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An open letter to all attending Tahs v Canes ...

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S

Spook

Guest
This why the AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) Brisbane moment was so fantastic. Massive passion.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Rugby smart arse said:
I know what the issue is with the tah fans, and it boils down to one thing - lack of organisation not allowing punters to get drunk. Ive been going to Super games at SFS for about 10 years now, and 10 years ago, even though the tahs were shitter than they are currently (see how far we've come?) the fans were always into it, and its because they were drunk. The traffic around the SFS was not nearly as bad and so people got there earlier. And when you're standing around pre game, you start hitting the beers. And if traffic was bad, say on a friday night, they would delay kick off 15 minutes to let more people come in but Fox has killed that idea. Also, the SFS catering management all changed, and I've never seen a more incompetent group of sports ground caterers anywhere in the world (keep in mind several of the Bali 9 worked there). Consequently, getting a beer pre game now at the SFS is like getting a licence renewel at the RTA. Lots of standing around with nothing to look at. Post games also used to be an event (what ever happened to Saddle Rash?) so there was a whole culture of Big Night Out at the Rugby which isnt there anymore.

Now when I get to a game at SFS, no one (myself included) can be bothered getting on it and everyone sits back and watches the rugby, murmuring comments to each other about how Hangers stands too deep, or how Waugh seagulls on the wing too often.

The best rugby year at the SFS was when Hahn was a sponsor and they had PET bottles on sales all over the place. :thumb

For a change you didn't waste 20 mins standing in a queue for a flat VB
 

TheRiddler

Dave Cowper (27)
fatprop said:
I like to watch the game and have a bit of banter with guys about me and enjoy a bear.

I understand there are websites that cater for tastes such as yours - and possibly the odd club or two on Oxford Street you could pop into on the way home.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
TheRiddler said:
fatprop said:
I like to watch the game and have a bit of banter with guys about me and enjoy a bear.

I understand there are websites that cater for tastes such as yours - and possibly the odd club or two on Oxford Street you could pop into on the way home.

:lmao: typo, not a Freudian slip
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
TheRiddler said:
I understand there are websites that cater for tastes such as yours - and possibly the odd club or two
on Oxford Street you could pop into on the way home.

For a hairy man named Bruce :)
 

waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
Rugby smart arse said:
I know what the issue is with the tah fans, and it boils down to one thing - lack of organisation not allowing punters to get drunk. Ive been going to Super games at SFS for about 10 years now, and 10 years ago, even though the tahs were shitter than they are currently (see how far we've come?) the fans were always into it, and its because they were drunk. The traffic around the SFS was not nearly as bad and so people got there earlier. And when you're standing around pre game, you start hitting the beers. And if traffic was bad, say on a friday night, they would delay kick off 15 minutes to let more people come in but Fox has killed that idea. Also, the SFS catering management all changed, and I've never seen a more incompetent group of sports ground caterers anywhere in the world (keep in mind several of the Bali 9 worked there). Consequently, getting a beer pre game now at the SFS is like getting a licence renewel at the RTA. Lots of standing around with nothing to look at. Post games also used to be an event (what ever happened to Saddle Rash?) so there was a whole culture of Big Night Out at the Rugby which isnt there anymore.

Now when I get to a game at SFS, no one (myself included) can be bothered getting on it and everyone sits back and watches the rugby, murmuring comments to each other about how Hangers stands too deep, or how Waugh seagulls on the wing too often.

i think the main thing missing is saddle rash, the tractor coming out with 15 minutes to go inching down the sideline and then parking in front of the bundy bar, the hot but slightly to old to look at lead singer. the cowboy hats, the campy covers. Bring back saddle rash and then you will see the fans flock.
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Yep. He occasionally writes good stuff Smithy and he should have quoted me. I would have sent him my ABN with generous terms (14 days, $100 per word).
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
BTW - now that we've won, and convincingly: FIRE THE FUCK UP ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND LET'S ROLL THESE fluffybunnyS!
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Well, I've had a few hours now to reflect on the night that was and deliver my verdict. This should prove to be very cathartic:

Pathetic.

While we're all happy to bask in the glow of a win and the fact we're in the semis, the event as an experience was utter shite. I say this not just from the point of view of someone trying to take their wife out for her birthday, and have a good time wihle doing it, but because the SFS experience is just not one I'll ever entertain again.

Firstly, there was the two hours to get to the ground. Sure, I live out west, and sure, there were lots of people trying to get to that area of Sydney. Mrs TA holds the theory that some of them were going home from work, which I dismiss on the back of the belief that only an idiot would live on the lower north shore and work anywhere but the CBD or North Sydney.

