Richmond looking at playing games in Hobart [merged]

[one-eyed]

Arocca's turn
CAROLINE WILSON
July 29, 2010
 
NORTH Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca was today due to make his first official foray into exploring the Hobart frontier for his club.

Arocca, who has insisted no deal has been struck with Bellerive Oval, where North could play four games a year from 2012, was scheduled for talks with Cricket Tasmania, two days after Richmond's visit to Bellerive.

The Kangaroos are the only club to have indicated strong interest in a four-game deal, with the Tigers and Melbourne looking at a smaller package and having been told by the AFL that North is the frontrunner.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/aroccas-turn-20100728-10w3o.html

[yellowandback]

When your clubs mission statement reads "will drop pants for food" you end up withering on the vine. North have no soul, let alone shinboner spirit.

[one-eyed]

Tigers in hunt for Bellerive
The Mercury
ADAM SMITH   
July 29, 2010

RICHMOND appears unfazed by speculation rival Victorian club North Melbourne is in pole position to secure AFL matches in Hobart, with club officials continuing to gather information about playing games at Bellerive Oval.

Two Richmond executives held talks with Cricket Tasmania on Tuesday, despite Kangaroos chief executive Eugene Arocca admitting the same day his club is the "front runner" to land home games in the south of the state.

However, an interstate newspaper report yesterday said the Tigers could sell no more than two games to its members given the huge supporter base in Melbourne.

The AFL is understood to be more in favour of seeing North Melbourne set up a second home in Hobart given its battling financial position.

North's membership of 26,953 is the second lowest in the AFL, has dropped 1387 from 2009 and the club has played a number of home games at Etihad Stadium with extremely low attendances that has hit its bottom line hard.

Richmond was the first club to register official interest in hosting matches at Bellerive, with CEO Brendon Gale meeting Premier David Bartlett and CT chairman Tony Harrison last month.

The Kangaroos and Melbourne have joined the mix since then.

Harrison has also spoken to representatives of the AFL, with more meetings planned soon.

"We haven't had any detailed discussions with North Melbourne just yet and Richmond is still interested, there is no doubt about that," Harrison said.

"Basically he [Gale] sent down a couple of his people to have a look at Bellerive. It was an exchange of information, they gave us some information about what is required and we told them what we could do.

"It was quite valuable for us to know what an AFL game would need.

"I've spoken to the AFL, I've talked to AFL people and am planning to talk to them in the next week."

Amid all the speculation, Sport and Recreation Minister David O'Byrne yesterday re-affirmed the Government's No.1 priority was tying Hawthorn up to at least four matches a season at Aurora Stadium.

With Premier David Bartlett back from the US, negotiations are on the verge of proceeding - but a deadline has not been put in place.

The current $16.4 million, five-year deal expires at the end of 2011.

"We are about to commence negotiations, we will sit down with the club very soon. We've got this year to run on the deal and we want to sit down and make sure we can get the best outcome for all Tasmanians by bringing Hawthorn to Tasmania," O'Byrne said.

"We are hopeful we can get extra games, we think that's important, the more games we can get into Tasmania the better.

"We will conclude negotiations when we have got the best deal for Tasmania.'

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/29/162041_afl.html

[mightytiges]

Brayshaw said on the Footy Show nothing has been signed or confirmed yet. Just that North were frontrunners and it'd be a great opportunity for North. It would be funny if as with Hardwick last year when the media went early and said North had beaten us to the punch getting Dimma as coach  , that they were wrong again going early. Not that I'm keen on us playing home games interstate but why would we waste our time with further meetings if North have a Hobart deal practically sewn up

[yellowandback]

If North move 4 home games to Hobart and a few to Ballarat their supporters have every right to jump off as members. They've been lied to by the board. It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.
Richmond actually have a decent support base in Tassie along with the Saints and Hawks. It will be Canberra, Gold Coast and Sydney again for the Kangas.
And it will probably spell the end for the club with a full relocation the only viable option for them.

[richmondrules]

It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.

LOL. I've been thinking this too. AFL really don't take the Tassie people seriously.

AFL : "Hey Tasmainia, here's a rubbish team that you can throw money at because your desperate for football games and they're desperate for a crowd. You're both pathetic so we think it would be a perfect match."

[daniel161]

If North move 4 home games to Hobart and a few to Ballarat their supporters have every right to jump off as members. They've been lied to by the board. It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.
Richmond actually have a decent support base in Tassie along with the Saints and Hawks. It will be Canberra, Gold Coast and Sydney again for the Kangas.
And it will probably spell the end for the club with a full relocation the only viable option for them.

100% correct

to be honest they have no one to blame but themselves.

there are no winners when you porn yourself off to the highest bidder as this slut of a club has done.

Nobody likes gypsys

[Mr Tigra]

the North Melbourne Football club at work.

[mightytiges]

It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.

LOL. I've been thinking this too. AFL really don't take the Tassie people seriously.

