Norwood Financial Update

[Dogwatcher]

It'd be nice if Norwood could find some money to do up their home ground a bit.
It's getting quite dated.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

It'd be nice if Norwood could find some money to do up their home ground a bit.
It's getting quite dated.

Dated? Explain please. Which other oval should Norwood aspire to?

[Dogwatcher]

I think its terraces could certainly be tidied up.
Maybe a more formal standing area near the bars (might alleviate issues between drinkers).
Move the BBQ from in front of the grandstand - looks terrible and there's food services area behind anyway. Would make more room.
Walkways around the oval could be a little better and less cluttered. Something could also be down with the lighting tower on the eastern side (at ground level - it looks terrible with all of that barbed wire around it). An advertiser or club sponsor could get very good value out of that tower and it would be less of an eyesore.

Please don't think this is an attack on your club. I just think the ammenities for spectators in the outer could be a little better.

[BPBRB]

I think its terraces could certainly be tidied up.
Maybe a more formal standing area near the bars (might alleviate issues between drinkers).
Move the BBQ from in front of the grandstand - looks terrible and there's food services area behind anyway. Would make more room.
Walkways around the oval could be a little better and less cluttered. Something could also be down with the lighting tower on the eastern side (at ground level - it looks terrible with all of that barbed wire around it). An advertiser or club sponsor could get very good value out of that tower and it would be less of an eyesore.

Please don't think this is an attack on your club. I just think the ammenities for spectators in the outer could be a little better.

I agree with your points dw but there are other grounds that need improvements on various degrees. Prospect from my point of view does need lot's of improvement but all going well with negotiations with the Council it shouldn't be too far away that money gets spent and the facilities as far as spectators go will be improved signifanctly as well as a good old clean up and face lift.

Elizabeth is hardly a "jewel in the crown" as far as facilities go so I would be keen to hear your thoughts on what needs doing out there?

[Dogwatcher]

Hey BP, did you have something to say?

[BPBRB]

Hey BP, did you have something to say?

sorry don't know what happened but have edited now what I wanted to post originally

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Thanks dw, my point is that how is it any worse than club's ovals that have been rolling in cash for some time?
In the last 5 years or so Norwood has upgraded the coopers hill outlet, built the coopers corner facility, upgraded the northern entrance and upgraded the changerooms. Probably at none or little cost to the club but at least its progress.
As for amenities, the one in the outer is pretty bad but the other 3 toilets are ok.

[Dogwatcher]

I agree with your points dw but there are other grounds that need improvements on various degrees. Prospect from my point of view does need lot's of improvement but all going well with negotiations with the Council it shouldn't be too far away that money gets spent and the facilities as far as spectators go will be improved signifanctly as well as a good old clean up and face lift.

Elizabeth is hardly a "jewel in the crown" as far as facilities go so I would be keen to hear your thoughts on what needs doing out there?

I haven't been to Prospect for ages. I can't really comment- except to say if nothing's been done since I was last there, then something probably should be by now.

To me Elizabeth could probably have its lights upgraded slightly - not as much as others would say though. Maybe for night games - lighting on the hills could be better (maybe remove some of that 'fear factor')
I think the terraces on the train track side could be cleared slightly - to allow a better walkway.
As far as I can say the high school side of the oval is pretty good. lots of space, wide terraces near the fence.
Apart from that I can't think of too much else - I reckon it's a pretty good venue to watch at, park your car and get to.

[doggies4eva]

I think its terraces could certainly be tidied up.
Maybe a more formal standing area near the bars (might alleviate issues between drinkers).
Move the BBQ from in front of the grandstand - looks terrible and there's food services area behind anyway. Would make more room.
Walkways around the oval could be a little better and less cluttered. Something could also be down with the lighting tower on the eastern side (at ground level - it looks terrible with all of that barbed wire around it). An advertiser or club sponsor could get very good value out of that tower and it would be less of an eyesore.

Please don't think this is an attack on your club. I just think the ammenities for spectators in the outer could be a little better.

I agree with your points dw but there are other grounds that need improvements on various degrees. Prospect from my point of view does need lot's of improvement but all going well with negotiations with the Council it shouldn't be too far away that money gets spent and the facilities as far as spectators go will be improved signifanctly as well as a good old clean up and face lift.

