AFL grand final set for twilight move

So enunciate an argument against the twilight grand final that isn't based on lies. "missing what going on in the darkness" - what crap

Good luck with that,each to his ownbuddy

You know those 6 giant structures that tower over the MCG and exude a bright shining substance commonly known as “electric light”? Wonderful thing for dispelling the darkness. You’ll actually get a better view of proceedings under lights at 7:30 then you will in the twilight at 5:30 anyway.

Why do they want to keep changing this game?It's bad enough having to put up with Thurs night footy and now they want to change one of the greatest sporting moments in AFL to a twilight game. There is nothing more special than watching footy and atmosphere of the things that are being presented in broad daylight where you can see everything that's happening rather than missing what going on in the darkness.

And the last tradition of the old VFL departs quite literally into the night. I'll be at the Napier Hotel if anyone wants to join in the lamenting...

All this talk of moving the GF venue is just that - talk. The GF is contracted to the mcc @ the G by HQ for 1 - objective money. Fact is we need more 100k stadiums in this country. Look at Adelaide and Perth, can't remember the last time there was a sparce crowd in the home and away. Proof that if they built 100k stadiums then the stands would fill. More seats = more money and that's it. I know it is not fair to have the GF there every year - guess what life isn't fair - blame the money. It's not fair that the AFL is vic centric - blame the money and go watch something else

Not the end of the world, however I would still prefer that they kept it how it is. Nothing to do with tradition, I just prefer watching football during the day. I think that by moving it the day will lose a lot of its unique character and charm. I don't want to see that sacrificed for the sake of tv ratings. Now that it's being changed to twilight the tv networks will want it to moved to a night time slot. I can even see them eventually pushing to have it changed to Sunday night. Oh well, it will mean more $$$ and at the end of the day that's all that really matters.

Proof?

"Only 30k club members get tickets as it is, so no-one will miss out if it’s at a 60k stadium." Like I said, those 30K club members will be the first to miss out. Because the AFL is demonstrating by moving the GF timeslot, the true fan of the game is now more powerless than ever against the corporate dollar.

Currently interstate fans are locked out of Grand Finals unless they are willing to pay extortionate prices for flights and extortionate prices for hotels. Rotating the Grand Final will allow many more people to see a Grand Final at least once in their lives. Only 30k club members get tickets as it is, so no-one will miss out if it's at a 60k stadium. Only corporates who never actually attend regular season games unless it's a networking opportunity in a box.

"Awesome. I’ll tell my frail parents that it’s none of their business to be a live part of their club’s last premiership before they die- the club that they’ve followed loyally for 75 years. All because some tryhard entrepreneur who’s never cared to meet them has decided that a corporate squillionaire and a remote farmer- neither of whom have ever cared about football or ever will- are apparently worth more money and therefore more important to the game." Maybe we should hold the Grand Final at 10am so all the old people can enjoy it. Make sure it finishes before 1pm so they can can have their afternoon nap.

"Saturday afternoon is an inconvenient timeslot. It’s why you don’t see Saturday afternoon prelims — BAD timeslot." WA are a minority. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised if the AFL sells out the majority for the sake of a special few. "Both stadiums will have better amenities than the MCG." Those "better amenities" only exist for the elite that can access the ground. "Sorry to the tens of thousands of average fans that we've had to lock out, but the corporates wanted a few extra wine bars." "I care more about real fans than corporates." Which is why you're not only supporting a Grand Final in a corporate-friendly timeslot, but locking at least 30,000 real fans out of the Grand Final. "Hosting fees and additional revenue generated by hosting the game in prime time will offset any losses from a day time GF at the MCG." Evidence please? "So why not only hold the Super Bowl in those stadiums in order to maximise attendance?" Like I've said, the NFL DOES restrict the Super Bowl to 70K+ stadia. A criterion you want the AFL to ignore because otherwise Adelaide would have to admit they stuffed up by seating only 52K. "Because it’s daft to build a stadium that is filled once every 10 years…" Typical loser attitude. The MCG is evidence that if you build enough seats, you'll get the events. Although it helps if the city surrounding the stadium has worthy entertainment facilities and no other Australian city has done as well as Melbourne there either. Imagine a night Grand Final in Sydney where all the bars are shut afterwards!

