Extreme disappointment with the Parade

[Sojourner]

It is a good problem to have, - clearly more people turned up than what was expected!

I have been at the Parade in a sold out match of 17 000 when Norwood played their last game against Port before the begining of the Power team, they played a Legends game first and it was standing room only, forget about going to the toilets or getting service at any canteen! Still it was an awesome game and atmosphere, so few people really cared less anyway.

Maybe one solution is to have training for members in running the facilities so if things start to get backed up some of the members can jump behind the bar and get the queues moving to bring the numbers down, as for the dunnies, something that all SANFL clubs need to look into adding to their capital works projects at the grounds, yet for the ladies Football Park is little better anyway.

[Dirko]

From my experience the food and stuff is OK however the lighting sucks...ventered out to Alberton today, been a long time since I was there, and sad to admit but Alberton for me is the best Oval, I've been to for a while..good catering, good beer serivce and decent toilets...makes the Bay embarrasing.

[southee]

Sounds like someones complaining (Sturt) they are not getting the cheese and cracker platter with the wine!!!

Cracked Pepper zip zap?

[Macca19]

Seriously zip zap you complain about the catering at Nwd which is right up the top in terms of choice and numbers of outlets

I agree with zipzap. It was terrible in round 1 as well (take not a lot of people complained about it then too). Good to see nothing has changed. The shop under the stand is ok. Bring a sleeping bag and pillow if you plan on going to the BBQ though, you'll be there all night.

[SDK]

You can make all the wize cracks you want but Zip Zap is right !
I love Norwood and I love Norwood Oval but it is about time management got their head out of their arse and had a good look at what is actually happening....like REALITY not some half baked perception obtained from sitting in the grand stand !
Why the xxxxxxx do you think crowds are down at Norwood Oval lately ?

[Pseudo]

Give me the Parade over the Playground any day.

But I concede if my mob ever drew 7000 spectators to Norwood, my POV might be radically different.

[Wedgie]

Ive never had too much of a problem in getting a beer at Cooper Corner.
If anyone tries to get a beer on Coopers Hill they deserve to get held up for 2 hours as thats just stupid.

[Squawk]

Well, I was personally embarrassed last night with the catering. So much promise, yet so little offered in the delivery. You could pick a big crowd coming from a mile away and it would appear that after the Port game (a very similar sized crowd was there), we have yet to learn any lessons. I don't want to go on and on about it but I will be following it up with the Club beyond my "feedback" provided at half time last night - yes, half time!

This issue was so bad on its own it doesn't even need to have comparisons with other grounds brought in to the equation, IMHO.

As for the lights, they can certainly be improved and I think they will be as soon as the club has bedded in a few other major projects, including the new Pokies establishment.

[Wedgie]

Well, I was personally embarrassed last night with the catering. So much promise, yet so little offered in the delivery. You could pick a big crowd coming from a mile away and it would appear that after the Port game (a very similar sized crowd was there), we have yet to learn any lessons. I don't want to go on and on about it but I will be following it up with the Club beyond my "feedback" provided at half time last night - yes, half time!

This issue was so bad on its own it doesn't even need to have comparisons with other grounds brought in to the equation, IMHO.

As for the lights, they can certainly be improved and I think they will be as soon as the club has bedded in a few other major projects, including the new Pokies establishment.

What actually happened with the catering? Did Coopers Corner get overrun from the morons who infest Coopers Hill finally realising they can watch a footy game and buy a beer with no disruption?

[Squawk]

I went to the canteen under the Southern Stand at the 8 min mark of Q2 and got back to my spot 30 seconds after the half time siren. They had run out of hot dogs by quarter time. At half time they had one bag of frozen chips left. With a forecast of a minimum of 2 degrees, they must have thought everyone was gonna buy ice creams! I only tried for one beer coz after my food debacle I wasn't feeling like tempting fate and missing another quarter of footy. Boy was I angry and I still am. And yes, embarrassed.

[Wedgie]

I went to the canteen under the Southern Stand at the 8 min mark of Q2 and got back to my spot 30 seconds after the half time siren. They had run out of hot dogs by quarter time. At half time they had one bag of frozen chips left. With a forecast of a minimum of 2 degrees, they must have thought everyone was gonna buy ice creams! I only tried for one beer coz after my food debacle I wasn't feeling like tempting fate and missing another quarter of footy. Boy was I angry and I still am. And yes, embarrassed.

