Etihad roof to remain open on sunny days

[saintspremiers]

I think Mark Evans has drunk too much AFL bathwater.

Anyone with any clue knows the roof should be shut on sunny days. Sure, keep it open for a cloudy day game, but when the sun is out, shut the God damn roof Mavis!

[SaintPav]

I know it depends where you're sitting but I don't mind it.

The ground should have been built from west to east. It really is a cheaply made stadium.

[bigballs]

The way I see it, the AFL only have 2 alternatives to stop all this talk about whether the roof should be open or not.

1 - Re-configure the ground to face west to east instead of east to west......or
2 - Shut the bloody roof.

To be honest, I like it when the roof is open on sunny days, but we have to think about the players and umpires. If they can't see what is going on because of the glare, then the obvious thing to do would be to shut the roof.

I know what I'd do.....it's not that hard to work out.

[R. Harvey 3 votes!]

Rather than worry about what should have been built, maybe they should worry about what actually has been built?

The ground has been built the wrong way around, so therefore the roof has to remain shut!

It is pretty simple really, but for reason simple logic just doesn't seem to apply ever with this?

[St Chris]

Last time I checked, Australian Rules Football was an outdoor game.

The roof should be open all of the time. Night, day, sunshine, rain, everything....

Yes, players might look into the sun. But guess what, in about 30 minutes time, the siren goes and you get to stand at the other end. No different to a strong wind, the reason we kick different directions in different quarters. And yes, sometimes the conditions change during a game. but that's been the case for 150 years.

We've all become a bit precious.....

[SaintPav]

The way I see it, the AFL only have 2 alternatives to stop all this talk about whether the roof should be open or not.

1 - Re-configure the ground to face west to east instead of east to west......or
2 - Shut the bloody roof.

To be honest, I like it when the roof is open on sunny days, but we have to think about the players and umpires. If they can't see what is going on because of the glare, then the obvious thing to do would be to shut the roof.

I know what I'd do.....it's not that hard to work out.

The ground is built from north west to south east or that's what direction the goals are.

The problem with building it from west to east is that it would have probably been more expensive. The ground does not fit longways into that corner pocket of Docklands as it is right up against the road already and Wurundjeri Way would have had to have been built over the rail lines, I think.

In an ideal world the ground should have been built like the G, west to east. But that would have been an alternative universe and the ground would have been called TAA Stadium. The goal ends would have been called the Warrick Capper and Mark Jackson ends and we would have won flags in 1965, 1971, 1991, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010.

PS. Always try and buy a house on a street running from west to east with a north facing backyard.

[barneyboyz]

Last time I checked, Australian Rules Football was an outdoor game.

The roof should be open all of the time. Night, day, sunshine, rain, everything....

Yes, players might look into the sun. But guess what, in about 30 minutes time, the siren goes and you get to stand at the other end. No different to a strong wind, the reason we kick different directions in different quarters. And yes, sometimes the conditions change during a game. but that's been the case for 150 years.

We've all become a bit precious.....

[saintspremiers]

Last time I checked, Australian Rules Football was an outdoor game.

The roof should be open all of the time. Night, day, sunshine, rain, everything....

Yes, players might look into the sun. But guess what, in about 30 minutes time, the siren goes and you get to stand at the other end. No different to a strong wind, the reason we kick different directions in different quarters. And yes, sometimes the conditions change during a game. but that's been the case for 150 years.

We've all become a bit precious.....

Are you one of the keep the rules the same mob?

[bigballs]

The way I see it, the AFL only have 2 alternatives to stop all this talk about whether the roof should be open or not.

1 - Re-configure the ground to face west to east instead of east to west......or
2 - Shut the bloody roof.

To be honest, I like it when the roof is open on sunny days, but we have to think about the players and umpires. If they can't see what is going on because of the glare, then the obvious thing to do would be to shut the roof.

I know what I'd do.....it's not that hard to work out.

The ground is built from north west to south east or that's what direction the goals are.

The problem with building it from west to east is that it would have probably been more expensive. The ground does not fit longways into that corner pocket of Docklands as it is right up against the road already and Wurundjeri Way would have had to have been built over the rail lines, I think.

In an ideal world the ground should have been built like the G, west to east. But that would have been an alternative universe and the ground would have been called TAA Stadium. The goal ends would have been called the Warrick Capper and Mark Jackson ends and we would have won flags in 1965, 1971, 1991, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010.

PS. Always try and buy a house on a street running from west to east with a north facing backyard.

Regardless of which way they should have built it, the arena has a roof on it, so they may as well use it on sunny days when the glare is too bad. Any other time, by all means leave it open.

I always thought they should leave it open at night when it is stll warm outside, but they don't.

[WinnersOnly]

Perhaps the players association should get involved and make it a Work Health & Safety issue. Someone is going to get seriously hurt playing in those blinding conditions, he policy is ridiculous!

[8856brother]

Thanks God we don't have any afternoon games at Etihad this year.

Oh hang on, we have 10.

[loris]

It's an outdoor game, why be so precious?

Obviously most of you have never watched footy at Subiaco Oval, those sitting at the city end of the ground are looking into the sun all afternoon, players have no probs adapting there, nor do supporters.

[saintspremiers]

It's an outdoor game, why be so precious?

Obviously most of you have never watched footy at Subiaco Oval, those sitting at the city end of the ground are looking into the sun all afternoon, players have no probs adapting there, nor do supporters.

Does Subi have a roof?

Remember it's a TV game also. They prefer the roof shut for better pics.

[St Chris]

Last time I checked, Australian Rules Football was an outdoor game.

The roof should be open all of the time. Night, day, sunshine, rain, everything....

Yes, players might look into the sun. But guess what, in about 30 minutes time, the siren goes and you get to stand at the other end. No different to a strong wind, the reason we kick different directions in different quarters. And yes, sometimes the conditions change during a game. but that's been the case for 150 years.

