Grand Final at Bluetongue...

[Bex]

you are off your face, if you think 50,000 people will go to Gosford waterfront and various limousines will be driving around Gosford

Firstly, PJ said there "can be" 50,000, he didn't say you would actually get that number. Let me ask you this though; how many do you think are on the waterfront at new years eve? Food for thought perhaps.

Secondly, just how do you think the VIP's would arrive at the stadium? To be honest, a limo is a very cost effective option for 6 people from Sydney to the coast and it's certainly not a big expense from Gosford waterfront.

 

[nikko]

VIP's could get the train like the rest of poor people

 

[nikko]

the VIP's could land their planes in Adcock Park?

 

[style_cafe]

I think it would be great to see the waterfront full of boats with the VIP`s being ferried up from Sydney...

or maybe a steam train journey to make it extra special.Surely Bazza O`fazza could kick the can for something special.

 

[scottmac]

But until I see a rational\financial, not emotional, argument that shows why the FFA would give up a 50K income for a 20K income, I think it is just pissing in the wind.

Hows this for rational.

ITS THE f**kING RULES THAT THEY MADE THEMSELVES!

 

[MrCelery]

Hows this for rational.

ITS THE f**kING RULES THAT THEY MADE THEMSELVES!

Show me the FFA rule that says we are guaranteed the right for the GF for winning the major semi. Good luck.

Below is a transcript of an interview that Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chief Executive Officer, Ben Buckley, conducted a while back in relation to the debate surrounding the selection of the 2008 Hyundai A-League Grand Final venue.

"Q: Is the FFA being heavy-handed in wanting the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final to be in Sydney?

We are not being heavy handed; the FFA has the right to schedule Finals matches where it sees fit. We spoke about this with the CEOs at our last CEO’s meeting prior to Christmas and gave an indication that it would be likely that we would move this particular match to Sydney.

Q: What are the factors in determining where it will be held?

There are a number of critical factors and the most important is making sure that we have a venue that can get the maximum amount of fans into the ground. We would hate to have a situation where, because of the limited capacity of a stadium, that we could only get 25,000 people to the Grand Final.

It is the most important match of the year. There’s an Asian Champions League spot up for grabs as well as the Championship Trophy. So, we’d like to make sure that as many fans as possible, from both competing teams, can come along and enjoy the match.

Q: Why is the FFA considering holding it at a venue other than in Newcastle or the Central Coast?

We want to make sure that fans who have come along and supported their team all year have the opportunity to do that. If we were to play in Newcastle or on the Central Coast their home stadia would not allow away fans to come and support their team, and we think that that would be a real disadvantage to people who have come out and shown support for their team for the whole year.

Q: Does this disadvantage those teams?

We don’t believe it’s a major disadvantage for them to play on a neutral venue. Clearly our key decision making criteria is to get the maximum amount of fans into the game. It’s our marquee game of the year and it should be played in the stadium that has the capacity to host more than just the home team fans.

Q: Is it unusual to hold a marquee match in a neutral venue?

It’s not unusual to have a major marquee match at a neutral venue in football. I think you see that the FA Cup Final is not played at Stamford Bridge or Emirates Stadium or White Hart Lane or Old Trafford. It’s played at Wembley."

I doubt that the thinking had changed since 2008, but good luck to Mr Turnbull & Co to have a shot at it.

 

[pjennings]

Still a shot depending on who we play.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/coast-not-ruled-out-as-the-grand-final-host/story-fn63e0vj-1226307668521

Central Coast Mariners not ruled out as the grand final host
by: Ray Gatt

CENTRAL Coast Mariners have been given hope of hosting next month's grand final after Football Federation Australia said it was not ruling out the possibility of the match being played at Bluetongue Stadium.
Conjecture concerning the likely venue for the season decider has been rife since The Australian revealed on Wednesday Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull had enlisted the support of a 10-man delegation to lobby FFA to have the game played in Gosford if the club was the first team to qualify.

Turnbull has rounded up some powerful allies, including federal and state MPs and the mayors of Gosford and Wyong for a planned meeting with the head body next week. He revealed he has already had some preliminary discussions with FFA chairman Frank Lowy and chief executive Ben Buckley.

The Mariners are concerned FFA will opt to play the grand final at the 45,500-capacity Allianz Stadium (Sydney Football Stadium) instead of its home venue, which can hold only 20,000.

...Central Coast was forced to play the 2007-08 grand final against the Newcastle Jets at the SFS despite earning the right to host the event.

However, FFA confirmed yesterday Bluetongue Stadium was not out of the picture. "To be clear, Bluetongue Stadium has not been ruled out as the venue for the grand final," an FFA spokesman said. "Obviously we have contingency plans in place for the grand final, dependent on how the finals series unfolds.

