Sensational-Adelaide.com

Thanks for the psychiatric & economic report Prince George. I know I should be feeling better after all your gentle and persuasive counselling but it's just not working. Perhaps if I just increase the pills...... And where can I get a pair of those rose-coloured specs like the ones you "just do it" people wear?

Seems the crowd was down for last night's showdown. A perfect autumn evening. I dont have a problem with footy in the City. I just dont like the way it's happening, the budget-fudging & mistrust the spin.
However, if the fans aren't behind the game, why are we bothering? I would have thought last night was a pefect opportunity to demonstrate a super-strong following, and send a strong message to people like me about the value, strength and future of footy in this City. But that didn't happen. No doubt there'll be lots of excuses....

Two Showdowns a year is one too many

* Chris McDermott
* From: Sunday Mail (SA)
* April 16, 2011 11:00PM


Both camps must accept some of the blame for almost killing the Golden Goose of football here in South Australia, and the restoration of this one-time hottest ticket in town needs to start now.

Football in this state and this state alone is in need of help.

Help from the AFL and the SANFL, help from the Power and the Crows, help from the fans of both clubs and help from the media.

If we can't fill AAMI Stadium for the biggest game of the year we have a very serious problem.

Crowds are strong in every other state but are in decline in SA.

TV viewership is also on a downhill spiral, regardless of the number of live games shown, and with the move to Adelaide Oval still three years away something more than a few unconvincing ads talking up AAMI Stadium is needed to stop the exodus.

For years the Power and the Crows wanted more Showdowns and the AFL granted them their wish.

Before you knew it we had three of them a year, with the league also scheduling a pre-season encounter between the arch-rivals to satisfy our thirst for this game.

The product quickly reached saturation point, the clubs began to downplay the games instead of talking them up, and the crowds disappeared at an alarming rate.

What remains is a great contest wilting on the vine.

How is it possible that 45,000 fans cannot attend the biggest game of the year in this state on a near perfect night in the preferred timeslot?

What hope has the Power, then, of attracting more than 15,000 to AAMI next Saturday afternoon when they take on the Gold Coast Suns, and how long before a Crows crowd dips below 30,000?

Saturday afternoon, May 14, against the Gold Coast may be that day.

Other sports can see a window of opportunity opening.

Cricket has done great things with its game in recent times and gazumped the AFL.

A crowd of 36,000 on day one of the Test here at Adelaide Oval suggests that game is in very good nick, not to mention the amazing success of the Twenty20 format.

Premium seats at Clipsal are also in great demand, and crowds at the V8s have overtaken Aussie rules crowds in terms of support and passion for their beloved team.

Adelaide United have captured a large portion of the youth market and are making significant inroads into what was once the AFL's domain.

Reds games against Melbourne Victory are old State of Origin wars with a different-shaped ball and the crowds are flocking to them in droves.

Prime spots on the final day of the Tour Down Under are gone up to six hours before the bikes go by, and while they cost nothing, they are worth plenty.

Oakbank maintains its position as an event not to be missed, while over the border, blockbuster games such as Carlton and Collingwood, and the Derby in the West continue to consume both club and supporter, regardless of positions on the ladder.

The city stops for these events as it once did for Showdowns

Crows and Power clashes can once again become a hot item, but some things must change.

The clubs must buy into the "theatre" of the contest.

Carlton and Collingwood games are preceded by a massive breakfast attended by players and coaches from both sides.

Presidents Eddie McGuire and Stephen Kernahan start the verbal war and the hype in the build-up to the start of the game.

There is little if any of that here for a Showdown. The game's day crowd must get involved but any underlying hostility must be eradicated.

Ford and Holden fans walk side by side at Clipsal, proudly wearing their colours, but Power and Crows fans are still at the stage where they demand to be separated.

Good-natured banter in the crowd is a great part of our game and Showdowns are the only time we truly experience it.

Let's get the colour and the character back to the game but remove those

who take it too far, for life.

Both clubs must put at the top of their wish list to the AFL that Showdowns are never live against the gate unless sold out.

This one great contest must be protected at any price.

All bases must be covered to guarantee its success and finally make it more than just a game.

Make it an event and add some genuine entertainment that brings a crowd and doesn't alienate it.

It is time to stop the rot and for football fans to also take some control of the game they love instead of complaining about it.

It's time to stop finding reasons not to go to the footy and to make a decision to go.

I agree with you and the Sunday Mail, silverscreen.

Football in this state and this state alone is in need of help.

Help from the AFL and the SANFL, help from the Power and the Crows, help from the fans of both clubs and help from the media.

If we can't fill AAMI Stadium for the biggest game of the year we have a very serious problem.

Crowds are strong in every other state but are in decline in SA.

Demetriou knows this very well, and it's quite likely that the project is being driven by the AFL because of those facts. With AFL licence holder SANFL abandoning West Lakes and with no general purpose stadium, AFL football in SA will be dominant over the other football codes for decades. For the AFL to achieve that at no cost to itself or possibility of objection by the 100% funding body (the taxpayer) is remarkable.

If AFL footy in SA continues to slide regardless, perhaps the pressure will build and the rectangular football codes will combine with a backer and build a general purpose stadium.

