The New Punt Rd

[DavidSSS]

Looks good, I figure the previous incarnation did not cater for playing games there so they have had to change it.

Where will the cups be displayed and is there room for a museum I wonder.

Will be sad to see the old stand go, not sure when they named it the Jack Dyer Stand but it wasn't called that back in the 1970s. But, the old stand is a wreck so so I am less fussed than I would otherwise be. Also, it isn't really anything special. I seem to recall last time I was there that some of the old Social Club is still attached to the Swinburne Centre, I figure that will go as it was awful. The old concrete stand went years ago and I don't think has been missed so I figure we can lose the 1914 stand.

Nice to see they are going to make the ground MCG size, bloody hard given the very limited space available. That Punt Rd wing has been miniscule since, what, the 1960s when they widened Punt Rd. They really need to get a bit more space.

Good to see they are going ahead with this given the problems of 2020. Mind you, if they borrow to fund this the interest rate will be very low.

I just hope they are building enough facilities to fit everything in and the design has some room for later expansion if needed.

DS

 

[Tigers of Old]

One thing for the old stand to be pulled down but I'm very surprised & a touch disappointed that the Jack Dyer name has been removed for the William Cooper Centre. I'm sure William Cooper was a great indigenous activist but the overwhelming number of Richmond people have no connection to that. Reckon they missed an opportunity to rename the new stand the same as the old stand to keep traditionalists happy. I'm assuming the William Cooper name was used because it will house the KGI. If that's the way we got the funding then so be it but it's still an opportunity missed IMO.
Hard to keep everyone happy. Onward we go.

 

[Stig]

Anyone tell me how many games William Cooper played for the Tiges ? I am all about change and modernisation but you need to keep some tradition

 

[Tenacious]

So they've had the foresight to move the stand back to make the ground MCG-size...

Yet another reason we're better than Geelong.

My main take from the plan too - having an MCG sized oval is sensational

 

[Dont Argue]

One thing for the old stand to be pulled down but I'm very surprised & a touch disappointed that the Jack Dyer name has been removed for the William Cooper Centre. I'm sure William Cooper was a great indigenous activist but the overwhelming number of Richmond people have no connection to that. Reckon they missed an opportunity to rename the new stand the same as the old stand to keep traditionalists happy. I'm assuming the William Cooper name was used because it will house the KGI. If that's the way we got the funding then so be it but it's still an opportunity missed IMO.
Hard to keep everyone happy. Onward we go.

Surely it wouldn’t be hard to call the building the William Cooper Centre but name the stand that faces the ground after Jack Dyer ?

 

[22nd Man]

Given all the empty offices all over CBD and inner Melbourne I hope that office space isn't a major component of the development. But if the govt was giving me money to build me offices I would take it.

 

[22nd Man]

Sad to see the old stand go. I thought they wouldve renovated it.
Its from 1914 over a 100yrs old.
its a pity the Jack Dyer name will be lost too. Richmond theme gone.
Also understand the need to update the facilities and give it a more community engagement.

Best thing about it used to be the Tigers painted on the roof.

 

[22nd Man]

Wish I could trust their design committee however I’m still reeling from the last attempt.
Anyone who signed off on the previous build should be totally removed from the process. Breathtakingly hideous and impractical. Pity they can’t pull the facade off and start again.

I note they’re building an underground car park which makes sense. Dusty does need somewhere safe to leave his car after winning Premierships

And get rid of the red.....

 

[artball]

looks like an expensive roof ..

 

[Tigermad2005]

Rename the oval to the jack dyer oval

 

[Al Bundy]

Best thing about it used to be the Tigers painted on the roof.

I remember that. Was really good but was painted over

 

[Ridley]

Rename the oval to the jack dyer oval

Really good idea

 

[Al Bundy]

The bit that I am somewhat unhappy about is that we lose a complete connection to the RFC imo.
In reality, this new centre & naming of it appears nothing to do with RFC but a government facility that RFC will be using now.

Its like RFC appearnace has been cleansed from the oval with the removal of the 1914 stand. I miss that painted tiger on the roof of the old stand

Its just a hunch but believe RFC's hand might have been forced on this matter to obtain funding. Its upgrade on facilites that will be a benefit of the club and in the end Im fine by me, just upset a touch the RFC is removed. More people coming to the centre could attract more memberships too.

