Richmond looking at playing games in Hobart [merged]

[cub]

Norths new mascot

[one-eyed]

Richmond Tigers looking at Hobart games

    * From: AAP
    * July 02, 2010 1:13PM


TASMANIAN Premier David Bartlett has confirmed holding talks with Richmond about hosting Tigers matches in Hobart.

The Tasmanian government currently has a multi-million dollar deal with Hawthorn, which includes sponsorship and the club playing games at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr Bartlett confirmed he and Richmond CEO Brendan Gale had talks about the possibility of Tigers games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.

"It is clear that other clubs are interested in playing games in Tasmania and the AFL supports that," he said.

"We welcome that interest but the Government has made no commitments nor had any formal proposals put to it.

"If the AFL or other clubs want to stage games at Bellerive we are not opposed to that.

"My talks today with Mr Gale were of a general nature and I expect there will be more discussions in the future."

The deal with the Hawks is currently being renegotiated, but Mr Bartlett said the Tasmanian government's priority was to have the arrangement continued.

At Hawthorn's most recent home game in Launceston two weeks ago, Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said the government was not looking at underwriting any other teams to play in the state.

"Anything else entered into would not be requiring any financial assistance from the state to encourage other teams to come down and play," Ms O'Byrne said.

"Our relationship is with Hawthorn ... (they) have delivered a huge benefit for us."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-looking-at-hobart-games/story-e6frf9jf-1225887127057

[one-eyed]

Bellerive's 'ready' for AFL fixtures
abc.net.au
Updated July 2, 2010 18:16:00


Cricket Tasmania (CT) says Bellerive Oval is ready to host major sports other than cricket, including AFL.

CT chairman Tony Harrison met Richmond Football Club chief executive Brendon Gale on Friday to discuss the possibility of the Tigers playing in Hobart.

Harrison says the negotiations are in the early stages.

"All we've done is said that Bellerive Oval is ready for business and we've attracted interest from AFL football clubs, as has been reported," he said.

"Also we're talking to the Football Federation [Australia], soccer, and rugby league and rugby union as well."

But Harrison says Bellerive may have to provide more seating and new broadcasting facilities.

"We have a venue that's capable of hosting other major sport and we're saying that we're prepared and ready to honour that," he said.

The Tasmanian government says while its priorities remain with Hawthorn playing in Launceston, it is open to the idea of teams playing in Hobart, although it is yet to commit any practical support to the proposal.

Melbourne and North Melbourne have also expressed an interest.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/02/2943624.htm?site=sport&section=afl

[one-eyed]

Richmond talks on 'Tassie Tigers' link
July 3, 2010
 
RICHMOND has stressed the need for an ''attractive commercial proposition'' if it is to host AFL matches in Hobart.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett met with Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale yesterday and their discussions included the possibility of Hobart's Bellerive Oval becoming an AFL venue.

The government is currently renegotiating its successful agreement with Hawthorn, which has a long-term deal to host matches at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.

It is understood Richmond is among three AFL clubs looking at Hobart.

Last month, Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said the government was not looking at underwriting any other teams to play in the state.

Gale would not respond directly to Ms O'Byrne's comments, but stressed any club would only want to host Hobart games if the project had local and AFL support.

''There was no proposal, there was no assurances sought or given,'' Gale said of his meeting with the premier.

''I certainly indicated that clubs would not consider the opportunity unless there was the support of the AFL through the fixture and also the government, that's where I left it.

''From our point of view, it would have to be an attractive commercial proposition.''

Gale acknowledged that the government wants to renegotiate the Hawthorn deal before looking more seriously at the Hobart idea.

As a Tasmanian native himself, Gale said it was important to have AFL matches in the south of the state.

''The Hawthorn experience is pretty much confined to the north of the state, that's the way it works down here.''

The Tigers have around 1500 members in the state, while key forward Jack Riewoldt hails from Tasmania.

Club greats such as Matthew Richardson, Royce Hart, Ian Stewart and Michael Roach also have strong Tasmanian connections.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-talks-on-tassie-tigers-link-20100702-zu4l.html

[one-eyed]

Tasmanian Tigers

   * Michael Warner
   * Herald Sun
   * July 03, 2010


RICHMOND has officially registered its interest in staging home games in Hobart.

