Renovating Leichhardt Oval

[skywalka]

People love Leichardt because it's the last remnant of the old Sydney comp. If any drastic changes were made people would only go there for the football itself. The facilities elsewhere might look "better" but practically there is no benefit. Getting out can take longer than other grounds so I'd support the addition of a few more gates if it's feasible. But personally I don't mind the fact that it takes forever to get out since I never want to leave. I even love that there is no parking and you have to walk to the ground. If people don't want that they can go to any other ground in the country. Just give us our few games a year.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[Balmain_Bug]

There are a couple of guys I know, who are good blokes, who want Wests Tigers to continue to play at Leichhardt and to increase to 6 games. These guys have a GREAT plan. They are not part of the Wests Tigers but they work in with the Wests Tigers Family and have done so since day one. They have the exact same role with Sydney FC.

They have a plan that can guarentee Wests Tigers a reasonably good profit each game they play there, plus 100 percent profit of partial crowd numbers once the crowd exceeds a certain number of fans.

The plan involves their group having a full control of the lease on the entire ground, an increase in corporate boxes and developement that will not effect the appeal, feel and vibe of the ground at all. The development will not be difficult to pass approval.

I cant say too much, but it is very Exciting and these guys were behind getting Sydney FC to play at Campbelltown a few weeks back so if you can read between the lines you can see where this is going.

Leichardt has terrible creature comforts, and its lifespan is very limited. We need dynamic thinking, energy, and ideas to get us through the next decade there.

 

[Guest]

Have you dealt with Leichhardt council Bug? I hope this plans on their's works, but I'll be surprised if it passes approval easily.

 

[Swordy]

Although I love Leichhardt, I'm not sure what to think about renovations.

The charm is walking a distance to the ground beforehand among supporters from both sides. The same on the way out as you 'give it' to the losing supporters, or cop it if we lose. The hill and squeezing in among others. Lining up for a hot dog and straining your neck as you see the crowd rise and the cheers start. Sitting on the toilet roof at the northern end trying to catch the ball from a goal kick. Sliding down the hill to the soccer field on the way out. Waiting for an hour to get out of the bottom parking area whilst you are listening the footy round up on the radio.

If all this was gone, I'm not sure it would be much fun…...

Maybe I'm all too nostalgic. Progress brings new memories too.

 

[Sabre]

Its obvious Leichhardt Oval needs work. Developing it wont mean it isnt sentimental anymore, just look at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

1924:


Now:

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Sentiment is about the place itself, not how its changed over the years. Even if there was to be a grandtsand all the way around and no hill anymore it would still be Leichhardt Oval

 

[skywalka]

No it wouldn't.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[baku]

The Hill MUST stay, do up some grandstands, or put a little more seating in, new amenities, but DO NOT TAKE AWAY THE HILL!!

 

[Yossarian]

The hill is the least of the problems and particularly at this stage is neither necessary nor feasable to put a grandstand there. A stand at the water end would be good particilarly if they could whack in some more corporate suites. The more pressing need is for upgrades on some basics. Some toilets that don't resemble a Turkish prison and a few more food/drink options on the hill so you're not spending hours queueing and some stairs running up the hill would be a good start.

 

[innsaneink]

What are you gunna build it on Yoss….stilts?
Its basically a cliff behind the signs at the north end

 

[system]

Plus I believe those trees hold some significance.

Tiered seating and removal of the toilet block would increase realistic capacity.

Bottom line is that Leichhardt will remain a boutique ground. The transport issues alone in the area alone mean it is unlikely to receive any great boost in capacity.

 

[Yossarian]

What are you gunna build it on Yoss….stilts?
Its basically a cliff behind the signs at the north end

This is 2012 and it's hardly that steep. It's not like an engineering impossibility. You could easily get enough soil to support a small stand. Far too much is made of the terrain. Nearly every major building project involves shovelling dirt in or out.

Besides I'm only talking a single tier job not something the size of the main stand.

 

[innsaneink]

Didnt say it was impossible, close to it though….but it is very steep and highly impractical...theres a road at the bottom

Youd need fill back to halfway on LO #2 to support something seating several hundred people at the minimum

 

[Yossarian]

I really don't think a small stand is out of the question based on engineering/geography concerns…

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Leichhardt+Aquatic+Centre&hl=en≪=-33.867841,151.155524&spn=0.000869,0.004128&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=65.357904,135.263672&hq=Aquatic+Centre&hnear=Leichhardt+New+South+Wales&t=h&fll=-33.868705,151.154999&fspn=0.00767,0.016512&layer=c&cbll=-33.867842,151.155525&panoid=Vt_pHtkUaeDgVps_Tnb7FQ&cbp=11,238.51,,0,0&z=19

 

[steve-o]

I really don't think a small stand is out of the question based on engineering/geography concerns…

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Leichhardt+Aquatic+Centre&hl=en≪=-33.867841,151.155524&spn=0.000869,0.004128&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=65.357904,135.263672&hq=Aquatic+Centre&hnear=Leichhardt+New+South+Wales&t=h&fll=-33.868705,151.154999&fspn=0.00767,0.016512&layer=c&cbll=-33.867842,151.155525&panoid=Vt_pHtkUaeDgVps_Tnb7FQ&cbp=11,238.51,,0,0&z=19

yep, get rid of those trees and it looks fine to me

 

[tigergirlz]

Will Leichhardt be ready for Round 1?

 

[Balmain_Bug]

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/18127849.jpg

A single tier, open deck grandstand, exactly like the old Doug WALTERS stand at the SCG holds a lot of people, can easily be built on the Northern and, with a wonderful seated concourse underneath it which would escalate at the existing pitch angle of the current seating.

Such stand can be the width of the field from sideline to sideline and it would make a stunning addition to Leichhardt Oval pushing comfortable capacity well past the 25,000 mark.

I know for a fact that such a development would not be too difficult to pass.

This is what is currently being looked at now and if Sydney FC can be convinced to take some games there, it will become a reality.

 

[Balmain_Bug]

I know that the angle of the hill is also a great concern with those interested in upgrading the ground. There are several blind spots on the ground, namely any area near the eastern sidelines near each tryline if viewed from midway up the hill upon any part of the hill.

Thousands of tonnes of road base and soil is required to get the hill back to the angle that it originally was when the ground underwent a major overhaul during the 1970s when the configuration of the ground was changed (from east-west to north-south) .

There is a photo which I will find which when showed in comparision now, shows the hill has flattened out substantially and is no where near as consistantly steep from top to bottom as it once was.

If these changes are attended to, with a new toilet ammenities block on the hill which is large enough to cope, the ground will be a marvel once again. At the moment, the creature comforts on the hill are very very poor.