But I LeeGrant...

I sat in 10km/h traffic from the Lane Cove Tunnel right the way through to getting out of the Eastern Distributor. Which I had to do at Kings Cross because both of us were busting to piss from the time we'd already spent in the car. When we finally got back onto Anzac Parade (having found no toilets due to the fact that no-one has public toilets in the Eastern Suburbs because of the drug problems) the traffic to get into the ground was still shit, partly because of the lights on the bus lane that no buses were apparently using, and partly because the parking cashiers in place were obviously hired out from the sheltered workshop. To be fair, even people with an IQ above 70 would had trouble identifying correct currency in the dark, because the stupid fuckers organising things had neglected to provide their staff with headlamps. Dickheads in Audis kept giving them $50 to change as well. Carry some lobsters you useless shower of bastards.

Then there were the utterly useless parking attendants themselves. Give someone a glowing orange dildo and they think they've got a job. Sadly, they're wrong, and I think in future such tasks should be performed by work-for-the-dole applicants or day release convicts. At least they might look like they want to be there.

Access to venue = fail

Once parked, toilets became the urgent necessity, and rather that provide some on the Hordern Pavilion forecourt we had to go to the Fox & Lion, climb the endless stairs, and piss there because some fool thought having all your pipe work upstairs would be safer and more environmentally friendly. Bladders relieved, we then walked the marathon distance to the ground, which I've determined is in easily the worst fucking location available for a football stadium in Sydney.

Upon arriving at the front gates and asking if there was a way I could cut through to Gate H instead of walking right around the ground, I was met with blank stares by the "security" fucktards, who rather than displaying any knowledge about the ground they were protecting, simply pointed at the sign for Gate H being around the other side of the ground and mumbled. I snapped and asked why the fuck they didn't have a proper walkway through the southern side of the ground so that it wasn't a complete clusterfuck to get into.

Another 10 minutes passed in fuming silence for Mrs TA (whose feet were sore from a day at work, and who was trying to put a good face on it) while I busily got to airing every expletive in my vocabulary in new and interesting combinations, and pointing most of them at the Eastern Suburbs in general, in the knowledge that facilities inside the ground were more appalling than those without.

Access to ground = fail

Finally we arrived at Gate H, just as the halftime siren sounded. Taking a breather, we found our seats next to our friends (the organiser apologised profusely even though it wasn't her fault) and settled in for the halftime entertainment, which was lacklustre as usual. The seats, however, were excellent - Row H in Bay 37 down near the sideline.

At this point I noticed that I was sitting in a sea of people in suits, all muttering about mundane shit like the stock market or interest rates instead of the rugby. The old farts sitting behind me clearly had no idea about the game itself and were probably only there because they were on the bench of the school fourth XV and felt obligated to pay back the game that had given them so much ::) There was also a couple of complete douchebags sitting in front of me, in tan coloured corduroy jackets, with their mates in suits.

When the game recommenced, the womenfolk tottered off to get drinks (returning some time close to 20 minutes later), and I commenced my usual practice of yelling at the ref and getting into the Kiwis while the Tahs' ran amok. Douchebag #1 would turn around after every exclamation (and no expletives - there were ladies present), and look at me like I was from another planet. After the third time I gave him the evil eye, but the fucker kept on doing it. I had to be physically restrained, and loudly remarked to my mate "I reckon people who don't stand up and cheer should piss off home to watch it on TV", which drew no response.

All the people around me in Bay 37 seemed amazed that this large bald man was into the game so much, while they were clearly just there to exchange trading tips. And sure, the crowd went up when something happened, but most of the time they just sat there like stale turds watching the world go by.

Crowd atmosphere = fail

At this point Mrs TA arrived with a welcome, but weak and overpriced alcoholic beverage. So in addition to missing the first half due to shitty ground access, my wife missed another quarter of the game because the SFS is just shit when it comes to customer service.

Facilities = fail

I looked up and noticed the attendance was a tick under 32K. I don't give a shit what anyone here says, but what was effectively a home quarterfinal couldn't draw at least 37K???

Waratahs supporters = fail fail fail fail fail FAIL!!!!!

The game was hotting up and the Tahs had their bonus point. It became apparent that the Canes couldn't get their offload game going and things weren't clicking for them. Victory was in sight and when the hooter went, I was overjoyed that we made the finals again. In fact, so overjoyed I don't care what happens next week because the Tahs had already met my expectations.

Waratahs = success!!!

