Modern League de-valued

[Huge]

Are we getting good value ?? League was traditionally played during the day until the introduction of modern lighting. This concept has been in place for years now with twilight/night games the norm. What has come along with better/more camera angles and high quality fields are the prevailing conditions.

I acknowledge the conditions are the same for both but it's not unfairness between competing teams rather unfairness for both the players and fans. Players practice one way then have to put those same skills back in the drawer when put on the ice rink on game night. We are being served an inferior product that can and should be improved on.

Chief amongst these conditions is moisture or dew on the fields. Everyone knows the meteorlogical reasons but no-one has acted on it. My contention is that due to a somewhat callous disregard for the fans and players this issue was never acted on. I believe the standard that's achievable on the skating rinks provided is far below what we could be given.

I don't think for one minute that games will be moved back to daylight timeslots but with the technological advances made in recent years , surely the fields could be made safer and generally better . Removing the dew can be done and equipment for that purpose is readily available. If the playing surface can be improved ( even marginally ) then surely it would be worth the initial expense given we are viewing a multi-million dollar product.

What other 'business' with such a massive target would provide an arena that detracts from their product ?

 

[ethos]

I agree with what's been said so far. Day games are far more conducive to open and entertaining footy. As for possible solutions..

Why not use one of those super-soakers (or whatever they're called) that they use to dry cricket outfields?

Run it over the field 5mins prior to kickoff and presto.. dry grass!

 

[Roger Explosion]

I've always wondered if the Super-Sopper thing would work as well.

Strange thing was that the surface seemed to be great at the SFS last night, and it was a pretty good game to watch because of it. But surely there's a way to do better than the slippery surface at Penrith last night and at ANZ every single time. Night games at ANZ in winter are a just a waste of time (although, just quietly, slippery surface in the 06 GF helped heaps!)

 

[Flutterby]

Not only that, but you're more chance of getting bums on seats on a sunny Sunday arvo as opposed to a cold Saturday night.
[icon_shru

I don't think the NRL cares so much about the bums on seats, rather the bums on couches watching it in front of the tele (which would also increase with more attractive footy games)

 

[Huge]

I thought that it might be a pro-active type thing to do as it could , in theory at least , head off possible litigation for injury caused due to a preventable circumstance. ( it could be argued the employer failed to provide the safest possible environment ) The NRL does'nt expect the players to play on a bitumen road but is obligated to provide at least a safe surface...plenty of ink over the state of a ground has been spent during the preceding years so it's at least mutually agreed that players get a decent surface.

The point at which a surface reaches acceptability /suitability for play is not clearly defined. It is possible that at some future date an athlete may sue, after sustaining a career ending injury due to a field not being in 'acceptable', ( given that 'acceptable' is nebulous ) condition.

Irrespective of current contracts or agreements, obligations or conventions if the workplace is not as 'safe' as it can reasonably be expected to be made then an argument for damages must be able to be made.

Million dollar grounds should have the tools to deliver the best surfaces...and that's only one reason why they should be there. A machine that simply glides across the ground picking up surface moisture just before kickoff and again at halftime, an extravagance ?...or an expense incurred while striving to provide a better 'product'.

Players falling over makes me feel cheated. It might not happen everytime but it happens too often.

 

[m1c]

I dont know if the super sopper would work.... might rub off the line and advertising markings?

Telstra stadium is a blight on the game though..... i do know that.

 

[Jargernaut]

the super-sopper was used before the queensland roar v sydney fc final this year in the a-league, after brisbane suffered a major downpoar half an hour before kick off. the super-sopper worked enough to allow the game to go ahead.

 

[Coxy]

Agree with Frank, essentially. It rains during the day as well. I don't see night games as a problem, apart from ANZ Stadium. I think they need to look at the type of turf used there.

The way league followers are undervalued is simply in terms of the game day value. We get a single first grade game, and the under 20s game. Call me old fashioned, but I liked the old days with the Under 21s, reserves and then first grade. You could have a day at the footy.

We don't have reserve grade anymore, per se, but it'd be cool if they showed a schoolboy game, or local game before the NYC, and then the NRL game. Given the wear and tear on some venues I guess that's just history now.

 

[Dexter]

Agree with Frank, essentially. It rains during the day as well. I don't see night games as a problem, apart from ANZ Stadium. I think they need to look at the type of turf used there.

The way league followers are undervalued is simply in terms of the game day value. We get a single first grade game, and the under 20s game. Call me old fashioned, but I liked the old days with the Under 21s, reserves and then first grade. You could have a day at the footy.

We don't have reserve grade anymore, per se, but it'd be cool if they showed a schoolboy game, or local game before the NYC, and then the NRL game. Given the wear and tear on some venues I guess that's just history now.

A man after my own heart Coxy. I have a few years on you and remember turning up to Lang pk at 10.30 on a Sat and Sun. You'd get the 21s, c, reserve and A grade.

All the the kids who played rugby league got a pass for any ground in Brisbane. You could watch all the young stars come through the grades and always looked forward to them getting time off the bench in a higher grade to see how they went. You could play a scratch match at half time and go into the sheds for autographs .

Ah the good old days, now its about the coin but thats the way it goes.

 

[Je$ter]

You can get heaters put udner fields that would help evaporate the dew. Used in the NFL, granted at places like chicago and Green Bay where it snows.

 

[spoonbled]

i work at AnZ stadium and i can tell you first hand the pitch is so bad. looks good from a far but far from good. the place hardly gets enough good sun on it. its like 1 blade of grass for about 4 bits of dirt.

 

[Guest]

Why can't Queensland win there then? They're from a state made of dirt for ****'s sake!