Fantastic to hear the AFL plans to work with local government on ensuring more grounds are made available for footy. :D
No doubt the NRL would be more than a little concerned about the AFL's latest plans for the northern states, particularly when the NRL is basically nothing more than a NSW/QLD competition.
All footy codes must look on with envy at just how financially powerful the AFL is.
AFL plots its financial future
By Michael Gleeson
March 15, 2006
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... 61607.html
The AFL is in rude health with the annual report revealing record revenues, memberships, TV audiences and match attendances, participation rates at unprecedented levels, a new large broadcast deal and the debt all but wiped out.
Yet, it is plotting more expansion into northern markets and non-football investment strategies for the next 10 years.
Expansion into western Sydney and the Gold Coast, which has seen the AFL form partnerships with councils and governments to set up new ovals and stadia, is the key element of its crystal ball gazing into the next 10 years.
It reflected on the change in the past 10 years - games were at Victoria Park, Princes Park, Whitten Oval and Waverley. Telstra Dome and Telstra Stadium weren't built, Fitzroy was still playing and Port Adelaide was not.
"This game has got enormous capacity to change significantly in a relatively short period of time," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said. "I think in 10 years if we are not playing more games on a weekend each weekend there (Queensland and NSW) I think we would be disappointed. If we don't, I think we will miss out on opportunities . . . We are really keen on having a real crack now that we have got additional surplus funds to expand into NSW and Queensland in a really significant way."
The first stage is to continue to migrate games north, which might hint at shifting the Kangaroos from Canberra to a deal with Southport.
A 20,000-capacity boutique AFL stadium is being built in Blacktown in Sydney's west, which could be used for pre-season matches.
Demetriou said the AFL was looking at a radio licence, signage rights, ticketing and venue management. "We don't see it as a risk."
The AFL will confront the AFL Players Association over how much of the $780 million TV rights deal should go to the players. He also warned that attendance records would likely be broken over the next two years with the redeveloped MCG, and work on new stands at Skilled Stadium and the Gabba.
A record 6.28 million people went to games last year, four million people watched games on TV and 1.1 million fans listened to games on radio every week.
The AFL recorded $203 million in revenue, an operating surplus of $130 million, and gave $92 million to its 16 clubs.
