AFL kicks goal on Gabba stadium deal

[Beaussie]

Finally common sense from Anna Bligh. Still a big ask to get the Gold Coast stadium up and running without it appears QLD government support.

AFL kicks goal on stadium deal
Nick Smart
09Jun08
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/06/09/12223_gold-coast-top-story.html

AFTER months of talking tough, Premier Anna Bligh has agreed to tear up the State Government's contract which ties the incoming Gold Coast AFL team to the Gabba until the end of 2015.

But there is one major condition -- the AFL has to fund the stadium, which could leave them up to $200 million out of pocket.

While the GC17 bid team is heading in the right direction, negotiations between the AFL and the State Government have been bogged down on the issue of a stadium for the new Coast club.

The Government holds all the cards because the AFL entered into a contract which tied any team based in southeast Queensland to the Gabba until 2015.

The contract was drawn up in return for the State Government forking out $182 million to redevelop the Gabba for the Brisbane Lions in 2003.

The Government has refused to budge and it looked like the Coast club, which will enter the AFL in 2011, would have to play its home matches at the Gabba until the end of 2015.

But Ms Bligh, who met with AFL boss Andrew Demetriou last week, said the fledgling team would be free to play on the Coast if the league pays up.

"If the AFL wanted to completely fund a new stadium for the Gold Coast, then of course they would be entitled to play games at that new stadium," she said.

"The contract only relates to taxpayer-funded facilities."

While she agreed to tear up the contract, Ms Bligh ruled out funding the new stadium.

"The AFL's approaches to the State Government have been for a taxpayer-funded stadium," she said.

"The Queensland Government has made it clear that it is not a priority for us right now, given we have just finished Skilled Park and we are in the middle of building the Gold Coast Hospital and other critical infrastructures in that part of southeast Queensland.

"But if the AFL wants to make a financial contribution to get the stadium built, that would be a matter for them and we would work with them and the Gold Coast City Council to help make it a reality."

AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan refused to comment, except to say the league would continue talking to a number of stakeholders, including the Queensland Government.

With the contract out of the way, the AFL will now decide between redeveloping the Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara or building a new stadium from scratch.

It is estimated that redeveloping the Carrara complex could cost about $150 million.

The AFL is believed to be considering a 42ha riverside site next to the Nerang railway station, just up the road from Gold Coast Stadium.

The site is owned by Coast company City Pacific and developer Noel Mewett, who is a former Carlton VFL-AFL player.

The Gold Coast City Council, which is expected to work in conjunction with the AFL, has raised the idea of swapping the Carrara sporting complex for the land at Nerang.

Mr Mewett has told The Gold Coast Bulletin he is open to trading the prized piece of land for the new stadium.

But if the AFL receives no funding support it will be spending up to $200 million on the new stadium. The league will no doubt now be looking for private backers to help ease the burden.

The AFL Commission is expected to grant the GC17 group, which is headed by lawyer John Witheriff, the league's 17th national licence in October.

[jerry springer]

good news on the contract,but terrible news on the stadium.

[genghiskhan]

This would be a good opportunity to work with cricket Australia to ensure the stadium gets used year-round. This planned 20/20 cricket league could fit in nicely. Four professional teams on the Gold Coast - AFL, NRL, CA and A-League - where none existed five years ago. They would be some pain coming up.

[zero]

this is an important milestone, but things are done yet in the quest to get public money for the venture.

remember, the new franchise will want to play 3 or 4 games a year at the GABBA against the bigger drawing sides.

[Sebastian Balboa]

This would be a good opportunity to work with cricket Australia to ensure the stadium gets used year-round. This planned 20/20 cricket league could fit in nicely. Four professional teams on the Gold Coast - AFL, NRL, CA and A-League - where none existed five years ago. They would be some pain coming up.

My thoughts exactly.

[Wednesday]

Who's going to spend $200 mil on a stadium to be used 11 times a year?

It's not financially viable unless you have multiple tenent's or concert's - which Nerang will have. Cricket doesn't make money outside of Boxing day and a selected few one dayers so there is no salvation there.

The AFL are also meant to be paying $200 mil for Homebush. They cannot afford one (IMO) let alone both.

[fairdinkum]

Look at the headline of the article (and of this thread).

It's kinda cute, isn't it?

