"ANZ Stadium has no atmosphere"

[top40]

Unfortunately chance has it that Homebush has yet to see a real classic game to remember for years. That said, I thought there were occasions where the atmosphere at Stadium Australia was electric. Witness:

Collingwood game 2003, where in drizzling rain over 70,000 packed the game.

Brisbane Preliminary Final 2003. Particularly when Luke Ablett kicked the goal close to 3/4 time to put the Swans just 3 points behind Brisbane and with momentum. Again over 70,000

Essendon Round 7 2005. A largely forgotten game but how significant! Sydney was 2-4 and down by 16 points at 3/4 quarter time, and went on to win. If they had lost? Well maybe there would have been no flag.

Collingwood 2005. A one point thriller, another big crowd, and where there was controversy over the 'lost' last 10 seconds of the game.

Brisbane 2005. First day game at the stadium. Remembered for Tadhg Kennelly's goal.

West Coast 2007 Round 1. Yet another one point thriller against our greatest rivals in front of 62,500.

St Kilda 2007. In front of over 63,000, an important and exciting win. Also the night the stadium was paraded in pink for breast cancer research.

[Cheer Squad]

Love the ground. Accessible, modern, functional. Great atmosphere when things rev up.

I was in the SCG members for the Saints game and apart from a nice dining room, it's old and out of date, with poor visibility from most seats. Same for the Ladies stand. The SCG has poles all over the place obsuring the view.

Don't get me started on the collared shirt thing...

I'm constantly amused by the reverence some people seem to have for such a disjointed looking undersized ground run by a close minded pack of twits (Ths SCG trust).

I have to agree with you. I've watched the club play just about everywhere, and it's pretty obvious the SCG has fallen way behind every other major sporting venue in the country. It certainly has the worst obstructed viewing area problem of any venue in the country, and your observations about the Trust's attitude is spot on.

[GoSouth33]

I see nothing wrong with playing a few marquee games at Homebush each year. I think it's quite clear that we get people going to those game who wouldn't go to the SCG. Let's face it, getting bums on seats, and bragging rights is important in the cross code comparisons. I know of a couple of people that go to the Homebush games courtesy of corporate seats and/or Stadium membership. Whilst they're "tenuous" supporters it does give us a chance to cast the net a little wider.
I really enjoyed Sat night's game. Overall our home crowds have been disappointing this year but this would have been one of our best (if not the best).

[Jewels]

Yep.

ANZ Stadium is Sydney's very own chasm. Trust me I know, I attend bulldogs games there.

The freo p/f was dreadful atmosphere wise as was the 2003 prelim final v brisbane (up until midway through the 3rd when we gained momentum). The only game I can recall that had a top atmosphere was rd 21 2003 vs collingwood. That was in part due to the ferals fans who came in their droves.

You compare that to the many SCG blockbusters over the years. Here's only a few of plenty:

- pluggers 1300th
- plugger's potential 1300th vs WCE the week b4
- vs Geelong in 1997 (46k on a sat night)
- vs Geelong semi final 2005
- vs kangas in 1999 (down by 4 goals at 3qtr time...enter paul kelly, crowd was only 29k)
- vs St Kilda s/f 1998

plus heaps more

Sorry, but this is really silly. There have been heaps and heaps of games at the SCG with little to no atmosphere just as there has been at every ground in the country.
It is the quality of competition that creates atmosphere not venue.

[liz]

Was nothing wrong with the atmosphere during the Roos final at Homebush last year.

[hot potato]

I enjoy going to Homebush, when things are not quite going to plan you can dream again of Cathy Freeman running around the perimeter on that special night.

HP

[hammo]

Yep.

ANZ Stadium is Sydney's very own chasm. Trust me I know, I attend bulldogs games there.

The freo p/f was dreadful atmosphere wise as was the 2003 prelim final v brisbane (up until midway through the 3rd when we gained momentum). The only game I can recall that had a top atmosphere was rd 21 2003 vs collingwood. That was in part due to the ferals fans who came in their droves.

You compare that to the many SCG blockbusters over the years. Here's only a few of plenty:

- pluggers 1300th
- plugger's potential 1300th vs WCE the week b4
- vs Geelong in 1997 (46k on a sat night)
- vs Geelong semi final 2005
- vs kangas in 1999 (down by 4 goals at 3qtr time...enter paul kelly, crowd was only 29k)
- vs St Kilda s/f 1998

plus heaps more

I think this well-worn debate is a bit of a myth. The Geelong semi final had little atmosphere until the last quarter.

