and that's just what will happen unfortunately.
Melbourne: they're screwed nine different ways. no-one cares.
Bulldogs: They've been gifting the Lions a freebie every season. Not good at all.

Seriously, for Carlton, what's the problem? Gotta think big picture. And hey - it's not the end of the world to plan a long weekend in winter up at the Gold Coast, is it?

it'll cost me as much to go to the goldcoast 'home' game as it would for a year's membership. add to that that the GC is the biggest shithole for a holiday in Australia....I don't think I'll be going just quietly.

i wouldn't say that collingwood listening to its members is weak management. I would say it is acknowledging where their biggest source of income comes from, and letting them have a voice.

damn your fascist views JohnM!!!!

_________________
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

In a perfect world we'd be playing all our home games at the MCG but if we're forced down this road I'd like to see...

- It would have to be a TD listed game
- A traditionally low crowd pulling opponent like the Dockers or Power
- Members be compensated with entry to an allocated 'away' match
- Game to be counted as 'interstate' for the purpose of the fixture (ie. 1 of 4 minimum interstate)

Any stigma associated with such a game could be nullified with proper marketing and promotion by the club.

Look at it his way, we owe the AFL $1.5m. This pays them back $400,000 with their own money. Does that make it easier to swallow?

Yeah, bring it to Sydney too.

There's squillions of Blues supporters in SE QLG let alone QLD; what a great idea to spread the brand, and give me something to look forward to in my business travels.

Fantastic...bring on the Blues interstate games and help spread the word; as well as entertain me.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The Cranium wrote



If we do nothing for the tens of thousands of Carlton supporters in the GC, they will pushed into the GC corner. I remember living there and it was a great feeling to watch Bears games at Carara where 70% of the supporters were Carlton. I felt right at home, and more to the point it centred my attention to the meaning and strength of brethren; it was a beautiful feeling.

Watching Judd, Murphy, would create the same sensation as watching The Dominator back in the 80's. Give 'em a game.

Make those future GC games, home games for us.

Why give them the market we already hold greater market share.

Stand up and show your colors in QLD fellow Bluebaggers. I will join that Dark Navy Blue army's force.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

How much did we get for that M & M chocolate promotion back in 1997?

ie we wore a light blue guernsey for one game and made a lot of money.

I am ok about this as it isn't a permanent thing - it is about using a one-off game to catch up with the clubs such as Hawthorn and Essendon* in terms of financial well-being.

500 packs of Peanut M&Ms...

it would be ridiculous to play the Crows on the GC seeing as we got 45,000 against them at the MCG. We would get over 50,000 against Adelaide at the G once we are a contender again.

The Fremantle or Port Adelaide game would be the best fit to replace a home game at TD.

There will still be an 11 home game package for members as an away game against Melbourne/Bulldogs/Kangaroos/etc. will be a home game for Carlton members.

Seeing as we don't fixture the games, and we have a pre-existing contract with Telstra Dome, we may well not have the choice of where we play them.

If we were scheduled to play all our games at the MCG, and had a decent contractual arrangment, then the incentive to explore other options wouldn't be anywhere near so high.

Just because you have the cash, doesn't mean you can pay players what you like.

Remember?

If we play on the Gold Coast next and lose and we miss the finals by a game or a top 4 spot by a game, how will that 400 000 seem then? Note its 400 000 minus expenses.

_________________
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

You are welcome!

_________________
A Blues Supporter - not a Blues Bagger.

Mark, our TD record is so horrible, that it barely constitutes home-game status.

I would agree if we were selling our home game to Brisbane, and playing it at the Gabba. But we're not at much of a disadvantage here I think.

Looks like this move has also resulted in a much more favourable draw for Carlton in terms of profitable games for the 2009 season.

The benefits of this move might end up being seven figures instead of six.

_________________
|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

Bend over Blues, you'll like it as per usual.
Collo & Demefroot are still laughing at us.

Ahhh, Now the truth comes out, it is all really about getting to spend a weekend up at the Gold Coast.

_________________
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Aah Brettie, I pay for 11 home games and until now, got to see one every two years or so. Missing one game won't kill you. You can always watch it on TV, which is more than I could do.
Looking forward to supporting the club with my 11 game membership for 2009 and I am hoping to see at least two games.

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Actually mark, I do a bit of work up there from time to time, and every freaking time I'm on the GC it RAINS.

In fact, I'm there (here) now and... it's raining.

Never been to carrara, but I once saw a night match at the Gabba. Was a really good ground to watch the footy at: not too big, not too small.

Both games in the GC?