Fans deserve better at Brookvale Oval
Roar Guru By Curtis Woodward, 24 Jul 2012 Curtis Woodward is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger
- Tagged:
- Canterbury Bulldogs, Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, Rugby League
Related coverage
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles have plenty going for them on the field. The club has won two premierships in the last four years and are a chance of defending their crown in 2012.
Unfortunately for them, Brookvale Oval is a hell hole that no man should ever have to enter.
After hearing plenty about the venue over the years, I had to stand on the hill myself and see what all the complaining was about. What better night to check it out than last Friday with the defending premiers battling the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs?
What would make the night even more interesting was the fact that I went to the game with my brother, a huge Manly fan, and a mate who bleeds blue and white.
Getting a park was the first problem. This is not such a big deal when you’re used to going to suburban footy grounds.
$25 for a ticket was a reasonable price to pay for a ticket, considering some of the other prices around the National Rugby League.
Heading into the ground with about thirty minutes to kickoff, you could feel the atmosphere instantly. Both teams were out on the cow paddock Eagles officials call the playing surface and the place was already packed.
We found a spot up on the hill at the northern end of the ground and quickly turned our attention to getting some beverages.
You would expect officials to know they had a game of footy to host and that the beers would be nice and cold. Instead, patrons across the ground were served warm beer at $6 a pop.
Drinking beer at the footy also means having to commute to the bathroom on a regular basis. I quickly found out that going to the toilet at Brookvale Oval meant walking two hundred metres to the outskirts of the ground. There we found an old toilet block.
Getting out of the ground? Lets just say we didn’t get home until midnight.
The only thing saving this whole mess was a wonderful game of footy which the Doggies held on to win.
You have to feel sorry for Manly supporters who live through this every second weekend. They are so used to these atrocious conditions that they don’t know any better.
Eagles fans and visiting fans deserve better. Financially speaking, the big question is, can the Sea Eagles do anything to fix it?
Passionate about your league? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily league email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
- Explore:
- Canterbury Bulldogs, Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, Rugby League
July 24th 2012 @ 12:25am
Johnno said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:25am | Report comment
-pittwatwer rugby park home of warring rugby union club would be so much better location for Manly-warringah i might add rugby league team. Most forget the warring part.
-But rat park is so much better heaps more parking not on the main road like at brookvale on the side, easy for fans on northern beaches to get too.
-Manly oval , you have tennis courts next to it a bit hard to build new stands very congested, rat park would be perfect.
-And sydneysiders me as one of them are couchpotatoes.
-We like things in our own backyard. We work hard all week 9-5 , not to be stuck in traffic on the spit bridge of you live out northern beaches way. I don’t , but i don’t want to be in traffic all weekend, im in it all week.
-Manly vs NTH QLD at allianz or old sfs does not sell plain and simple.
-Neither would cronulla vs Nth QLD at alliance sell if the sharks have to move.
-Sydney is a different city to melbourne, we do not accept travel outside of our little burah. We like community stuff in sydney and keep it local. Brookvales is clogged up the stadium hard to expand , rat park is much better option.
-And away fans don’t travel to brookvale anyway. Notice brookvale oval is 98% manly-warringah.
-Move to rat park at Newport much better option to develop stadium. Or just kick manly out of the comp due to geographic inaccessibility for away fans. There will never be a train line at least for 30 years from northern beaches to city CBD.
July 24th 2012 @ 8:09am
Rabbitz said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:09am | Report comment
First up Johnno, it is Warringah Rugby Club and Rat Park is at Warriewood.
Rat park is used extensively during the winter months, unlike league the rugby competitions have several grades and colts. So on any given weekend Rat park will be used for the Rats Shute Shield graded competitions home games and when the Rats are playing away the colts play at Rat park and visa versa.
This leaves little opportunity for Manly to use the ground. The problem is further complicated given that the NRL offloads its scheduling to a television network and only finds out a couple of weeks before when the games will be held.
