News Giants want to play in LA

Jan 3, 2012
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Stupid idea to play such a game for points. Sydney to LA is about a 14 hour flight. Far too long to accommodate into the regular season. Long haul flights are not good for recovery, that much is known already, even for medium haul flights like Perth-Brisbane, or Melbourne Auckland.

The annual China game is silly. This is just plain stupid.

Not until it is possible to do these international trips on supersonic flights. Until then forget it.
We did a trip to LA a few years ago with a sales team bloody plane ran out of beer 4 hours from LAX, it’s a long flight
 
Gil will be able to smell a junket.

He would just be confirming with Accounts Receivable that he gets to keep all his receipts, even if he has to take a couple of detours on the way home from LA.
*Accounts Payable
 

deltablues

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Jul 16, 2013
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No one in America knows who Richmond are and aside from Martin aren't entertaining enough to watch. Collingwood are the most recognized club over there followed by Geelong and St Kilda
Not trying to be negative, but no-one I know here in the States [where I live] has ever heard of Collingwood et al.

The AFL should concentrate on grass roots financing. Not blue sky dreaming/junkets.
 

Aussie in exile

Norm Smith Medallist
Nov 21, 2013
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The Giants have been given the green light by the AFL to investigate the possibility of playing a game in Los Angeles for Premiership points.

Kevin Sheedy suggests Essendon or Richmond would be the ideal opposition.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/7news.com.au/sport/afl/gws-giants-want-afl-game-in-la-c-676121.amp
Flights, hotels and a hire of some sort of oval ground will cost many many thousands of bucks and who will make up the financial shortfall just for a PR stunt?
 

deltablues

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There is a USAFL League, many Aussie ex-pats in LA, the USA is sports passionate. This is all in comparison to Shanghai, not saying stands will be filled to the brim, but there would actually be people who care about the game over in the US.
Sorry, but if the US is "sports passionate" then it is for American sport only - not minor foreign games like Aussie Rules. Like it or not.

Expats are irrelevant to the scenario.
 
Apr 29, 2012
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There is a USAFL League, many Aussie ex-pats in LA, the USA is sports passionate. This is all in comparison to Shanghai, not saying stands will be filled to the brim, but there would actually be people who care about the game over in the US.
Californians don't go see their own football teams play (NFL) why would they see ours?

Only thing Califnornians care about is streetwear, whole foods, $7 almond milk frappucinnos, socialism, political correctness and iPhones.
 
Oct 27, 2016
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Californians don't go see their own football teams play (NFL) why would they see ours?

Only thing Califnornians care about is streetwear, whole foods, $7 almond milk frappucinnos, socialism, political correctness and iPhones.
Not sure where you get the idea that Californians don't care about their football teams:

Rams averaged ~ 70k last year
49ers averaged ~ 70k last year
Chargers averaged ~ 25k last year (which can be attributed to the fact that they play in a Soccer stadium and that Chargers fans hate Dean Spanos)
Raiders averaged ~ 50k last year


And that's not even bringing in the College football numbers which would probably be much higher. And it wouldn't just be Californians as well, people from all over the US would likely come down to LA.

And it's not like every single person will care about Aussie Rules, but with the right marketing campaign over there, you could quite easily get a few thousand to turn up.

The bottom line is; China has a greater market reach, little chance to obtain passionate supporters. US a slightly smaller market but a higher chance of people at actually supporting the sport overseas based on an already established love for professional sports. On top of that, there is actually a proven pathway into the AFL for Americans thanks to Mason Cox and others before him. Think of it like how there is a proven pathway for Aussie punters in the NFL.

Why do us Aussies care about NBA or NFL? I see no reason why there couldn't be a much greater AFL following in the US like there currently is.
 
Jan 31, 2007
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The ex-pats who live in China are mainly there for business/investment reasons. US ex-pats are more numerous and would actually pay to turn up to a game in LA.

There would be more Australians in LA sure, but there's plenty of footy loving ex-pats in Shanghai too. I've been to Grand Final events several times in both cities and Shanghai's had the bigger, more boisterous crowd.

You won't find me resisting the idea of an LA game. I went to the first game in China and I'd be at the one in LA with bells on.
 
Jun 6, 2016
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Sorry, but if the US is "sports passionate" then it is for American sport only - not minor foreign games like Aussie Rules. Like it or not.

Expats are irrelevant to the scenario.

Question:

I remember when I was teen in the 80's the GF's were played on tv over there and it became a novelty for 5 mins, figuratively speaking. True or not?
 

Aussie in exile

Norm Smith Medallist
Nov 21, 2013
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Does anybody know who is going to pay for this junket?
It seems a very expensive Publicity stunt, which in my opinion will achieve nothing for the game
 
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