The AFL is now on 1.8. 14 :thumbsu:

[zero]

The AFL is now on 1.8. 14 :thumbsu:
sad but true

being allowed to play in their own stadium if they build it themselves is somewhat short of the inital goal of an entirely govt funded upgrade to cararra

[ringleader]

Look what they gave the Titans http://www.thegabba.org.au/content/venue.asp?name=GoldCoastStadium

Below is a picture of what they gave the AFL

[Doctor Jolly]

It hard to see the QLD government building 2 new RL stadiums, and not a cricket/AFL one. So I'd say its stil early days.

If they wont come to the party for the next couple of years, I think the AFL will just upgrade carrara.

[Doctor Jolly]

Lot of red faces at North Melbourne, who were adamant this would never happen.

Ooops.

[sutcliffe's hotel]

Lot of red faces at North Melbourne, who were adamant this would never happen.

Ooops.

Umm, I don't think so.

What most of us question is the capacity for the AFL to build a stadium - that has not changed.

[retroparty]

Thats great news.

Paying off the stadium shouldn't be a problem as the AFL seem to have a shitload of money.

[walhawk]

The Titans ground is pretty basic - as if they have thrown a few tarps up thinking it will keep the weather out. There have been a few complaints from fans re this.
I think the AFL would end up spending a lot more than $200m.

The location is paramount. Forget Cararra.
They should do it in 2 stages. Build a 18K - 20K ground that can be expanded to 30K. Then if the GC are regularly packing the stadium, they can expand and hit the government for some more $$$ down the track.

[fairdinkum]

It hard to see the QLD government building 2 new RL stadiums, and not a cricket/AFL one. So I'd say its stil early days.

If they wont come to the party for the next couple of years, I think the AFL will just upgrade carrara.

Lot of red faces at North Melbourne, who were adamant this would never happen.

Ooops.

Are you trying to make a fool of yourself, Jolly? :confused:

It's been over six months since the AFL suggested that a deal with the QLD government to help fund a new stadium on the Gold Coast was 'weeks' away. Now it is clear that the QLD Gov won't be spending a cent.

Myself and others have been proven quite right on this matter. :cool:

[walhawk]

No, FD, we have been waiting for 6 months to see if the GC could get out of having to play 11 games @ the Gabba.

[Wednesday]

Lot of red faces at North Melbourne, who were adamant this would never happen.

Ooops.

I must have skimmed over the 'new stadium construction starts shortly' paragraph.

[Chuq]

I'm not sure why the AFL would expect the Qld Govt to fund a stadium in any case. The AFL has plenty of money, if they want a stadium why should taxpayers fork out for it when it will pretty much be exclusively used by the AFL? A multi-use stadium I could understand, but the Govt had just funded one of those at Robina.

[mediumsizered]

I'm not sure why the AFL would expect the Qld Govt to fund a stadium in any case. The AFL has plenty of money, if they want a stadium why should taxpayers fork out for it when it will pretty much be exclusively used by the AFL? A multi-use stadium I could understand, but the Govt had just funded one of those at Robina.

So it is ok for taxpayers to fund a stadium at Robina, initially for the use by one team only, when it wasn't that long ago that taxpayers funded the upgrade of Suncorp Stadium (with no conditions attached in relation to other SE Qld teams). Said stadium was completed before any work has commenced on the long promised new Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. And you can hardly call a rectangular stadium built for the 2 Rugbys & soccer multi-use, when it is unable to be used for Aussie Rules, Cricket, Athletics, among other sports.

Whereas Telstra Dome & the MCG have hosted games in all 4 football codes & cricket matches, as well as concerts, religious festivals etc, Skilled Park has been built to specifically cater for 3 football codes & not much else. It is any wonder Qld is regularly the laughing stock of the country when their is small minded decision-making of this nature. Despite the best efforts of Peter Beattie & Anna Bligh to shut the AFL out of one of Australia's fastest growing regions, there will be a Gold Coast AFL team & it will be viable.

[Chuq]

So it is ok for taxpayers to fund a stadium at Robina, initially for the use by one team only, when it wasn't that long ago that taxpayers funded the upgrade of Suncorp Stadium (with no conditions attached in relation to other SE Qld teams). Said stadium was completed before any work has commenced on the long promised new Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. And you can hardly call a rectangular stadium built for the 2 Rugbys & soccer multi-use, when it is unable to be used for Aussie Rules, Cricket, Athletics, among other sports.

Whereas Telstra Dome & the MCG have hosted games in all 4 football codes & cricket matches, as well as concerts, religious festivals etc, Skilled Park has been built to specifically cater for 3 football codes & not much else. It is any wonder Qld is regularly the laughing stock of the country when their is small minded decision-making of this nature. Despite the best efforts of Peter Beattie & Anna Bligh to shut the AFL out of one of Australia's fastest growing regions, there will be a Gold Coast AFL team & it will be viable.

