Email from 'Melbourne Times'

[Nick]

quote:

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Hi.
My name is Mandi and I'm a reporter for The Melbourne Times, a suburban newspaper. I've attached a copy of an article we ran a couple of weeks ago about a possible move to the MCG and Olympic Park by Collingwood. I'm after some response from fans - how do you feel about the move, should it happen etc. Also, if the team does leave Victoria Park, should it receive a heritage listing like Waverly to stop it from being demolished? Please email me at mzon@melbindnews.com.au .
Thanks for your time,
Mandi

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By MANDI ZONNEVELDT

COLLINGWOOD Football Club could forgo more than 100 years of history at Victoria Park for new facilities at Olympic Park and the MCG.
The club is considering lucrative offers to relocate its administrative headquarters and social club to the MCG and its training and gym facilities to a redeveloped Olympic Park.
While Collingwood president Eddie McGuire refused to comment, the Melbourne Times understands a board meeting to discuss the two offers was held last Thursday.
Sources close to the club say the cost of refurbishing the deteriorating facilities at Victoria Park could be the fulcrum for a move.
It is understood the club needs to replace its spa filtration system following a legionairre’s outbreak earlier this year. The gym at Victoria Park is also in need of an upgrade, a source said.
Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust chief executive Gareth James refused to comment on the offer, but said the trust was keen to bring new uses to Olympic Park and the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre.
He said the trust would present plans for a redevelopment of the facilities to the State Government next month.
A spokesman for Yarra Council said Collingwood had a 25-year lease agreement with the council for the use of Victoria Park, but said the arrangement was flexible.
He said the ground would be made available for community recreation if the club were to move.
Yarra Council finance and business development director John Lynde (CHECK SPELLING) said the club was yet to approach the council about the lease, which is understood to be worth about $70,000 a year.
Former Collingwood board member David Galbally QC said a move to the MCG would boost the club’s coffers.
“If you can offer members and Collingwood supporters first class facilities, then you will attract them,” he said.
“If you aim for a membership base of 40,000... then the ‘G’ is the place,” he said.
But Mr Galbally said relocating Collingwood’s training facilities to Olympic Park could split the club.
“History has shown, from the Melbourne (Football Club) experience, that you need to have you administration in the same area as your training facilities,” Mr Galbally said.
“If you don’t, the club becomes disjointed,” he said.
Talks of a move from Victoria Park have ruffled the feathers of traditional Magpies supporters.
Editor of club fanzine Hot Pies, Johnny Taranto, said Victoria Park must remain the club’s training, administrative and spiritual home.
“As a Pie-hard supporter there is meaning and significance in every broken window, every piece of graffiti and the sight of flaky black and white paint,” Mr Taranto said.
Mr Taranto warned such an enormous change could shake the foundations of the club, saying supporters had had enough of the AFL’s modernisation mentality.
“Anyone who has witnessed a character-less game of footy at Colonial knows that the suits who run the game miss the point,” he said.
“Collingwood administrators must be extremely careful that they maintain the cultural foundations that the club is built upon.”
“If football is like a religion, then Vicky Park is the Vatican for Collingwood supporters. At least the Pope appreciates integrity and tradition,” Mr Taranto said.

[Magpie mick]

there is one fundamental problem and that is that the Olympic park surface area is far too small for Australian football where the players could quite easy kick 3/4 of the length and circle work would be useless