AFL's $8mil punt on TerritoryGREY MORRIS
October 19th, 2009
DARWIN'S TIO Stadium will host 10 AFL premiership matches from next year as part of an $8 million, five-year deal announced by the NT Government last night.
The $8 million includes more than $2 million for infrastructure upgrades at TIO Stadium and Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
Port Adelaide will be the away team until 2012, beginning with matches in May and June next year involving "home" clubs Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
Richmond will replace either Melbourne or the Bulldogs as a home team in 2011 and 2012.More good news for Centralian fans is the staging of the 2013 Indigenous All-Stars game at Traeger Park and the continuation of NAB Challenge pre-season AFL matches.
The All-Stars game and an upgrade of the Challenge matches to actual NAB Cup fixtures is subject to the upgrades at Traeger Park which include a permanent toilet block and coach and media boxes.
A $150,000 contribution from Alice Springs Town Council should guarantee the works are completed well before that date.
TIO Stadium will get a new corporate area, more office space and training lights on the second oval as it prepares for premiership matches and the 2011 All-Stars game.
NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the $8million being spent indicated a strong vote of confidence from the AFL in Territory football's first class facilities, with the added bonus that premiership matches would bring millions of dollars to the local economy.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou last night confirmed Melbourne and the Bulldogs as next season's home sides, as revealed by the Northern Territory News in June this year.
``Over the last decade the numbers of outstanding young NT players making their way to AFL clubs has continued to climb steadily,'' Demetriou said.
``They are following in the footsteps of players like Andrew McLeod and Aaron Davey and these games will continue to inspire young Territorians to chase their dreams.
``The AFL is committed to taking our competition to all parts of Australia and we are delighted that this agreement ($500,000 per game with the AFL covering travel and accommodation costs) secures 10 premiership matches at Marrara's TIO Stadium for the next five years.''
The introduction of the new Gold Coast and Western Sydney teams to the AFL competition will mean a revision of the 2013 and 2014 fixtures and the possible inclusion of both new clubs in the Territory roster.
Community engagements, including school, hospital and indigenous community visits and junior clinics will be intensified during the five-year period.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/10/19/93561_ntsport.html