I can't really say much to this, except that's it's obvious you have blinkers on and only have eyes for AFL. Clearly the sporting landscape is different in SEQ. The level of support of Australian rules in the area does not warrant the government funding a new stadium.

I must say the comments about being the laughing stock of the country are amusing - Suncorp Stadium and Robina Stadium are probably the two best rectangular stadia in the country.

And I'll say it again, the AFL has plenty of cash, why can't build one themselves?

[dom_105]

And I'll say it again, the AFL has plenty of cash, why can't build one themselves?

Won't happen in a month of Sundays

Would make more sense for the AFL to sink some cash into a third, boutique, "clean" stadium in Melbourne, seeing that Melbourne-based clubs are being screwed by Collo and the MCC, but that won't happen either.

[fairdinkum]

No, FD, we have been waiting for 6 months to see if the GC could get out of having to play 11 games @ the Gabba.

Wrong. That particular agreement was rather rug-swept by the mass media during the 'Relocate the Roos' days of late last year.

It is the stadium itself that was the so-called 'sticking point' that put Brayshaw and co. off*. And now we, the AFL-doubters, have been proven correct. The AFL won't get any state government backing for the new stadium for a loooooooong while. Perhaps ever.

*Officially, anyway. But that's a different matter for a different day :)

[fairdinkum]

So it is ok for taxpayers to fund a stadium at Robina, initially for the use by one team only, when it wasn't that long ago that taxpayers funded the upgrade of Suncorp Stadium (with no conditions attached in relation to other SE Qld teams). Said stadium was completed before any work has commenced on the long promised new Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. And you can hardly call a rectangular stadium built for the 2 Rugbys & soccer multi-use, when it is unable to be used for Aussie Rules, Cricket, Athletics, among other sports.

Whereas Telstra Dome & the MCG have hosted games in all 4 football codes & cricket matches, as well as concerts, religious festivals etc, Skilled Park has been built to specifically cater for 3 football codes & not much else. It is any wonder Qld is regularly the laughing stock of the country when their is small minded decision-making of this nature. Despite the best efforts of Peter Beattie & Anna Bligh to shut the AFL out of one of Australia's fastest growing regions, there will be a Gold Coast AFL team & it will be viable.

The QLD State gov poured a heap of money into redeveloping the Gabba - a process which was completed relatively recently.

Take the blinkers off.

[Copernicus]

Well, that makes things interesting. I wonder if the Gold Coast Council would be interested in tipping in some money to help the AFL out? It sounds like the QLD government is just not interested. Their loss, I suppose. I can't see the AFL bankrolling the entirety of a stadium project - are there any rich blokes on the Gold Coast who have an interest in this team? Could be some private money floating around in there if the government is going to play hard to get.

[Doctor Jolly]

I must have skimmed over the 'new stadium construction starts shortly' paragraph.

Now that the gabba problem has been solved, the AFL will announce stadium plans before the end of the year.

[fairdinkum]

Now that the gabba problem has been solved, the AFL will announce stadium plans before the end of the year.

You have an informant on the inside, do you?

[cos789]

You have an informant on the inside, do you?


It's stands to reason that if the AFL have created a new side from grassroots
on the GC then they will have to find a home for them to play .
It's just a question of finding which is the best option .
Hopefully they will find the best long-term option .
And they have to produce that option soon .
But you don't have to worry about any of those things any more do you .
North is safe and sound entrenched in melbourne bolstering the AFL
with supporters like you . Someone else has to take the risk venture .
Some other club has to find a home , backers , players and supporters .
.

[dicknose]

Who's going to spend $200 mil on a stadium to be used 11 times a year?

It's not financially viable unless you have multiple tenent's or concert's - which Nerang will have. Cricket doesn't make money outside of Boxing day and a selected few one dayers so there is no salvation there.

The AFL are also meant to be paying $200 mil for Homebush. They cannot afford one (IMO) let alone both.

it's not as if the $200m would be a sunk cost that wouldn't generate any return. whenever there's an afl game at homebush, i'm sure there's a fee being paid to the current stadium owners. if the afl owned the thing they would obviously get a revenue stream from things like the police concert, the nrl games and all the other stuff that's held there.

it's not like they'd pissing $200M in cash away. they'd setup some kind of debt structure that would be offset by the income coming in.

look at the afl's history. they have struggled for decades (a century ?) with having the game's biggest matches held at a stadium that's controlled by an organisation with an agenda that's often counter to what the afl is trying to do. no wonder they want control over their own stadiums.

