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Post by duke on Sept 5, 2012 21:22:16 GMT 10
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Post by broohaha on Sept 5, 2012 22:09:31 GMT 10
Absolute disgrace!! I have no knowledge of BV or the ABF's involvement or influence of lack there of but this is certainly an issue that needs to be strongly addressed. Can't see a reason why this would be blocked, very disappointing for sport in Victoria and in particular our great game!
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Post by duke on Sept 5, 2012 22:31:13 GMT 10
broohaha, it is extremely disappointing for Victoria, and for Victorian baseball, but no fault can be directed at anyone other than the state government.
The Herald Sun report mentions that the Victorian Major Events Company had been negotiating with MLB International and was close to signing a deal. The problem was that the Victorian Government refused to underwrite this event (and the proposed basketball exhibition match).
It is still not a sure thing that the NSW Government will stump up the cash either, although the fact that the SCG Trust has already developed plans to prepare the cricket ground for baseball games suggests a degree of confidence.
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Post by broohaha on Sept 5, 2012 23:23:03 GMT 10
duke, I certainly wasn't pointing the finger (hence my comment that I have no knowledge of their level of involvement) but surely it is in baseball's best interest that our governing bodies put pressure on the state government to try and get this off the ground. Now maybe they have already done all they can, regardless it is a real shame if nothing can come to fruition.
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Post by Game On on Sept 7, 2012 4:02:55 GMT 10
For this I would of dragged my sorry butt out of the south eastern suburbs to go and watch. Hell if it is held in Sydney I might even be telling the missus, "honey watch the kids ill be away for a week watching baseball in Sydney, I promise I wont be drinking........much". Such an event will do wonders for the game regardless of what state it is in. Lets hope it gets off the ground.
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Post by pirates on Sept 7, 2012 15:20:38 GMT 10
Huge opportunity not to be grabbed for us, but most outside our sport would give the state Government too much grief if they put up the $15,000,000 to stage this event. Although I believe it would be one of the best events ever. You would think that the MLB would put the $'s up as they would rake it up with TV rights and ticket sales. Hope someone keeps negotiating for us if not I would also head up to sin city.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 16:40:40 GMT 10
Hmmmm .... late March end of Summer Season trip to Sydney for an MLB game or two - whadayarekon Pirates  |
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Post by perfeckt on Sept 7, 2012 22:35:23 GMT 10
If Au$15 million is the price tag there is no way the Vic' state government could under-right a contract like that without Federal support for baseball without a massive backlash from the community at large . No matter how much I would love to see it I can see the struggle, in fact I for one am impressed that our state and federal orginizations got it so close. If the M.L.B. org' were as serious about the global expansion plans that include Oz then maybe they could stump up the comparable price of a single players annual fee to promote one of the worlds biggest corporate sporting org's succeed in the land down under.
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Post by broohaha on Sept 7, 2012 22:41:32 GMT 10
Yeah well said perfeckt! $15 mill aint chump change and completely agree that if that is the price tag, the MLB should most definitely be putting their hands in their own pockets!
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Post by perfeckt on Sept 7, 2012 22:42:32 GMT 10
By the way...I'd go to watch it in any state of Australia if it did happen. With they're "A" team and not they're developement squad.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 22:46:52 GMT 10
Estimates on the cost of underwriting the event varied, from what I can gather.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph posted a story towards the end of July claiming that 5-7 million would do the trick, whereas there was talk in Victoria of 12-15 million being required.
The reality may be somewhere in between, although we will probably never know.
Let's just hope that the project does eventuate. Either in Sydney or Melbourne, it would provide a massive boost for Australian baseball.
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Post by Chardy on Sept 8, 2012 17:27:12 GMT 10
Yet Victoria can keep finding heaps of cash to prop up other sporting events, including the wasteful and largely unpopular Grand Prix. Go figure. I'm a bigger baseball fan as any - pay my MLB.TV subscription every year for at least the last 5 and listen to Boston radio station WEEI almost every day (and occasionally call in).... I'd love to see an MLB game played in Melbourne or even Aus. But to call the F1 wasteful and unpopular? Pretty idiotic comment. |
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Post by MF on Sept 8, 2012 19:47:11 GMT 10
But to call the F1 wasteful and unpopular? Pretty idiotic comment. ??? "wasteful and unpopular" seems to be pretty much spot on. Every economic study suggests that it's an appalling waste of money that is a hopelessly inefficient way of boosting our economy and raising our tourist profile. And I haven't spoken to or heard from anyone who thinks it a good idea for a long time. Not to mention the complete train wreck it makes of the second half of St Kilda Baseball Club season every year. |
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Post by Chardy on Sept 9, 2012 17:35:06 GMT 10
I suppose you are one of the people who thinks that the AFL Grand Final brings in more money than the F1's? You do realise that MILLIONS of people around the WORLD watch The Australian Grand Prix??