[shaun..]

Yep.

ANZ Stadium is Sydney's very own chasm. Trust me I know, I attend bulldogs games there.

The freo p/f was dreadful atmosphere wise as was the 2003 prelim final v brisbane (up until midway through the 3rd when we gained momentum). The only game I can recall that had a top atmosphere was rd 21 2003 vs collingwood. That was in part due to the ferals fans who came in their droves.

You compare that to the many SCG blockbusters over the years. Here's only a few of plenty:

- pluggers 1300th
- plugger's potential 1300th vs WCE the week b4
- vs Geelong in 1997 (46k on a sat night)
- vs Geelong semi final 2005
- vs kangas in 1999 (down by 4 goals at 3qtr time...enter paul kelly, crowd was only 29k)
- vs St Kilda s/f 1998

plus heaps more

Well if you look at that list the ANZ was not there in that time to compare with, so its pretty hard to judge it based on that. There's only atmosphere in games if its close or if there is a significant milestone attached imo. We've played some very ordinary games at ANZ, mainly against Collingwood and hence the atmosphere would be non existent except for some loud abuse

As has been said Sat nights game was a beauty and so was the final vs Nth Melb

[Hazcam]

Completely agree.

I hated the fremantle game and the brisbane game and the sundry collingwood games. I travel up for 2-3 games per season and frankly give me the scg every time.

Yep.

ANZ Stadium is Sydney's very own chasm. Trust me I know, I attend bulldogs games there.

The freo p/f was dreadful atmosphere wise as was the 2003 prelim final v brisbane (up until midway through the 3rd when we gained momentum). The only game I can recall that had a top atmosphere was rd 21 2003 vs collingwood. That was in part due to the ferals fans who came in their droves.

You compare that to the many SCG blockbusters over the years. Here's only a few of plenty:

- pluggers 1300th
- plugger's potential 1300th vs WCE the week b4
- vs Geelong in 1997 (46k on a sat night)
- vs Geelong semi final 2005
- vs kangas in 1999 (down by 4 goals at 3qtr time...enter paul kelly, crowd was only 29k)
- vs St Kilda s/f 1998

plus heaps more

[alison.z]

His first ever AFL goal. Gotta love that.

His enthusiasm was awesome to watch ... great goal and great celebration - exciting stuff!!!

[cruiser]

I thought that 40,000 looked good at ANZ on Saturday night although the atmosphere didnt happen til the last quarter, when the crowd really found its voice. The cheer squad were hopeless and at times in the 3rd quarter the Geelong supporters sounded louder than Sydney's.

[goswannie14]

Love the ground. Accessible, modern, functional. Great atmosphere when things rev up.

I was in the SCG members for the Saints game and apart from a nice dining room, it's old and out of date, with poor visibility from most seats. Same for the Ladies stand. The SCG has poles all over the place obsuring the view.

Don't get me started on the collared shirt thing...

I'm constantly amused by the reverence some people seem to have for such a disjointed looking undersized ground run by a close minded pack of twits (Ths SCG trust).

I don't always agree with Dave, but i am with him on this one. Homebush is far superior to SCG in every way. And yes....I have sat with Annie at both stadiums.

IIRC at the Collingwood game last year an old fart in front of us complained about me being loud. After a couple of statements from us he didn't turn around for the rest of the match!

[Dave]

Love the ground. Accessible, modern, functional. Great atmosphere when things rev up.

I was in the SCG members for the Saints game and apart from a nice dining room, it's old and out of date, with poor visibility from most seats. Same for the Ladies stand. The SCG has poles all over the place obsuring the view.

Don't get me started on the collared shirt thing...

I'm constantly amused by the reverence some people seem to have for such a disjointed looking undersized ground run by a close minded pack of twits (Ths SCG trust).

[Lucky Knickers]

I must sit in similar position to you gnome based on your post. As there are more rectangular games played there over the season that must be the priority. I dream of when the AFL is calling the shots with 100k turning up for the derby between the Swans and Bush Pigs.

[laughingnome]

Dislike my seats there.

The playing surface can be fixed. The crowd can get vocal. BUT THEY CAN'T BEND THE STRAIGHT-SEATED SIDES! The flank seats - which are classed as 'Gold' - are absolutely shocking. We've told the club for the past two years that we want to move and nothing has happened. Same crap seats as last year. Why couldn't they just make it a permanent oval?