[dicknose]

So it is ok for taxpayers to fund a stadium at Robina, initially for the use by one team only, when it wasn't that long ago that taxpayers funded the upgrade of Suncorp Stadium (with no conditions attached in relation to other SE Qld teams). Said stadium was completed before any work has commenced on the long promised new Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. And you can hardly call a rectangular stadium built for the 2 Rugbys & soccer multi-use, when it is unable to be used for Aussie Rules, Cricket, Athletics, among other sports.

Whereas Telstra Dome & the MCG have hosted games in all 4 football codes & cricket matches, as well as concerts, religious festivals etc, Skilled Park has been built to specifically cater for 3 football codes & not much else. It is any wonder Qld is regularly the laughing stock of the country when their is small minded decision-making of this nature. Despite the best efforts of Peter Beattie & Anna Bligh to shut the AFL out of one of Australia's fastest growing regions, there will be a Gold Coast AFL team & it will be viable.

at least part of the answer to your point is that the nrl got there first, and there's a benefit that has gone with that.

[fairdinkum]

It's stands to reason that if the AFL have created a new side from grassroots
on the GC then they will have to find a home for them to play .
It's just a question of finding which is the best option

And where on earth does it say that they have done that, or will do that?
The AFL said so over six months ago, but anyone with even half a brain realised it wasn't worth listening to them on this matter a long time ago.

You and Doc Jolly, Rob, zero et al. and your blind faith... Sigh...

[dicknose]

btw - probably the most important lessons from the failure of waverly is that football stadiums have to be on train lines. for this reason, chucking more mone at carrara sounds like a bad idea.

[dicknose]

And where on earth does it say that they have done that, or will do that?
The AFL said so over six months ago, but anyone with even half a brain realised it wasn't worth listening to them on this matter a long time ago.

You and Doc Jolly, Rob, zero et al. and your blind faith... Sigh...

jeez, some of you north supporters carry on. you talk as if you're out of the woods and it's all ok. i don't know why.

the afl still have a couple of years to try and send two clubs broke and force them to relocate and merge and you are squarely in their sights.

there's a game being played out and it's very early days. do you think the afl could give a shit that they haven't done absolutely everything they said that they were going to do six months ago ? it's the end result, once the dust settles, that matters.

by the same token, didn't brayshaw promise that your club would be out of private ownership by now and didn't that come to nothing ? again, who cares, but i don't know why you guys seem to go scouring through six month old comments to find something that so far hasn't panned out and see it as some kind of victory.

good luck to north but some of you seem to have a misguided hubris. don't know why.

[fairdinkum]

jeez, some of you north supporters carry on. you talk as if you're out of the woods and it's all ok. i don't know why.

We are far from out of the woods. You are right, the AFL does have us in their sights. But with over 33,000 members, it's fair to say that we are winning this fight so far.

As for the AFL, you have to understand that they tried to kill our club for their own perceived benefit. Until that happens to you, you can't understand just how galvanising that is. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

We won't be fooled again. But it looks as though an awful lot of AFL apologists are setting themselves up for a calamitous heart-break when the AFL stuffs up another tilt in SEQ. And all they while they'll be telling me that I am 'too cynical' :rolleyes:

[catters05]

I think there will be 11 games from the Gold Coast team....

Just put lots of small corporate boxes in the stadium, thats where the money is.

Some more vic teams might play a couple up there.

Twenty20 Cricket and possible ODI cricket, if the Gold COast council gets involved with wanting Australia playing Cricket at the Coast.

Concerts etc....


Could work.

[Doctor Jolly]

We are far from out of the woods. You are right, the AFL does have us in their sights. But with over 33,000 members, it's fair to say that we are winning this fight so far.


You may have 33,000 members, but you dont have 33,000 supporters, so enjoy it while it lasts.

For example, Friday night blockbuster against Geelong. 39,000 crowd. Are you seriously telling me there were only 6000 geelong fans there ?
TV ratings were low too.

[fairdinkum]

You may have 33,000 members, but you dont have 33,000 supporters, so enjoy it while it lasts.

You really have lost the plot, haven't you?

[ARES]

I can't really say much to this, except that's it's obvious you have blinkers on and only have eyes for AFL. Clearly the sporting landscape is different in SEQ. The level of support of Australian rules in the area does not warrant the government funding a new stadium.


