Bluetongue the best!

[FFC Mariner]

Good grief, how deep does it flood? Only need to raise the pitch about a metre.

Even if you raised the pitch to keep it flood free, that whole area goes under when it floods so no one could get there anyway

 

[MrCelery]

The whole stadium needs fixing up. We were standing in the under cover bit the other day and the roof was leaking all over the place, people who had seats there were getting just as wet as if they were standing out in the rain.

No offence Adz, but Bluetongue is a brilliant modern stadium 'as is' compared to the shitholes us older folk have had to endure in the NSL!

 

[MrCelery]

Raising the pitch a metre would cost an absolute bomb. You're looking at around 8,500 cubic metres (or approximately 15,000 tonnes!) of infill, plus the structure to hold it all (building into the hill on the Margin Stand side still leaves you with around 250m of the perimeter to build a retaining wall up to a metre high).

A quick google puts fill soil at around $20 per tonne, so you've got to drop $300,000 just on fill, before you get to structural work...

Not sure about your costings there Dibo. Breakers Stadium needed to lift their ground by about a foot. Every time it rained and the nearby swamp land flood gates were left open we got a lake. The cost of doing it was negligible. There are plenty of builders out there, especially pool builders who would pay YOU to dump clean fill. You'd only need to move aside the surface soil and replace it later. The only heavy cost was to lay extra drainage pipes and pumps.

 

[style_cafe]

Not sure about your costings there Dibo. Breakers Stadium needed to lift their ground by about a foot. Every time it rained and the nearby swamp land flood gates were left open we got a lake. The cost of doing it was negligible. There are plenty of builders out there, especially pool builders who would pay YOU to dump clean fill. You'd only need to move aside the surface soil and replace it later. The only heavy cost was to lay extra drainage pipes and pumps.

The largest expenses for the fill is the transport costs & preparation when it gets onsite.
In most instances that I have been involved with ,if a huge amount of fill is required an approach is made to council & they direct the available spoil to their designated location thus eliminating the transport cost.
Once onsite the laying & compaction is where the costs come in.
On an area that size $100,00 should cover the cost.
There would be no need for retaining walls as the sides can be sloped effectively.
There would also be no need to raise the level 1m, 500mm would probably be sufficient.
Also the drainage would have been included in the original costings & with the level being raised there would be no need for pumps.The topsoil & grass removal would also be included in the original costings.

 

[dibo]

So Athletic Bilbao were renovating their stadium, and they had to build three sides first before they demolished the old one and built it around. While it was three-sided, looked like this:

 

[iEatHands]

I haven't seen much talk about it, but how awesome has the pitch been recently??!!

Hard to believe it used to have F#%@ all grass and was either flooded or looked more like a sand pit.

On a side note.. why do we still have Bunnings chairs for players and staff? Didn't we have the proper kit for the AFC games?

 

[nebakke]

I haven't seen much talk about it, but how awesome has the pitch been recently??!!

Hard to believe it used to have F#%@ all grass and was either flooded or looked more like a sand pit.

On a side note.. why do we still have Bunnings chairs for players and staff? Didn't we have the proper kit for the AFC games?

I've actually seen quite a few comments on it, it's nice to see, especialy considering that it's only been about a year since it looked like a combination of a giant mud-pie and an 18 hole golf-course.

I actually thought that there'd been a mention somewhere that, starting this year, all teams had to have covers as a minimum and potentially dug-outs too, is that all in my head? Or did I just miss something?

 

[dibo]

On the pitch - PFA members (from visiting teams) have voted our pitch best in the league so far this season.

On the dugouts - I think the deal is that the FFA's buying a bunch of dugouts and is giving them to clubs for use from next season.

 

[dibo]

Related:

A-league Pitch Quality and Atmosphere on the Rise


Melbourne: January 8, 2014


PFA Stadium Ratings show improvement in pitch quality and atmosphere for the opening 12 rounds of this A-League season.






The outstanding work of ground staff at Central Coast Mariners home ground, Bluetongue Stadium, and the electric atmosphere created by the Western Sydney Wanderers fans has been highlighted in the PFA Stadium Ratings System for the first 12 rounds of the 2013/2014 season.

Aimed at ensuring first class playing surfaces and acknowledging the important role played by fans, the PFA Stadium Ratings System monitors the pitch quality and atmosphere of all A-League matches.