Chief executive Brendon Gale yesterday met Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett to discuss the prospect of AFL matches being played at a revamped Bellerive Oval as early as 2012.

But Gale - also a member of AFL Tasmania's board - said details of how many games would be played or how much it would be worth to the Tigers had not been discussed.

"It's really speculative. All we did today was to formally register our interest as a football club. I have been given authority by the board to continue those discussions," Gale said.

"Hobart is an attractive market and we have a great historical association with the state. But we couldn't consider it without the support of the (Tasmanian) Government and the AFL, because they control the fixture."

North Melbourne and Melbourne are also in the mix to play at Bellerive, while Hawthorn is set to begin renegotiating its own lucrative deal to play games at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league had held its own discussions with the Government regarding Bellerive matches.

"It has also had preliminary discussions with several of our clubs," Keane said.

"These talks are in the early stages, and will proceed in the coming weeks. Any announcement on whether some games may be played at Bellerive in the future is not expected before the latter part of the season."

Bartlett said it was clear other AFL clubs were interested in playing games in Tasmania. "We welcome that interest but the Government has made no commitments nor had any formal proposals put to it," he said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tasmanian-tigers/story-e6frf9if-1225887311711

[Francois Jackson]

this would be a big win for the RFC.

why should those Hawks control the market down there. They got VFL park for donuts now Tassy too. stuff em

With the whole Tassy Tigers Theme going on all it needs is for us to play finals regulary and the RFC would be smash that 75k members in no time. I have no doubt this is a real possibility when not if it happens.

Think about it we have been poo for 30 years yet still manage 40k. 2 games down there less games at the dome i can handle that.

Gales is a smart operator he will make this happen no question.

[one-eyed]

Tigers keen to claim Bellerive
   
  * BRETT STUBBS
  * The Mercury
  * July 13, 2010

MORE Richmond officials are heading to Bellerive as the Tigers further investigate playing home games in Hobart.

Earlier this month, Richmond chief executive officer Brendon Gale met with Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison about using Bellerive as the Tigers' home away from home.

Yesterday Harrison confirmed discussions were continuing and members of Richmond's management team would be heading to Bellerive in the next few weeks.

"We are still progressing it. It is just one of these things we need to work through so we are going through the process," Harrison said.

But interest in Bellerive is not limited to Richmond, with North Melbourne and Melbourne also keeping in contact with CT. "We are still talking to all three of them," Harrison said.

"At the end of the day the decision is going to be made by the AFL so we are just keeping the lines of communication open.

"We'll talk to anyone who wants to talk to us about it."

The Government's five-year deal with Hawthorn, worth $16.4 million to the Hawks for four home games in Launceston, will expire at the end of next season. The Government has consistently said the renewal of the contract for Hawthorn games at Aurora Stadium was the No.1 priority.

A deal will be renegotiated this year but a spokesman for Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said discussions had not started yet.

At the meeting with Bartlett on July 2, Gale officially announced Richmond's interest in playing games in Tasmania.

"We talked about AFL in Tasmania; that has been a successful experience so far, but there is a view in the Government that they would like to bring more AFL games to the state," Gale said.

"That is a good thing and I think Bellerive Oval is being contemplated and we think that is a good thing.

"That brings AFL football to the whole state and today I registered our club's interest in being part of those discussions."

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/13/158491_sport-news.html

[one-eyed]

Mike on 3aw just before said Hobart people would want games down there at Bellerive as there still is the north-south divide in Tassie so Launceston games aren't consider "local" but the Tassie pollies are less keen. The AFL is saying "build it and we will come" but the Government doesn't want to fork out the money to "build it".

[3rogerd]

Interesting developments, i thought we had stepped back from this
i believe the monkeys at AFL house want a more needy club to go down there.

perhaps its the goverment pushing for a certain club, i suppose if you are
going to fork out money you would want to least have say in which club
plants it seed so to speak.

BG on the case it seems.

[one-eyed]

War of words erupts over Bellerive games
HOBART
July 14, 2010 - 3:31PM
 
The prospect of AFL games being played at Hobart's Bellerive Oval has reignited old divisions between Tasmania's north and south.

