AFL and Stadiums

This week we got to visit two of the big AFL teams in Sydney. On Monday we visited the GWS Giants and today we visited the Sydney Swans. The GWS Giants have just recently joined the AFL. The average age of their players is 19. This differs greatly from the Sydney Swans because the Swans have been around for a lot longer. The club was founded in 1874 and was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney Swans. The Swans also differ from the Giants because the average age of the players is 25. The Sydney Swans have won five premierships, including one in 2012. I am more likely to follow the Giants in the future because I was very pleased with the quality of the Giants visit. We were able to go into the training room and meet the managers and coaches of the team. The Swans visit did not give us nearly as many of the backstage privileges that the Giants visit did. Also, I want to follow the Giants to see them grow and develop. With all of the great athletes they have drafted, they are bound to put up a good fight against the other AFL teams.  

We got the opportunity to tour two of Sydney’s best sports venues which included the ANZ stadium and the SCG. The SCG is used for cricket, Australian Rules football, and some rugby league and rugby union matches. We got to see the changing rooms, the members club, and step foot onto the cricket field. The SCG is one of the oldest, most historical sports venues in Australia. There are parts of the SCG that are heritage protected, which means they cannot be changed or renovated. Our tour guide taught us that there are four types of cricket matches including: Test cricket, One Day International Cricket, Twenty20 cricket, and Fifty50 cricket.  He also informed us that the SCG has 28,000 members. Memberships have a big economic impact on whether the SCG thrives or not.

The ANZ stadium was completed in 1999. It was built as part of the Sydney Olympic Park. The opening ceremony, track and field events, and the closing ceremony were all held at the ANZ stadium. This stadium differs from the SCG because there is not nearly as much history. The ANZ stadium has state-of-the art engineering and design. The SCG preserves the old and does not add things that are not necessary. Also, the ANZ stadium seats more people than the SCG. The ANZ stadium seats 83,000 whereas the SCG seats 46,000.

As an athlete, I would prefer to play in the ANZ stadium since it has the newest modern technology. Also, from my observations, the grounds of the ANZ stadium were kept in better shape than the grounds of the SCG. There is a 5000 dollar fine for anyone who stands on the grass at the ANZ stadium. At the SCG, anyone is allowed to stand on the grass. I would also prefer the ANZ stadium because it can seat a bigger fan base, allowing more supporters to follow my team and me.

As a fan, I would prefer to go to the SCG because you can sit closer to the field. Also, the atmosphere is more relaxed and social than at the ANZ stadium where there is strict compliance with the rules of the stadium.

As a corporate executive, I would prefer to host a client at the ANZ stadium. The ANZ stadium is more impressive and offers the best of the best amenities. The ANZ stadium also offers corporate suites and fancy member clubs that businesses can rent out for their clients.