Elizabeth is hardly a "jewel in the crown" as far as facilities go so I would be keen to hear your thoughts on what needs doing out there?

The Council promised to build another grandstand when the club first made the finals. That was 1971 and we are still waiting.

[BPBRB]

I think its terraces could certainly be tidied up.
Maybe a more formal standing area near the bars (might alleviate issues between drinkers).
Move the BBQ from in front of the grandstand - looks terrible and there's food services area behind anyway. Would make more room.
Walkways around the oval could be a little better and less cluttered. Something could also be down with the lighting tower on the eastern side (at ground level - it looks terrible with all of that barbed wire around it). An advertiser or club sponsor could get very good value out of that tower and it would be less of an eyesore.

Please don't think this is an attack on your club. I just think the ammenities for spectators in the outer could be a little better.

I agree with your points dw but there are other grounds that need improvements on various degrees. Prospect from my point of view does need lot's of improvement but all going well with negotiations with the Council it shouldn't be too far away that money gets spent and the facilities as far as spectators go will be improved signifanctly as well as a good old clean up and face lift.

Elizabeth is hardly a "jewel in the crown" as far as facilities go so I would be keen to hear your thoughts on what needs doing out there?

The Council promised to build another grandstand when the club first made the finals. That was 1971 and we are still waiting.

I think you hit the nail on the head as most clubs have council issues etc to get around and I know North are reluctant to pour money into what is essentially someone else's asset. If we other clubs could just have the 99 year @ 1 dollar deal South got but not every club has the Premier as a Supporter .

If North were smarter then they could have done a deal with Bannon when he was premier years ago - a bit more "lost money" in the State Bank fiasco would not have been noticed!

[Dogwatcher]

Hmmmm...Mr Rann's electorate is partly in our zone isn't it????

As for a new grandstand at Elizabeth, I don't think it's necessary.

[Grahaml]

Any former Norwood players possibly in their last AFL season?

Scott Burns?!

That said (and it's a safe bet we wouldn't say no to Burns), the way to get people through the gates is to be winning games, not to buy high-profile players. People went to the Parade en masse to see Tredrea because it was a one-off chance to see an AFL champ playing local footy. He wouldn't add 100 to the crowd week-in, week-out if he's playing full-time for PAMFC in 5 years' time, unless he could contribute to Port being on top of the ladder.

If Norwood has plenty of cash for recruiting in 2008, we want to pick up blokes who really perform on the park, rather than names. Blokes like Kieran McGuinness and... gulp... Ian Callinan.

Great news for the NFC and its future, if anything like the numbers being talked about, are true. Kudos to all of those involved.

It's amazing the fillip a top former player gives to an SANFL club. The leadership they provide alone is gold. Not to mention the contacts for possible recruits as well as the extra credibility they give to the club from an interstater's point of view.

[smac]

I think its terraces could certainly be tidied up.
Maybe a more formal standing area near the bars (might alleviate issues between drinkers).
Move the BBQ from in front of the grandstand - looks terrible and there's food services area behind anyway. Would make more room.
Walkways around the oval could be a little better and less cluttered. Something could also be down with the lighting tower on the eastern side (at ground level - it looks terrible with all of that barbed wire around it). An advertiser or club sponsor could get very good value out of that tower and it would be less of an eyesore.

Please don't think this is an attack on your club. I just think the ammenities for spectators in the outer could be a little better.

I agree with your points dw but there are other grounds that need improvements on various degrees. Prospect from my point of view does need lot's of improvement but all going well with negotiations with the Council it shouldn't be too far away that money gets spent and the facilities as far as spectators go will be improved signifanctly as well as a good old clean up and face lift.

Elizabeth is hardly a "jewel in the crown" as far as facilities go so I would be keen to hear your thoughts on what needs doing out there?

The Council promised to build another grandstand when the club first made the finals. That was 1971 and we are still waiting.

I think you hit the nail on the head as most clubs have council issues etc to get around and I know North are reluctant to pour money into what is essentially someone else's asset. If we other clubs could just have the 99 year @ 1 dollar deal South got but not every club has the Premier as a Supporter .

If North were smarter then they could have done a deal with Bannon when he was premier years ago - a bit more "lost money" in the State Bank fiasco would not have been noticed!

