MCG/Docklands stadia deals [merged]

[one-eyed]

I've typed it out from the Age. The figures are roughly around the mark as they are read from graphs rather than exact numbers.

FOOTBALL DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE 2008

            $ (million)

Sydney         16.95
Collingwood   16.4
West Coast   16.2
Fremantle      15.2
Hawthorn      15.1
Geelong        15.08
Brisbane       14.6
St Kilda        14.25
Melbourne     14.2
Adelaide        14.1
Carlton         13.6
Richmond      13.3
Port Adelaide 13.3
Essendon      13.2
W.Bulldogs    12.8
North Melb     12.7




STADIUM RETURNS

Net return from stadium per attendee 2008 ($)

West Coast    41
Fremantle       35
Geelong         31
Sydney          30.5
Brisbane        30
Port Adelaide  22.5
Hawthorn       22
Collingwood    22
W.Bulldogs     21
North Melb      21
Adelaide          19.5
Essendon        18
Melbourne       17
Carlton           15
St Kilda          15
Richmond       13


Top 4 average:  $34.40
Middle average: $22.00
Bottom average: $15.20


Source: The Age, Thurs May 7, 2009

[mightytiges]

Interesting that 7 of the past 8 premiers make up the top 7 in footy dept spending. Money does talk except at Collingwood and Freo  .

That's an absolute disgrace how much we are being screwed by the MCG and Docklands  . And North and Dogs think they are the worst off because of stadia deals yet they get almost twice as much in return as we do .

I'm not sure how they come up with their stadia return figure but if it's simply dollar revenue from 11 home games divided by total home attendances per year then ~500k x $8 = ~$4m we miss out on even using North's return figure. That would pay off our bank overdraft completely in just one go in one year .

We bring the crowds and get bugger all return from it  .

[WilliamPowell]

That's an absolute disgrace how much we are being screwed by the MCG and Docklands  . And North and Dogs think they are the worst off because of stadia deals yet they get almost twice as much in return as we do .

But is is an absolute credit to the RFC that they continue to the profits that they do in light of the crap returns from their stadium deals.

Seeing those numbers makes me understand why we've sold a home game to the Gold Coast

[mightytiges]

That's an absolute disgrace how much we are being screwed by the MCG and Docklands  . And North and Dogs think they are the worst off because of stadia deals yet they get almost twice as much in return as we do .

But is is an absolute credit to the RFC that they continue to the profits that they do in light of the crap returns from their stadium deals.

Seeing those numbers makes me understand why we've sold a home game to the Gold Coast

Very true WP.

We've got 15 years of this daylight robbery to go too 

[one-eyed]

The AFL yesterday told clubs that no deal had yet been forged with the MCG over a better stadium deal, although progress continued.

Hopes have been raised the MCG might award clubs an extra $100,000 a home game without a ridiculous extension of the current contract, with an announcement imminent.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25483708-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

At there's more good news off-field....

The clubs that hosted the 46 home-and-away matches at the MCG in 2009 will receive an additional $100,000 a game in an agreement that will cap future home-and-away matches at 46 games a year - at a minimum cost to the MCG each year of $4.6 million.

This is immediate good news for Collingwood, Melbourne and Richmond, which play the majority of their home games at the 'G, and also for Geelong and - particularly - Hawthorn, given those two clubs fare beautifully from Skilled and Aurora Stadium as well.

In fact, the deal should cost the MCG more like $5.6 million conservatively given that in May the stadium offered to pay a bonus when annual attendances exceeded 2.1 million. Clubs would get an indexed $1 a head when annual attendance exceeded 2.1 million at the ground, and the bonus would rise to $2 a head if crowds reached 2.5 million.

Last year, 2.8 million attended games at the MCG, meaning the ground would have distributed an additional $1 million incentive payment pro rata to each home club, although numbers are slightly down this year - largely the fault of the AFL's fixturing.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/mcg-deal-puts-docklands-in-gun/2009/08/15/1249756482994.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[one-eyed]

MCG stadia deal down. MCG Clubs get an at least extra $100k.


Premier welcomes deal to make MCG home of footy until 2037
Matt Johnston, John Ferguson | September 03, 2009 UPDATE 11.03am:

THE Premier has described a deal to make the MCG the home of footy until at least 2037 as a "great step forward".