The Tasmanian government has a long-term agreement with Hawthorn to play at Aurora Stadium in Launceston in a multi-million dollar deal which includes the state being the Hawks' major sponsor.

But Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has met with Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, discussing the possibility of Bellerive Oval becoming an AFL venue.

It is understood that two other AFL clubs are looking at playing in Hobart.

Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne has stated the government would not underwrite any other teams to play in the state, but the discussions with Richmond have reopened the old north-south rivalry.

Launceston City Council Mayor Albert van Zetten said Aurora Stadium should remain the only AFL venue in Tasmania.

"The former premier Jim Bacon made the commitment that Tasmania would have one football ground and one cricket ground," he said.

"It makes sense to continue that so each can be an elite, highly-specialised ground for the appropriate sport."

But Clarence acting Mayor Doug Chipman, whose council includes Bellerive Oval, said the venue was not trying to steal games from Launceston.

"It is time for the parochial whinging to stop," Mr Chipman said on Wednesday.

"This is not about undermining the Hawthorn deal at Aurora Stadium, but building on its success to see AFL matches played elsewhere in Tasmania."

Mr Chipman said the bickering needed to stop if the state ever wanted to have an AFL team of its own.

"If we are to ever get serious about a local team in the AFL, we need to demonstrate the breadth and success of the sport throughout the state," he said.

"An eventual state team to Tasmania will need to embrace all of the State and will not survive by disenfranchising southern Tasmania."

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/war-of-words-erupts-over-bellerive-games-20100714-10ana.html

[one-eyed]

Tigers push ahead with Tassie deal
SAMANTHA LANE
July 15, 2010
 
RICHMOND moving games to Hobart would enhance, rather than inhibit, the creation of a Tasmanian team, Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale believes. And while Gale would rather his team played all its home games at the MCG, semi-regular trips to the Apple Isle, in a deal similar to Hawthorn's, could be financially advantageous for Richmond, which has a debt of about $4 million.

Of the three clubs linked to the push for a second AFL side to make Tasmania a home away from home, the Tigers are pursing it most actively.

North Melbourne, by contrast, is almost distancing itself from the notion given its sensitivity to even the slightest suggestion of relocation.

North chief executive Eugene Arocca said yesterday: ''We hear this chatter that's coming out of the AFL and around town. We haven't sat down with anyone. We are not chasing it. Unlike Richmond who are all over it like a rash.

''We have two non-negotiables: we're a Melbourne club and we ain't leaving Arden Street. It's as simple as that.''

Gale met Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison 13 days ago to officially lodge interest in playing home games at Bellerive Oval as soon as the 2012 season.

The Premier has indicated there will be no negotiations with a second AFL club until the state's arrangement with Hawthorn - a five-year deal worth about $16.4 million to play four times a year in Launceston - is renewed.

Melbourne's board has also discussed the prospect of moving home games to Bellerive, which is planning to expand its seating capacity of 17,000.

''I think it could potentially further enhance Tasmania's ambitions to have their own side,'' said Gale, who is also an AFL Tasmania board member.

''At the moment the AFL experience in Tasmania is four games a year. If they're going to have a team of their own they're going to be looking at playing 11 home games a year. That's a massive jump. I think the staging of more AFL games, involving the whole of the state, will cultivate support which will be required eventually to sustain a team of their own.''

If Tasmania did have its own AFL team - which Gale, a Tasmanian, supports - the Richmond boss believes any arrangements with other AFL clubs would cease. Asked whether Hawthorn had any issues with Richmond's exploration of Tasmania as a second home, Gale said: ''I wouldn't have the faintest idea and I don't care, to be honest.''

The Tigers, who are playing one ''home'' game in Darwin next season and another in 2012, have strong support in Tasmania - almost 1500 financial members this year, the club's largest interstate supporter group - as well as a historical connection.

''It goes without saying we wouldn't make a decision lightly,'' Gale said, ''But we can't sit back and expect to play 11 games at the MCG. I wish we could, but I don't think we can. So it's incumbent on us, as managers of football clubs, to look at opportunities like this.''