The club certainly hasn't been sitting back waiting on council to help though - they are doing stuff themselves to keep progressing toward the objective (world domination I believe ). New canteen/bbq, 2 upgraded kiosks, player facilities upgrade (which continues) and considerable work on maintenance of the whole complex.

I think the key is a cooperative relationship with the council that the concil also enjoy. This makes the club more likely to spend their own cash at times rather than 'dig the heals in' as appears to be the case with North. It's a shame as the facilities at North could be upgraded to a level that would stop all bitching for a reasonably low cost (can't speak for player facilities, haven't been under the stand to the change rooms for many years). Kiosk/bar upgrades/building are reasonably low cost, as would be fixing the dunnies.

[Squawk]

A few points:

Norwood u/17s have trained at Golden Grove for 3 or so years now - so work is going in to that area.
The new pokies venue at Gilles Plains is a commercial venture rather than a "Norwood Football Club" expansion away from the Parade.
HBT and SMAC have correctly pointed out a number of improvements that have occurred recently. Also, aluminium bleachers from footy park are being installed at the Northern end at the moment.
The eastern light tower does have sponsorship signs - BigStar for one.
As for the shithouses, they could certainly be improved but seriously Centurion, if you go to the footy and need a Thomas Crapper you need to stop having baked beans for breaky on a Saturday morning! Lets not forget the ladies needs tho...
All up I think our ground is pretty good in service terms with a lot of options for food/drink all the way around the ground. At other grounds these services are pretty much limited to the grandstand sides.

[BPBRB]

A few points:

Norwood u/17s have trained at Golden Grove for 3 or so years now - so work is going in to that area.
The new pokies venue at Gilles Plains is a commercial venture rather than a "Norwood Football Club" expansion away from the Parade.
HBT and SMAC have correctly pointed out a number of improvements that have occurred recently. Also, aluminium bleachers from footy park are being installed at the Northern end at the moment.
The eastern light tower does have sponsorship signs - BigStar for one.
As for the shithouses, they could certainly be improved but seriously Centurion, if you go to the footy and need a Thomas Crapper you need to stop having baked beans for breaky on a Saturday morning! Lets not forget the ladies needs tho...
All up I think our ground is pretty good in service terms with a lot of options for food/drink all the way around the ground. At other grounds these services are pretty much limited to the grandstand sides.

Good summary squawk and I agree the catering at Norwood is very good interms of being right around the ground. Now if they would only sell Bundy cans at the bars!

[SDK]

The Council refused to fund the Southern Stand renovation and other problems were apparent.
But the main reason this did not go ahead was the members stood up and said no !!!! To move the pokies a matter of metres where they failed to attract custom and spend millions to do it was financial suicide. The Norwood Parade is saturated with pokies....thank God we stopped that disaster.
Now the wheel has turned and hopefully we have a good money maker like Wedgies mob.
The days of building grandeose clubrooms used 9 times a year are gone...the expenditure does not produce enough income. I would love to see the eyesore RSL Club developed.....a joint venture as a watering hole. A bit like Woodville...watching the football as you have a few jars.
Anyway we are on the way again so look out !

[topsywaldron]

But the main reason this did not go ahead was the members stood up and said no !!!!

At least that board put themselves up for election every so often.

[mal]

This might be right

NORWOOD COMMUNITY CLUB

PURCHASED FOR$900,000
SOLD FOR..........$5.4 MILLION
PROFIT...............$4.5 MILLION

[JK]

This might be right

NORWOOD COMMUNITY CLUB

PURCHASED FOR$900,000
SOLD FOR..........$5.4 MILLION
PROFIT...............$4.5 MILLION

Wouldn't think thats too far off the mark Malcolm

[doggies4eva]

This thread makes me recall a radio interview I heard recently. It was with the CEO of the Melbourne Football Club. He said that he key responsibility was to run an effective business, to make sure that there was adequate cashflow and long term viability. When he was asked where did on-ground performance fit in to that he said that it would take care of itself - or his football manager would but his objective was just to provide the budget and financial framework to that it was posssible to field a competitive team.

Norwood now have the ability to re-structure themselves. I hope for their sake that they do it with a similar philosophy to that as stated above.