I'm sorry, how many times did the NRL try and get a RL team started but failed in that area?
For a ONE code area it struggled and struggled and struggled

I guarantee you within a year crowds on the Gold Coast will rival if not surpass Titans attendance

Aussie Rules is on the move

[dicknose]

We are far from out of the woods. You are right, the AFL does have us in their sights. But with over 33,000 members, it's fair to say that we are winning this fight so far.

As for the AFL, you have to understand that they tried to kill our club for their own perceived benefit. Until that happens to you, you can't understand just how galvanising that is. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

i think you would do well to realise that you're not in a fight with the afl. you are in a race with the other 9 vic clubs, and it won't be about membership numbers it will be purely about financial strength. it's like the story about the bear in the woods - you don't need to be faster than the bear, you just need to be faster than the guy next to you.

as far as i know, the afl are still clear about 16 teams being the right number. 9 games a week seems too many and there's no way they want a bye. the rich clubs are getting richer and the financial subsidies that you've been getting will go away soon. for north to still be a standalone, melbourne-based club in 4 years, you need a lot more revenue. regurgitating six-month old quotes from the afl and quoting membership numbers counts for zip.

We won't be fooled again. But it looks as though an awful lot of AFL apologists are setting themselves up for a calamitous heart-break when the AFL stuffs up another tilt in SEQ. And all they while they'll be telling me that I am 'too cynical' :rolleyes:

the afl have learned a lot from last time. the way in which they'll pull the plug on the next two vic clubs will be different from south melbourne and what they tried to do to footscray in the 80's. it will be like fitzroy - they'll force bankruptcy. actually it's a bit like how you win at monopoly in the end...

if you think the afl won't spend as much time and money as it takes to get the two new afl teams off the ground, then you haven't been paying attention.

btw - i'm not an afl apologist, i just reckon that the afl are following a well-worn path and their next moves are entirely predictable. i don't think you're cynical. i think you're naive.

i have a soft spot for north and i wish you well. there are other clubs that i'd rather go under than north.

[fairdinkum]

i think you would do well to realise that you're not in a fight with the afl. you are in a race with the other 9 vic clubs, and it won't be about membership numbers it will be purely about financial strength. it's like the story about the bear in the woods - you don't need to be faster than the bear, you just need to be faster than the guy next to you.

as far as i know, the afl are still clear about 16 teams being the right number. 9 games a week seems too many and there's no way they want a bye. the rich clubs are getting richer and the financial subsidies that you've been getting will go away soon. for north to still be a standalone, melbourne-based club in 4 years, you need a lot more revenue. regurgitating six-month old quotes from the afl and quoting membership numbers counts for zip.

That is all your own opinion, and validated by nothing.
As for the 'subsidies', I suggest you do some research regarding stadium deals, the Telstra Dome, the MCG and the AFL. If you were half as informed as you think you are, you would have shut up half way through the above rant. ;)


the afl have learned a lot from last time. the way in which they'll pull the plug on the next two vic clubs will be different from south melbourne and what they tried to do to footscray in the 80's. it will be like fitzroy - they'll force bankruptcy. actually it's a bit like how you win at monopoly in the end...

The obviously didn't learn too much. Refer to their attempt to shaft us towards the end of last year. :rolleyes:

if you think the afl won't spend as much time and money as it takes to get the two new afl teams off the ground, then you haven't been paying attention.

btw - i'm not an afl apologist, i just reckon that the afl are following a well-worn path and their next moves are entirely predictable. i don't think you're cynical. i think you're naive.

The former and latter comments in this quote are rather ironic. :D

[ParraEelsNRL]

I'm sorry, how many times did the NRL try and get a RL team started but failed in that area?
For a ONE code area it struggled and struggled and struggled

I guarantee you within a year crowds on the Gold Coast will rival if not surpass Titans attendance

Aussie Rules is on the move

This quote has been copied and put into a thread somewhere else waiting for the AFL's Gold Coast team to take over the Titans after their first season.

We will, oops, I mean, I will dig it out as soon as their first season is completed. :D

[zero]

We will, oops, I mean, I will dig it out as soon as their first season is completed. :D
but parra, i thought you said that there never was going to be a first season for gold coast!

[ParraEelsNRL]

but parra, i thought you said that there never was going to be a first season for gold coast!