Pfft, its shear lunacy trying to get anything at the Southern end of Norwood Oval, North supporters worked that out about 17 years ago, the catering at the Northern end is great, we knew Norwood supporters might catch on eventually.

[RustyCage]

I dont know, maybe I have young eye sight and am not up to the grumpy old man stage yet, but I have never had a problem with the lights at the Parade or with the dark pockets i keep hearing about.

[Brucetiki]

Coopers Stadium is the most overrated ground in the SANFL. Dilapidated facilities, crumbling terraces, no decent vantage points, disgraceful lighting, terrible catering...do I need to go any further. Coopers Stadium is in desperate need of major capital work, more so than most other grounds.

Some people need to get their heads out of the sand.

[Wedgie]

I dont know, maybe I have young eye sight and am not up to the grumpy old man stage yet, but I have never had a problem with the lights at the Parade or with the dark pockets i keep hearing about.

Agreed, the lights at the Parade despite not being as strong as those at Elizabeth do a better job than the lights at Elizabeth because of the smaller ground, all the players of various teams (including Centrals) attest to that too.
The Parade's scoreboard doesn't even need a portable torch to be able to see it like the dodgy effort at Elizabeth.

Norwood's a great spot to watch footy if you know where to go (ie are a regular SANFL fan).
I do admit its lacking as far as kids go though and I miss the grass that used to be behind the Northern goals, still can't work out why anyone would ever go to the southern end besides wanting to get to the pie cart quickly.

[Brucetiki]

The Parade's scoreboard doesn't even need a portable torch to be able to see it like the dodgy effort at Elizabeth.

Centrals now have proper lighting on its scoreboard for night games. I admit last years effort at lighting the scoreboard were ordinary at best but it's much, much better this year.

[NFC]

Spot on ZIP ZAP thats one venue i do not attend anymore especially at night.

There are far too many feral leg supporters as well who luv to have a bit of a biffo, give it a wide berth.

Wooooooooooooofffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So when the Dogs play at Norwood Oval you just don't attend because of a vendetta you have against the venue?

That's pretty pathetic if you ask me.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Pretty hard to expect walk up service and 30 sec piss stops when there's a crowd of over 7,000. On the occaisions I've been there with crowds half that size I haven't had too much of a problem. Simple answer is that all night games should be played at Adelaide Oval where the facilities are better for both players and spectators... Agreed though that if Norwood want to keep hosting these 'blockbuster' games, they need to start upgrading quite a few areas.

[southee]

Wow, I thought 7227 people there was fantastic for the SANFL.
I think its pretty petty to complain.
Wish we had that many at our games.

[Wedgie]

The Parade's scoreboard doesn't even need a portable torch to be able to see it like the dodgy effort at Elizabeth.

Centrals now have proper lighting on its scoreboard for night games. I admit last years effort at lighting the scoreboard were ordinary at best but it's much, much better this year.

If their oval lighting was sufficient they wouldn't require extra scoreboard lighting.
As I'll never go there ever again since I witnessed the torch on scoreboard effort the amateur dark effort in a dinghy neighbourhood will be the only way I'll remember the place.

PS 7000 people from the Northern suburbs will always rock up whilst its dark, add some decent lights to the place and they'll scatter like cockroaches!

[RustyCage]

I dont know, maybe I have young eye sight and am not up to the grumpy old man stage yet, but I have never had a problem with the lights at the Parade or with the dark pockets i keep hearing about.

Agreed, the lights at the Parade despite not being as strong as those at Elizabeth do a better job than the lights at Elizabeth because of the smaller ground, all the players of various teams (including Centrals) attest to that too.
The Parade's scoreboard doesn't even need a portable torch to be able to see it like the dodgy effort at Elizabeth.

Norwood's a great spot to watch footy if you know where to go (ie are a regular SANFL fan).
I do admit its lacking as far as kids go though and I miss the grass that used to be behind the Northern goals, still can't work out why anyone would ever go to the southern end besides wanting to get to the pie cart quickly.

The thing that annoys me the most with the Parade is why the hell did they block off the gate next to the RSL? Did the Churchys across the road complain about the noise or something, or worse, the residents?