If the AFL can produce facts that the majority want a later timeslot then go for it. If its all about the corporate dollar the AFL will have to convince the general public that's the way to go. From a WA prospective I have missed 4 out of the last 11 grand finals because of work commitments. I'm sure I'm not the only one so a later start time would be popular over here.

"The first decision to benefit true fans of the game would be to keep the Grand Final in the daytime. Giving in to the corporate dollar by changing the timeslot just proves where the AFL’s priorities lie. Don’t expect it to change." The GF is on at 12:30pm in WA. How does that serve the fans nationally? Saturday afternoon is an inconvenient timeslot. It's why you don't see Saturday afternoon prelims -- BAD timeslot. "Again, the sound of a city that has no idea how to put on a major event. Maybe SA and WA have put money into stadium construction, but clearly it’s not enough since the stadium has nothing on the MCG." Both stadiums will have better amenities than the MCG. In fact, the MCG needs to get its act together especially with regards to the Great Southern Stand which is outdated and cramped. "As it is, club members only get 30,000 tickets to the Grand Final. Since club members aren’t worth what corporates are to the AFL and don’t have the legal rights of ground members or AFL members, they will be the first to miss out if a reduced stadium hosts the game. Even if you did have a 70K stadium, it’s unlikely any club members would get a match ticket." I care more about real fans than corporates. Hosting fees and additional revenue generated by hosting the game in prime time will offset any losses from a day time GF at the MCG. "That is because the five biggest NFL stadia all have capacity within 10K of each other. No single NFL stadium is so massively superior to all the others like is the case in the AFL." So why not only hold the Super Bowl in those stadiums in order to maximise attendance? The NFL is less corporate than the AFL is what you're saying? "Why is it so hard for other cities to build a 100K stadium? Why do they have to want more than what they’re putting in?" Because it's daft to build a stadium that is filled once every 10 years...

"it is a tad insulting to imply these are not worthy facilities." It is more than a tad insulting to lock virtually every club member out of a Grand Final. That is what will happen if a stadium 70K or less hosts it.

"If corporates and ground members have more power in these decisions than the AFL then that is disturbing and it’s time the AFL made a stand and started making decisions that benefit fans." The first decision to benefit true fans of the game would be to keep the Grand Final in the daytime. Giving in to the corporate dollar by changing the timeslot just proves where the AFL's priorities lie. Don't expect it to change. "We don’t need 70k." Again, the sound of a city that has no idea how to put on a major event. Maybe SA and WA have put money into stadium construction, but clearly it's not enough since the stadium has nothing on the MCG. As it is, club members only get 30,000 tickets to the Grand Final. Since club members aren't worth what corporates are to the AFL and don't have the legal rights of ground members or AFL members, they will be the first to miss out if a reduced stadium hosts the game. Even if you did have a 70K stadium, it's unlikely any club members would get a match ticket. "The NFL doesn’t believe they need to maximise attendance every year by hosting the game at the biggest capacity stadium available." That is because the five biggest NFL stadia all have capacity within 10K of each other. No single NFL stadium is so massively superior to all the others like is the case in the AFL. Why is it so hard for other cities to build a 100K stadium? Why do they have to want more than what they're putting in?

"If the elderly are too weak and frail to stay awake until 10:30pm to watch a game of football then I would suggest they record the match and watch it in the morning. Don’t answer the phone or read the paper until they have watched the game. If I were too weak and frail to make it until 10:30pm once a year then I would have bigger concerns in my life than a game of footy." Awesome. I'll tell my frail parents that it's none of their business to be a live part of their club's last premiership before they die- the club that they've followed loyally for 75 years. All because some tryhard entrepreneur who's never cared to meet them has decided that a corporate squillionaire and a remote farmer- neither of whom have ever cared about football or ever will- are apparently worth more money and therefore more important to the game. "Why aren’t you demanding that they Friday night prelim be played in the day time?" A prelim is not a GF. Never has been and never will be (hopefully).

Paul, come on. You've said something silly and now you're trapped in it. I'm pretty sure you realise that.

Maybe "evil" is too strong a word, but the AFL have shown arrogant disregard for majority public opinion and continue to do so.

Craigo, SoO works for League because only 2 states play it. SoO doesn't work for AR, anymore, because we have a national competition. WA, SA, VIC, TAS, NT are AR states... NSW, QLD, and ACT are represented by their AFL teams. Majority of people don't want SoO AR football. It is a non argument. I, like many, enjoy RL SoO... but I don't want my club sacrificing players for an AR SoO.