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Post by baseballnewby on Aug 22, 2018 7:38:36 GMT 10
From Melbourne Aces facebook page, there is a post, that states that FS Entertainment was incorporated on Aug 14th, the day before the announcement.
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Post by stuartcapel on Aug 22, 2018 14:37:24 GMT 10
That's not an overly uncommon happening in business. The Auckland franchise appears to have already registered their name, which is now available via the basic use of a search engine, though a league sponsor has already spilled the beans on it as well (logo looks fantastic and a great name as well).
Interesting to see the inclusion of a wildcard team for the coming 2018-19 season. Would certainly be interesting to learn of the true origins of exactly how that came to be a part of season make-up for 2018-19.
The Aces didn't take long to promote the news on their Facebook account, though with interest, I noted the following question from the club with their post:
"Will we need the wildcard spot this year?"
I am not overly sure how fans are to respond given the club has again steadfastly refused to announce the signing of even a single player for the ABL season which is just eighty-five days away. The Aces are the only team not to have had publicised a single name (Auckland and Geelong-Korea have had media reports confirmed on the ABL website regards player signings), have had no manager or coach announcements, nor have they followed up on last weeks ownership announcement. Last Wednesday was well done, but it has not been followed up in any way. No StrikeZone interview, no letter to members/fans from the new owner - silence.
Last week, Baseball Victoria's own release noted "The Board of Baseball Victoria is proud to have played an instrumental role in developing a long-term strategy for success on behalf of the Melbourne Aces and the team's dedicated fans."
Dedicated fans?
The best way to treat them is by giving each and every sign the club is either disinterested or disorganised?
How about some evidence of BV/Melbourne Aces practicing what they preach and volunteer some information about the club for the coming season? Give the ball to the new communications employee and tell them to run as hard as they can with it.
Or don't dedicated fans deserve to know anything about their team?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2018 21:37:00 GMT 10
I look forward with interest to the response Melbourne Aces will receive to their advertisement (see link below) inviting applications for social media/communications personnel for the upcoming ABL season. Although the job(s), tagged as internship(s), might involve just a few months of work over the summer months, the requirements are considerable and intense. To be completed adequately, most of the tasks outlined require a prior level of knowledge, training, experience and professional expertise. You don't just "train" people over an hour, or a day or two, in proper language use, drafting, editing, meeting deadlines, interviewing, copyright law, marketing, social media and its legal ramifications. And even if you could deliver all of that, there is the matter of maybe, just maybe requiring some knowledge of Australian baseball history, culture and terminology. The club is looking for a volunteer, or volunteers, to perform vital media and communication roles at a delicate time for the Australian Baseball League as it transitions towards private ownership. Volunteers are the life blood of grassroots sport and we love them all – but, really, placing such demanding expectations on well-meaning individuals for a can of Coke and a hot dog is a bit cheeky and seriously amateurish. Especially if there is any truth to the rumours of substantial amounts of money being expended in other areas of club functioning. There are already eminently qualified, experienced and capable people around Victorian baseball who could and should be on board in assisting with the ABL project as commentators, writers, broadcasters and marketing personnel. Because they have in so many cases been treated with disdain and disrespect over the past several years, they are hardly likely to respond to the advertisement. That is unfortunate, though it is the inevitable by-product of some unhealthy exchanges driven by people who may not have had the best interests of the sport at heart. Good luck with attracting qualified and proven personnel to the role! You might be lucky, one never knows. www.sportspeople.com.au/sp/position/PositionDisplay.asp?ID=56028
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Post by enricopalazzo on Sept 17, 2018 15:09:29 GMT 10
FailAces is Failtona is fail Decisions is fail.
Cmon Korea!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2018 20:22:15 GMT 10
It would appear that nothing constructive has yet come out of the Aces advertisement for media and communications volunteers to support paid personnel at the club.
The signing of Luke Hughes is a great coup for the Aces. As a player (a former Major Leaguer with an outstanding record at national level and with Perth Heat) who is likely to be assisting in a development and promotional role, he will be a serious asset to both the Aces and Victorian baseball more generally.
