Ask the AFL before building an inadequate stadium. The AFL has probably realised there isn’t going to be a big stadium in Perth or Adelaide in the next 39 years, so they’ve taken the opportunity to extend the contract that was already going to be extended, and eek out some funding from the Victorian government to make the match day experience at the G and Etihad better. Not sure how you can argue that it’s not a smart business move.
Sorry i just have to jump back in here
As far as smart business moves go - the grand final is valued at around 120 million dollars a year to victoria - conservatively.
By 2059 it will be worth close to a billion dollars a year with inflation and what not.
Governments build stadiums (as seen in perth and adelaide) for regular footy
In 2034 the afl could have taken the gf to the interstate governments and said - how much will you pay for it?
Then taken that answer to the victorian government and said this us what they will pay - how much are you offering.
And actually got something for it - serious coin.
I doubt a government that refused to oay anything and lost the granny would survive in victoria.
Instead the eddiefl were so panicked at the whispers that interstate gfs might occur - they signed it all away for stuff the government regularly gives them for nothing anyway.
Its not often you hear about the government pulling a swifty over private enterprise - but this ones an absolute doozy.
20 years at 120 million a year is 2.4 billion dollars (not taking into account inflation)
The afl just got sold some glass beads for 2.4 billion.
*slow claps