Then I realised they were letting people out onto the ground, so when the hooter sounded I was in there (see attached pics). This is a great initiative from the NSWRU and should be persisted with.

NSWRU idea = success!!! (even though its not original​

Once I'd had my fill, realising already that it may be my last opportunity to get out on the SFS and meet some players (the back of my mind had already ruled out returning next year), we headed off to try and get a drink and somewhere to sit down. I figured, seeing as how we'd have to wait for traffic to clear, we might try either the Captain Cook or the Local Taphouse where certain miscreants were reputed to hang out. Both of them had a queue to get in, so we waited for the Taphouse (Mrs TA being hot helps when attending such venues) and after going upstairs and finding out the place was overcrowded and smelled like frying shit, we left, and walked back to the cars. I think I may have passed waratahjesus on the way if the blue coat and funny hat were anything to go by.

Eastern Suburbs ale houses = fail

After getting to the first car (in the Members) we decided that the whole of the Eastern Suburbs was shite, so meeting at Epoque Belgian Beer Cafe might be an option for some late night mussels or even some wedges or fries. After clearing Anzac Parade it was a quick drive into Cammeray and, true to form for the whole night, their kitchen closed 15 minutes before we arrived.

Eastern Suburbs in general = fail

So that's it I guess - no more SFS for me, though it must be noted I'd happily go to the SCG for a Swans game, because the atmosphere makes the Tahs games look like a 5th Division game by comparison, the facilities are far superior, there isn't as much fucking walking involved, and there is less kicking at an AFL game these days.

I'm sure all of you will have varying opinions on what I could have done differently to enhance the experience, but you'd be wrong.

What I want out of a night at the footy is to get there in reasonable time, with parking close to the venue, and decent facilities in the ground. Shit - trade the parking out for decent public transport and you still fail because buses have to deal with cars (why the fuck they spent all that money on the dud Airport rail line when they could have gone down Anzac parade is beyond me). And the public transport in Sydney doesn't cater for anyone west of Strathfield after 8PM - that's why nobody uses it and therefore it never gets better (vicious cycle).

The SFS is built with 40,000 seats but caters like a place that will hold 20,000 people. The tickets are overpriced. The quality of the game on offer is always questionable and the crowd is as limp as boiled asparagus. Asking me to part with my hard-earned for that kind of night out is just not reasonable at all.

If I had last night to do over again, I would have taken Mrs TA to see Iron Man 2 in the Gold Class cinema. It would have cost less and been more fun.
 

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waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
sorry NTA, but thats a whinge even for you.
dont understand the SCG over SFS crap, same service people, same parking people, same prices, same traffic problems.
honestly, the walking to?, the sfs is fifty metres up the road, not to mention that your ticket can pretty much get you in every gate bar the members entry meaning you could have gone right into the stadium and walked round the concourse to save time.

there is a belgiam beir cafe at fox studios, there kitchen closes at 12.

i caught a train in and walked the fifteen minutes up the hill to the ground, fantastic, stopped a few times for drinks, then went to the tah bar which is now in the scg members lounge, fantastic.

the overpriced tickets are a bit of a worry, you bought expensive so you could watch the game with the people who can afford expensive tickets and therefore they sit on there hands, i payed 20 bucks sat witht eh plebs and yelled and had funt he whole night, view isnt as good, but if you want actual fan interaction thats where it is.

all in all i had a great night, im sorry yours didnt work out as planed but maybe you should look at your planning before shifting the blame on something you have spent the whole year hating on.
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
waratahjesus said:
sorry NTA, but thats a whinge even for you.

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

I have sat in nearly every area of that ground from Members and Corporate boxes down to the $18 tickets back in the good old days where you got no view except from end-on, and the atmosphere is still shit regardless. It isn't just the people around me, its the fact that the majority of the crowd might as well be home in their lounge rooms.


waratahjesus said:
dont understand the SCG over SFS crap, same service people, same parking people, same prices, same traffic problems.

The difference is more value. You will never get it because you like to wear a loud coat and believe that fanaticism means no criticism. And you might want to re-evaluate your estimate of 50 metres.
 

matty_k

Peter Johnson (47)
I was up in the Members stand and had a great time.
Everyone was into the game even the old and grumbling 'Canes supporter beside me was enjoying his grumbling.
 

waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
NTA said:
waratahjesus said:
sorry NTA, but thats a whinge even for you.

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

I have sat in nearly every area of that ground from Members and Corporate boxes down to the $18 tickets back in the good old days where you got no view except from end-on, and the atmosphere is still shit regardless. It isn't just the people around me, its the fact that the majority of the crowd might as well be home in their lounge rooms.


waratahjesus said:
dont understand the SCG over SFS crap, same service people, same parking people, same prices, same traffic problems.