To buy that kind of advertising would cost a hell of a lot more than $50 million a year.
Perhaps go to the race and you might speak to a hundred thousand or so people who think its a great idea!!
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Post by gj on Sept 9, 2012 17:38:23 GMT 10
Welcome back Cam.
Been a boring place of late without you - even Janet has gone to ground.
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Post by MF on Sept 9, 2012 18:08:33 GMT 10
Perhaps go to the race and you might speak to a hundred thousand or so people who think its a great idea!! <blink> You really believe the official gate figures? Wow, now *that's* amazing. |
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Post by MF on Sept 9, 2012 18:10:17 GMT 10
Perhaps go to the race ... BTW: been there done that. Back when there really were 100,000 paying customers across the four days. |
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Post by Chardy on Sept 9, 2012 22:32:30 GMT 10
Perhaps go to the race and you might speak to a hundred thousand or so people who think its a great idea!! <blink> You really believe the official gate figures? Wow, now *that's* amazing. I would imagine the attitude is "cost vs benefit". You have proven by your comments that people in general, if they arent interested in something, will not only 'not turn up' but also bag the event. Baseball is not a very ell supported sport in this country and you can imagine people like you who dislike the F1's - also bag the event and the people who do actually like it and support it. Etihad Stadium happens to be a client of mine and I meet with them often and have spoken about having the MLB play there - i have been told what is required gate wise and what they would expect and then what sort of crowd they would expect. Now tell me, would you spend $200 to go watch the MLB play at Etihad? Thats what you would be looking at even if it were subsidised by the Vic government. And the benefit to the Victorian Government for their financial outlay? Very little. Money talks and bullsh1t walks - unfortunately for us baseball fans, there is more bullsh1t than money available to such a low profile sport. And before you bag me - ID LOVE MLB to come play in Melbourne. I couldnt think anything better than my tax dollars to be spent on rather than white elephant water desalt plants or waste of money MyKi ticket bullsh1t..... but until baseball is a HIGH PROFILE sport like FORMULA ONE - it wont happen. end rant. |
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Post by duke on Sept 9, 2012 22:57:35 GMT 10
chardy, since I started this thread I guess I should respond.
While I don't question that Formula One racing is a world sport that has commanded huge international attention over many decades, very few people would be going in to bat for it continuing indefinitely in Melbourne.
In relative terms, the event IS "largely unpopular" in Melbourne. You might have some high-flying corporate mates who reckon the race and all of its obscene trappings are a wonderful thing. Other people hate the whole concept of filthy-rich, glorified hoons being subsidised at taxpayers' expense.
Wasteful? Yes, of course it is. Arguably in financial terms, but certainly wasteful of world resources and a dead-set annoyance for those souls living nearby who have their lifestyle compromised. Even if only for a few days, it is bloody annoying for non rev-heads, even though those who are able to rent their properties out for exorbitant amounts over a week of insanity might do OK money-wise.
Of course people will bag an event if it is perceived to be impacting on their neighbourhood and their lifestyle amenity. Personally, I reckon that car racing is an anachronism that is well past its use-by date.
Each to their own, though. We can agree to disagree on the benefit of any sporting event, depending on our own interests.
What is clear is that baseball is not yet in a position of strength in Australia (if it ever will be). It does not have the bargaining power, nor the profile, to be able to credibly negotiate for any large slab of government or corporate cash. It (thankfully) doesn't yet have grubby, amoral entrepreneurs like Ecclestone and Walker using inordinate political influence to line their pockets even further.
So it seems that the MLB opener will go to Sydney. I'll be among those making the pilgrimage.
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Post by larry42 on Sept 9, 2012 23:46:53 GMT 10
Duke, I'm with you I'll travel to Sydney to watch a MLB game.