Finally, given the location of the Manly Leagues Club is just up the road from Brookvale Oval, and that the procession from the oval to the club is part of the ‘experience’ then moving the games to Warriewood will simply lose patronage for the club and the game.
If Manly want better facilities it is simple. They need to stump up the cash to improve the facilities. Warringah council is essentially broke, the NSW Government shouldn’t be developing single use grounds for local councils and private enterprise, so that leaves the club. It is a simple business problem. Fund better facilities or lose business. Lose too much business and you risk losing your NRL franchise.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:11am
clipper said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:11am | Report comment
The State Government is drastically reducing grants to Local Governments for community and sporting groups, so you would assume there would be no money coming from those quaters. Have the NRL or Manly LC ever come up with a plan that includes a percentage of their own cash?
July 24th 2012 @ 9:16am
Rabbitz said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:16am | Report comment
I have never heard of the NRL, Warringah Council or Manly suggesting they pay for the upgrade.
Most statements have been along the lines of “xyz stadium got money so we should too”.
State and Federal money should never be used to prop up private business models and this is no exception.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:27am
Tigranes said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Rabbitz, the new western sydney soccer team is supposed to be getting federal government funding – ostensibly thats a private business?
July 24th 2012 @ 9:38am
Titus said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:38am | Report comment
The Federal funding is for junior Football development in the west, which includes improvements to the training facilities at Blacktown where the WSW will be based.
The WSW will share facilities with the Eels, whose home ground is government built and sustained, without which the Eels could never afford to play at Parra Stadium.
If Manly can’t afford the upgrade of Brookvale they should consider the SFS, even the AFL can’t afford to keep suburban grounds with one team playing there.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:15am
Tigranes said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Titus has it been confirmed that they will play at Stade de Parra?
I havent been to Brookvale, but I think that its going to be harder and harder for stadiums with just one tenant to keep up the conditions of their stadium. This will effect Panthers (awful stadium), Sharks, Dragons (who have two home grounds!!), Titans, Cowboys as well as Sea Eagles.
Tigers play a few games at Leichardt, but it really is a dump.
In fact the only professional sports team in Australia that owns a home ground (Queensland Reds) doesnt even play there, and hasnt done so for several years.
Of all the AFL teams, only two play at stadiums where they are the sole tenants (GC and GWS), but the AFL has the $$$$ to contribute to these.
July 24th 2012 @ 11:20am
Rabbitz said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:20am | Report comment
As I have said before – They may be receiving Federal or State funding. It doesn’t male it right.
July 24th 2012 @ 12:51pm
Nafe said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Tigraness, I believe Cronulla own their ground. Shark Park is actually quite a decent suburban ground. Kograh Jubalee is also a decent ground to watch footy at. It has been a long time since I have been to Brookie so can’t recall what it is like, and have never been to Lichardt but would love to go there one day.
Its all well and good to bitch and moan about the suburban grounds but the atmosphere at Shark Park, Kograhand Leichardt, would be drematically be better than the SFS and Homebush.
July 24th 2012 @ 6:45am
Robert said | July 24th 2012 @ 6:45am | Report comment
Ive got maroon and white blood and live in Brisbane,and last year finally got to go to Brookvale after 30 years of supporting them,and i tell you im in no hurry to return.For a “National” sporting comp to have a venue like that is a disgrace and the NRL doesnt seem to care.Toilets are like going to a music festival,seating is so cramped and if it rains there is no shelter
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
July 24th 2012 @ 7:23am
oikee said | July 24th 2012 @ 7:23am | Report comment
So what does this tell you. ? The longer the game dillies around wasting time and money on Manly, other cities where real growth can accure, go without.
The council want them out, is this so hard to understand. And your flogging a dead horse trying to grow Manly, spending 10′s of millions on Manly is like throwing money down the gutter.
