Author Topic: Simplify handout system:- Gary March  (Read 1235 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« on: June 17, 2008, 03:31:15 AM »
Simplify handout system: Richmond
Greg Denham | The Australian | June 17, 2008

RICHMOND wants the present form of AFL financial assistance to clubs - annual special distribution - abolished at the end of next year, and wants assistance solely based on stadium deals.

Tigers president Gary March yesterday said the criteria for ASD was too complex, and he favoured the introduction of a stadium equalisation fund with an initial available annual pool of between $10-$12 million.

"No-one understands ASDs and they are a point of frustration for fans and clubs," March said. "So let's get rid of them and go with a simpler and fairer system."

The Richmond proposal is based on the net earnings of clubs per person who attend home matches. "West Coast is the leader and earns about $32 per person for every home game at Subiaco Oval," March said.

"Richmond nets about $14 a person, well under the competition average of $20 for every fan that goes through the gate. Not one Victorian club, with the exception of Geelong, is above the competition average."

March wants the AFL to fund the difference between the actual club return and the average, on an annual fluctuating means-test basis. The Tigers are one of six Melbourne clubs who receive the bulk of ASDs. Their share of the $6.3 million pool this year is $400,000.

March believes that under his proposal, Richmond could reap in excess of $2 million, based on last year's average home attendances of 40,000.

"I think the Western Bulldogs, the Kangaroos and Melbourne could all be better off," he said. "Rather than give handouts, we're suggesting the AFL should fix stadium deals."

The Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Demons carry about $12 million in debts between them.

Richmond has a $4 million debt and March believes that could be repaid within two years under his criteria for financial equalisation.

"I don't believe the AFL should pay out club debt, because it doesn't fix inherent problems, but a stadium equalisation fund would help clubs with mounting debt problems," March said.

The Tigers president says Victorian clubs deserve a better deal because they have all supported ground rationalisation programs by giving up home grounds.

"Our home is the MCG, but we play games at Telstra Dome," he said. "We're always disadvantaged, unlike most of the interstate clubs."

Carlton chief executive Greg Swann yesterday supported the Richmond proposal. "The simpler the better," he said of the Tigers' proposed criteria.

Swann said Carlton received a Telstra Dome match return from its round-eight clash against Brisbane in front of 38,675 of just $26,700. "That's a long way short of Collingwood's guaranteed $200,000 whenever they play at Telstra Dome," Swann said.

The AFL is reviewing its ASD package and will make a recommendation for beyond 2009 to the commission in August.

The league review, pushed forward at the insistence of some clubs, includes an analysis of other revenue-related criteria such as sponsorship, assets, debt, non-football revenue, training facilities and the employment of key staff.

The existing criteria for ASD is proof of being disadvantaged in football-related revenues. The main factor is stadium arrangements, but revenue from supporter bases, which are measured by adult membership and revenue per member are taken into account.

The bulk of the annual assistance package this year goes to the Western Bulldogs ($1.7m), the Kangaroos ($1.4m) and Melbourne ($1m).

As reported exclusively in last Thursday's The Australian, Melbourne's debt has swelled from $2m at the start of the year to $4.5m, and it is expected to seek financial assistance of at least $1m from the AFL well beyond next year.

The Demons were originally scheduled to come off the financial drip system at the end of 2009. "It's about equalisation," said Demons chief executive Paul McNamee. "Give us the same game schedules as the bigger clubs and we'd be much less reliant on the ASD."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23874875-5012432,00.html

Offline mightytiges

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2008, 07:09:01 PM »
The interstate sides like West Coast have such a natural advantage in terms of generating revenue from stadia.

(i) They have all 11 home games at the one stadium plus one "away". The two derbies are guaranteed every year. So there's certainty when negotiating with the stadium management.
(ii) This stadium hold only 45,000 (at the moment) so in a two team town, with virtual sellouts every week, tickets are at a premium. You most likely need to be a member, have or pay for a reserved seat and pay more for this privilege. Likewise corporate boxes will be at a premium.
(iii) They are the biggest fish in the town and there are no financially struggling clubs in WA that need special attention and rigged fixturing to keep them afloat.