I said in my last post, "I will dig it out as soon as their first season is completed", if they don't get to have a first season, I will dig it out at the end of the 2011 season anyway :D

:thumbsu:

[dicknose]

The obviously didn't learn too much. Refer to their attempt to shaft us towards the end of last year. :rolleyes:


mate, they didn't attempt to shaft you. they asked you if you would like to walk the plank, and they threw in some cash. you declined the offer. good for you.

that wasn't the shaft. that was the afl seeing if they could pull off one of the moves they need, without any blood. didn't work, so now they'll move onto the next step.

now they're going to attempt to shaft you.

you know what you remind me of ? you remind me of a skinny kid who has found himself in the ring with a 280 pound heavyweight. it's the end of round one and you ran around a lot and he didn't land a punch.

so you're running around and carrying on a bit because you think you won.

but there's still 11 rounds to go.........................

[Doctor Jolly]

fairdinkim, stop playing the victim and blaming everyone else for your predicament.

North arent going to the gold coast. You sealed your fate late last year. So dont feel threatened when things start to come together for the GC team.
The process for GC hosting a team is:
Step 1. Extract AFL out of gabba for second team. Tick
Step 2. Setup home ground. Be it new stadium, developed Carrara, or just use carrara until new one built.
Step 3. Enter AFL.


Now QLD government said they wouldnt break gabba contract only a few weeks ago. So when they say no to new ground, it means "show us your deal first".

[mpal6]

mate, they didn't attempt to shaft you. they asked you if you would like to walk the plank, and they threw in some cash. you declined the offer. good for you.

that wasn't the shaft. that was the afl seeing if they could pull of one of the moves they need, without any blood. didn't work, so now they'll move onto the next step.

now they're going to attempt to shaft you.

you know what you remind me of ? you remind me of a skinny kid who has found himself in the ring with a 280 pound heavyweight. it's the end of round one and you ran around a lot and he didn't land a punch.

so you're running around and carrying on a bit because you think you won.

but there's still 11 rounds to go.........................

LOL !!
hilarious.

Dont understand why North supporters are still so adamant on knocking down anything related to GC. There was an offer, you refused, your support base rallied and AFL says you look good now. Move on.

But the shafting bit in the above comment, I haven't been around for that long to see any club getting that, so will be interesting if AFL comes after you. Good luck.

[Demonoid]

You may have 33,000 members, but you dont have 33,000 supporters, so enjoy it while it lasts.

For example, Friday night blockbuster against Geelong. 39,000 crowd. Are you seriously telling me there were only 6000 geelong fans there ?
TV ratings were low too.

This is actually a very good point. Justin langer bough memberships for his entire family. A) how many game has he been too this year. And more importantly B) will he keep buying them next year.
North could not consolidate their position with two flags and the biggest star of all in the 90's. Nobody will miss them when they eventually fold...much like Fitzroy.

[fairdinkum]

mate, they didn't attempt to shaft you. they asked you if you would like to walk the plank, and they threw in some cash. you declined the offer. good for you. that wasn't the shaft. that was the afl seeing if they could pull off one of the moves they need, without any blood. didn't work, so now they'll move onto the next step. now they're going to attempt to shaft you.

What exactly is your definition of 'shaft'? I'd have thought the AFL's media-supported public attacks on the NMFC, as well as secret meetings with board members, and blatant lies in regards to our situation in order to rush a poor decision, were examples of them trying to shaft us.

you know what you remind me of ? you remind me of a skinny kid who has found himself in the ring with a 280 pound heavyweight. it's the end of round one and you ran around a lot and he didn't land a punch. so you're running around and carrying on a bit because you think you won. but there's still 11 rounds to go.........................

What the hell kind of boxing matches feature skinny kids up against 280-pound heavy-weights? How could I remind you of that? How often do you watch this kind of thing?

As for the meaning of your ridiculous analogy, we know full well what we are up against. But unlike many rodents in your corner, we are up for the fight :thumbsu:

[fairdinkum]

The process for GC hosting a team is:
Step 1. Extract AFL out of gabba for second team. Tick
Step 2. Setup home ground. Be it new stadium, developed Carrara, or just use carrara until new one built.
Step 3. Enter AFL.


Now QLD government said they wouldnt break gabba contract only a few weeks ago. So when they say no to new ground, it means "show us your deal first".

So what you are saying is that, in over six months, all the AFL has managed to do is wriggle out of a contract they failed to mention beforehand? Magnificent! :rolleyes:

As for the QLD state government, all you have on your side is speculation. I have on my side Anna Bligh's own words:


"The Queensland Government has made it clear that it is not a priority for us right now, given we have just finished Skilled Park and we are in the middle of building the Gold Coast Hospital and other critical infrastructures in that part of southeast Queensland.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all pans out.

