NORTH OBJECT TO POKIES APPLICATION

[Ronnie]

A mate of mine told me yesterday that North Adelaide has lodged an objection to a new gaming venue being set up at Oakden by Adelaide United.
This would be an incredible irony considering the heated public debate surrounding a number of SANFL club's being targeted in this way by rival venues, and the understandable public sympathy that flowed the way of SANFL clubs as a result.
It wasn't that long ago that the Northern Tavern gave North plenty of anguish, simliar to what the Highlander are currently doing to Norwood, and what the Cremorne threatened to do to Sturt before the dog's got unleashed.
Hopefully my mate has his wires crossed, but as i haven't heard of this story before perhaps other's can fill in the details.
if true I don't think any SANFL club will be in a position to take the high moral ground ever again.
Who would Nick Xenophon represent in this case?

[Wedgie]

A mate of mine told me yesterday that North Adelaide has lodged an objection to a new gaming venue being set up at Oakden by Adelaide United.

Nah, you've definately heard wrong, as far as I know it only Adelaide City out there.

[drebin]

We have objected - why not we spent a bloody fortune on legal fees during our battles at Sefton Park then had to buy our objectors in the end - which turned out to be a great strategic move. Seriously it is on the grounds of social impact, too many pokies in that area will reduce our income!

[westside]

If it's Adelaide City that wants to open this pokie lounge then my support is behind North.

If it's Adelaide United on the other hand, then North can get stuffed.

Oh and social consequences blah blah etc.

[Wedgie]

We actually had a conversation about this a few days ago on the Norwood forum:

DJB: I read with interest in the local Messenger that the North Adelaide Football Club have objected to a liquor and gaming licence application from the Adelaide City Soccer Club. They want to establish a facility at their Oakden (the old RAMS site on Fosters Road) headquarters. This is a similar distance from Norths facility at Greenacres Football Club as the Highlander is from Norwoods proposed site.

North have trotted out the same tired objections that the Highlander have and ironically the Northern Tavern did to North a year or two ago.

Now, NAFC have spent quite substancial monies doing up the Greenaces FC to be quite an impressive facility and turned it into a profitable business so naturally they are looking to protect their investment. No issue for me - perfect business sense.

But isnt this exactly what the Highlander are doing? And this is exactly what I would expect NFC to do if we get our premises up and running and then someone else wanted to 'move-in' down or accross the road.

So all of our actions are based on our own selfish interests.

Wedgie: The only problem with that is "perfect business sense" or not wanting competition is not a legal reason to try and stop pokies establishments.

But you're probably right to agree on who to blame, perhaps the Northern previous, the NAFC and the Highlander shouldn't be able to hide under different legislations such as the "social impact" rule when its quite obvious they're not interested in the social impact just the competition. Perhaps we should be blaming the government for allowing club/pubs to hypocritically use this law to their advantage?

DJB: Absolutely 100% correct Wedgie.

I think it would be irresponsible of North not to use the same legislation and maximise its profits, I know I'd be dirty on the club if they just let competition enter the area willy nilly whilst the current laws exist.

And even though Adelaide City is a club with heart, sould and history unlike Adelaide United I say "stuff 'em", its only soccer, its not as though its a real sport anyway!


Seriously though, at North, we're all concerned with the social impact on residents out Greenacres/Oakden way.

[drebin]

It is Adelaide City and the social stuff is deadset true Still would your club want nearby competition if you spent $1.2M setting a place up after doing months of feasability surveys and establishing very good trade and income?

[westside]

Well if it's the Adelaide City Farce then good luck North, and my condolences to all those struggling people in that northern area suburb place thingy.

[Punk Rooster]

As I don't follow soccer, why wouldn't they have the Pokies at Hindmarsh Stadium?

[Wedgie]

As I don't follow soccer, why wouldn't they have the Pokies at Hindmarsh Stadium?

Adelaide City don't play at Hindmarsh (except for maybe the occasional final), don't have a social club at Hindmarsh, don't have an office at Hindmarsh and in fact don't have anything to do with Hindmarsh.
It'd be like asking why North don't have Pokies at Football Park.