What does Richmond have:
(i) 8 home games at the 'G which holds 100k. 3 "home" at the Dome which holds 50k. None of which are set in stone and can change from year to year at the whims of the AFL fixturing.
(ii) No certainty in terms how many games in total (home and away) will be played at either ground from year to year. No certainty in terms of number of traditional "derbies" - Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon.
(iii) We're not the biggest fish although our crowds are top 4.
(iv) We've got all these small financially struggling Victorian sides wanting to play home games against Collingwood to keep them afloat so everyone else's wishes gets pushed aside.
(v) Stadium rationalisation mean there's no competition to give clubs a better deal. There has to be a fixed number of games at the Dome so the AFL forces us to play home games away from home ('G). The stadium managements (MCC and Ian Collins) hence don't give a stuff as they get there $$$.

It's a joke that a club that is top 4 in attendances gets such a pitiful return. Ripped off big time  :banghead.

Anderson on 3aw now giving the usual crap excuses about the draw  ::).
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Offline WilliamPowell

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2008, 07:33:47 PM »
Start winning consistently and the tide will turn

People will be requesting games against us I have no doubt.

Biggest one they have to fix though is telstra dome.

The only teams who should play home games there are the co-tennants.

- St Kilda
- Bulldogs
- Carlton
- North Melbourne
- Essendon

Surely 5 teams who list the Dome as their home ground would easily cover the number game required to be played their in a season

And this arrangement that the Hawks have that says they are to play all their Melb home games at the MCG is nothing short of a joke. They sold themselves to Tassie - they shouldn't receive any favours
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Offline Piping Shrike

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2008, 09:07:30 PM »
You should be able to play your home games wherever you want, as long as you play the aways at someone else's choice. 11 at the G - OK. 3 in ACT, 2 in West Samoa, 5 in St Albans and 1 at the G - OK. As long as it is your pick, not you being forced to play at the Dome because of an AFL deal.

Offline Go Richo 12

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2008, 10:37:53 PM »
Start winning consistently and the tide will turn

People will be requesting games against us I have no doubt.

Biggest one they have to fix though is telstra dome.

The only teams who should play home games there are the co-tennants.

- St Kilda
- Bulldogs
- Carlton
- North Melbourne
- Essendon

Surely 5 teams who list the Dome as their home ground would easily cover the number game required to be played their in a season

And this arrangement that the Hawks have that says they are to play all their Melb home games at the MCG is nothing short of a joke. They sold themselves to Tassie - they shouldn't receive any favours
Take the pen out of my hand and write it yourself!

Offline Beren

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2008, 02:47:08 PM »
Thought our debt was considerably less than $4 million now? Isn't that figure from 2004?
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Offline Fishfinger

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2008, 03:21:48 PM »

And this arrangement that the Hawks have that says they are to play all their Melb home games at the MCG is nothing short of a joke. They sold themselves to Tassie - they shouldn't receive any favours
Absolutely.
The other team sneaking under the radar is Melbourne. When they "sold" their home game to the Gabba it was always one less home TD game for them when all Victorian teams had to play 3 (they only had to play 2).

Last year they "sold" 2 home games (Gabba & Manuka) so only had one TD home game.

This year they have 10 MCG home games and the other home game they've "sold" to Manuka.
Only 3 games at TD, all away games, 2 against TD tenants & the other against us.

That's after they finished 14th last year with 5 wins. So much for winning ratio getting you good fixturing that the AFL keep wheeling out as an excuse for our crap draw.
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Offline mightytiges

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Re: Simplify handout system:- Gary March
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2008, 04:34:14 PM »
MCG tenants' home games at the Dome

Richmond    3
Coll'wood    2
Melbourne   0
Hawthorn    0

 ::)
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