Speaking this morning, John Brumby would not confirm details about the deal, which was revealed by the Herald Sun this morning, but said once negotiations had been completed an announcement will be made.

"When we make that announcement, I think you will see it’s a great step forward, a huge step forward for sport in our state," Mr Brumby said.

“As a government we have been great supporters of football, of the AFL.

“You will see with this deal arrangements that will be great for football, great for sport and great for the MCG.

Mr Brumby said discussions were complex but were nearing completion

A massive overhaul of the Great Southern Stand to improve the standard of facilities is a feature of the strategy.

Clubs playing home games at the MCG would receive at least an extra $100,000-a-game in revenue.

At least 10 of the 12 most popular home and away games will be played at the MCG under conditions thrashed out by powerbrokers, including AFL chief Andrew Demetriou and Sports Minister James Merlino.

City of Melbourne would lose control of the Yarra Park precinct.

The fine print is still being debated, but key parties are confident it will be signed before the grand final.

The Brumby Government is believed to be planning to spend $30million on revamping the Great Southern Stand to bring it closer to the standard of the MCC members' facilities.

AFL clubs will receive at least an extra $100,000 for each home game at the MCG - costing $4.6million a year.

A new licence agreement between the Melbourne Cricket Club and the AFL will ensure the grand final stays at the ground until 2037 - an extra five years on the current agreement.

The AFL and MCG-based clubs stand to gain financially if there is a dramatic increase in the number of people who attend matches.

It will be worth $1.50 a head for MCG attendances between 2.1-2.5million over the season. The fee structure would rise to $2 per head for between 2.5-3million patrons and $3 for every patron above three million.

The City of Melbourne faces a sting in the tail, losing control of Yarra Park which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for parking.

Drivers currently pay $8 per vehicle on match days.

Yarra Park will be transformed with $6million to be spent on the parkland and facilities.

The MCC will take day-to-day responsibility for the site.

The breakthrough in negotiations comes after Victorian-based clubs complained about the financial arrangements at the two Melbourne grounds.

The deal will put pressure on powerbrokers to resolve the spat at Etihad Stadium.

Sources said the deal became possible because of the strong relationship between the AFL, the Government and the MCG.

The plan to pay at least $100,000 extra per game will favour clubs including Collingwood and Hawthorn.

Anger over poor payments led to threats by the Government to build a second stadium in Docklands.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,26019821-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Let's hope we use this to push to have all our home games at the 'G. 

Compo deal planned for not playing at MCG
Rod Nicholson From: Herald Sun September 14, 2009

ALL AFL clubs that play home matches at Etihad Stadium have asked to play them, instead, at the MCG next season.

Obviously unable to fulfil the request, the AFL will this month announce a distribution fund to help those clubs that are not regular combatants at the MCG.

"There is a lot of pressure on Etihad Stadium to come to properly reward tenant clubs, as the MCG has done," AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said.

The AFL has negotiated with the State Government and the MCG to give $100,000 a match to the home team for each match for the next six years.

It is understood that a bonus pool of $1.5-$2 million a year will go to all teams that play there.

Yet the AFL is aware that MCG tenant clubs will have a huge financial advantage over those playing at Etihad.

Collingwood could be $1.1 million better off for 11 home games at the MCG, while North Melbourne this season said it would net only $77,000 from its 10 home games at Etihad.

The AFL is aware that all clubs have worked together for better venue income and is determined that the rich clubs do not prosper at the expense of those playing at Etihad.

"We will be making an announcement about a special distribution to non-MCG tenant clubs within three or four weeks," McLachlan said. "I can't say any more because the clubs haven't been informed yet.

"We don't want there to be a massive financial advantage to those clubs who play at the MCG as against those who play at Etihad.

"We would prefer the Etihad management to come to the party, and we will continue to negotiate with them.

"Etihad clearly may face some problems. All of the clubs who play there have asked to have games played at the MCG next season.

"This could be a problem for Etihad. The clubs are united on better stadium deals."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/compo-deal-planned-for-not-playing-at-mcg/story-e6frf8w6-1225772439129

[one-eyed]

Richmond expected to reap $2.5 million from the new stadia deals......