[Punk Rooster]

As I don't follow soccer, why wouldn't they have the Pokies at Hindmarsh Stadium?

Adelaide City don't play at Hindmarsh (except for maybe the occasional final), don't have a social club at Hindmarsh, don't have an office at Hindmarsh and in fact don't have anything to do with Hindmarsh.
It'd be like asking why North don't have Pokies at Football Park.

Fair enough. So Adelaide City didn't disband, they just got kicked out of the comp, & replaced by Adelaide United?

[Wedgie]

Fair enough. So Adelaide City didn't disband, they just got kicked out of the comp, & replaced by Adelaide United?

Wel yeah, kind of, in a lot of the old NSL days you'd get put down a division like the English comp and West Adelaide (hellas) alternated between the NSL and the SA Div 1.
Adelaide City are now back in Div 1 after Gordon Pickard pulled his $$ from them. Long story but it doesn't matter in the wash up as the new A League that replaced the NSL weren't interested in having clubs with loyal fans and history, they wanted to attract the theatre goers and its worked a treat, I can't blame them though as that's where the $$ are.

[BM]

Interesting stuff. What about the SAAFL clubs that were established well before North moved to Grand North (which is in Northfield not Greenacres) Gepps (less than 1km away), Pooraka, Gaza. The impact on these venues was not given a second thought. Protecting an investment or greedy?

[drebin]

Did those clubs object to North's application? No - so ask yourself why not. Gepps Cross is the closest club - you can't count Gaza or Pooraka as there are closer other licenced venues near those clubs. Interesting that the Bridgeway (which is very close by) didn't object because the owner Greg Fahey was involved on the feasability committee re North's move. If anyone was to object it would be him and his business nearby. It is a co-operative world these days: We own a pub (The Northern) and another of his pub's, the Hamstead is a very generous sponsor of the NAFC. North hold away game after match presentations there. Does it worry the NAFC that it's supporters, members and players drink, eat and play the pokies there - No! The club have more than enough business at the Northern and the NAFC want to keep it removed to a degree from being associated with the NAFC (plus it is not quite big enough to house Football functions).

[Ian]

Protecting an investment or greedy?

Doing what is best for the club, and it's long term financial survival.

[Ronnie]

I hope North reconsider this approach, it's a pretty cynical move and deserves the same level of contempt as was justifiably heaped on Northern Tavern, Cremorne etc.
Whatever happened to giving sporting clubs a go?. That was basically North's motto when the row with the Northern Tavern blew up a few years ago.
Whether North pursue this or not maybe the legislation needs to be tightened up a bit to stop these objections, which are based on nothing more than selfish financial considerations. It's not up to a footy club as to how many pokie venues should be in their catchment area, legitimate competition is part of living in a free enterprise democracy.
The ill feeling generated by all this isn't worth it surely, because unless there is something bascically dodgy in the planning application, it will get through. All this will do is delay proceedings, and before we know it the soccer fraternity will be looking to do a march down Grand Junction Road with their signs and placards. Maybe they could borrow a few of those signs from North.

[stan]

I have one question. What were you expecting Ronnie???

Would you believe that North would be so very kind and not object. Come on North are just like any other pub, they will protect there income. Although its dissapointing that Adelaide United will have these sorts of problems, but thats life.

[MatteeG]

[Wedgie]

I have one question. What were you expecting Ronnie???

Would you believe that North would be so very kind and not object. Come on North are just like any other pub, they will protect there income. Although its dissapointing that Adelaide United will have these sorts of problems, but thats life.

It's ADELAIDE CITY!!!!

[stan]

I have one question. What were you expecting Ronnie???

Would you believe that North would be so very kind and not object. Come on North are just like any other pub, they will protect there income. Although its dissapointing that Adelaide United will have these sorts of problems, but thats life.

It's ADELAIDE CITY!!!!

SOOOOOORRRRRRRRRYYYYYYY

[Wedgie]

SOOOOOORRRRRRRRRYYYYYYY

he he I forgive you. Just remember one is black and white where the other is red!