Voted on by the opposing team captain at the end of every A-League match the PFA Stadium Ratings measure the pitch quality by rating the smoothness, pace and hardness of the playing surface and the atmosphere created at the stadium. They vote between one and five (one being poor/unacceptable, five being excellent/perfect).

Having been voted as one of the poorer surfaces for the 2012/2013 season Bluetongue Stadium received the highest rating with an average score of 4.33 just ahead of the Western Sydney Wanderers home ground Pirtek Stadium, which had an average score of 4.13.

Central Coast Mariners defender and PFA Support Delegate Zac Anderson welcomed the news.

“The surface at Bluetongue now makes it possible to play football of the highest quality and the improvements that the ground staff have made to the pitch have been noticed and we are very thankful for their efforts,” Anderson said.

“Everybody wants to see good quality football in the A-League and the playing surface can have a huge impact on the quality of the match. If the pitch is bumpy and uneven simple things like controlling the ball become much more difficult and the game suffers as a result.

“From a players perspective as well it is very difficult to go out and perform at your best if you are worried about being injured due to a pitch that is not up to standard.”

Bluetongue Stadium Curator Geoff Ellis said he and his staff took great pride in providing the players with the best possible surface.

“We are always asking the players for their feedback and the PFA Stadium Ratings System is something that has given us plenty of insight into what they are after,” Eliis said.

“It is great to hear that we are providing the players with a surface where they are able to play to the best of their abilities.”

The improvement at Bluetongue Stadium was reflected in the majority of playing surfaces throughout the A-League with last season’s average pitch rating rising from 3.48 to 3.69.

PFA Player Relations Consultant Kliment Taseski said the PFA Stadiums Rating System was something that many clubs were now utilising as they sought to have the best possible playing surface.

“We are now regularly contacted by ground staff from many of the stadiums who are eager for feedback from the players,” Taseski said.

“Geoff Ellis and his team at Bluetongue have taken a keen interest in the PFA Stadium Ratings and have obviously worked extremely hard to address any of the issues the players have had previously with the surface.”

The atmosphere at Western Sydney Wanderers’ home ground Pirtek Stadium was acknowledged by the players as the best in competition so far this campaign recording a perfect five out of five average ranking.

Melbourne Victory home games at AAMI Park was rated second behind Pirtek Stadium with a rating of 4.33 followed closely by Sydney FC’s home ground Allianz Stadium with a rating of 4.07.

The overall atmosphere throughout the competition also showed an improvement with last season’s average of 3.27 rising to 3.33, with six clubs ahead of their last season’s average.




Overall Pitch Ratings to round 12

A-League 2013/2014

Ave

Adelaide United (Coopers Stadium)

3.97

Brisbane Roar (Suncorp Stadium)

3.27

Central Coast Mariners (Bluetongue Stadium)

4.33

Western Sydney Wanderers (Pirtek Stadium)

4.13

Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart(AAMI Park)

4

Melbourne Victory (Ethiad Stadium)

3.54

Newcastle Jets (Hunter Stadium)

2.97

Perth Glory (NIB Stadium)

3.86

Sydney FC (Allianz Stadium)

3.41

Wellington Phoenix (Westpac Stadium)

3.39


Atmosphere Ratings to round 12

A-League Season 2013/2014

Ave

Adelaide United (Coopers Stadium)

4

Brisbane Roar (Suncorp Stadium)

3.5

Central Coast Mariners (Bluetongue Stadium)

2.83

Western Sydney Wanderers (Pirtek Stadium)

5

Melbourne Heart (AAMI Park)

3.33

Melbourne Victory (AAMI Park)

4.33

Melbourne Victory (Ethiad Stadium)

3.75

Newcastle Jets (Hunter Stadium)

3

Perth Glory (NIB Stadium)

3.42

Sydney FC (Allianz Stadium)

4.07

Wellington Phoenix (Westpac Stadium)

2.33

For more information on the PFA Stadium Ratings System Please contact PFA Player Relations Consultant Kliment Taseski at kliment@pfa.net.au

2012/13 ratings:

Average 'Overall' Rating 2012/13
Hindmarsh (AUFC) 3.39
Suncorp Stadium (BR) 3.12
Bluetongue Stadium (CCM) 3.31
Parramatta Stadium (WSW) 3.81
AAMI Park (MBH/MBV) 4.26
Etihad Stadium (MBV) 4.10
Hunter Stadium (NUJ) 3.38
nib Stadium (PG) 3.42
Allianz Stadium (SFC) 2.73
Westpac Stadium (WPX) 3.13
Average 3.46