"Ultimately, the good of the game comes before any single stakeholder's interest."

The spokesman also guaranteed the grand final would be played in NSW if the Mariners were first into the end-of-season finale. Rumours circulating in Gosford on Wednesday suggested the head body was considering playing the match at Brisbane Roar's 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium even if the Mariners qualified as hosts and as long as the Queenslanders also qualified.

"If the Mariners are the first team to qualify and the Roar subsequently qualify, there is zero chance of the match being played at Suncorp Stadium," the spokesman said.

"In that instance, the match is certain to be played in NSW."

Turnbull, who is understood to be close to clinching a deal for a Russian consortium to take a 50 per cent share in the financially troubled Gosford club, believes the people of the area deserve to have the grand final.

"We have great plans to make it a truly wonderful spectacle and stand-out day for the sport and the fans of the club," Turnbull said.

With the Roar and Mariners assured of the top two spots, FFA's decision would be much simpler if the Queenslanders beat Central Coast in the two-legged home and away major semi-final next month -- which would ensure the grand final is played at Suncorp.

 

[Nathan Byrn]

Gatty is usually pretty close to the mark.

 

[dibo]

Easy then - make sure Roar don't get in.

 

[Wombat]

They have the refs to make that happen!

 

[pjennings]

They have the refs to make that happen!

Or Sydney or Newcastle!!

 

[true believer]

They have the refs to make that happen!

absolutely .

 

[midfielder]

What chance if we make GF first and Shity also make the GF that its at Ausssie...

 

[Wombat]

Nah....FFA are always just and fair.....and never biased towards Bling. :lol:

 

[MagpieMariner]

I must admit, while I would love the Grannie to be played at BT if we qualify first, in the long term I would prefer that it be played at the same venue each year, regardless of the teams playing.
The AFL and NRL do that and as was commented the FA cup is always at the same venue. What the venue should be for us is another question, and I don't really have a firm opinion, although I think AAMI stadium in Melbourne is a great place to watch football. For my own convenience though, I prefer SFS because it's no big deal for me to get there.

 

[Nik Mrdjas Disco Bikkie]

The NRL (Formerly NSWRL) is played in Sydney because thats where the comp started and there's still about 8 or so clubs in Sydney.
The AFL (Formerly VFL)is played in Melbourne for the same reason.
Britian is very small compared to Australia so having the cup final at one location is no big deal.
The A-League is much more wide spread than the other leagues, with no one state dominating. It would be very harsh to give it permenantly to one state over an other.

 

[BrisRecky]

I cant stand this bullshit about it should be in the best stadium. Crock of shit!!!!!!!
Nothing looks worse than a GF in a half empty stadium.
If we win the right to host it then we f**ken host it!!! Not one rule for the big boys (FFA favourites)and f**k the mariners again.
The FFA have been c**ts from season one....time to show some love and give us what we deserve.

ABSO-F**KIN -LUTLEY Wombat.....agree 1000 % with you

 

[localpom]

To me it's pretty clear. Every other club would host if they won through first. To have us as an exception is just wrong. A full house at BT would be awesome, even opposing fans rate it as a great stadium.

 

[yellowcake]

The Mariners are concerned FFA will opt to play the grand final at the 45,500-capacity Allianz Stadium (Sydney Football Stadium) instead of its home venue, which can hold only 20,000.

However, FFA confirmed yesterday Bluetongue Stadium was not out of the picture. "To be clear, Bluetongue Stadium has not been ruled out as the venue for the grand final," an FFA spokesman said. "Obviously we have contingency plans in place for the grand final, dependent on how the finals series unfolds.

"Ultimately, the good of the game comes before any single stakeholder's interest."

"If the Mariners are the first team to qualify and the Roar subsequently qualify, there is zero chance of the match being played at Suncorp Stadium," the spokesman said.

"In that instance, the match is certain to be played in NSW."

OK, good to know it will be in NSW if we qualify to host, my question then:

In that instance, the Final will be Brisbane vs. Sydney, Welly, Heart or Perth. Except for Sydney it'd be unlikely for the GF to get much more than a full Bluetongue-sized crowd and the crowd size would be likely to end up being lower if it was moved to Sydney. (The only reason a healthy-ish 36,354 attended the moved 2007/08 Grand Final was that it was also relatively accessible to Newcastle - can't see even Brisbane doing near that).

(Sorry, long preamble to question...) would they be thinking of deferring the decision on Grand Final venue until after the Final?

Surely if Sydney got through, FFA couldn't consider holding it at the home ground of the 2nd team to qualify, having come from 5th place.

 

[dibo]

That's when Homebush makes more sense