The difference is more value. You will never get it because you like to wear a loud coat and believe that fanaticism means no criticism. And you might want to re-evaluate your estimate of 50 metres.

it means your whole year has been spent going on a fair amount of negative rants there NTA, its becoming white noise.
how is the scg better value? as far as paying to watch rugby going to the scg to watch the swans would make little to no sense. ticket prices start at the same 20 bucks, beer is the same price, parking is the same price, if by saying more value you mean the game goes longer then go watch cricket, even better value.

my 'fanatacism' of wearing a loud coat meeting people and getting the crowd around me is exactly what you were asking people to do isnt it?, i do it at every game, i travel to games, i support the team loudly and have a great time, i do it all from the cheap seats that have a head on view and i make alot of friends who i enjoy a beer or two with after games.

you had a bad night, but bitching about it and swering at people along the way isnt going to get you anywhere, maybe if you turn that frown upside down and use a bit of elbow grease in trying to love your neighbour you might just get a little bit of good karma back along the way.

and you know what, i do complain, when things are poorly organised or i have ideas that i think would benifit the team, its just i ring the marketing manager and we have a chat about things, not sit in my new homeworld kit home in the hills rubbing my hands together and brooding.
 

the gambler

Dave Cowper (27)
Sorry to hear you had a bad night NTA. To give a different perspective

5pm - Submit tips and make changes to Fantasy side - Thought I was going to be working till 10.30 so at this stage not very happy.

6pm - Recieve the great news that I didnt have to work.

6.15 - Leave Pyrmont

6.30 - Arrive home, free park outside my front door, change of shirt, spray of deoderant, jumper with leather shoulders and arm patches put on ready for night

6.35 - First of 2 quick sparkling ales at the Dudley.

6.55 Realise havent eaten a thing all day so walk to the Grand National

7.00 Order steak and beer.

7.10 Steak arrives and 2nd beer purchased.

7.25 Steaks and beer finished, time to walk to the ground.

7.35 Arrive at ground . Quick walk around to other side of field, meet my ticket for the night, get to seat 5mins late but happy wit the night so far.

7.50 Think I should buy a beer for the father of the girl who gave me a ticket. See the queue and decide I would buy him one after the game instead.

9.30 Leave the ground a very happy supporter. Sat within 5 seats of Thomo's favourite Australian and he also seemed happy with the Tahs play. Walk up the hill and go to a pub that changes it's name every 2nd week. Beers are easily got, big crowd of mates and happily realise that I would still be at work if it wasnt for the last minute swap of schedules.

2.00 Started to walk home when realised I hadnt eaten for the day (Well it had been 2 hours.) Taxi "Kings Cross Please buddy! Oportos, next to the coke sign"

2.20 SMS "If I bring you nuggets will I get lyckt?" (Fat fingers and drunk - not a good time to message booty call girl)

2.21 SMS "Sure, BBQ Sauce"

2.40 Passed out

8.00 Leave BCG's taking cold nuggets with me

8.30 Read Growdens typically negative report while eating microwaved Oportos nuggets. As Fitzy would say, Gotta Love this City.
 

mark_s

Chilla Wilson (44)
matty_k said:
I was up in the Members stand and had a great time.
Everyone was into the game even the old and grumbling 'Canes supporter beside me was enjoying his grumbling.

Ditto
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Glad to hear you had a good one gambler. Sounds like, from the point where you got off work, it was a great night :thumb


how is the scg better value?

Quicker service. Easier access. Better crowd who know how to support this team. Have you read anything on this thread so far? The games are equally as good to watch from where I'm sitting - and in fact Aussie Rules is much better to watch live than it is on TV. Rugby is much the same either way. So I go to live rugby for the atmosphere in the game I love, and come away disappointed every time.

I can't fault the Waratahs last night of course - they were brilliant. But is the crowd good enough for them?

If the services management are the same at both venues, then why is one consistently awful to get food or beverage while the other is surprisingly easy? Length of game may have something to do with it, sure, but I'm talking a lineup of of 30 people minimum versus not-even-one person in queue at the SCG.

I actually applaud your belief, and your support of the team. You are at the end of the scale that I wish more people were closer to, but sadly the VAST majority aren't. They vote either with their feet by not going to games, or with their silence when they actually do. As I said above: it is pathetic. You try to get them going - believe me, I've tried - and they're just not interested.

