02-04-2017, 05:58 AM
Sorry it has taken so long, but I have been pretty busy, one way or another.
Sorry this is an essay.
I managed to get to the game last night. I really enjoyed it.
In some ways it was a worry – I didn’t feel I had as much to lose psychologically, so I was much more relaxed over the whole game. However, that is my problem and I am sure it will change as the years go on.
[1] The atmosphere:
One of the really interesting things about the crowd last night was that they were, as a rule, a lot more mellow that they would be in a ‘normal’ Carlton vs. Collingwood game. There were many more women (not a bad thing for a women’s game) and not the snaggle toothed normal Collingwood feral. Things like Carlton supporters clapping the first Collingwood goal (it was the first for the competition, after all) and Collingwood supporters doing likewise until they started to get smashed. There wasn’t the abuse, towards players or umpires. I enjoyed that.
[2] The crowd was huge.
With the alternations to Ikon Park (the admin buildings, etc.) and Malthouse’s decision to shorten the playing surface to the size of Etihad, it was miraculous that I managed to get more or less where I used to sit, on the Southern wing, even though I arrived around 1815. The crowd then was significant. The crowd swelled to close to 25 000, as many people as can be safely held under the present orientation. The gates were officially locked at quarter time, with people outside and unable to get in.
At that point there were a few spare seats; maybe 25 at the far edge of the Legend’s Stand (how much they could see was questionable) and maybe 20 seats in the Gardiner Stand (also with probable poor viewing). The standing room could have been fuller: it was clear that the admin were basing the data on a formula, not just by having every inch full.
Outside the ground were a number of people, most of whom had arrived late. I have heard estimate of 2 000 to 5 000. These estimates were proved moot when a small group of people vandalized one of the roller doors under the Southern Stand, pulling it completely off, allowing several hundred people into the southern side of the ground. These people were not included in the official count. I don’t know what happened to them: they spread out like gas particles around the ground, although it was frankly dangerous for some time under the stand.
People wanted IN!
IF Ikon Park were to hold senior men’s game again, the new admin area would have to go. It does not allow any spectators in the area that held may a third of the crowd in the ground’s heyday.
[3] The lights:
There were a couple of extra banks of arc lights for the game. If the ground is to hold night game regularly, these extra lights need to be enhanced. The level of lighting was just not good enough, trith be told. Especially after half time.
Sorry this is an essay.
I managed to get to the game last night. I really enjoyed it.
In some ways it was a worry – I didn’t feel I had as much to lose psychologically, so I was much more relaxed over the whole game. However, that is my problem and I am sure it will change as the years go on.
[1] The atmosphere:
One of the really interesting things about the crowd last night was that they were, as a rule, a lot more mellow that they would be in a ‘normal’ Carlton vs. Collingwood game. There were many more women (not a bad thing for a women’s game) and not the snaggle toothed normal Collingwood feral. Things like Carlton supporters clapping the first Collingwood goal (it was the first for the competition, after all) and Collingwood supporters doing likewise until they started to get smashed. There wasn’t the abuse, towards players or umpires. I enjoyed that.
[2] The crowd was huge.
With the alternations to Ikon Park (the admin buildings, etc.) and Malthouse’s decision to shorten the playing surface to the size of Etihad, it was miraculous that I managed to get more or less where I used to sit, on the Southern wing, even though I arrived around 1815. The crowd then was significant. The crowd swelled to close to 25 000, as many people as can be safely held under the present orientation. The gates were officially locked at quarter time, with people outside and unable to get in.
At that point there were a few spare seats; maybe 25 at the far edge of the Legend’s Stand (how much they could see was questionable) and maybe 20 seats in the Gardiner Stand (also with probable poor viewing). The standing room could have been fuller: it was clear that the admin were basing the data on a formula, not just by having every inch full.
Outside the ground were a number of people, most of whom had arrived late. I have heard estimate of 2 000 to 5 000. These estimates were proved moot when a small group of people vandalized one of the roller doors under the Southern Stand, pulling it completely off, allowing several hundred people into the southern side of the ground. These people were not included in the official count. I don’t know what happened to them: they spread out like gas particles around the ground, although it was frankly dangerous for some time under the stand.
People wanted IN!
IF Ikon Park were to hold senior men’s game again, the new admin area would have to go. It does not allow any spectators in the area that held may a third of the crowd in the ground’s heyday.
[3] The lights:
There were a couple of extra banks of arc lights for the game. If the ground is to hold night game regularly, these extra lights need to be enhanced. The level of lighting was just not good enough, trith be told. Especially after half time.
Live Long and Prosper!