NoseBleed
08-05-2009, 12:09 AM
I say, it's an hour down the road, we could pack it out with Bulldog members. If they really give us a good deal, why not go for it?
NB
Herald Sun, Mark Stevens, May 08, 2009 12:00am (Herald Sun, Mark Stevens)
THE Western Bulldogs are eyeing Geelong's Skilled Stadium as a potential venue for "home" games.
Geelong has made overtures in the past, but the Dogs are for the first time open to the idea of transferring up to two matches down the Princes Highway.
The matches would be against low-drawing interstate rivals.
A deal to play a single game in both Canberra and Darwin ends this year and any move to Geelong could be a replacement for those interstate games.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose yesterday confirmed the club's interest in the re-developed Skilled Stadium.
"We may be prepared to consider a commercially viable arrangement with Geelong," Rose said.
The Dogs are furious about poor cash returns at their full-time home, Etihad Stadium.
The Cats would welcome the Dogs with open arms, even if key financial negotiations would be with the City of Greater Geelong.
"In terms of helping them through the whole thing, it wouldn't be an issue for us," Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said yesterday.
The Dogs make about $750,000 in total from the Darwin and Canberra games.
Rose said the club would consider Geelong only if it could pocket significantly more at Skilled Stadium.
"Geelong have raised it many times in years gone by and it's never been very serious," Rose said. "I don't think we've been very clear before; it has to be on terms that are not unfair."
But Cook said any move would be lucrative compared to the deals on offer in Melbourne and the Cats would take only a small slice of cash.
Cook said a 15,000 crowd would make the Dogs $300,000.
"Whatever the Doggies wish to sell, they can sell and they'll keep 90c in the dollar, whereas it's 30c at the other two grounds - being Etihad and MCG," he said.
"You really only have to sell half as much to make more money."
Cook said the Cats would "skim" off a small amount for items such as beverages.
"Signage, boxes, gate receipts, merchandise - they would all be theirs," Cook said.
The Cats pocket about $650,000 from each Skilled Stadium home game and the Dogs are adamant they will not accept a cut-price deal.
"It has to be fair and equitable. We don't want another club profiting unfairly or unduly from us," Rose said. "It needs to be a transparent deal that clearly shows we are benefiting with the lion's share."
Rose ruled out playing Geelong in a "home" game at Skilled Stadium, no matter how lucrative it would be.
"It gives them not only a financial advantage, but a home-ground advantage. That would be unfair," he said.
Rose has pledged to try to bring all 11 home games back to Melbourne, but said transferring games was a fact of life in the economic climate.
NB
Herald Sun, Mark Stevens, May 08, 2009 12:00am (Herald Sun, Mark Stevens)
THE Western Bulldogs are eyeing Geelong's Skilled Stadium as a potential venue for "home" games.
Geelong has made overtures in the past, but the Dogs are for the first time open to the idea of transferring up to two matches down the Princes Highway.
The matches would be against low-drawing interstate rivals.
A deal to play a single game in both Canberra and Darwin ends this year and any move to Geelong could be a replacement for those interstate games.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose yesterday confirmed the club's interest in the re-developed Skilled Stadium.
"We may be prepared to consider a commercially viable arrangement with Geelong," Rose said.
The Dogs are furious about poor cash returns at their full-time home, Etihad Stadium.
The Cats would welcome the Dogs with open arms, even if key financial negotiations would be with the City of Greater Geelong.
"In terms of helping them through the whole thing, it wouldn't be an issue for us," Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said yesterday.
The Dogs make about $750,000 in total from the Darwin and Canberra games.
Rose said the club would consider Geelong only if it could pocket significantly more at Skilled Stadium.
"Geelong have raised it many times in years gone by and it's never been very serious," Rose said. "I don't think we've been very clear before; it has to be on terms that are not unfair."
But Cook said any move would be lucrative compared to the deals on offer in Melbourne and the Cats would take only a small slice of cash.
Cook said a 15,000 crowd would make the Dogs $300,000.
"Whatever the Doggies wish to sell, they can sell and they'll keep 90c in the dollar, whereas it's 30c at the other two grounds - being Etihad and MCG," he said.
"You really only have to sell half as much to make more money."
Cook said the Cats would "skim" off a small amount for items such as beverages.
"Signage, boxes, gate receipts, merchandise - they would all be theirs," Cook said.
The Cats pocket about $650,000 from each Skilled Stadium home game and the Dogs are adamant they will not accept a cut-price deal.
"It has to be fair and equitable. We don't want another club profiting unfairly or unduly from us," Rose said. "It needs to be a transparent deal that clearly shows we are benefiting with the lion's share."
Rose ruled out playing Geelong in a "home" game at Skilled Stadium, no matter how lucrative it would be.
"It gives them not only a financial advantage, but a home-ground advantage. That would be unfair," he said.
Rose has pledged to try to bring all 11 home games back to Melbourne, but said transferring games was a fact of life in the economic climate.