GF Venue change on the agenda

[smac]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 46,00.html

It appears the SANFL are actually using the polls on their new website to listen to the fans and are considering a move of the GF to Adelaide Oval from as early as 2009. Would be a great day out I reckon.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Provided that the GF is contested between Central and Eagles, then yes good idea. Having the same teams contest the GF year after year gets a bit stale among footy followers.

A different combo of teams will generate more interest IMO and AO will overflow.

What would a Central v North GF attract this year? North fans will be there in abundance as they havent been there for a while.

Anyone got the attendance for the 2002 GF?

Keep it at AAMI I reckon.

[smac]

Provided that the GF is contested between Central and Eagles, then yes good idea. Having the same teams contest the GF year after year gets a bit stale among footy followers.

A different combo of teams will generate more interest IMO and AO will overflow.

What would a Central v North GF attract this year? North fans will be there in abundance as they havent been there for a while.

Anyone got the attendance for the 2002 GF?

Keep it at AAMI I reckon.

People keep saying all that stuff HBT, but other clubs rarely step up when it counts!

Capacity at AO will be increased next year, I am not sure to what level though. Even if they sneak it up to 35k, that should cover most crowd combinations nowadays.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Provided that the GF is contested between Central and Eagles, then yes good idea. Having the same teams contest the GF year after year gets a bit stale among footy followers.

A different combo of teams will generate more interest IMO and AO will overflow.

What would a Central v North GF attract this year? North fans will be there in abundance as they havent been there for a while.

Anyone got the attendance for the 2002 GF?

Keep it at AAMI I reckon.

People keep saying all that stuff HBT, but other clubs rarely step up when it counts!

Capacity at AO will be increased next year, I am not sure to what level though. Even if they sneak it up to 35k, that should cover most crowd combinations nowadays.

Just feel that its a bit of a knee jerk reaction due to lower crowds in the GF in the last few years. Norwood v Port 1997, Port v Sturt 1998 and Port v Norwood 1999, Footy Park was full and both SA AFL teams existed. What has changed?
Perhaps the money the SANFL will have to pay SACA for hosting the GF is better spent on promoting the SANFL GF a little better than they have been.

[once_were_warriors]

Need to keep it at Footy Park as there will be years ahead when the crowds will be back around 40000.

I have to agree that crowds would be low if the Eagles,South or West are involved in a GF due to supporter numbers being low for these clubs.

But generally speaking I don't think that it is a poor representation of the SANFL as a whole if the crowds are around 25K-30K for a GF , still excellent participation.

Grand Final is all about the best two clubs for that year , crowd numbers is purely a secondary matter.

[Dirko]

Adelaide Oval for mine. Football Park is a hole...
Nothing beats a big crowd at Adelaide, easy to get too, good viewing, if they got the catering and beer up to scratch it'd be even better...

[darley16]

Hang on, who built and paid for Football Park, we did, that is all our clubs, these 9 wonderful clubs that we all still support should have their ONE day for the 2 best teams of any year to play there. Adelaide Oval is nice, sure, but it's SACA, our clubs are SANFL who own and built footy park, therefore our SANFL grand final should always be plyed there, regardless of crowd numbers. Take away this ONE day and it poorly reflects further demise of this great comp.

[MightyEagles]

If the GF was at Adelaide Oval, there will be less chance that the Central end-2-enders can move to each end.

[woodwt]

Never agree with moving the GF

Its our ground ( sanfl ) its not just for crows and power

Total crap!

[evaneagle]

While I think holding the lead-up games at Adelaide Oval has been a great move, please don't move the GF.

Once crowds get over the 20,000 mark at Adelaide Oval the comfort becomes an issue.

At Footy Park 50,000 can be seated with a good view.

We should be striving for crowds between 30,000 & 40,000 and to do this the game should be played at the home of football.

[JK]

I'm really torn on this one, as the so-called premier stadium in the state (and being SANFL owned) I think it should stay where it is ... If my team were to make a GF and you asked me which ground I would prefer to watch it at, I'd say Adelaide Oval.

[Sojourner]

If the Grand Final is moved, then it is time to put the site of Football Park on the market. If SANFL clubs cannot play on the ground that we worked so hard to build then it needs to go.

Yes we make a stack of money from the hire of Football Park, we would make a significantly bigger stack more by subdividing and even going joint venture with a developer. Funds which could be invested and perpetually generate more interest for the SANFL than the current dividends provided by both the Crows & Power.

[LBJ8]

Adel oval will hold 40,000 when they finish the members stand i think, i really don't think you would get many more to a gf no matter who is playing now, would be a great atmosphere and a lot better than 30,000-35,000 at footy park imho.

[cennals05]

I hate the idea. The finals I've watched at Adelaide Oval have lacked atmosphere. It feels like any other suburban oval. Keep it at Football Park.

[Mickyj]

What a load of rubbish keep it at footy park.We built the oval for the sanfl the others can get stuffed.
And I'm waiting to have a home game at footy park in heritage week.

[Rucciangelo]

Great idea, in fact an even better one would be the immediate implementation of land acquisition close to the CBD of Adelaide and the construction of a 40k seat all weather sports venue, a la Telstra Dome. Let's make that happen and have it ready for season 2010!
Leave Adelaide Oval for Cricket and other events.
Future vision is required for this city of great but unrealised potential!

[Hondo]

I think the SANFL's showcase game of the year should be played at a Football ground, not a cricket oval

AAMI Stadium for mine - it has to be there surely

[Mr66]

Anyone got the attendance for the 2002 GF?

35,187 witnessed a glorious day.

[smac]

Anyone got the attendance for the 2002 GF?

35,187 witnessed a glorious day.

What was the attendance at the start of the game, Vs start of second half?

[Magpies_Forever]

I like the idea of Adelaide oval for finals only becasue Football park is not used for the SANFL anymore. I would like to see a few games there each year even if they need to be double headers. Why not have a double or even triple header there when the AFl teams have their week off. or even play a friday night match when the power or crows don't play until sunday. if this happened then i would like the Grand Final keeped at Football Park.