Manuka Oval Canberra

[RodneyMaynard]

Capacity 13,550 (10,000 seated)

 

[RodneyMaynard]

Had a blast at the GWS v Bulldogs game on Saturday, despite being sunburnt to th epoint of looking like Zoidberg. All of the seats are really close to the action, with great views of mountains and churches creating a nice ambiance.

That being said, there are a significant number of issues with the ground, some of which are stupid beyond belief.

1) The catering is absurd. In the same shed you could buy beer or food, but not at the same time. 2 seperate lines to get alcohol or food, from the same shed. All people working for the same company, but they couldn't give you a sausage if you bought a beer. had to line up twice. absurd.

2) Inadequate toilet facilities. During the breaks the lineup at the mens' toilet shed was massive.

3) I brought a bunch of mates with me, some of whom bought standing room general admission tickets rather than non-reserved seated tickets. Didn't matter though, because once inside the stadium there are NO STAFF WHATSOEVER. You can sit wherever the hell you want, so long as it's not in the reserved seating sections. Amatuerish.

Then there's the news that the ground will be getting lighting for night games.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/lighting-for-manuka-oval/3979746?section=act

This is fantastic news for cricket, but as anyone that's attended a Raiders/Brumbies night game in Canberra will attest, potentially disaterous for footy fans. It's beyond freezing after dark in Canberra winters, and when combined with that wind, could potentially affect crowds in the ACT.

Word has it that Manuka is to be receiving further upgrades in the future, so hopefully some of the issues I raised above will be addressed.

In any case, it's good to have a guarenteed 3 games of footy every year in the ACT

 

[Starburns_]

Had a blast at the GWS v Bulldogs game on Saturday, despite being sunburnt to th epoint of looking like Zoidberg. All of the seats are really close to the action, with great views of mountains and churches creating a nice ambiance.

That being said, there are a significant number of issues with the ground, some of which are stupid beyond belief.

1) The catering is absurd. In the same shed you could buy beer or food, but not at the same time. 2 seperate lines to get alcohol or food, from the same shed. All people working for the same company, but they couldn't give you a sausage if you bought a beer. had to line up twice. absurd.

2) Inadequate toilet facilities. During the breaks the lineup at the mens' toilet shed was massive.

3) I brought a bunch of mates with me, some of whom bought standing room general admission tickets rather than non-reserved seated tickets. Didn't matter though, because once inside the stadium there are NO STAFF WHATSOEVER. You can sit wherever the hell you want, so long as it's not in the reserved seating sections. Amatuerish.

Then there's the news that the ground will be getting lighting for night games.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/lighting-for-manuka-oval/3979746?section=act

This is fantastic news for cricket, but as anyone that's attended a Raiders/Brumbies night game in Canberra will attest, potentially disaterous for footy fans. It's beyond freezing after dark in Canberra winters, and when combined with that wind, could potentially affect crowds in the ACT.

Word has it that Manuka is to be receiving further upgrades in the future, so hopefully some of the issues I raised above will be addressed.

In any case, it's good to have a guarenteed 3 games of footy every year in the ACT

From the sound of things the money would be better spent upgrading that "shed", especially since the chances of Canberra getting a night AFL game is virtually zero.

 

[Prince Imperial]

Been there a couple of times in recent year and really enjoyed the experience and feel of the ground. Very pleasant to enjoy a brunch pre-game in the cafes nearby.

I agree with the lack of toilet facilities and there was also a real lack of exit points from the ground.

Maybe an early season night game for GWS there whilst Skoda is being used for the Show would work out well and reduce the cold factor.

 

[Rob]

I wouldn't be too worried about night games. York Park in Launceston has TV quality lights as well but they never schedule night games there. Might get a night pre-season game or 2.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Its strange to see lights being funded. A few months back the ACT government was pushing to upgrade the rectangle at Bruce and build an oval next to it. Manuka is heritage listed which would imping a bit on improvements.
Its a secondary ground with a few games a year, spending a real lot on it isn't likely. The toilets and food/drink could do with an upgrade,but otherwise it does its job as a secondary ground. A stand on the scoreboard side in place of some of the standing room would be nice but won't happen any time soon.
A very early season twilight game might happen, but day games are better for Canberra anyway (not just because of the weather, a reasonable portion of the crowd travel from parts of southern NSW and those with kids would not want late night trips home).

 

[jethro11]

It's a really nice ground, and in a very nice location too. Very much similar to some of the old suburban grounds. It's nice to be able to have a kick after a NEAFL game on a quality ground with a net.

I believe the implementation of lights is part of canberra's bid to get a team in the BBL, although I'd that would be a while off.

