That just makes it even worse, that just reiterates that they know it's a white elephant.

I think you're referring to the contract the state govenment had with the owners of Etihad Stadium, regarding the prohibition of the building of another stadium of any sort with a capacity over 20,000 within a certain timeframe.

Victory, then just after the end of the double-winning 2006/07 season with a crowd average of 31,374 including finals obviously didn't see the benefit of moving to a stadium with a lower capacity than that and obviously the stadium would never be built without the primary tenants onboard so the state government negotiated a higher capacity with Victory and pushed back the completion date of the stadium to just after the lapse of the clause in the contract with the Etihad owners.

Two funny quirks were that although the stadium was upsized the bar/food and toilet facilities were left to spec for a 20k capacity, and that the stadium was allegedly built with the promise of potential upgrade to 50k in view of the then potential World Cup bid including building foundations making this possible, but the complex design of the roof meant ripping it out and rebuilding it would be more expensive than building a 50k seat stadium from scratch. I think, given the state government's lack of interest in attracting the Socceroos for friendlies and of course the Asian Cup, it was just an excuse to not have to blow any more cash on wogball, even with the carrot of having a world class venue for the greatest show on Earth.

Victory had signed a contract with a very willing Etihad (who then, in the days before the Big Bash or 20/20 at all had nothing else to fill the seats with in summer) for all their games for next to zero rent fee but for a very long, confidential term, which the board has still not disclosed at member's meetings (presumed now to end with the AFL's takeover in 2024). Upon the building of AAMI Park this was negotiated down from all games to five A-League games per season plus all ACL games with assistance of FFA. To their credit, the Victory board are happy to play more games at the more expensive Amy Parks even though they barely break even on matchday (which over the season makes 48% of the club's revenue) because it's what the fans want. I don't know what Heart will do after their second reprieve with cut price rent ends.

Perhaps the funniest thing of all was that I worked as a roadie on the opening night of the stadium which was lamentably an Australia vs New Zealand rugby league match (and yes it was that day that I learned that they have national teams for rugbly league). There were little electronic karts that were supposed to drive out the speaker arrays that were out on the field for the pre-game show, but it was pissing down rain and they wouldn't start! Guess who had to push them off the field while all the beefy rugby players just stood around? You can see my legs in this video that some bogan filmed on his iPhone, but I'm sure there's more of us on other videos out there if I looked hard enough.

[youtube]PxVzwibqtTc[/youtube]

It goes without saying that all of the above events had transpired in their entirety before the club now known as Melbourne Heart was even a concept on paper.



Edited by paladisious: 20/11/2013 01:10:33 AM

I always fucking hated that roof. It's the main reason why the acoustics are so bad. It's a really feeble attempt at a diffuser.

So basically what you're saying is that the stadium could and should have been bigger but the state government weren't willing to invest any more money.

Essentially yes. The foundations have always been there for an upgrade to 50 or 55k or so, but the design of the roof as such makes the cost of pulling it out and rebuilding it comparable to building a stadium of that size from scratch.

"Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more." E. H. Harriman.

Is this legit?

Some good things coming from Perth!

Melbourne supporters making their way to Jihad stadium.

Brisbane fans showcasing their clubs history.

If any one has images of Newcastle or Sydney supporters feel free to post. Thanks.

Judging from the fact that he's dressed like Where's Wally in a denim jacket, I'd think not.

It looks American so the chances are high.

Normally when you see someone posed like that it's a chick...and they're not wearing any clothes...and there's three guys standing over her.

[youtube]pPO2a7klZoA[/youtube]

[youtube]YbNY9rBVGbw[/youtube]

Cheers for the added footage. (Y) Great scenes. Good to see the Perth end develop organically.

Just a suggestion but I think it would be better If we had an Australian terrace thread in AF, rather than Austalia + the world.

Would make it easier for people who care about the A-league and Socceroos.

This could be changed to World terrace culture?

Don't ask a question like that!

How on earth can we dare try to displace the mighty and noble TSF!

HIS WORD IS LAW!

I've been pretty surprised by Perth tbh, coming along very nicely considering where it was at last season.

No real point tbh. Rather keep it broad. Plus would have gotten lost in the JoFFA spam.

North Terrace on the weekend. Funny what organic growth does to support with no restraint. Really needs to be encouraged for all clubs. It's what killed CCM support and almost killed Brisbane and Adelaide. Blame Buckley.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151753382481884&set=vb.356644847782442&type=2&theater

In pictures we see a great number of fans joining the movement.

this is all we've done recently, I think its already been posted though.

Decent. Is that a club tifo on the right?

who's running the show in perth?

what are the active supporters called?

No that's this old bloke who spent like $2000 getting that made up and brings it to every game and displays it every time we do a tifo or display ruining the awesomeness of what we've done.

We've asked him to stop but he refuses. we're hoping someone nicks it. West Sydney we'll leave an opening for you!

Rofl.

-PB

Haha fair enough. Is it really worth pinching though.

My guess avanti. The shed used the same tifo.

Few arguments and this and that but what are they going to do?

We've had a lot of trouble filming cops. Had a big four eyed cop (small man syndrome for sure) come to us regarding filming when it's a basic right to film police. Especially regarding the treatment of another. It works. Some argy bargy with this one in particular and got my name taken (no fine) but it was to protect a guys phone from being taken. He cooled down after awhile. All good in the end.

No arrests and no trouble. Funny that.

Those events happen usual pre match though. There is a small police presence on level three. Cops are well behaved ;)

Possibly because they have nowhere to go if the crowd turns on them :lol: