Canterbury United Move Grounds
I let my guitar speak for me
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In a move reminiscent of many other footballing management disasters, Canterbury Utd have decided to move from English Park, the home of Christchurch football for over 100 years to QE2 Park. www.mainlandfootball.co.nz
To leave a purpose built facility to play in a 15000
seater stadium defies belief, when approximately 300 people go to
the games.
When will we get it right in this country?
PS. I couldn't give a sh!t about pitch quality
which appears to be their main gripe, you get what you're given I
reckon.
I let my guitar speak for me
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There may be more to this than meets the eye Vim. Keep your head
down and look out for the return of fire from Eddie Cropley.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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this made the main sports page in the press and if i remember
correctly (cant be assed finding a link) it states that Can United
has their offices at QE2, the NZFC and youth squads train there,
and its cheaper.
it may entice other people to show up if marketed correctly eg: buy a match ticket and get free entry to the pools etc.
also, lets not forget english park was just the feild. at QE2 theres the pool, the gym, and indoor training facilities which *hopefully* will aid our boys through better training which will help them beat the Jafas
it may entice other people to show up if marketed correctly eg: buy a match ticket and get free entry to the pools etc.
also, lets not forget english park was just the feild. at QE2 theres the pool, the gym, and indoor training facilities which *hopefully* will aid our boys through better training which will help them beat the Jafas
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They have always based their training at QE2. Sounds like they have
had a major spat. mainland soccer need to back off trying to milk
every one for what they are worth. I wonder what they were charging
the Pride to play at English Park? And subs are getting ridiculous.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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Silly descion btw what is the average nzfc crowd
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It said 750-1000 in the Press this morn, but I reckon 300 would be
a more accurate estimate for English Park. Imagine that
inside QE2. It's gonna be fantastic.
I don't buy the argument that it is beneficial to the players
that the grounds are close to the pools and the offices so it makes
it easier to train and we will have a stronger team.
Christchurch aint no Los Angeles or Auckland, it only takes 10
minutes to drive between them both so no probs.
And no way will they do a deal for football and a swim.
Its about the fans remember!!!
I let my guitar speak for me
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National league games used to be there and it was great. I have
played there with a good size crowd and you still feel the
atmosphere out on the pitch. The main stand feels like a sound
shell type amplifier. Should work out OK as it is on the ring road
as well. Pitch would need work though it is pretty shonky at the
moment with all those heifers from Tech using it.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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An outrage! English park is right up there with Park Island as an ideal NZ Football staduim. In my opinion you could not get a ground better suited to NZFC. As a player you can hear and feel the crowd right up close. I know QEII is not overly large but you compare these boutique grounds mentioned above to playing at arena Manawatu or Waikato Staduim and they are miles ahead. Its a step backward for Canterbury.
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NZFC absolutely must be played at ground with a 3000-6000 capacity.
Anything bigger than that and it's like being the only person at
the pub.
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i don't blame them for wanting to save a buc. it's this sort
of decision that will keep the nzfc going. mainland soccer
need to look at their charging structure - especially now that they
have no one to use the ground...
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Very good point - what is the point of shafting your best customer?
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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Its not like Canty Utd don't have enough money. $5 levy for
every player in Canterbury, then $7 entry to the games, plus mega
bucks from sponsors and pub charities.
Definite step back for football in Canterbury, English Park
was paid for by ratepayers to have the elite football played there,
and now we will have to settle for dodgey old Premier League
action...
I let my guitar speak for me
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mate, everything's 5 minutes away in christchurch anyway!? i
must say thought hat i reckon english park is a great
facility. it is a pity that they couldn't stay there.
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Yes everything is close, you'd say 30 minutes from one side to the
other so its not the travel that bugs me. In fact QE2 is
heaps closer to me. Its playing the the game from behind a
running track 50 meters up in a 15000 seater compared to being one
meter from the sideline.
No brainer.
