'Early Christmas present': MCG tenant clubs get multi-million-dollar windfall
By Caroline Wilson
June 3, 2020
The AFL's six MCG tenant clubs have landed a multi-million-dollar windfall under a COVID-19 emergency deal struck between Australian Rules football and its premier stadium.
Collingwood, Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton and Essendon will each receive home game payments estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000 per match for the remainder of the shortened season.
The MCG's six tenant clubs will receive a financial boost for home matches.CREDIT:JOE ARMAO
MCC boss Stuart Fox is understood to have broken the good news to the six respective club chiefs – all of whom had anticipated no match returns for the remainder of 2020 – in recent days.
The unscheduled match returns – which will guarantee Richmond, Melbourne and Collingwood more than a previously unbudgeted $1 million each – were described by one senior executive as "an early Christmas present".
The complex deal, negotiated over the past fortnight between the MCC's Fox and AFL executive Travis Auld, now places pressure on head office to achieve a similar deal for its Marvel Stadium clubs St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Essendon and Carlton, who split their home games between the two venues, would also benefit.
Fox told the clubs the unforeseen cash boost was in part a goodwill gesture from the stadium in tough times and one that underlined the spirit of the long-term agreement with the AFL and the MCG, which now runs until 2057.
Under the complex new arrangement the AFL will pay the MCG a significantly reduced ground management fee and the stadium in turn will forward the majority of that fee – about $6 million – to the home clubs.
The deal was predicated on the AFL's agreement to meet an albeit reduced rental commitment to the stadium on the condition that most of the money was then passed to the clubs. Generally the MCC receives money back from the AFL in a two-way deal dependent on attendance numbers and total matches, including finals.
Should the season continue without spectators, the MCG will receive no food and beverage revenue, with the AFL controlling and holding the rights to all advertising signage including the scoreboard.
Generally the AFL-MCG deal dictates that the competition delivers the stadium 10 of the 12 best home and away games along with every preliminary final hosted by a Victorian team and the grand final.
Under the revised 2020 fixture the MCG is expected to host a remaining 30-35 home and away games, a prediction still contingent upon state border restrictions.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/early- ... 54z7j.html
MCG tenant clubs get multi-million-dollar windfall
- Beaussie
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MCG tenant clubs get multi-million-dollar windfall
Good news for the MCG clubs. A nice surprise no doubt.
- leeroy*NRL*
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Re: MCG tenant clubs get multi-million-dollar windfall
Yep that handy million or so will go along way especially this Year.
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