They dont turn up and they dont travel. This is not Manchester city, this is Manly with 16 thousand to a Sydney Blockbuster.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:31pm
apaway said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Bless you, Oikee, at least you’re consistent. Of course, suggesting the NRL get rid of the reigning premiers and best performing team over the last 6 plus years is just a little delusional…
July 24th 2012 @ 4:00pm
MemberforDobellforCEOofARLC said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
Apaway that somes up Oikee in a nutshell delusional …
July 24th 2012 @ 8:15am
Andrew said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:15am | Report comment
It wouldn’t be a Article about the Sea Eagles without Oikee’s Whinge.
July 24th 2012 @ 8:52am
Christo the Daddyo said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Doesn’t mean he isn’t right…
July 24th 2012 @ 8:55am
eagleJack said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:55am | Report comment
But if oikee gets his wish and Manly are removed from the comp – what will he do all day???
July 24th 2012 @ 8:46pm
mushi said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:46pm | Report comment
He’ll still have my Roosters to kill off. Plus the dinosaurs line when he’s stuck for material.
Oikee’s a triple threat
July 24th 2012 @ 8:48am
eagleJack said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Curtis, you made a number of rookie errors, namely turning up only 30mins before kick-off meaning you couldn’t get a spot in front of the bar on the half-way line. You are then only a stones throw from the toilets at the southern end.
Im a member of the SFS so I know what we are missing out on. But give me a packed Brookie any day of the week. Same with Leichhardt, my other pick of the Sydney grounds. If you think the toilets at Brookie are bad, then I don’t recommend at trip to the inner west!
July 24th 2012 @ 10:35am
Curtis Woodward said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Í still prefer Leichardt oval Brookvale though
July 24th 2012 @ 8:57am
Will Sinclair said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:57am | Report comment
The toilets are bloody terrible, aren’t they?
No idea who designed them. Took about 10 minutes to get in and 15 minutes to get out (as there is – brilliantly – only one entrance/exit.)
July 24th 2012 @ 10:36am
Curtis Woodward said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Feel sorry for some of those kids over there who have only ever been to Brookvale to watch the footy.
July 24th 2012 @ 12:10pm
MemberforDobellforCEOofARLC said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
I feel sorry for kids who thinks real football gets played ANZ and Allianz ! Curtis you are so far off base. If you dont like going to brookvale don’t go. Manly will not move cause of the ownership situation of JANE TRY OVAL the real name of Brookvale.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:00am
jamesb said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:00am | Report comment
I hope in the next 5 years, the NRL or IC do something in regards to Sydneys suburban grounds. Some of them look like they are stuck in the 1970s.
Something has to happen to grounds like Leichhardt, Shark Park, Penrith Stadium, Brookie, Campbelltown and Kogarah. I reckon a couple of grounds should fall by the wayside, while a couple should survive and be upgraded.
One minute your watching a game from AAMI Park in Melbourne. The next your watching a game from Shark Park. I’m sort of thinking, “is this the same competition”
I wish all suburban grounds were like Parramatta Stadium.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:01am
Renegade said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Totally agree!
I’ve been saying that for a long time….all the suburban teams (manly, cronulla, penrith, etc) should have their own version of parramatta stadium – it’s a perfect stadium for regular season games.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:03am
oikee said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Oikee, you can’t just make up things (aka ‘facts’) based on your own opinions. Think before you type. Thanks. Roar Mods.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:12am
Andrew said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Oikee, its not Manly Council that own the Ground, it Warringah Council. and they want to put a couple of Million to the upgrade it but need Fed and State funding as well
you need to get your facts right.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:38am
Curtis Woodward said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Theres a place for suburban grounds in the NRL, some suburban grounds
July 24th 2012 @ 3:57pm
MemberforDobellforCEOofARLC said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
Andrew the Warringah council were granted/donated the land by Jane Try on the condition that they did not charge the community for it’s use !!! This is why Manly will stay there cause 16k at brookie is worth in dollar term quite a lot as they don’t pay rent.