I let my guitar speak for me
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Don't know why they didn't just bring it down to Bexley.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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if English park had a training field for warm ups etc. i would be
confident to say they would have stayed.
im hoping like mad they get temp seating at QE2 closer to the sideline...or it'll be very sad to be there.
im hoping like mad they get temp seating at QE2 closer to the sideline...or it'll be very sad to be there.
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Why can't the use the grounds at St Albans school for there
warmups.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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English Park was a great place with a great atmosphere, especially
when it was full. I can't see it being the same at QEII stadium.
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there have actually been some great games at QE2 (old National
League local derbies, U17 World Cup) with great crowds. It is a
very good facility and does have atmosphere with a big crowd (5000
plus). My biggest concern would be the surface at the moment is
poor.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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Apparently the surface in the All Whites vs Malaysia at QEII park
was pretty much rock-solid.
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there have actually been some great games at QE2 (old National
League local derbies, U17 World Cup) with great crowds. It is a
very good facility and does have atmosphere with a big crowd (5000
plus). My biggest concern would be the surface at the moment is
poor.
What's your opinion on the atmosphere with the 300 in the
ground come NZFC time then Ronaldoknow?
I let my guitar speak for me
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Theres probably a better atmosphere at Bexley, Vim, with 30
fans 'cos of the clever way the New Brighton club have stategically
placed the pitch. it's all a matter of perception really. The point
is Cant Utd don't want to pay $1000 a game to play on a shonky
pitch.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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Having played on English Park in the final of the Ethic
Tournament, I have to say that English Park is a good
pitch. Great proximity to the crowd and good sort of 'basin'
atmosphere.
I don't care if Canty Utd don't want to spend $1000 on the
fact that they believe its a shoddy pitch and overpriced (lots of
others differ on their opinion). Ratepayers, football
players, and the football supporters have paid for the upgrade of
English Park and we want to see Canty Utd play there. At
least 78% of people surveyed on the Mainland Website believe
so...
I let my guitar speak for me
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if they go broke through playing at English park then 100% of chch
will miss out.
hopefully people have learnt their lesson now
hopefully people have learnt their lesson now
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They are never going to go broke. All players in the region
pay for them whether they like it or not. VimFuego2007-06-16
18:57:25
I let my guitar speak for me
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The board of Cant Utd have an obligation to run the franchise on a
sound financial footing. If they can reduce there costs by $500 -
$700 per game (money that they could possibly invest in players)
and provide a more competitive team then I for one fully understand
this call. Mainland soccer do not run Cant. Utd and English Park
was not refurbished for Canty Utd but football in general. And the
surface is poor if you ask any half decent player.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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Plenty of times you've seen games in the Premier League and NRL
where the ground is all cut up and you don't see them crying about
it and moving.
The excuse that Mainland doesn't run Canterbury is a weak one,
where we can see that football organisation in this country is
shoddy in that a city the size of Christchurch the organising body
and its only national league side can't get on and have no
responsibility to each other. Don't forget Mainland collect
our levies to pass on to Canty Utd.
The jury is out if this is going to be a money saving
exercise, lets just see how many people turn up huh?
I let my guitar speak for me
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playing at QE2 wont reduce crowds...so if they are still bringing
in the same income while paying out less thats good.
also, in order to cover the increased ground costs if they stayed at EP they'd have to put up ticket prices, thus lowering the crowds (simple supply & demand economics)
for some reason i highly doubt that Can U makes a healthy profit, and if they can reduce their fixed costs then all the better for the franchise which in turn is good for the region
also, in order to cover the increased ground costs if they stayed at EP they'd have to put up ticket prices, thus lowering the crowds (simple supply & demand economics)
for some reason i highly doubt that Can U makes a healthy profit, and if they can reduce their fixed costs then all the better for the franchise which in turn is good for the region
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I agree with you gings. I actually don't see a hell of a lot of
difference in the 2 facilities, probably lean more towards QE2. The
statement I made earlier that Mainland Football don't run Cant Utd
is actually not an excuse but a fact, so the strength of that
statement is irrelevant, but I agree with Vim that it is
disappointing to see two Footballing bodies in the same area at
loggerheads.