Cash for clubs as ground war ends with Etihad Stadium deal close
Greg Denham | September 22, 2009 

VICTORIAN clubs are poised for a huge financial windfall as the long-running standoff between Melbourne's second venue, Etihad Stadium, and the AFL appears headed for a settlement, as early as this week.

A meeting in Melbourne yesterday between the AFL and its clubs was told by the league that the frustrating stadium battle, which has been crippling clubs that play home games at Etihad Stadium, could be drawing to a close.

The AFL is understood to have agreed to a compromise, which has been put to Etihad Stadium's Sydney-based board of owners.

Positive dealings between Etihad Stadium and the AFL have moved quicker since an agreement was reached this month between the AFL and the MCC/MCG Trust, which controls the code's No 1 venue, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The pre-Brownlow Medal awards meeting at AFL House was hosted by the league's executive and commission, with each of the 16 clubs represented by their president and chief executive.

Disadvantaged clubs were told by the league that their annual special distribution payments would continue beyond this year after completion of a review, with some clubs set for bonus payments this year and in 2010.

Clubs who play home games at Etihad Stadium are set to get similar financial benefits as those gained by MCG tenant clubs.

While the MCG clubs receive at least an additional $100,000 per home game from the start of this season, Etihad Stadium clubs could get the same financial gain from the start of 2010.

And in keeping with a promise to Etihad Stadium clubs from the AFL almost three weeks ago that they would not be disadvantaged, it is understood that St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne will share in a combined one-off bonus of $1.6 million this year.

St Kilda, which this year played all 10 Melbourne home games at Etihad Stadium, is set to receive the maximum AFL bonus of $800,000, with the Bulldogs and Kangaroos each receiving $400,000.

Next year, should the Etihad Stadium deal be finalised as expected, the biggest financial winners will be the Bulldogs, Kangaroos, Melbourne, Richmond and the Saints. With improved stadium deals, annual special distribution remaining at similar levels as this year, and with discretionary AFL bonuses to enhance equalisation, the Dogs, Kangaroos and Demons are expected to have their revenue increased by up to $3.3m. Richmond and St Kilda are expected to reap almost $2.5m.

The AFL's compromise in dealings with Etihad Stadium owners is to guarantee more and better-quality games at the Docklands venue.

In return for a better deal for tenant clubs, it is understood the venue has been guaranteed 46 games from next season, an increase on the AFL's minimum obligation up to 2015.

And then 42 premiership matches each season from 2015, when the league has the capacity to reduce its content to just 30 home-and-away games and five pre-season fixtures.

It is not known whether further Supreme Court action by the AFL against Etihad Stadium management will continue should an agreement be reached.

The league had been preparing court action to recover as much as $20m it claims is owed in supply and pourage rights at the stadium since it began operating in 2000.

As exclusively reported in The Australian last month, the forecast of cash benefits to struggling clubs has come about after the AFL commission approved a revolutionary new financing scheme to ensure, for the first time, that all clubs have sufficient resources to compete equally on the playing field.

New AFL funding to clubs, plus the expected uniform Melbourne stadium deals, will not only guarantee the future existence of Victoria's 10 clubs, but will ensure that every club can meet basic industry costs for recruiting, drafting, rookie lists, additional services and salary cap payments.

Demetriou said the commission wanted every club to have the capacity to pay the full amount of the salary cap ($7.95m in 2010) as well as additional services commitments, which are promotion and marketing payments to players and worth up to $555,000 per club next year.

"We can benchmark what it costs to run a football department, we have all those figures," Demetriou said. "It's all to do with getting a competitive AFL team on to the field."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26106114-5013406,00.html

[WilliamPowell]

$2.5mil ...hmmm...that would certainly pay for an extra recruiting person, development coach, more fitness experts and perhaps a stand alone VFL side 

[mightytiges]

$2.5mil ...hmmm...that would certainly pay for an extra recruiting person, development coach, more fitness experts and perhaps a stand alone VFL side 

And hopefully pay off our overdraft debt within 2 years.

[one-eyed]

SEN saying there'll be an announcement from the AFL today on stadia deals. Apparently $17 million for Victorian clubs to secure their future.

[tiga]

and perhaps a stand alone VFL side 

Oh How I wish that were a real possibility.