I wish they couldve have somehow kept the upper part of the old stand and moved it across to the pocket and behind the goals with just a general public/spectator undercover seating area. Wouldve have been nice and painted the old Tiger back on the roof !


I wish RFC had bought the land somehow years ago

 

[Tigers of Old]

Rename the oval to the jack dyer oval

Send the club that idea!

 

[Ridley]

One thing for the old stand to be pulled down but I'm very surprised & a touch disappointed that the Jack Dyer name has been removed for the William Cooper Centre. I'm sure William Cooper was a great indigenous activist but the overwhelming number of Richmond people have no connection to that. Reckon they missed an opportunity to rename the new stand the same as the old stand to keep traditionalists happy. I'm assuming the William Cooper name was used because it will house the KGI. If that's the way we got the funding then so be it but it's still an opportunity missed IMO.
Hard to keep everyone happy. Onward we go.

Agree with this Oldie. Very happy for the redevelopment to take place and half the cost will be funded by the Federal and State Governments. How we fund the balance of $30m remains to be seen but I'm sure there will be hefty sponsorships and donations, some of our own cash and some debt involved. Financially we are very strong and more than capable of taking this on without major financial impact to the club. Very pleased that the ground will be made bigger to MCG size as well.

I am a bit surprised by the removal of the Jack Dyer name from the new stand. He is the club talisman and arguably the greatest figure in our history. To replace his name with that of someone who has no connection to the club is an unusual decision. I think the club needs to explain this in more detail. Whilst our involvement in community based programs such as the KGI is admirable and commendable it is still first and foremost the Richmond Football Club.

Anyway all in all it's great news and we have come a long way; a great club to be a part of.

 

[Tenacious]

Surely it wouldn’t be hard to call the building the William Cooper Centre but name the stand that faces the ground after Jack Dyer ?

And the mud room area comprising rough floor mats and brushes that the players enter after training to wipe all the shyte off their boots could be called the Paddy Field

 

[TT33]

The bit that I am somewhat unhappy about is that we lose a complete connection to the RFC imo.
In reality, this new centre & naming of it appears nothing to do with RFC but a government facility that RFC will be using now.

Its like RFC appearnace has been cleansed from the oval with the removal of the 1914 stand. I miss that painted tiger on the roof of the old stand

Its just a hunch but believe RFC's hand might have been forced on this matter to obtain funding. Its upgrade on facilites that will be a benefit of the club and in the end Im fine by me, just upset a touch the RFC is removed. More people coming to the centre could attract more memberships too.

I wish they couldve have somehow kept the upper part of the old stand and moved it across to the pocket and behind the goals with just a general public/spectator undercover seating area. Wouldve have been nice and painted the old Tiger back on the roof !


I wish RFC had bought the land somehow years ago

Unfortunately the PRO is part of the Yarra Park precinct & is "Owned" by the State, so that was never an option. I think the club pays a relatively small leasing fee for the rights to use it.

 

[Ridley]

Unfortunately the PRO is part of the Yarra Park precinct & is "Owned" by the State, so that was never an option. I think the club pays a relatively small leasing fee for the rights to use it.

Yep the only way we could ever own our own facility is to move from Punt Road and buy and develop land in the burbs; much like Hawthorn is doing in Dingley. As much as it'd be great to own our facility and have total control I don't think anyone wants to move from our heartland.

 

[wigglyworm]

If they are smart they should make some commemorative items from the wood in the stands. Number them and sell them for 20-50 bucks each. Imagine having a piece that you could hang on the wall or a seat made from the stand.

I reckon they would sell like hot cakes

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Yep the only way we could ever own our own facility is to move from Punt Road and buy and develop land in the burbs; much like Hawthorn is doing in Dingley. As much as it'd be great to own our facility and have total control I don't think anyone wants to move from our heartland.

Well we flirted with Craigieburn at one point. Also an earlier multi-million dollar grant was bestowed in part to "reinstate the Jack Dyer Stand to its former historical form".

Big change in direction after the cricket club was convinced to move.