Is $150,000 anything to write home about?

[The Final Word]

Story (http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=60586)

Personally my first thought was, is that it? I thought Southport were going to be the big backers of AFL in the Gold Coast, what with their massive membership base and all.

As a point of reference (however unfair it might be in terms of size of the clubs) Panthers Leagues Club provides Penrith with $3.5 million p.a., and that's after recent cuts. Ref (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23635884-5012662,00.html)

What will $150,000 buy them?

[Ice-Wolf]

Story (http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=60586)

Personally my first thought was, is that it? I thought Southport were going to be the big backers of AFL in the Gold Coast, what with their massive membership base and all.

As a point of reference (however unfair it might be in terms of size of the clubs) Panthers Leagues Club provides Penrith with $3.5 million p.a., and that's after recent cuts. Ref (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23635884-5012662,00.html)

What will $150,000 buy them?

A corporate box

Southport aren't the kind of business that would be a major sponsor.

[Funkalicous]

That wasn't even a sponsorship. It was a donation.

[bipolarbeaR]

Tas18 :d

[Professor Knowall]

Story (http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=60586)

Personally my first thought was, is that it? I thought Southport were going to be the big backers of AFL in the Gold Coast, what with their massive membership base and all.

As a point of reference (however unfair it might be in terms of size of the clubs) Panthers Leagues Club provides Penrith with $3.5 million p.a., and that's after recent cuts. Ref (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23635884-5012662,00.html)

What will $150,000 buy them?
The Panthers Leagues Club provides $3.5 million p.a. to an existing club that runs (and hence pays for) a team that already competes.

In contrast, the Gold Coast Club won't be playing until 2011. ATM, its monetry requirements would be very little (e.g. it doesn't yet have to cover a football department which alone would account for over $10m). The article outlines what the money will be for -

... GC17 chairman John Witheriff, on the receiving end of the giant cheque, said the money would go a long way to boosting the Gold Coast team's campaign. The money will be spent on new staff and much-needed GC17 merchandise, such as caps and t-shirts, which would help boost the bid team's profile, he said.

Last month, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou laid down a strict set of criteria for the team to fulfil, including acquiring 111 business sponsors and 20,000 potential members. Mr Witheriff said achieving the 20,000 members was the bid team's key priority. "If we get that number and we get it quickly, that's going to send an overwhelming message to potential financial backers that we really do have the support of the local community," he said. ...

Also interersting to note the number already signed up -

... With no money to run a marketing campaign, Mr Witheriff said it was astounding some 7,500 people had already signed up on their website just 29 days into the bid. Both he and fellow GC17 leader Alan Mackenzie, who is also the Southport Sharks president, said they were pleased with the bid's progress. ...

[The Final Word]

Just didn't think it was newsworthy

[ringleader]

Story (http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=60586)

Personally my first thought was, is that it? I thought Southport were going to be the big backers of AFL in the Gold Coast, what with their massive membership base and all.

Southports members mostly have no interest in AFL. It's just a big club like any other club in Australia.

[Caraboo]

Goodness forbid Southport footy club have some sort of financial business accumen hey?

I mean, hell, they've got 20M in the bank, maybe they should have thrown $5M of that towards the bid team???? Not likely!

Whomever made the donation decision deserves massive kudos imo.

Not enouth dough given over to start the rumour mill of conspiracy/southport licence/buying their way into the AFL guttersnipnig.
More than enough than to make themselves look like benefactors/supporters of the bid.
Just the right amount be genuine in support of top level footy on the gold coast without having to be directly involved in it all.

Very calculated amount, very well done. Very much appreciated by GC17 i would think given the costs involved of mounting the bid for the licence in the first place.

[Ice-Wolf]

Goodness forbid Southport footy club have some sort of financial business accumen hey?

I mean, hell, they've got 20M in the bank, maybe they should have thrown $5M of that towards the bid team???? Not likely!

Whomever made the donation decision deserves massive kudos imo.

Not enouth dough given over to start the rumour mill of conspiracy/southport licence/buying their way into the AFL guttersnipnig.
More than enough than to make themselves look like benefactors/supporters of the bid.
Just the right amount be genuine in support of top level footy on the gold coast without having to be directly involved in it all.

Very calculated amount, very well done. Very much appreciated by GC17 i would think given the costs involved of mounting the bid for the licence in the first place.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the start of a long term commitment, i.e a similar amount in sponsorship a year once the team enters the competition, corporate box etc.