While all of us surely wish Luke the very best, it is unfortunate that his arrival at the Aces has not yet been acknowledged fully with decent fanfare and a detailed, media release across club and ABL online platforms. Maybe it will be.
I would have thought his signing definitely warrants that!
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 18, 2018 12:58:04 GMT 10
An outstanding signing for the Aces, and hopefully a positive recruitment as far as Baseball Victoria is concerned.
Interestingly enough, if you look at the club website, there is no news of one of the biggest signings in club history. Right now you'd think there was only one player signed in Darryl George.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2018 13:01:25 GMT 10
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 26, 2018 14:54:53 GMT 10
Thanks for posting that for us 'dills' to read.
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Post by baseballnewby on Oct 15, 2018 12:09:50 GMT 10
Thanks KC. Good luck to the ACES and the ABL. Haven't said much cause, I'm not trying to say anything negative.
If the powers that be think they can make having a team in Altona and Geelong work, given the demographics of Melbourne, then good luck to them.
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Post by stuartcapel on Nov 11, 2018 18:40:27 GMT 10
We've less than 120 hours to go before the start of the Aces 2018-19 campaign, and coverage of the team has, so far, been incredibly underwhelming.
There has been precious little information about the make-up of the team thus far, and even the ‘Spring Training’ game was played behind closed doors. So far, twenty-two players have been announced, inclusive of two players, Delmon Young and Jon Kennedy, who according to the Baseball Alumni’s interview with Jon Deeble will both start playing several weeks into the season. Mike Walker was announced in the same article as playing this season, but is yet to be announced by the club.
Former MLB pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim has been signed. He has played very little in the past few years and is now 39. The how’s and why’s of his signing have stayed a closely guarded secret by the club.
How was Jon Kennedy’s 2018 with the Braves organisation?
Dushan Ruzic returns. What made him come back to the ABL? Why Melbourne and not Adelaide?
A club interview with Jon Deeble? Members and fans only heard from him in the last series last year.
What of the new imports from organised baseball? What of the new Japanese players? Who is in the rotation?
The finish of the Baseball Alumni article quoted Jon Deeble as saying: “We are looking really strong this year and we expect to be fighting for the title.”
Let’s hope he is right, but let’s also hope the club keeps fans informed and engaged along the way.
Go Aces.
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Post by foxtrot19 on Nov 16, 2018 18:06:04 GMT 10
You blokes know a lot more then me about baseball Here’s an observation if they can’t get basic ticketing memberships parking and food right how are you expecting them to drum up support and news exposure It’s the same start to the season as last year and the year before and before It’s not like they don’t know the season starts in November
I’m over it don’t be surprised if one day I’m out doing something different
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Post by stuartcapel on Nov 18, 2018 16:03:27 GMT 10
Fair to say Friday night was underwhelming as far as a ballpark experience went, but full credit to the club - they acted upon what feedback they got (and could see) and the product was greatly improved over the Saturday and Sunday. Kudos.
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Post by enricopalazzo on Nov 19, 2018 7:05:18 GMT 10
Great canteen at 'Failtona'
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Post by pirates on Nov 20, 2018 13:55:47 GMT 10
didn't make the games on the weekend but seeing the wins come in was great. I know what ever happens outside the diamond will always be difficult to get right due to budgets constants and changing management will always create a correction. but on the diamond Jon and the boys as always will be doing a 1st class job. not sure many Vics actually appreciate the quality international experience these coaches bring to the table.
As a little recommendation to he new management, your next appointment should be KC to work with the media department and the reporting of the games. cant have enough reporters on the books imo. As to the comment about the canteen, not sure if its being sarcastic or not. All I can say having been out there on a club night I found the canteen operators to be excellent and food and pricing to be very good.
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Post by stuartcapel on Nov 21, 2018 9:13:13 GMT 10
KC completes a fair bit for the Alumni page but I recall the player profiles he used to complete for the BV site and they gave a great insight to the Aces squad. Right now, the club has done little to profile the incoming overseas players (and the locals for that matter). I'm thinking of an AFL club that would do likewise to incoming drafted/traded players and cannot think of such an occurrence. The Aces website is in need of a solid overhaul. Two/three people who can provide content, such as a KC could improve the site and product.
