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Yes I read that about Kerry Stokes a week or two ago. If I've got the right end of the stick then he claimed "others" acted as a cartel against him.

The true supporter against the corporate guest is one that we have over here and will be highlighted even more by the New Wembley as that has about 15,000 seat licences most of which have been sold to the corporate market.

I can remember witnessing a demo by Aussie Rules fans myself in 1991 (I think).

I went to the MCG for the stadium tour and so I could step foot on the field and there was a couple of thousand fans demonstrating that the MCG belonged to the people and not the AFL. The new Southern Stand was being built at the time and (I think) the AFL had just moved into new offices and thought they owned the stadium.

Just one last point on Waverley. There I was getting a bit bored as I had not one clue what was going on so I went to the bar. But alas no chance of getting a real beer. I had to drink that bloody light beer shite.

No that was not on LOL.

A Cartel of the AFL,NRL,NEWS LTD etc it was.
James Packer(the opposition) even had the cheek to warn him not to bid for the licences because it was a done deal

Plastic cups filled with light beer for the price of a 750ml bottle

Its the main reason I told them to stick their spectator sport where the sun don't shine & retired to the banana lounge in the backyard next to the esky
and big screen TV

And those boffins that talk about the 'atmosphere' can have it WHAT ATMOSPHERE

Much of that atmosphere has now been curtailed with the bizarre rule that allows security to remove anyone who has a complaint made against them for SWEARING.PC at work.Trying for that perfect family enviroment

So all the muppets just sit there like robots watching TV too scared to say BOO like they'd been preprogrammed before they walked into the ground

Thankfully the traditional Suburban Grounds still exist and you can vent your spleen on the Hill with all the other Males without fear of being asked to leave the 'family friendly enviroment';-)

As hallowed as the MCG is its only a big concrete ampitheatre with lots grass in the middle

I went to the 1987 Grand Final Carlton v Hawthorn when they had a small crowd of 97,000.That game had atmosphere and even though the team I was barracking for Lost it was still worth being there purely for that

cheers
B....OZ

The swearing thing happens over here although anybody would be very unlikely to get turfed out as most of the stewards don't do diddly squat.

I have to say I always thought of the MCG as a characterless concrete bowl.

Brisbane was a great cricket ground when it had the dog track around it and I even got on to the pitch there after we got stuffed by 10 wickets. Alas that's now a bowl as well. Don't get me wrong as I know why they have done it but it aint a cricket ground anymore.

They say that your Adelaide Oval is charming but unfortunately I didn't make it there but maybe on my next visit? Who knows.

PS

Just for the record then I don't believe the atmosphere is as good at english football grounds as it was but then I am a nostalgic git.

I can imagine a steward like Ace saying "nice one"

I think when a ground gets to big it just becomes an open aired stadium which always guarantees any charm it once may have had will be gone

The fact that Brisbane & Adelaide have largely resistered the urge to build all encompassing permanent stands is the main reason they retain that quaint charm of yesteryear.Keeping grassed areas is another big plus

The S.C.G. is about the middle ground
Heritage Stands with modern seating

The M.C.G(92/95,000 capacity) & Adelaides Football Park(50,000 cappacity) are indeed,concrete jungles/eye sores IMHO

English Football wouldn't be the same given that the emphasis is so much more on where you finish in Europe(MONEY,MONEY,MONEY) more than where you finish in the league.

Pity the ban on English Clubs in Europe wasn't for life in many ways,then playing in the FA & League Cups might actually mean something like they used to

cheers
B....OZ