We've all become a bit precious.....

Are you one of the keep the rules the same mob?

Not especially, but far more that way than the "Every time Brad Scott whinges, we jump" mob.......that mob would be seriously good at jumping

[mr six o'clock]

the solution is simple .
Get 200 metre's of shade cloth on a big roll .
Hook up a simple pulley system .
Then roll it out on sunny days .
Bunnings , Masters or Mitre 10 could sponsor and supply so it wouldn't cost the Afl nothing !

[lefty]

Meh, football is an outdoor game, leave the roof open or use a shade cloth as stated above.

All this indoor stuff is nonsense.
So what if the sun gets in your eyes, are you going to complain about that at the MCG as well?

[Jacks Back]

It's an outdoor game, why be so precious?

Obviously most of you have never watched footy at Subiaco Oval, those sitting at the city end of the ground are looking into the sun all afternoon, players have no probs adapting there, nor do supporters.

Does Subi have a roof?

Remember it's a TV game also. They prefer the roof shut for better pics.

I seriously thought I was looking at one of those ultra wide screen movies the other day when the daylight section of the screen completely obliterated the other parts of the screen in the wide shots. It was totally black at the top & bottom of the screen and you couldn't see any players even though afterwards you could see they were there.

I love nice sunny days but the way the ground has been built and the fact that the roof is creating what is basically an opening on top of a building does not make it easy for the players or spectators to see either there or on the telly.

[Trev from the Bush]

Obviously there are many responses on this thread from people who:

(a) Never go to Etihad; or
(b) Sit on the Docklands side of the ground.

If Etihad management and the AFL continue with the ridiculous practice of opening the roof "on sunny days" they are cynical and insincere with the much-hyped claim that they are wanting to "improve the match-day experience". The best match day experience is being able to actually WATCH the match - something you cannot do in any comfort if you have seats on the Southern Cross Station wing and pocket with the bloody roof open!

If the AFL / Etihad continue with this ridiculous practice I will be seeking to off-load my reserved seats. If you don't believe it is "that bad" try it for yourself before whacking people with opinions differing from your own.

[Jacks Back]

Obviously there are many responses on this thread from people who:

(a) Never go to Etihad; or
(b) Sit on the Docklands side of the ground.

If Etihad management and the AFL continue with the ridiculous practice of opening the roof "on sunny days" they are cynical and insincere with the much-hyped claim that they are wanting to "improve the match-day experience". The best match day experience is being able to actually WATCH the match - something you cannot do in any comfort if you have seats on the Southern Cross Station wing and pocket with the bloody roof open!

If the AFL / Etihad continue with this ridiculous practice I will be seeking to off-load my reserved seats. If you don't believe it is "that bad" try it for yourself before whacking people with opinions differing from your own.

We often sit on that side and the sun is right in your eyes. It is ridiculous as I was sure they had already sorted all this out last year and were just shutting the roof for all matches.

[saintmat]

Nooooo! They've got it the wrong way 'round! Shut the roof when it's sunny and open it when it's raining! We need to slow the game down! Our on-ballers are slow! We need a wet muddy ground. We need the roof open when it's raining and shut when it's sunny. We need the sprinklers on for 24 hours before a home game!

[saintspremiers]

Nooooo! They've got it the wrong way 'round! Shut the roof when it's sunny and open it when it's raining! We need to slow the game down! Our on-ballers are slow! We need a wet muddy ground. We need the roof open when it's raining and shut when it's sunny. We need the sprinklers on for 24 hours before a home game!

Now we're talking buddy!

Just like Moorabbin in the good Ol days.

Before A-League games the sprinklers are on for a good 20 minutes, but the ground ain't muddy. You need maybe an hour or so I reckon of water.

Add to that the Bunnings or Masters shade cloth and we are sorted!
I'm sure the two big hardware stores will bid like mad to have the rights to shade the Dome!

[desertsaint]

buy it out, smash it down, sell the land off to high rise developers. Rebuild Moorabbin, Princess Park, Western Oval, kick Essendon out and relocate North. Problem solved!

[IanRush]

I remember being at the 2007 A-League Grand Final at Etihad it was the one where Archie Thompson scored 5 goals.

It was 6pm, mid-Feb and the roof was half open, it seemed to work that evening.

In saying all that, what a bloody debacle that Waverley was sold off. Should never had been sold, Etihad has a feel of being on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ for some reason.

[plugger66]

I remember being at the 2007 A-League Grand Final at Etihad it was the one where Archie Thompson scored 5 goals.

It was 6pm, mid-Feb and the roof was half open, it seemed to work that evening.

In saying all that, what a bloody debacle that Waverley was sold off. Should never had been sold, Etihad has a feel of being on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ for some reason.

Waverley was stuffed and it wasn't even reachable by public transport and was in the middle of nowhere for people from the West. Had to go and now we have a great stadium. Again things get better when they are gone. I remember Waverley being the coldest ground you could imagine and didn't have great shelter from the rain.

[Dave McNamara]

Last time I checked, Australian Rules Football was an outdoor game.

The roof should be open all of the time. Night, day, sunshine, rain, everything....

Yes, players might look into the sun. But guess what, in about 30 minutes time, the siren goes and you get to stand at the other end. No different to a strong wind, the reason we kick different directions in different quarters. And yes, sometimes the conditions change during a game. but that's been the case for 150 years.

We've all become a bit precious.....

If we aren't going to open the roof, then why did we pay so much for a roof that can be opened?

Cricket fieldsmen and keepers (when collecting an incoming throw from the outfield) have to look into the sun... I'd rather be hit by a footy than a cricket ball.

As Chris pointed out... footy is an outdoor game. Simple.