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-push-ahead-with-tassie-deal-20100714-10b36.html

[one-eyed]

Mayors unite for AFL push
ADAM SMITH   
The Mercury
July 15, 2010

TASMANIA'S southern councils have banded together in support of AFL matches being played at Bellerive Oval.

And they have rubbished suggestions it is a betrayal of deals done by past governments.

The AFL's decision to look at getting games into Hobart has again polarised the north and south of the state.

Richmond, North Melbourne and Melbourne have registered interest with Cricket Tasmania and Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale recently met Premier David Bartlett.

The State Government will soon begin re-negotiating the $16.4 million deal under which Hawthorn plays four matches each year at Aurora Stadium.

The deal expires at the end of next year but Mr Bartlett has stated the No. 1 priority is securing at least four Hawks games in Launceston.

However, Launceston MLC Don Wing and Aurora Stadium chiefs have labelled the southern push as a betrayal of both the northern half of the state and of former premier Jim Bacon.

Acting Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman yesterday urged his northern counterparts to stop playing the parochialism card and instead unite to ultimately deliver Tasmania more of the AFL product.

Ald Chipman had support from Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, Huon Valley Mayor Robert Armstrong, Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee, Brighton general manager Ron Sanderson, Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans and acting Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass.

"AFL football might not come to Bellerive Oval in the near future but I would hate to see any case undermined because of perceived parochialism from the North," Ald Chipman said.

"We are not trying to take what they have got and what Jim Bacon gave them. We are trying to build a case for more AFL in Tasmania, with additional games on top of what Hawthorn are willing to put into Launceston.

"An eventual state team will need to embrace all of Tasmania and it won't survive by disenfranchising people in the South."

Ald Valentine said with the population base in the state's capital, it was only logical for games to played at Bellerive.

"You have got half the population down this end, and to think they are basically being alienated by not having games to go to is just a nonsense when you are trying to come up with a statewide team in the long run," he said.

Cr Bisdee said more games would help Tasmania's push for its own AFL team.

"This is an expansion of the AFL playing rostered games in Tasmania, not only for the benefit of the team that is contracted but for the Tasmanian community," he said.

"Tasmania deserves it and Bellerive is an ideal venue considering the investment that's been made there."

Cr Evans said: "We need to work together to get the best deal for the whole state."

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/15/158851_tasmania-news.html

[one-eyed]

Kangas eye Bellerive
BRETT STUBBS   
The Mercury
July 16, 2010

NORTH Melbourne last night officially joined the race to play home games at Bellerive Oval.

Kangaroos president James Brayshaw said AFL matches in Hobart were inevitable and every club should look at the prospect, before he declared North Melbourne's interest.

"It will happen in the next couple of years," Brayshaw said last night on Channel 9's The Footy Show about games at Bellerive.

"It will be a success. Look how successful Hawthorn has been in the north."

He said the Hawks had increased membership and revenue through their deal with the State Government and any club looking to play games in Hobart would like to emulate Hawthorn's success.

Brayshaw's interest was supported by co-host Garry Lyon, who endorsed the concept.

Former Melbourne champion Lyon mentioned three games being played at Bellerive, but Brayshaw said no details had been discussed.

North Melbourne has long been believed to be interested in Tasmania's home of cricket, but last night was the first time the club has officially declared its hand.

Brayshaw's announcement follows the meeting by Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale with Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison earlier this month.

Melbourne is the third club interested in using the venue and tapping into the AFL-starved south of the state.

The push to play games at Bellerive has already been supported by the AFL.

But no matches can be played in Hobart before 2012 because of an exclusivity clause in Hawthorn's $16.4 million, five-year contract that expires at the end of next season.

Hawthorn plays four premiership home games in Launceston under the contract, which is due to be renegotiated this season.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/16/159181_afl.html

[Fishfinger]

Seems like the north are getting a bit shirty because the south might get the Mighty Tiges and they're stuck with the wees and poos.

[yellowandback]

Seems like the north are getting a bit shirty because the south might get the Mighty Tiges and they're stuck with the wees and poos.

No wonder they lose members every year.
North play games with their supporters one minute its Sydney, then Canberra, then Gold Coast, then Ballarat, now Hobart.
Just eff off somewhere, anywhere North and put everyone out of their misery.