PS silverscreen: prince george is far from 'one of those just do it' guys. Read his posts.

A propos of Demetriou, I was one of those howling for blood and accusing him of not paying AFL's share towards the Oval devt. But now the penny's dropped and I realise he doesn't need to put anything in. This whole project was the SA Govt's political response during the election and Rann & co brought in the big guns to smile and say what a brilliant idea it was. Having done that for Rann to make him look good, Demetriou didn't need to do anything else. It was a case of - "you want it - you do it (and pay for it)".At that stage we lost any bargaining ability; this govt now has its back to the wall and we the taxpayers, like it or not, will pay. I repeat, I support money going to the public good, but the processes here stink.
Demetriou doesn't give the impression he cares very much about the whole deal and in a way I can't blame him. It wasn't his idea. He must think our pollies are very naive.

Chris McDermott hit the nail with that article!

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/saca-cons ... 6040288591

Nothing is going to stop this development except an act of God. And there is no alternative to it. So, time to get on board. You know who you are.

Anyone against this project is a fool, like those who opposed the new tram lines, they quickly changed their minds after they saw it finished and how much better it made the city

Lots of people seem to want to have their cake and eat it (and then some). They want to have a completely new roofed stadium built on the Adelaide Oval site, but want to preserve the heritage of the old stadium and want it to be cheaper than $500m - yeah and this forum used to have a 'wank' smilie.

metro wrote:Anyone against this project is a fool, like those who opposed the new tram lines, they quickly changed their minds after they saw it finished and how much better it made the city

Lots of people seem to want to have their cake and eat it (and then some). They want to have a completely new roofed stadium built on the Adelaide Oval site, but want to preserve the heritage of the old stadium and want it to be cheaper than $500m - yeah and this forum used to have a 'wank' smilie.

I agree, Im confident the SACA will get the 75% vote, caus similar to the tramline extension, those who opposed it turned out to be a very tiny minority of noisy dimwits with no clue. In this case Im not calling the AO opposition dimwits, just selfish idiots that I think are a very tiny but noisy minority. Just look at the poll in this thread.
Driving through town yesterday to get to Football Park, I actually dreamt of how the atmosphere would be in the city when showdowns are at the AO. I got goosebumps. The city will be teaming with people. Cant wait

You know it's funny but insults and petty threats don't usually change people's views when they're passionate about something.
Name-calling belongs in the schoolyard with 6 year olds.
On the other hand, you could have a go at intellectual debate and informed discussion. That can work wonders on open minds. Perhaps it's fear and a sense of helplessness that drives those throwing insults and that's understandable because come May 2 all indications are that the No vote will get up.
So it might be a good idea to save the energy and emotion for sorting out that scenario. It's wasted on me, won't change my vote/view, and is (sorry to say) just a bit boring. (A yawn smiley needed here)

the problem with people that are voting no.

is the majority that I have met are not voting no because of the development, they are voting no because they can.

So as far as I am concerned they deserve every bit of abuse they get, quite frankly I would be happy for them to be named and shamed for ensuring South Australia goes nowhere*.4

*only those who are voting for no other reason than the power of course

silverscreen wrote:You know it's funny but insults and petty threats don't usually change people's views when they're passionate about something.
Name-calling belongs in the schoolyard with 6 year olds.
On the other hand, you could have a go at intellectual debate and informed discussion. That can work wonders on open minds. Perhaps it's fear and a sense of helplessness that drives those throwing insults and that's understandable because come May 2 all indications are that the No vote will get up.
So it might be a good idea to save the energy and emotion for sorting out that scenario. It's wasted on me, won't change my vote/view, and is (sorry to say) just a bit boring. (A yawn smiley needed here)

Intellectual and informed discussion?
With what, assumptions, speculation and hearsay being passed off as fact?

I'm still mystified by how you thought it was an AFL proposal to redevelop AO, when it's been clear from the start that it was the state government behind the proposal.
And you are apparently a SACA member.
All a bit baffling really.

silverscreen wrote:On the other hand, you could have a go at intellectual debate and informed discussion. That can work wonders on open minds. Perhaps it's fear and a sense of helplessness that drives those throwing insults and that's understandable because come May 2 all indications are that the No vote will get up.

the problem I have is the lack of intellectual debate and the misinformed discussion by the no people. Its getting silly. Its coming down to irrelevant issues such as drop in pitches, the fact that every SUV may not get a car park right next to the gate, small gaps between the stands - god no, horse shoe design - oh my god again, and the fact that a grand stand will face west and into the sun, caus no other stadium in the galaxy would have a stand facing west. What about the hurricane winds that will come through the gaps? Please are there any decent arguments from the no people, um no

Note to jk1237 & rev:

Why don't you read my posts properly and come back and talk to me:

a) if you still believe I think the AFL was behind this devt (I don't & never did)
b) if my posts show the design is top of mind for me.

(Note to self: Don't know why I bother - it's more fun talking to my 5 year old)

did you see the rag today? Rucci saying up to $30m from the AFL.

not a bad figure I guess, better than the nil currently being touted by the No vote.

A common theme amongst the no camp is a criticiism of the design of the new AO, with some calling it a 'toilet bowl'.


However, I have never really understood this, as a toilet comparison can also be made with an enclosed stadium: