AFL considering interstate grand finals

[Pies No 1]

I will never get to go to one, so I don't care if it's held in Antarctica.

But I guess one big problem with interstate GF's is that Vic has a lot of links to other states. Swans = South Melbourne Bloods, Lions - Fitzroy, and there are Crows, West Coast, Port etc supporters living in Melbourne.

How many people living in Perth are not West Coast or Freo.. and same as Adelaide. They are smaller cities with devoted fans to the teams in the city. Would anyone care if Gold Coast v Brisbane were in Perth? In Melbourne there would still be a good deal of hype. Pretty sure Perth would be dead.

 

[delta_magpie]

its like going to church to pray or going to Jerusalem to pray... its not the same

Australia just doesnt have the stadiums to be able to spread it around the country. American colleges have bigger stadiums then all our non MCG grounds.

and then with all the corporate tickets it will dilute the fans allocations at the smaller venues around Aus.

America is able to rotate Super Bowl venues due to the symmetric playing field dimensions.... all our fields are different sizes.

 

[Dazzler9]

I will never get to go to one, so I don't care if it's held in Antarctica.

But I guess one big problem with interstate GF's is that Vic has a lot of links to other states. Swans = South Melbourne Bloods, Lions - Fitzroy, and there are Crows, West Coast, Port etc supporters living in Melbourne.

How many people living in Perth are not West Coast or Freo.. and same as Adelaide. They are smaller cities with devoted fans to the teams in the city. Would anyone care if Gold Coast v Brisbane were in Perth? In Melbourne there would still be a good deal of hype. Pretty sure Perth would be dead.

Wasn't dead in '21.

 

[Pies No 1]

Wasn't dead in '21.

That's because it was covid times. People were desperate for anything.

 

[oak79]

I will never get to go to one, so I don't care if it's held in Antarctica.

But I guess one big problem with interstate GF's is that Vic has a lot of links to other states. Swans = South Melbourne Bloods, Lions - Fitzroy, and there are Crows, West Coast, Port etc supporters living in Melbourne.

How many people living in Perth are not West Coast or Freo.. and same as Adelaide. They are smaller cities with devoted fans to the teams in the city. Would anyone care if Gold Coast v Brisbane were in Perth? In Melbourne there would still be a good deal of hype. Pretty sure Perth would be dead.

AFL GF would be sold out in Perth no matter what. You don't understand how much we love sport over here.
2021 was huge, even with the restrictions we had - and didn't rely on any interstate travelers.

Lots of clubs have a decent following - even the Kangaroos have a good supporter base in WA.

 

[Dazzler9]

That's because it was covid times. People were desperate for anything.

Not in WA we weren't. Life carried on as normal.

The 2021 GF was huge in this town. No Perth teams involved and no interstaters allowed to fly in, and it was still packed out.

Any future GF here would be the same, regardless who plays.

 

[Outtatym]

Be interesting to see how they do it.

The northern side was rebuilt 20 years ago and they didn’t move it as it was done in stages - 2003 and 2004 GFs had 80k.

Southern Stand is a bit different as it faces the TV and so would look terrible - I’m sure that would play into their thinking. Also the fact they could sell it interstate for huge money - not something they would have considered back then.

I think it would basically be a bidding war between Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

Imagine the explosions if they landed on....Marvel

 

[My_Username]

AFL GF would be sold out in Perth no matter what. You don't understand how much we love sport over here.
2021 was huge, even with the restrictions we had - and didn't rely on any interstate travelers.

Lots of clubs have a decent following - even the Kangaroos have a good supporter base in WA.

Of course it would.

You don't understand how few seats would actually be on sale.

AFL would still give seats to corporates, clubs, players, past players, etc (as per their contracts).

So if it's away from the MCG, there are 2 options.

1) Those stakeholders can't make it (flights/hotels full...flights is only really an issue if it's in WA)...A few more seats might be sold in WA, but it'd cost the AFL a mint, and the backlash would ensure they'd never have another game away from the MCG again.

2) Those stakeholders take up their seats, the competing clubs get maybe half as many seats for their fans (probably less), leading to a lot of pissed of people and...the backlash would ensure it's never held away from the MCG again.


If the MCG is out of action for a year or two, Sydney and Adelaide should hold it, because they haven't had one yet, but you can bet that, behind the scenes, that will ensure that it's locked in to the MCG whenever possible.

 

[GC2015]

Look at the boost the game has received in Queensland as a result of not only hosting the GF in 2020, but also all the deals signed with the Queensland government at the time to build extra ovals, locker room facilities, school programs etc in local communities. The AFL should absolutely be using the Grand Final to leverage the state governments all around Australia into growing the game at the grassroots level. It's worked in Queensland and it'll work elsewhere.

Just do it.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Can't wait til they tie a 50 year extension to the current arrangement as a trade-off for having the National grand final go national for two years while they upgrade the G.

