Extreme disappointment with the Parade

[zipzap]

Honestly, how overrated is the Parade as a night time venue? Takes upwards of half an hour to get a drink. At times it can take 1/2 that to line up for a piss in toilets that would make a Guantanemo Bay prisoner blush. 20 minutes at the BBQ line. 10 minutes to get out at the end from a tiny little exit point. If you ever actually get to watch any footy you can't actually see anything from the hill beyond half way because the lights are very ordinary at best. Twice I've been there this year with a large crowd and both times it has buckled under the pressure. And don't come back with criticisms of Unley Oval - I'd take that with its limitations any day.

[Rik E Boy]

soft!

[Aerie]

Honestly, how overrated is the Parade as a night time venue? Takes upwards of half an hour to get a drink. At times it can take 1/2 that to line up for a piss in toilets that would make a Guantanemo Bay prisoner blush. 20 minutes at the BBQ line. 10 minutes to get out at the end from a tiny little exit point. If you ever actually get to watch any footy you can't actually see anything from the hill beyond half way because the lights are very ordinary at best. Twice I've been there this year with a large crowd and both times it has buckled under the pressure. And don't come back with criticisms of Unley Oval - I'd take that with its limitations any day.

Just to fill you in on the footy zipzap - your team won.

[zipzap]

Intelligent responses guys, forget I mentioned it.

[heater31]

jeez zip, you must have had a bad night as I didn't experience any of those problems the only one I had was it is shit to watch football in the pocket all game could not see a thing

[BPBRB]

You can't compare the Parade at night to Unley during the day. As North supporter I would rather play at Norwood than the "playground" anytime. Seriously zip zap you complain about the catering at Nwd which is right up the top in terms of choice and numbers of outlets plus the toilets are good and art least they have decent ones located all over the ground. There were 7K plus there last night so maybe you should wait until the Sturt bandwagon breaks down so you can be more comfortably catered for with a much smaller crowd.

How do you think Unley would go with that sort of crowd? You wouldn't fit them in to the half sized facilities. As for the catering at Unley - the last time I was there it was deplorable as were the toilet situation.

You must must be bloody hard to please to start this thread?

[JK]

Zippy, whilst I don't think you're necessarily comparing apples for apples, you do touch on some valid points ... This was the clubs opportunity to finally get it right in terms of catering after a disappointing experience in the season's opening game and IMHO they failed, and I'll certainly be telling them all about it.

The beer line on Coopers Hill whilst long, did actually move at a fairly reasonable pace, and I don't have concerns about the lighting in terms of viewing (granted they could could be greatly improved) ... The food issue was another matter though - woeful waiting times and poor quality, certainly from the canteen we ventured to, won't be making that mistake again!!

PS: Congrats on your win mate, you guys will be playing deep into the season.

[JamesH]

I would consider Norwood the second best Oval (after Woodville.... which is way ahead of the rest) to watch footy. Norwood Oval, with its features and heritage, are one of the many things that make the SANFL a great competition.

I admit the toilets are bad.... but they are no worse than most SANFL ovals.

[MST]

Zippy, whilst I don't think you're necessarily comparing apples for apples, you do touch on some valid points ... This was the clubs opportunity to finally get it right in terms of catering after a disappointing experience in the season's opening game and IMHO they failed, and I'll certainly be telling them all about it.

The beer line on Coopers Hill whilst long, did actually move at a fairly reasonable pace, and I don't have concerns about the lighting in terms of viewing (granted they could could be greatly improved) ... The food issue was another matter though - woeful waiting times and poor quality, certainly from the canteen we ventured to, won't be making that mistake again!!

PS: Congrats on your win mate, you guys will be playing deep into the season.

Thanks CP for giving an intelligent, rounded response to Zippy's points of criticism. Some of his gripes do have some basis, ie, the time it takes to line up for a feed and a brew and you answered them all with a balanced viewpoint.

BPBRB, you could take a leaf out of CP's book instead of your continual barrage of dribble towards anything and everything Double blue. Seriously mate, just because someone has a few points to make, whether you agree with them or not, does not give you licence to attack the SFC with the same, repetitive old "Playground" and "Bandwagon" lines that have become oh so BORING!!

8 wins - 3 Losses and playing some seriously good footy.

End of rant.

[SDK]

Well Zip Zap I am a fanatical Norwood supporter and I agree with you 100% about the food and beer....I posted on the Norwood website earlier and am so pxxxxxed off about this hapening again after the first game when management promised it would not happen again.
It has nothing to do with the ground it the the bloody people who run it !
Congratulations your guys played well and deserved the win.

[zipzap]

Cheers to those that actually read my post as constructive criticism rather than just having an anti-Norwood bitch. The fact we won hopefully means I am not a whinging supporter with a case of sour grapes.

Bagging Unley Oval is a pathetic response too. We know it is makeshift, we know it has limitations. But nor does it have pretensions to being called a 'Stadium' or to be the premier SANFL night venue as the Parade does. I'm not trying to compare them in any way. If someone wants to start another thread about Unley oval, go for it.

I'm not spoilt, I'm not expecting hospitality tents and laid on service. But lining up in huge beer lines (while missing the game) is appalling, and reflects very poorly on the major sponsor I would have thought. Beer on tap is great but if it takes twice as long to get served maybe that needs a rethink for the big games. And Drebin, if you reckon the food at NFC is worth missing the footy for then you clearly don't eat out much. It's twice as quick to get a pass out of the ground and go to the Vilis van than it is to buy food inside. Ridiculous.

The lights at the Parade have long been criticised - it's not like I'm saying anything new. Standing on the hill, it's amazing observing those around you to watch how the conversation drifts and attention drops when the ball disappears in a haze up the other end. People all around were commenting all night on how rubbish the view is due to the lights. It's a pretty common perception.

Believe it or not I actually love the idea of going to the Parade - standing on the hill with some mates, great atmos, Pale Ale on tap - what could be better? But the reality is sadly different. The fact someone did a blue vein cheese vomit / poo in the toilets near the bar could have influenced things somewhat. Man, anyone who claims I am soft would take that back if they had to venture in there last night!

[fester69]

Bandwagon supporters whose home ground is a playground full of dogshit! Put on your tweed jacket, get in your Volvo and go to mother and fathers for a cucumber sandwich!

[zipzap]

Bandwagon supporters whose home ground is a playground full of dogshit! Put on your tweed jacket, get in your Volvo and go to mother and fathers for a cucumber sandwich!

[fester69]

And maybe learn to laugh at yourself in the process!

[youngster]

Bandwagon supporters whose home ground is a playground full of dogshit! Put on your tweed jacket, get in your Volvo and go to mother and fathers for a cucumber sandwich!

[Rik E Boy]

Bandwagon supporters whose home ground is a playground full of dogshit! Put on your tweed jacket, get in your Volvo and go to mother and fathers for a cucumber sandwich!

LMAO. I'm going to have to use that one.

regards,

REB

[topsywaldron]

And maybe learn to laugh at yourself in the process!

ZipZap sounds like the kind of guy you really want to hang out at the footy with. No laughs and an endless litany of quibbles about the amenities and barkeeps. Fun times.

[Apachebulldog]

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rik E Boy]

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAA. Love you wallflower Centrals fans. Pot. Kettle. Black. Don't leave Lizbeff anyway.

regards,

REB

[SnappyTom]

Bandwagon supporters whose home ground is a playground full of dogshit! Put on your tweed jacket, get in your Volvo and go to mother and fathers for a cucumber sandwich!

LMAO. I'm going to have to use that one.

regards,

REB

Of course you are, REB - just hang it around your neck!