[fairdinkum]

LOL !!
hilarious.

Dont understand why North supporters are still so adamant on knocking down anything related to GC. There was an offer, you refused, your support base rallied and AFL says you look good now. Move on.

But the shafting bit in the above comment, I haven't been around for that long to see any club getting that, so will be interesting if AFL comes after you. Good luck.

I have wished the GC the best of luck for a long time. I also wish Australia the best of luck. Doesn't mean that I don't criticise those in charge when they stuff things up and break promises. This is all common sense stuff.

[fairdinkum]

This is actually a very good point. Justin langer bough memberships for his entire family. A) how many game has he been too this year. And more importantly B) will he keep buying them next year.
North could not consolidate their position with two flags and the biggest star of all in the 90's. Nobody will miss them when they eventually fold...much like Fitzroy.

So out of almost 34,000 you can name maybe a dozen that aren't genuine supporters? :rolleyes:

And it is a bit rich for a Melbourne supporter to be bagging us. :D

[Doctor Jolly]

So what you are saying is that, in over six months, all the AFL has managed to do is wriggle out of a contract they failed to mention beforehand? Magnificent! :rolleyes:

.

Stop playing the Victim. The gabba contract was widely known. FFS I knew it.

[Demonoid]

So out of almost 34,000 you can name maybe a dozen that aren't genuine supporters? :rolleyes:

And it is a bit rich for a Melbourne supporter to be bagging us. :D

Re first point....the figures are clear...you have more members (this year) then your average attendences...The game against Geelong was the perfect example. Everyone rallied behind the roos this year...will they continue to do it?

As for Melbourne...yes I was expecting this from you. All I can say is that I am a paid up member who attends most games...I can't speak for anyone else....but Melbourne aren't going anywhere...they will eventually leverage off the rich MCC...they have too much top of the town support to fold...which is certainly not the case for North.

[zero]

Stop playing the Victim. The gabba contract was widely known. FFS I knew it.
i did too, and you can be sure that brayshaw and the guys at north did as well.

it probably had some significant bearing on the rejection, id bet,

and it looks now like GC17 are being told by the AFL the exact same thing the roos were - "dont worry about it, trust us, we will sort it out".

the difference of course is that the roos had another, better option, whereas the new franchise must just wait and see what the AFL can do.

[dicknose]

What exactly is your definition of 'shaft'? I'd have thought the AFL's media-supported public attacks on the NMFC, as well as secret meetings with board members, and blatant lies in regards to our situation in order to rush a poor decision, were examples of them trying to shaft us.

ok, let me put it another way for you. the afl have had their kid gloves on so far. 18 into 16 means that it's about to get nasty and you haven't seen anything yet. what you've experienced so far is nothing compared to what they did to south and fitzroy. if you're sooking so much about what you've listed above (which is the afl's "nice" way of giving you an option) then you'll really be squealing when things heat up next year.

i think you did the right thing by knocking back the GC. if you have to go, then i'd prefer that you merged with another melbourne-based club.

i hope most north supporters are doing more than babbling on about minor details of the way the afl are playing this. if you're focussed on what the afl were up to late last year, then - by definition, they'll always be a step in front of you

What the hell kind of boxing matches feature skinny kids up against 280-pound heavy-weights? How could I remind you of that? How often do you watch this kind of thing?

As for the meaning of your ridiculous analogy, we know full well what we are up against. But unlike many rodents in your corner, we are up for the fight :thumbsu:

if you got rid of that stupid tag line, less people might accuse you of being obsessed with the past rather than focussed on the future.

good luck.

[fairdinkum]

Stop playing the Victim. The gabba contract was widely known. FFS I knew it.

Is 'playing the victim' the only cliche you know?

[Beaussie]

I have wished the GC the best of luck for a long time.

That's great, now that we've got that clear, can you tell us how you would do things differently in QLD if you were in the AFL's position?

When you consider that Anna Bligh only said a few weeks back that there would be no way the AFL would be able to get out of the Gabba contract without paying compensation and the new Gold Coast team would be forced to play games at the Gabba until 2015, I'm confident with time the QLD government will come to the party with the Gold Coast stadium issue. May not fund the entire stadium, but I think you'll find they will contribute to its construction.

[Gibbke]

Having the AFL fully fund a brand new stadium in Australia's fastest growing city which is located in the state you govern, sounds to me like the AFL is ALREADY about to pay compensation...