It will be interesting to see if Mainland are willing to collect the levy on behalf of Cant Utd and whether they pass it on or keep it to make up for the short fall in funding now that they won't be hiring English Park to Cant Utd.
As for the quality of the pitch, next time your in Auckland go down to Kiwitea street and take a walk on the Auckland City/Central Utd pitch and you'll know what I'm talking about. The only ground that comes close in ChCh is the QE2 no. 2 pitch of a few years ago.
It will be interesting to see if Mainland are willing to collect the levy on behalf of Cant Utd and whether they pass it on or keep it to make up for the short fall in funding now that they won't be hiring English Park to Cant Utd.
As for the quality of the pitch, next time your in Auckland go down to Kiwitea street and take a walk on the Auckland City/Central Utd pitch and you'll know what I'm talking about. The only ground that comes close in ChCh is the QE2 no. 2 pitch of a few years ago.
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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All sorted - see below, phew.
13 July 2007
Canterbury United with the assistance of the Mainland Foundation are able to stay at English Park Mainland Football and Canterbury United are delighted to announce they have signed an agreement that ensures the Canterbury United Dragons will play the 2007/2008 NZFC fixtures at English Park full article...
What's sight without sound? Love without peace? Copulation without conception?
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What an embarassing way to run the sport. Only way Canty got
their way was going public to get people riled up and make Mainland
back down. Just poor form all round don't you think?
I let my guitar speak for me
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If only Waikato FC could get some financial support to continue
playing at the Waikato Stadium. $5000 plus GST per game doesn't
work when you get 400 to a game. In three seasons of the NZFC they
only made a profit on the gate that covered ground hireage twice
and that was the last two home games of the inaugural season when
they made the playoffs and finished 3rd.
Porritt Stadium is a pretty tired alternative but the cheap
option is the only option at this stage.
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Kiwi Canary, excuse my ignorance (dont really know Waikato/Hamilton
too well) but surely there is a 'stadium' a bit smaller than
Waikato Stadium that would be good enough...?
how on earth do they stay afloat?gings2007-09-03 22:21:52
how on earth do they stay afloat?gings2007-09-03 22:21:52
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Hamilton is poorly equipped for football when it comes to having
suitable facilities of NZFC standard. Porritt Stadium is a running
track inside a huge bowl with a steep hill on the opposite side and
athletics have first call on it...and of course they do there stuff
in summer when the football is on so there are scheduling issues
for a start. The changing rooms are woeful and need to be knocked
down and rebuilt from scratch. there is potential there for sure
but whilst athletics are there nothing will happen. The stand holds
probably 250 to 300 tops and it is situated at the finish line of
the 100 metres track, meaning it isn't centrally located. It can't
cater for corporates unless you whack up a tent which is quite lame
if you are trying to project a professional image to the people who
are injecting sponsorship dollars into it. The pitch isn't too bad
if there are no discus or shot put holes to contend with and there
are underground sprinklers that need to have dirt put over them so
you don't get players injuring themselves on the sprinklers.
Claudelands, Melville, Ngaruawahia, Cambridge all have
facilities which aren't up to suitable requirements. I've been on
committees over the years that have lobbied the council for a
specific footballing facility but it boils down to some clubs
getting a touch of the jealousy thing and ends up with no combined
unity being shown and so council just fires any proposal into bin
13.
Waikato Stadium offers everything but costs the world. Great
piece of carpet to play on. I had a few kick-arounds on it during
the first season when Waikato trained on it but even then they were
paying $250 a night to train on it. They stay afloat via
sponsorship, people in the background putting their hands in their
pockets and gaming monies...the same way that most franchises
survive. Ginnsg you need to get out and about and check the game
all over the country. I've just about been to most big clubs in the
country, including Halswell Hawks:-p
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dang...that makes me even more grateful for English park...and
QE2
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