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Post by enricopalazzo on Nov 21, 2018 9:28:34 GMT 10
Things are set to drastically change next season. Out with the incompetence that are the people running the Aces right now and in with a new front office and venue.
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Post by stuartcapel on Nov 21, 2018 13:13:13 GMT 10
Would a change of State Government on the weekend see any proposed move stall to the desired location?
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Post by enricopalazzo on Nov 21, 2018 13:29:42 GMT 10
Would a change of State Government on the weekend see any proposed move stall to the desired location? Very interesting question.......I do know the current government fully support the move.
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Post by enricopalazzo on Nov 23, 2018 9:42:48 GMT 10
What an awesome night at Geelong Baseball Center. Enjoyed driving straight past 'Failtona'.
Paid $30 for a seat, food was good, GK won. Loved it!
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Post by stuartcapel on Nov 23, 2018 13:08:02 GMT 10
A Geelong membership is $150. Just have to go down there once a series to come out ahead.
Btw. I like Altona - the Aces play there. Wherever you put a stadium, in this city, someone will have to travel anyway.
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Post by baseballnewby on Nov 26, 2018 7:49:28 GMT 10
Btw. I like Altona - the Aces play there. Wherever you put a stadium, in this city, someone will have to travel anyway.
Undoubtedly someone will have to travel to where ever the ground is. However with teams in Altona and Geelong, and Melbourne's demographic centre still being Glen Iris, etc (all has been said before).
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Post by stuartcapel on Nov 26, 2018 8:46:56 GMT 10
If you WANT to go, you will find a way to go. If you DON'T WANT to go, you'll find a way not to go.
We drove from Chelsea Heights to Geelong twice on the weekend to take in matches - doesn't make us special, but we found a way to get down to watch the SurfCats-Heat series.
No argument that a more centralised venue would assist, but it was noticeable at the Town Hall, that the new ownership seems to believe that a different venue will also fix the customer experience when at the ballpark. About that, I am not sure.
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Post by stuartcapel on Dec 1, 2018 9:04:28 GMT 10
I’d email the club in regards a couple of items, but I am not sure they read email over the course of the weekend. However I do know social media is closely monitored, As such, hopefully this gets back. It’s not a whinge, or a negative, but hopefully something that can be picked up and used as a ways to improve customer experience.
On a big positive, after what was a less than impressive opening night, the club has done some good things. Hopefully the kids giveaways at the game is proving successful. With the same announcer and DJ at both the Aces and Geelong, they’re going to get more in sync with the games as time progresses. Just the volume and placement of the speakers needs some revision given they can be in the line of sight for people. Some signs noting that you can’t stand on the concourse walkway behind home plate during play would also be handy – hopefully they are easy fixes.
But a couple of other items need to be addressed – hopefully they are also quick wins to improve the customer experience.
The gate from the stadium compound to the public car park was locked on Thursday night – it’s a non-negotiable that both gates be unlocked and open for each home fixture for the club.
Bins on the concourse – were overflowing last night. With the toy packs being placed in the bins, they filled up quickly last night and were overflowing, which can be a health and safety issue, but also meant people were having to go down the stairs to find an available bin. Don’t take your attendees away from the action! Maybe at the end of the fifth (or whatever the appropriate time is given the crowd), whatever is in the bins is cleared.
Membership packs are not available – the earliest they will be available to members is Round Six, a period starting the second half of the season. To put that in context, it is the equivalent of an AFL club making their membership packs available Round 12 or Round 13 of the season. The AFL club of which my wife and I are members are sending out membership packs the second week of December – so we’ll have membership packs for an AFL season that commences in March 2019 before we get membership packs for the ABL season that is half way completed.
Firstly – communication needs to go to all members regards this. The idea of staying silent and hoping no one will notice is not the best course of action. Be up front, be honest.
Secondly – maybe today or tomorrow you may wish to put something on for the members as an acknowledgement of their support given the shortfall of what was promised to them for their outlay of funds.