 

[jpmelb7]

Pretty simple. As soon as an interstate venue rivals the MCG capacity of 100,000+ then can have this conversation.

 

[Football Tragic]

The MCG needs a revamp. As much as I love the venue (and yes, I'm a hated MCC member) it doesn't compare in the facilities, catering venues and conveniences of Adelaide and Optus Ovals at the moment. The Southern Stand, and probably the MCC in general, need a serious upgrade, but I can't see that happening over just a single year. I think it would be more likely three years.

If that is the case, then Perth, Adelaide and Sydney would be my choice until the new stadium in Brisbane is built. I've been to all the stadiums to watch sport and I must say that after Brisbane, Sydney needs the most upgrade. The members, SCC, stand is decent but the rest of the SCG is antiquated. The venue is sold out weekly yet the NSW & Federal Government can't afford to build a new stadium but can build a NRL stadium in PNG?! Wtf?

Anyway, only the Perth stadium has the size to host the GF atm but Adelaide Oval is a beautiful venue and hopefully Brisbane Stadium will soon rival Perth. So, depending on the time frame, Perth Stadium would be the number one choice, then Adelaide, then Sydney/Brisbane. The only way Tassie would get a gig would be purely for promotional reasons.

 

[Angus Young]

I pray not.

MCG is an epic colosseum and Melbourne is a great city.

It will be amateur hour anywhere else.

 

[LuckyBounce!]

St. Kilda will make another grand final and it’ll be against the interstate team who has the grand final that year at their home ground and before you say it the MCG isn’t St. Kildas home ground!

 

[Chronz]

Just watch the AFL contract the grand final to the MCC / MCG for the next 100 years without any tender process or transparency.

It's what the fat cats at AFL House do. Deals with mates behind closed doors.

 

[Obeanie1]

View attachment 2444722

Lol.

Pretty obvious why you would be happy with never ending grand finals at your clubs home ground.

Then again Pies fans tend to need that box of tissues 3 times out of 4 right?

The deal shafts more that one club buddy. And its Vic bias in its purest, purest form.

Novel idea. Half the teams are based in Vic. The grand final gets played at the MCG every 2nd year. Every other year a different state hosts.

But that would be too fair and reasonable wouldnt it? Far to fair and equitable.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Lol.

Pretty obvious why you would be happy with never ending grand finals at your clubs home ground.

Then again Pies fans tend to need that box of tissues 3 times out of 4 right?

The deal sharts more that one club buddy. And its Vic bias in its purest, purest form.

Novel idea. Half the teams are based in Vic. The grand final gets played at the MCG every 2nd year. Every other year a different state hosts.

But that would be too fair and reasonable wouldnt it? Far to fair and equitable.

Definitely seems harder than finishing 5-8, and still getting two home finals including a granny on your home ground, and maybe leaving the state once in September.

 

[WilloTree]

The GF is worth approx $50m to the Melbourne CBD, and up to $100m to Vic business.

It generates 20,000 hotel bookings at increase rack-rate, and 120,000 plane tickets.

That's why the GF is at the MCG every year, and why it's not going anywhere outside the occassional blip.

It has nothing to do with the game.

 

[Viceregal]

Do the Vics get any public holidays around the AFL GF like they do for the Melbourne Cup?

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Do the Vics get any public holidays around the AFL GF like they do for the Melbourne Cup?

Yeah they get the Friday for the parade

 

[rdhopkins2]

Breaking News: AFL introduces Gather Grand Final. Every 5 years the GF is to be played interstate, no matter the teams playing.
Bring on TAS v North Melbourne in 10yrs in Darwin!

 

[thumbs_up]

Given the hold the MCC has, it would be wise to hold every grand final at Optus stadium.

More real supporters would get to grand finals. Half the crowd on Saturday was made up by the MCC dominated cultural elites.

 

[Obeanie1]

The GF is worth approx $50m to the Melbourne CBD, and up to $100m to Vic business.

It generates 20,000 hotel bookings at increase rack-rate, and 120,000 plane tickets.

That's why the GF is at the MCG every year, and why it's not going anywhere outside the occassional blip.

It has nothing to do with the game.

We know why Victoria wants to hoard the grand final.

All about money. For Victoria.

If the comp was still the VFL no problem. The clubs signed up to play in the VFL so all good.


But the comp is the AFL. So doing dodgy deals to fill the coffers of Victorian businesses and the state govt is not the mandate of the AFL.

Or is it?

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Yep AFL love money and their sugar Daddy (vic gov) is skint from blowing billions on nothing.

That's a funny way to speak of the level crossing removals and metro tunnel.

 

[mighty_lions]

I pray not.

MCG is an epic colosseum and Melbourne is a great city.

It will be amateur hour anywhere else.

I disagree with this, if they can hold off until 2032 there will be a 63,000 olympic stadium ready to go