 

[Clark G]

Agree with what others have said, day games are good for Canberra, not just because of the cold winter nights, but during the day in winter it is still sunny a lot of the time which stops it from being too bad. I suspect lights would only be used for cricket during summer and maybe a pre-season match/match in the non-winter months for the AFL.

 

[workhorse]

Had a blast at the GWS v Bulldogs game on Saturday, despite being sunburnt to th epoint of looking like Zoidberg. All of the seats are really close to the action, with great views of mountains and churches creating a nice ambiance.

That being said, there are a significant number of issues with the ground, some of which are stupid beyond belief.

In 2004 I was in Canberra and my mates and I walked over to Manuka Oval on a sunday, climbed through an incredibly large hole in the fence, walked up into the stand and down onto the ground and kicked the footy for a couple of hours.

 

[CarltonKid07]

Isnt Manuka the largest dimension ground that AFL is played on?

 

[Clark G]

After the Bulldogs and Swans played at Manuka in 2010 me and some mates got free food from the food stalls on the way out! Not sure if it was a one-off or a regular thing as it is the only time I went for food after a game.

 

[mick7]

Any footy in Canberra is good footy.

 

[DardySingh360]

Isnt Manuka the largest dimension ground that AFL is played on?

Definitely not goal to goal, could be wing to wing I guess?

 

[West_Coast_Eagles]

Correct me if im wrong but is the scoreboard at manauka the old mcg scoreboard?

 

[RodneyMaynard]

Correct me if im wrong but is the scoreboard at manauka the old mcg scoreboard?

Certainly is.

 

[seanoff]

Then there's the news that the ground will be getting lighting for night games.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/lighting-for-manuka-oval/3979746?section=act

This is fantastic news for cricket, but as anyone that's attended a Raiders/Brumbies night game in Canberra will attest, potentially disaterous for footy fans. It's beyond freezing after dark in Canberra winters, and when combined with that wind, could potentially affect crowds in the ACT.

**** the crowd. I've played at night in Canberra. i had the webbing on my hand split by the frost.

have to play night games early or late in the season, playing them in June/July would be cruel.

 

[Sprout]

They definitely need to get the toilet situation sorted cause it's a shambles. Hopefully that's high on the agenda for the upgrade. It's a great Oval though.

 

[RodneyMaynard]

New lights are great. Toilets are still a shambles though.

 

[brisbane13]

Isnt Manuka the largest dimension ground that AFL is played on?

maybe that or subacio?
the largest ground where fc cricket is played on in Australia according to channel 9, that means its bigger than the MCG WACCA, Adeliade SCG ovals field wise

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Ordinary ground in and ordinary city.

 

[fabulousphil]

maybe that or subacio?
the largest ground where fc cricket is played on in Australia according to channel 9, that means its bigger than the MCG WACCA, Adeliade SCG ovals field wise

I have played on the ground plenty of times and have been told that it is bigger than the MCG, and after running around on it, i believe it.

 

[seanoff]

maybe that or subacio?
the largest ground where fc cricket is played on in Australia according to channel 9, that means its bigger than the MCG WACCA, Adeliade SCG ovals field wise

It is way bigger than Subi and dwarfs the MCG

Subi is 175.6 x 122.4

Manuka is 179 x 150

Mcg 160 x 141

 

[TheOz]

It's a great ground however the atmosphere is lacking, the crowds are very quiet.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

It's a great ground however the atmosphere is lacking, the crowds are very quiet.

A lot of the crowd at any given match are neutrals. There are a lot of ex-pats from Vic, SA and Tas in Canberra who have other teams and go to any game that is on (provided their team isn't playing at the same time). Neutrals probably make up he majority in any game and don't tend to make us much noise. Plus, those that are genuine GWS converts often don't have much to cheer; besides the Gold Coast game last year.
Crowds are also small, and much of the ground is open meaning noise escapes easier than if the whole of the crowd had a roof over their heads.
Its a nice secondary ground, with some food, drink, toilet, and transport issues that can be expected from a part-time venue. Nothing more, nothing less. It is quite serviceable for the job it is likely to have in the forseeable future - that is, a few relatively low profile games a year.

 

[fabulousphil]

It's a great ground however the atmosphere is lacking, the crowds are very quiet.

Fair enough, but lets face it, GWS is no Canberra team, neither is probably the next favourite, or the team that plays there the second most ( over the years) . .. The Sydney Swans, in fact the most popular AFL club in Canberra is Collingwood.

However if Canberra actually got its own team then you may see some real barracking.


Most popular sports teams in Canberra

Canberra Raiders 10%

Collingwood 9%

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/10/16/national-survey-says-afl-most-popular/