The Qld govt will of course assist down the track, because the dynamic has totally changed - they lose nothing on the Gabba, because the Lions were in on this before the Coast was ever mentioned (you can't lose what you never had because a second team has never played at the Gabba), but Qld stands to gain from all of the other fringe benefits of a brand spanking new stadium - taxes, tourism, you name it...and for minimal investment, which was NOT what anyone had in mind when this was last brought up...

I wouldn't call this thread "kicking a goal"...it looks to more to me like the AFL has successfully kicked out from goal only to run into a stifling zone defence on their own 50...

[Gibbke]

Re first point....the figures are clear...you have more members (this year) then your average attendences...The game against Geelong was the perfect example. Everyone rallied behind the roos this year...will they continue to do it?

As for Melbourne...yes I was expecting this from you. All I can say is that I am a paid up member who attends most games...I can't speak for anyone else....but Melbourne aren't going anywhere...they will eventually leverage off the rich MCC...they have too much top of the town support to fold...which is certainly not the case for North.

Many teams have more members than average attending fans, including all of the interstaters. This even includes my team and their 40000+ membership when they play in Melbourne, who you might remember were your basket case merger partners until WE pulled the plug. Did you vote for the merger? Most of the other Demons members did. This otherwise impartial footy fan also finds it rich that a Melbourne supporter is bagging North, and on top of that, thinks everything will be just fine through being bailed out...hello, aren't you lot in the middle of a bloodless coup right now for exactly the reasons you're pinning on the other guy's team...?

[Wednesday]

it's not as if the $200m would be a sunk cost that wouldn't generate any return. whenever there's an afl game at homebush, i'm sure there's a fee being paid to the current stadium owners. if the afl owned the thing they would obviously get a revenue stream from things like the police concert, the nrl games and all the other stuff that's held there.

it's not like they'd pissing $200M in cash away. they'd setup some kind of debt structure that would be offset by the income coming in.

look at the afl's history. they have struggled for decades (a century ?) with having the game's biggest matches held at a stadium that's controlled by an organisation with an agenda that's often counter to what the afl is trying to do. no wonder they want control over their own stadiums.

If Homebush is so profitable, why is the ANZ so keen to sell it, and the NRL not looking at buying it?

The then VFL also set up VFL Park for the reasons you mentioned but sold it as owning a ground didn't turn out to be all they thought it would be.

[Wednesday]

Now that the gabba problem has been solved, the AFL will announce stadium plans before the end of the year.

Let me guess. The stadium deal is only weeks away........

Where have i heard that before.

[Doctor Jolly]

Let me guess. The stadium deal is only weeks away........

Where have i heard that before.

You do realise that when you said no to moving there in 2009, and then the GC said they would start in 2011, that the urgency to get infrastructure in place is less. ?

You do understand this ?

[dicknose]

If Homebush is so profitable, why is the ANZ so keen to sell it, and the NRL not looking at buying it?

dude - i didn't say anything about it's profitability, i just pointed out that the owners obviously get a return from any event held there. this was a response to other posts that kept implying that $200m in cash would disappear, never to be seen again. if the stadium was a lemon then the ANZ would have sold to the AFL the first time they offered to buy a year or so ago. nobody is saying the ANZ is a keen seller. the fact that they haven't sold it would back that up. the afl will be looking at it's strategic value, so they might choose to accept a lower yield than a bank would because it helps the afl achieve it's strategy. the nrl administration don't seem to know what day it is. it's no shock that they haven't got the financial clout or business sense to try and buy it.

The then VFL also set up VFL Park for the reasons you mentioned but sold it as owning a ground didn't turn out to be all they thought it would be.

it didn't turn out well for many reasons, including:
1. in a rainbelt.
2. too big.
3. inaccessible. no train station.

this doesn't mean that owning a stadium is a bad idea for the afl, it just means that owning a bad stadium is a bad idea for them. they'll try and avoid repeating their mistakes, so they'll try not to put money into cararra because it's not on a train line.

btw - the afl made a financial killing in the end when they sold waverly. also, if you know your history, the afl has been in a push-and-shove with the mcc for years. without a second stadium, they had no leverage. for decades, waverly gave them that and helped them to keep the mcc honest.

[SweetLeftFoot]

Dont understand why North supporters are still so adamant on knocking down anything related to GC. There was an offer, you refused, your support base rallied and AFL says you look good now. Move on.



I can see why you'd think that and its fair enough, but the reason I'm so sceptical about the GC thing is well, we tried it once before and it was an expensive shambles.