I've been to one Swans game and one Tahs game this year, both of which were convincing victories to the home side. Even taking the shit Friday night traffic out of the equation and the Swans are still coming up trumps; the Tahs games aren't as well supported, managed, or recognised in Sydney because of rugby's long-held exclusivity. And the fans are generally shit compared to the Swans; Swans fans are a broad cross-section of the community, and are friendly, outgoing, and far more tribal. Most of the rugby fans are too busy worrying about their portofolio to even watch the game half the time unless some oaf is yelling obscenities at the ref. I'll bet you never see the fuckers at a club game either.


sit in my new homeworld kit home in the hills rubbing my hands together and brooding.

The smug people on this forum might sit back and say "well that just proves my point" to a comment like that. You don't know me that well, so you won't take offence when I type this out. You may, however, take comfort in the fact that I speak my mind, and feel much better for having typed it:

Take that fucked-up comment, wrap your coat and hat around it, and shove all three up your arse alongside your head, you shit-for-brains, imbecilic fluffybunny. I bust my arse to do things for rugby in my club, my district, and my state, even when the powers that be in their Eastern Suburbs ivory tower shit on us from on high. I do these things, for free, out of love of the game. I am on the committee of my club and am so busy organising things, running a website, and then helping out on Saturdays I barely get to play. I still pay my rego to support the bloated fuckwits you seem to think shit gold, because I know at least part of it is going to growing my club.

In the meantime, our parent union continues to stroke the pole of the old boys' clubs with one hand while holding us arm's length with another - well, when we're not winning titles that they use to promote "the game in Western Sydney" while Parramatta slowly suffocate in the vacuum of money that they can't draw on from lawyers and executives who used to play there.

I see other sports in this nation get the support they demand, and piss it away on gang-rape cases and salary cap rorts. I see the management at the NSWRU and NSWSRU constantly fuck up, despite giving them feedback (you're not the only one with a phone), and it fucking shits me.

It never changes. NEVER. There are occasional initiatives they put on like getting onto the SFS turf that are great. But they're so deeply buried in the shitty miasma that is the NSWRU's own sense of self-importance - fully supported by the power brokers in the three eastern suburbs club - that rugby in this state and in this country is losing its way.

So when I want to take my wife out for a Tahs game, like we used to when we were younger, I expect the powers that be to take some of this service and finance I and my clubmates, and everyone else in the game, have provided, and do things to improve the game. To promote it better, to a wider audience. Instead, I get the same old fucking shit I have all this time.

Actually, its worse than it used to be, even without the traffic. I'm sick to my stomach over gritting my teeth and accepting it, and shit-eater comments like yours just prove to me that rugby has no more to offer me at the SFS.

So, (are you sitting comfortably on that hat you fucktard?), I'm fucking done with that shit. You can take your attitude about westies and slap yourself around the cock (should you find it) for all I care.
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Had a superb night... here's the highlights

5pm left work and walked to Circular Quay
5:25 arrived at the Captain Cook, grabbed a beer and watch first half of the Donkeys
6:10 walked across the park to the SFS, bought two cheap seats and mat WJ and Sage at the gates
6:20 went looking for the new TahBar, and ran into the entire Hurricanes team trying to find the SFS. Told them to take a left at the gate and it's just across the park. Found the new TahBar, seems it's the mohter fucking MEMBERS STAND at the SCG. So we sat on the balcony drinking beer. Never thought I'd get in there!
6:50 end of the Brumbies game so we moved on from TahBar to the SFS
7:00 entered the SFS, got 4 beers and found our seats. Already a good sized crowd.
The Game - as we were in the cheap seats there were heaps of Hurricanes supporters around us, apparently the doll doesn't pay real well. Heaps of banter back and forth, and we gave Cory Jane heaps of shit for his pink boots. There were two of the dumbest Kiwi's we've ever encountered sitting behind us, amazing to realise these are ones smart enough to leave NZ, imagine what's still in Wellington. They took about 15 minutes to come up with an insult like "you're a faggot" or "flowers are gay". They tried some mum joke to Jesus who absolutely owned one of them "my mum said your dad went alright but has a tiny cock".. shut em up for 20 minutes.
Kurtley's first try was right in front of us, he points directly at us when he scored at 46 seconds in the youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0mOLtrTX8Y

After the game we went to the Tap House, drank some fantastic beers and had many laughs. Met up with Lindo and shook the hand that Cyclo uses to fondle balls all day. Matty_k randomly recognised me as well so was good to meet him.

Got a kebab on the way home, would be in my top 3 best nights at the rugby.
 
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