Today is a sad day in the history of the RFC

[Kahuna]

Here, here.

I don't see apathy on this subject LRR, I see passion. I agree that people interstate shouldn't 'expect' to see their team play in their home location, and I doubt many have this expectation. The original argument was that we sold our soul by moving a home game interstate. I disagree because while many make some higher moral argument that Richmond should never play home games away from Melbourne, I believe it is a pragmatic, case-by-case situation.

In this case it is Adelaide, moving from the docklands (South Melbourne territory but apparently on bridge road somewhere based on some posts) to an equally neutral location on the gold coast. The only competitive difference is that we make at least 400K more. So we have moved from one neutral ground to another, for 400K+. What is the problem?
If it was a Collingwood game moved from the G to the goldy, i would have a very different opinion.

Simple fact: the Richmond that used to represent a suburb and play at punt road entered a national competition where suburban allegiances are not sufficient to sustain the growth required to compete nationally. The club's heart will always be in Richmond but it needs a national scope to be a going concern and if the odd dudley game can be played interstate, for more national exposure and much more money, then we should be doing it.
We should be doing it for the good of the club and despite threatening a few local fans who, frankly, don't have the demographic capacity for growth that will be required in the long term anyway. I am confident that most members see the need to place the long term economic future of the club ahead of the 'Traditions' that have kept us mired in financial problems and consequently bolted to the bottom of the ladder for 30 years.

 

[GoodOne]

no i wouldn't be happy if we moved a home game to bendigo, because richmond is not a suburb of bendigo. richmond is a suburb of melbourne. not against having craigieburn as a summer base, but i'm not entirely impressed we've had to find an alternate training venue... but thats a discussion for another thread.

But Craigieburn is a suburb of Melbourne (well some would argue that).

 

[Ian4]

Bin thread.

that phrase is copyrighted

 

[hutstar]

that phrase is copyrighted

And it is a good thread. Isn't this what forums are for? I appreciate that this has been somewhat heated at times but ultimately we are debating what is best for the club. More interesting that whether we should be picking Joel next week.

 

[tamtiga]

i couldn't let today pass without comment. we're playing a "home" game 2,000km from our home. it's a sad sad day in our history... one i will never forgive and forget. March, you have sold our soul for $$$. absolute disgrace :'( :'( :'(

couldnt agree more,

after heading up for the game on the weekend it only drove home the fact we were playing our 'home' game in a second rate venue with second rate facilities to 'promote' the game to potential supporters...funny thing is most of the fans there were from vic or s.a and had made a holiday out of the occasion.

I dont see the game taking off in the gc..tho i maybe wrong.

This stadium will be in need of serious works (as are happening) and the staff that run the place need to be trained to deal with a 'large' crowd.........

Id rather see us have played a 'home' game in Tassie as at least the potential for a large supporter base is there!

 

[GoodOne]

I dont see the game taking off in the gc..tho i maybe wrong.

Most of the people on the GC are ex-Victorians.

 

[mld]

And it is a good thread. Isn't this what forums are for? I appreciate that this has been somewhat heated at times but ultimately we are debating what is best for the club. More interesting that whether we should be picking Joel next week.

Not sure. Seems to be more of a contest for the moral high ground while making out anyone who disagrees is a lowlife who doesn't love Richmond. Both sides.

 

[Djevv]

Sorry but talk of promoting the game is spin. It's a cash grab, pure and simple.

Sorry L2R2R that is plain incorrect - promotion of the Tigers is one spinoff, cash another. If you don't believe you can grow a fan base by playing regular games is a particular location, I've got news for you - the Bulldogs have done it in my home town! When they began 4-5 years ago their supporters were always outnumbered by Port supporters because a lot of Adelaide people live in Darwin. Over the years this turned around and now the Doggies supporters clearly outnumber Port's!!

My 2c anyway!

 

[hutstar]

Not sure. Seems to be more of a contest for the moral high ground while making out anyone who disagrees is a lowlife who doesn't love Richmond. Both sides.

... and that makes this thread different how?

 

[Ian4]

Sorry L2R2R that is plain incorrect - promotion of the Tigers is one spinoff, cash another. If you don't believe you can grow a fan base by playing regular games is a particular location, I've got news for you - the Bulldogs have done it in my home town! When they began 4-5 years ago their supporters were always outnumbered by Port supporters because a lot of Adelaide people live in Darwin. Over the years this turned around and now the Doggies supporters clearly outnumber Port's!!

My 2c anyway!

yeh but darwin is a niche market. if you were a gold coast local with an interest in afl, but you hadn't pledged any allegiance to an afl team... why would you choose richmond when they have their own team starting up in 18 months? of course you wouldn't. we would not have got 1 new supporter from this game, let alone a member. and if you think we did... you're in la-la land

 

[RemoteTiger]

yeh but darwin is a niche market. if you were a gold coast local with an interest in afl, but you hadn't pledged any allegiance to an afl team... why would you choose richmond when they have their own team starting up in 18 months? of course you wouldn't. we would not have got 1 new supporter from this game, let alone a member. and if you think we did... you're in la-la land

Big statement - not one new supporter!

When I go to watch the Tigers at the SCG - I always meet people who have never been to an AFL game before and they get caught up in the hype and noise of the game - but they just can't come at those "red and white" colours - so they choose Richmond - buy beanies and other Tiger accessories - and some join up as interstate Tiger members when I show them my interstate membership card.

I reckon there would have had to have been some in that very same situation last week at the Gold Coast.........

 

[Ian4]

Big statement - not one new supporter!

When I go to watch the Tigers at the SCG - I always meet people who have never been to an AFL game before and they get caught up in the hype and noise of the game - but they just can't come at those "red and white" colours - so they choose Richmond - buy beanies and other Tiger accessories - and some join up as interstate Tiger members when I show them my interstate membership card.

I reckon there would have had to have been some in that very same situation last week at the Gold Coast.........

come off it RT, thats really clutching at straws. my point is that the home game at carrara was nothing more than a dirty, greasy, sleazy grab for money... not to make new supporters. i recall a post by someone who went to the game mentioning that there were signs at the ground saying GC17 was the official host of the game.

 

[U2Tigers]

You know what Ian4 - being a Qlder I was very happy at the chance to see us live.

however I do have to say I was a little dissapointed that the GC theme instead of the Tigers was everywhere. I understand the AFL promoting any chance it go, however you are correct in saying the GC venture certainly did a lot of promoting.

But geez there were a heck of a lot of Tiger Fans there.

 

[meltiger]

come off it RT, thats really clutching at straws. my point is that the home game at carrara was nothing more than a dirty, greasy, sleazy grab for money... not to make new supporters. i recall a post by someone who went to the game mentioning that there were signs at the ground saying GC17 was the official host of the game.

Yes, it wasn't our home game. All the promotion of the game on the coast was "Presented by the GCFC"


As I said, we should have worn white shorts...

 

[Streak]

Out of interest, wasn't this game the last to be played at the current GC stadium, which will now be demolished?

Maybe we should ask to have home games at AAMI and Princes Park next year. Hopefully they will then both be demolished, with the present tenants in them.

 

[meltiger]

Out of interest, wasn't this game the last to be played at the current GC stadium, which will now be demolished?

Maybe we should ask to have home games at AAMI and Princes Park next year. Hopefully they will then both be demolished, with the present tenants in them.

lol

 

[Ian4]

well melbourne are moving their interstate home game next year from canberra to darwin... because carrara is being rebuilt, maybe we'll move our interstate home game to canberra :

 

[Baloo]

For 400k net profit, and if we play against a non-Vic side, then let's move it to Afghanistan !!!