Dees GABBA deal - finished?

[red+black]

The $1.25 million dollar, five year GABBA deal expires this year. There was a report nine months ago that a new and improved three to five year deal might be signed. Did that happen? What do Demon fans think about giving away a home game? As a neutral supporter, I'm annoyed that I don't get the opportunity to watch Melbourne v Brisbane at the MCG.

Of course I go to Essendon games, but I check the fixture to see what good neutral games I'd like to go watch. I'd love to see a fired up Melbourne up against the perennial champion Brisbane Lions.

 

[Supermercado]

No offence but I'd rather we look after our precarious financial position than the entertainment prospects of opposition fans.

Feel free to come watch the rest of our games though

 

[Marns]

No offence, but Id much rather have a chance of beating the Lions, rather than giving away a game. Its a blo0dy stupid deal, we're there to win games.

 

[Supermercado]

Yeah with the whole club going down the tubes and having to rely on AFL handouts to survive. It's be the Queensland derby in a few years unless we put money in the bank and you're concerned about one game a year? Talk about short sighted. If we're good enough we'll beat them there anyway, I'd rather take the cash and run.

 

[red+black]

When the deal was signed, the GABBA capacity was about 23,000. Still can't believe we (Essendon) played a final there in '96 to a crowd of less than 22,000.

Anyway, the current capacity is 37,600, and this will increase to 42,000 by Round One next year. I believe that a new 5 year deal would net the Melbourne Football Club in the vicinity of $2 million dollars.

Would still like to see them play each other some time. Might have to wait until September 24