July 25th 2012 @ 8:37am
Andrew said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:37am | Report comment
actually MemberforDobellforCEOofARLC the Sea eagles do pay rent.
July 25th 2012 @ 8:46am
Planko said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Who says the word rent ? You will not find it written down and if it is the council could have problems. It is a condition of the Jane Try’s grant that the oval be rent free. FREE for the community to use. I believe IMO that the Sea Eagles every year need to a % contribute to the up keep of Brookvale but it is not offically called rent. Some may call this rent. Andrew I think we agree but my reason for my reply and comments is to stress that Manly have it pretty cushy on this front. The oval it self is outdated but classic in so many way. Slidding down the back of the hill on a bit of cardboard durring 3rd grade waiting for my uncle to play then getting berrated by my step father to come and watch your uncle. Good times !
July 24th 2012 @ 9:21am
Louise said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Jamesb – every ground you mention except Brookie has received generous funding for upgrades from Federal AND State Governments. Brookie received 6 million from Morris Iemma (State Govt) back in 2008 but unlike all the other clubs nothing from the Feds. If they had kicked in at the same time as Iemma and the local council Brookie could have been transformed. Why doesn’t Brookie receive any funds from the Feds? Because it’s Tony Abbott’s electorate. Labor wouldn’t spend a penny in this seat and when they were in Govt the Libs didn’t bother either. We need an iron clad promise from Abbott that when he’s elected next year he gives Brookie at least $15 million to build more undercover seating.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:28am
Tigranes said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Louise
if a HAL team was based at Brookvale, then this wouldnt be a problem.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:51pm
apaway said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:51pm | Report comment
Tigranes
While that is a good point, none of the other grounds Louise referenced have a HAL club or any other sort of co-tenant.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:29am
Gareth said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:29am | Report comment
The toilets can’t be worse than the ones at “Royal” Randwick, with the half height troughs so you can stare lovingly into a strangers eyes while you both take a slash on opposite sides.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:39am
Curtis Woodward said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
I dont mind as much at Randwick if im up a few hundred
July 24th 2012 @ 11:21am
Midfielder said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Out of left field question .. why is it called an oval when it is a rectangular shape …BTW great place to watch a match has not quite got all the other things some grounds have but I like it…
Okiee before you wanta start a fight have a think what has been spent on Suncorp … how much did the that B team pay…
July 24th 2012 @ 11:45am
Hamish said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Federal/State govts are unlikely to give money when they see adjacent leagues clubs making big money…
July 24th 2012 @ 11:57am
Curtis Woodward said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Leichardt Oval is a rectangle too
July 24th 2012 @ 12:30pm
Rabbitz said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Australia Square is round.
We park on driveways and drive on parkways…
July 24th 2012 @ 5:27pm
Mals said | July 24th 2012 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Mids because the ground was originally a show ground. It was oval in shape. I would post a pic if I knew how.
July 24th 2012 @ 6:22pm
Rabbitz said | July 24th 2012 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
Geez that takes me back…
I remember going to shows there as a little ‘un.
I also remember the timber pavilions mysteriously burning down just before the redevelopment…
July 24th 2012 @ 7:54pm
Liam said | July 24th 2012 @ 7:54pm | Report comment
Like WIN Stadium in Wollongong, Brookie was a Showground and hosted the Brookvale Show for many years with an “Oval” show ring. The ground was redeveloped in the 1970′s and like Leichhardt Oval which was redeveloped at a similar time took on it’s modern rectangular appearance.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:48pm
apaway said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:48pm | Report comment
Mid
It’s actually called Brookvale PARK. It has never been a true oval shape but when I was a school kid our regional athletics carnivals were always held at Brookie. Not sure how they managed to fit a 400m running track around the ground, but the track was an “oval” shape. It was a big deal for us as kids to get to run around on the same ground we watched Eadie, Fulton, Martin, Randall et al play on every second weekend.