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Another one of big Ed's latest priorities. I wonder what his agenda is on this one. 
From the Age.
Magpie chief urges night grand final
By Caroline Wilson
February 18, 2005
The prospect of a night grand final moved a step closer to reality yesterday when Collingwood president Eddie McGuire thrust the debate back onto the AFL's agenda.
McGuire, whose employer, the Nine Network, is an AFL broadcast rights holder, confirmed he had put forward the proposal - and gained a relatively enthusiastic response - at yesterday's annual meeting of the league.
He told The Age: "I think it's something that's probably inevitable."
Although AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has said a night grand final would take place "over my dead body", the bid to reopen the debate was embraced by most clubs at yesterday's meeting, at which 13 of the 16 club presidents voted to expand the AFL commission by one to include a woman for the first time.
While only about half the clubs indicated significant support for a night grand final, the fact that the push has come this time from the clubs was notable.
McGuire is believed to have pointed to the success of the Australian Open tennis final, staged at night this year for the first time, and the National Rugby League's move to play its grand final on a Sunday night - a move that attracted significant prime-time ratings in Melbourne.
"It's always exciting at the end of the year when the annual ratings are released to see the grand final and footy at No. 1," McGuire said. "The added attraction of the extra money it could raise could see that money distributed among the clubs, which would see more tickets become available to the club members."
The strongest opposition to McGuire's proposal came from former VFL chief and Kangaroos president Allen Aylett.
He disputed that recent grand finals had lacked atmosphere because large parts of the crowd did not support either side.
The Bulldogs were also opposed to a night grand final.
Channel Ten sports chief David White confirmed he had informally raised the prospect of a night grand final with Demetriou, who had always rejected it.
"I think a grand final at night would rate higher," said White, whose network holds the rights to all AFL finals this year and next, "but whether or not that makes it a better commercial proposition I'm not sure.
"We would have to be careful not to jeopardise what has traditionally been a very successful all-day event."
The AFL will soon reopen negotiations for a new TV deal. Chairman Ron Evans yesterday conceded that the league's determination to increase its coverage in the tough but lucrative Sydney market could cost it money to clinch the deal.
The AFL Commission is aware that that a night grand final would earn the competition significantly more.
Last season the AFL staged two night preliminary finals in a controversial move that gave Brisbane 36 hours less to prepare for the grand final.
Demetriou admitted Brisbane went into the grand final at a disadvantage.
Anyway, night grand final a good idea?
From the Age.
Magpie chief urges night grand final
By Caroline Wilson
February 18, 2005
The prospect of a night grand final moved a step closer to reality yesterday when Collingwood president Eddie McGuire thrust the debate back onto the AFL's agenda.
McGuire, whose employer, the Nine Network, is an AFL broadcast rights holder, confirmed he had put forward the proposal - and gained a relatively enthusiastic response - at yesterday's annual meeting of the league.
He told The Age: "I think it's something that's probably inevitable."
Although AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has said a night grand final would take place "over my dead body", the bid to reopen the debate was embraced by most clubs at yesterday's meeting, at which 13 of the 16 club presidents voted to expand the AFL commission by one to include a woman for the first time.
While only about half the clubs indicated significant support for a night grand final, the fact that the push has come this time from the clubs was notable.
McGuire is believed to have pointed to the success of the Australian Open tennis final, staged at night this year for the first time, and the National Rugby League's move to play its grand final on a Sunday night - a move that attracted significant prime-time ratings in Melbourne.
"It's always exciting at the end of the year when the annual ratings are released to see the grand final and footy at No. 1," McGuire said. "The added attraction of the extra money it could raise could see that money distributed among the clubs, which would see more tickets become available to the club members."
The strongest opposition to McGuire's proposal came from former VFL chief and Kangaroos president Allen Aylett.
He disputed that recent grand finals had lacked atmosphere because large parts of the crowd did not support either side.
The Bulldogs were also opposed to a night grand final.
Channel Ten sports chief David White confirmed he had informally raised the prospect of a night grand final with Demetriou, who had always rejected it.
"I think a grand final at night would rate higher," said White, whose network holds the rights to all AFL finals this year and next, "but whether or not that makes it a better commercial proposition I'm not sure.
"We would have to be careful not to jeopardise what has traditionally been a very successful all-day event."
The AFL will soon reopen negotiations for a new TV deal. Chairman Ron Evans yesterday conceded that the league's determination to increase its coverage in the tough but lucrative Sydney market could cost it money to clinch the deal.
The AFL Commission is aware that that a night grand final would earn the competition significantly more.
Last season the AFL staged two night preliminary finals in a controversial move that gave Brisbane 36 hours less to prepare for the grand final.
Demetriou admitted Brisbane went into the grand final at a disadvantage.
Anyway, night grand final a good idea?