Tradition – we were told during the first series that the Aces were starting a new tradition. We’re singing ‘Horses’ and waving glow sticks – it’s not so much of a unique tradition if it’s waving glow sticks and a song – Geelong-Korea do that to with ‘A Land Down Under’, but I’ll go with it.
However, we already HAD a tradition…and it’s been discarded.
We had a tradition in the seventh innings stretch with young Zach singing ‘Take me out to the Ball Game’. Foregoing that tradition has also meant Zach doesn’t want to come to games any more as he was always excited for the seventh innings stretch. Might not mean much to some, but at the Members Town Hall, I recall Simon Sallka taking about the vision of moving the team and getting more kids to games.
Currently, the count is minus one.
The above are not big things to rectify and can improve customer experience and help bring back tradition. The record of the team is solid so far and the weekends two games can really set the season up. Go Aces.
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Post by stuartcapel on Dec 11, 2018 16:27:48 GMT 10
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Post by larry42 on Dec 12, 2018 21:57:35 GMT 10
hey Stu, when’s the last time you’ve been to Lakeside Oval? I know you get around and enjoy various sporting venues. I’m at a loss to work out how the Aces would be able to play at Lakeside in its current form considering its more of a purpose built athletics track that can cater for soccer. I had also heard the rumours but the configuration of the stadium does not allow for our great game.
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Post by stuartcapel on Dec 13, 2018 12:59:16 GMT 10
In its current format, only if they played on the soccer pitch, which I'd doubt is big enough to play baseball on (would make the Showgrounds look like a pitchers park) and would not be overly spectator friendly. South Melbourne missed out on the A-League expansion this time around, but has a 40 year lease with the State Government. www.premier.vic.gov.au/labor-government-secures-south-melbournes-future-at-lakeside-stadium/If soccer were to stay, you'd have to get rid of Athletics Victoria, Athletics Australia, Little Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Australia and the Victorian Athletics League, and potentially the Victorian Institute of Sport. I can't see baseball coexisting with a Rekortan athletics track. Where does the State Government then relocate Athletics, and provide an IAAF standard track and facilities, all while baseball has a pre-existing venue at Altona/Laverton that has had goverment investment in recent time? Where else at Albert Park? Where St Kilda Baseball is currently located? Potential for size but parking is frightful at that end of Albert Park and it's not overly public transport friendly. So where? Unfortunately, the new ownership consortium has not said much since their announcement of ownership, so right now it's all guess work.
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Post by enricopalazzo on Dec 13, 2018 13:44:40 GMT 10
The move to Sth Melbourne for the Aces in 2019 is 85% across the line. The current government support the move.
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Post by larry42 on Dec 13, 2018 23:43:08 GMT 10
The move to Sth Melbourne for the Aces in 2019 is 85% across the line. The current government support the move. Great to hear for me as a local....keen to see exactly where they will play.
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Post by stuartcapel on Dec 19, 2018 10:00:55 GMT 10
Just to note Larry, parking costs at Lakeside Oval after 5.30pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends is $5.30, and is registration recorded. According to the council website, MSAC is $5.20.
Based on this years 16 open dates, that's an extra $84.80 for a member of the club (given parking is currently free for members) if the move is indeed to the Lakeside Oval.
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Post by rhricho on Dec 20, 2018 8:13:39 GMT 10
G’da Stu, with respect to the all supporting members, particularly those who have been so loyal for so long, surely parking isn’t the biggest issue? This would be an excellent new location, will encourage new sponsorship, more crowd from all over (particularly the East) making this much bigger and attractive - something we all want and very positive That’s far more important than $5.30 yeh?
Attendance numbers are still average, games are delayed due to tunnel blockages, same old same old. I can’t wait to take my baseball crazy son and his mates to a game in town, I can’t wait to go with mates who don’t play but are interested to go to a game, then find a pub closeby afterwards, like we do for the cricket or footy. Driving probably wont be the best option – a train ride from any direction, then a tram in, drink more, make a day / night of it, spend more = happy days! The fight to get to Altona, plus it being embarrassing to take mates there – it’s nearly over!! ZING!! Here’s hoping this gets done!
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