And is F1 regarded as a sport?
For someone who has lived in the area since year 1 of the event, it's not 4 days that affects residents or park users..it's a few weeks. Although not as long as it used to be because they don't have to set up as much seating!
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Post by Chardy on Sept 10, 2012 0:32:05 GMT 10
And is F1 regarded as a sport? "Auto racing, Bull fighting and mountain climbing are the only real sports - all others a simply GAMES" Ernest Hemingway |
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Post by larry42 on Sept 10, 2012 0:47:57 GMT 10
Hemingway was also bi-polar.
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Post by Chardy on Sept 10, 2012 0:52:45 GMT 10
Duke - next time you use your traction control or ABS in your car to save your life - thank F1. To think that its a waste of the worlds resources is a complete load - Have you ever flown on an aeroplane to enjoy a little "holiday", driven the car down to the shops when you could have walked? You could argue this all day long but lets be honest, we can find points in almost EVERYTHING in life that one person or another is not going to be happy about or consider it 'wasteful'.
I hate tennis - couldnt think of anything more incredibly boring or pointless but I dont complain about the endless cash that the Vic Government throws at it each year because we the people are all interested in different things and we should all let our fellow man enjoy whatever they enjoy in life and compromise.
Aussies are becoming worse than Poms these days with the whinging.
And while we are at it - the words 'hoon' and 'rev-head'.... Have that conversation with my 63 year old father who hand builds Formula 2's in his own garage. Ask him about the engineering aspects that go into the hand milled suspension components and how he sets up his custom designed full injection system on an engine that originally was run with carbys....
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Post by oldmanriver on Sept 10, 2012 8:40:16 GMT 10
If it is to be Sydney, I need a holiday, so the lad and myself will spend a few days from her in doors and regale in the tranquility of MLB in the land of OZ. Let's just get here, it doesn't really matter where it is, just get here.
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Post by Journeyman on Sept 10, 2012 9:13:57 GMT 10
Other people hate the whole concept of filthy-rich, glorified hoons being subsidised at taxpayers' expense. Just on that part of Dukes statement, seems like it could almost apply to a lot of Major League players and clubs. they may not be "hoons" but filthy rich certainly could apply. MLB shouldn't need subsidising IMHO. |
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Post by duke on Sept 10, 2012 16:17:25 GMT 10
I'm with you, OMR. Either way it would be huge for Australian baseball.
Would have preferred it to be in Melbourne, but if the series goes over the border then so be it. Like you, I reckon the occasion calls for a holiday.
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Post by janet on Sept 10, 2012 18:02:56 GMT 10
You called gj! This is a good topic, I find some others mundane.
I've been to the F1 and it was a great day! But there is no doubt some don't like it.
Not sure how long discussions went on prior to Vic getting the "NO" but i rekon no matter where/if this happens, it's MLB "throwing a bone" to Australian baseball and hoping to generate interest here.
I think of the soccer WORLD CUP bid of $45 millon for 1 vote.
Should baseball use millions of dollars on these games? or should a plan be to take some of that money and build a proper stable ABL that will be around in 20 years and beyond.
It would take a good plan and strong leadership...................................sorry, my bad!
I must have some of what the Hemingway fella had!
Hey Mr Chardy, does your oldman do weekend service on cars?
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Post by MF on Sept 10, 2012 20:16:58 GMT 10
You have proven by your comments that people in general, if they arent interested in something, will not only 'not turn up' but also bag the event. Wrong again. I've been to the GP and I am an active follower of F1. Neither is inconsistent with objectively considering the Melbourne GP, its cost, its benefits, and its downsides. You were expecting mindless approval from all? |
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Post by Chardy on Sept 12, 2012 16:19:32 GMT 10
For those who want an update - I just spoke with Etihad Stadium and MLB is definitely a no for Melbourne. It became a no when Vic Government pulled their funding - even though MLB's choice was for the game to be played in Melb.
If it goes ahead it will be in Sydney in 2014.
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Post by MF on Sept 12, 2012 20:07:41 GMT 10
For those who want an update - I just spoke with Etihad Stadium and MLB is definitely a no for Melbourne. It became a no when Vic Government pulled their funding - even though MLB's choice was for the game to be played in Melb. Bummer. Well done finding out. Trip to Sydney in 2014, anyone? |
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