Atmosphere Rating Ave
Adelaide United FC 3.36
Brisbane Roar FC 3.15
Central Coast Mariners FC 3.08
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 4.27
Melbourne Heart FC 3.27
Melbourne Victory FC 4.50
Newcastle Jets FC 3.19
Perth Glory FC 3.39
Sydney FC 4.00
Wellington Phoenix FC 2.46
Average 3.47


2011/12:

Overall Rating
Overall Rating - Pitch

2011/2012
AAMI Park (MBH/MBV) 4.29
Etihad Stadium (MBV) 4.2
Suncorp Stadium (BR) 3.96
Skilled Stadium (GCU) 3.54
Hindmarsh (AUFC) 3.46
Westpac Stadium (WPX) 3.42
NIB Stadium (PG) 3.23
Sydney Football Stadium (SFC) 3.17
Bluetongue Stadium (CCM) 3.12
Ausgrid Stadium (NUJ) 3.08
Average 3.55

Atmosphere Rating (Avg)
Atmosphere

2011/2012
Adelaide United 3.46
Brisbane Roar 3.50
Central Coast Mariners 2.92
Gold Coast United 0.92
Melbourne Heart 3.65
Melbourne Victory 4.50
Newcastle Jets 3.42
Perth Glory 3.42
Sydney FC 3.46
Wellington Phoenix 2.79

You can get to all the detail here: http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=177

 

[kevrenor]

Atmosphere rating up from Central Coast Mariners 2.92 to 3.08 ... that is something I suppose

[esp. with Jets going the other way, lol]

 

[iEatHands]

Atmosphere rating up from Central Coast Mariners 2.92 to 3.08 ... that is something I suppose

[esp. with Jets going the other way, lol]

Unfortunately it's actually gone down

Central Coast Mariners (Bluetongue Stadium)
11/12: 2.92
12/13: 3.08
13/14: 2.83

Can't think why? This seasons active support and atmosphere has been a huge improvement. Maybe others have also improved more-so, and the bar has risen higher?

 

[kevrenor]

Unfortunately it's actually gone down

Central Coast Mariners (Bluetongue Stadium)
11/12: 2.92
12/13: 3.08
13/14: 2.83

Can't think why? This seasons active support and atmosphere has been a huge improvement. Maybe others have also improved more-so, and the bar has risen higher?

I see, Dibo didn't post this years.
How do they assess that anyway? This year can only be 5 or 6 games!
Did someone not clean the away change rooms or something?

 

[Roy Law]

Unfortunately it's actually gone down

Central Coast Mariners (Bluetongue Stadium)
11/12: 2.92
12/13: 3.08
13/14: 2.83

Can't think why? This seasons active support and atmosphere has been a huge improvement. Maybe others have also improved more-so, and the bar has risen higher?

I blame the brass band

 

[VicMariner]

How do they assess that anyway?

I was wondering the same thing, atmosphere though is so subjective, how do you measure it? I could not find their criteria for doing so but they do show their system for rating the pitch, according to the link above the pitch is rated by "4 criteria: (1) overall; (2) hardness; (3) pace, and (4) smoothness. At the conclusion of each match, the visiting captain rates the field based on each criterion by giving a mark out of 5".
But to rate atmosphere? Volume? Volume x duration? Originality? (A cannon should score well on that.) Numbers participating?
Don't know.

 

[style_cafe]

Get the away captain to rate the atmosphere,then at the end of the season take the lowest score as the winner.

 

[iEatHands]

Get the away captain to rate the atmosphere,then at the end of the season take the lowest score as the winner.

That's unfair! Burns probably gave us a 5/5 for the atmosphere we gave him!

 

[Big Al]

Atmosphere - The band is awesome but does the opposition captain care?

Victory - Friday night - Wet - Shit
Heart - Sunday Arvo - Windy - Shit
Roar - Never touched the ball - Shit

Adelaide - Ok
Wellington - NSO - Ok

Glory - NYE - Great
SFC - Great
WSW - Great

 

[dibo]

NSO atmosphere was abominable. It was a classic "who cares, I'm having a beer in the warm evening air" picnic for people to chill after work.