AFL : "Hey Tasmainia, here's a rubbish team that you can throw money at because your desperate for football games and they're desperate for a crowd. You're both pathetic so we think it would be a perfect match."

A lot of truth in jest. Time for Tassie to have their own side if the AFL are going to be force feeding the likes of North vs GWS and expect the Tassie taxpayer to pay millions of dollars for the privilege . Small supporter base clubs don't attract crowds nor a decent footy travel market to add to Tassie's economy.

[one-eyed]

Nothing we haven't heard but Caro said earlier tonight that Hobart wants for 4 games. Richmond was willing to play 2 games down there as we didn't believe we could sell more to our members. Melbourne likewise. It looks like we were hoping to share the 4 games (two each) with Melbourne but Hobart wants just the one club which leaves North who are willing to play all 4. The AFL want North to play down as well.

[one-eyed]

Demetriou mentioned today talk about more games at Aurora as well as games at Bellerive. Maybe with North being favoured for Hobart, Richmond could look at a game or two in Launceston?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/99813/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Tassie government backs a full relocation to Apple Isle
August 6, 2010 - 4:55PM

Tasmania will consider a 20-year AFL deal with Hawthorn - but only if the Hawks relocate there.

Tasmanian premier David Bartlett and Hawks president Jeff Kennett have engaged in some public sabre-rattling ahead of re-negotiating the club's successful deal to play home games at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

The contract seems set to continue, especially given the AFL will play extra games when the league expands to 18 teams over the next two years.

Hawthorn and the Tasmanian Government are due to sit down early next week, but publicly at least their relationship has become testy.

On Wednesday, Bartlett questioned Hawthorn's long-term commitment to Tasmania and this prompted Kennett to say the Hawks were prepared to commit to a Launceston deal for 20 years.

"Any 20-year deal with Hawthorn or any other football club would necessarily include full relocation," Bartlett said today.

"I'm not sure what the Hawthorn president or the Melbourne-based fans of Hawthorn think about that, but I'm open to discussions about a full relocation of Hawthorn if there is a 20-year deal on the table."

The premier met with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou in Melbourne today to gauge the league's support for extra games in Tasmania.

North Melbourne and Richmond have also expressed interest in playing home games at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, but the government first want to negotiate the new deal with Hawthorn.

"We want to see more football played in Tasmania, Aurora Stadium remains the home of football in Tasmania in the north," the premier said.

"But we are not opposed to seeing a few games played in the south as well.

"We didn't explicitly discuss the south option, but I have said very clearly to Andrew we're not opposed to that."

Hawthorn currently plays four home games and one pre-season match every year at Aurora Stadium.

Bartlett said he took "great comfort" from Friday's discussions with the league.

"They have clearly indicated a willingness to discuss and negotiate on extra games coming to Tasmania and that informs our negotiations with Hawthorn significantly," he said.

Demetriou is encouraged by the level of interest for games in Tasmania, but said there were several obstacles before Hobart would host matches.

"The government has put its hand up for additional games, Hawthorn have indicated maybe they might play an extra game in Launceston - I think it's all positive," he said.

"(Hobart) is not our decision - ultimately if Bellerive is a suitable venue for AFL football and the government is not opposed to it and we can find a club who can come up with an arrangement with the Tasmanian Cricket Association, then we wouldn't stand in the way, we would support it."

Demetriou said "two or three" clubs had expressed interest in Hobart, with the Western Bulldogs understood to be the other team.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tassie-government-backs-a-full-relocation-to-apple-isle-20100806-11o66.html

[bojangles17]

hmm, caro might just be on the money, the RFC only want to put two  H/A chips on the table, Aurora might be the go..as Hawhtorn wouldn't be inclined to extend themselves and North have walked into our honeytrap and committed to FOUR...ooooohhhhhh Benny, You've done it again

[one-eyed]

Bellerive bid off agenda   
BRETT STUBBS   
August 09, 2010

RICHMOND has conceded to North Melbourne and the AFL in the push to play home games at Bellerive Oval.

Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale - who is also an AFL Tasmania board member - had been in discussions with Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison about playing some home games in Hobart but Richmond president Gary March said yesterday his club was out of the running.

"We spoke to Brendon about investigating the opportunity and having a look at it," March said on radio yesterday.

"It was always a remote chance from our point of view.

"We want to play all our games at the MCG but we would be negligent if we didn't look at the opportunity.

"It had to be a really compelling, financial case for us to consider going to Tasmania.

'The AFL is keen to assist North Melbourne going there and if that's the case, that's great for the competition."

Because of Richmond's resistance to changing four home matches and its huge Melbourne following, the AFL is giving North Melbourne first crack at the untapped southern Tasmanian market should a deal come to fruition.

Another factor was the Kangaroos' inability to attract home crowds, as shown by just 14,891 turning up to Etihad Stadium on Saturday to see North belt Fremantle.

After meeting AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou on Friday, Mr Bartlett also met North Melbourne president James Brayshaw to discuss the Roos playing home games at Bellerive, possibly from 2012.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/08/09/164581_tasmania-news.html