News Alberton Oval Redevelopment

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[chiwigi]

Geelong is maaaaad!

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Geelong is maaaaad!

Sits in marginal state and Federal electorates so has much money thrown at it.

 

[Burningleviathan]

$150 mil is absurd.
Is there nothing else pollies can fund in that electorate?

 

[El_Scorcho]

Geelong doesn't take into account the sweetheart deal they get from the council to run the stadium either. How a small to medium club gets bankrolled like a big club.

We'd be hugely benefited by about 49.5% of Port Adelaide people voting for the Coalition for the next state and federal elections.

 

[El_Scorcho]

$150 mil is absurd.
Is there nothing else pollies can fund in that electorate?

Nothing that can pull on the heartstrings as much pouring money into their favourite footy club.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The AFL said there would only be one SA team at the beginning. The Crows acted and jumped into bed with the NT, effectively winning the bid with that move, whilst we put our energies into China. We had a chance, we chose not to fight.

Like I said, its all hindsight and at the time the China strategy was about shoring up our future, however if we had concentrated on AFLW we would have had federally funded facility upgrades already.

In 2015 when Gil first started talking about the new comp, to deflect from the ongoing Essendon drug saga, there was going to only be 6 teams and none from SA because SA women's football was such a poor standard.

The Div 1 states at national championships would provide the 6 teams. 3 from Victoria - Melbourne and Bulldogs were assured a team, one from WA the second strongest state team who would push Victoria a bit, one from Qld who were always competitive against WA but got smashed by Victoria and one from NSW.

SA was a mid Div 2 team. Mr Gui rocked up in September 2015 and rapidly advanced the idea for a game in China and by February 2016 we had made a commitment to push the Shanghai beach head not in Guangdong where we had started in the mainland, before the formal MoU was signed in April 2016.

We gave Erin the captaincy of our proposed team a week or two Christmas as a bit of PR bullshit, because Gill had indicated AFLW was 3 years away from being a reality.

But just like our China play moved quickly, so did AFLW but not as quick as China.

The AFL Commission on at least 2 occasions knocked back Gil's submission to the full Commission for AFLW comp in 2017, in the first 6 months of 2016 because there were too many holes in his plans.

When was the last time the full Commission twice rejected a submission by the AFL executives??

The crows pounced on NT women's league and doing a JV set up. The AFL liked that because it pushed the comp into another state and territory and meant an 8th team had to be set up and it meant an extra Victorian team, and we all know how much the AFL loves protecting the Vic market and Vic teams.

The crows pissed off the NT JV after 3 seasons, it served their purpose.

So in February 2016 we had stitched up the opportunity for a multi-million dollar play and in June 2016 the AFL had twice rejected Gil's submission to the Commission and there was no idea about club costs vs AFL subsidisation and extra distribution, list size, what players would get paid, broadcast deals, when the season would be played, how many teams, how many games etc.

It was a no brainer why the club chose China. And no way could the club do both. We are barely a breakeven club. We had to search out a potential new revenue stream so we could fund an AFLW team down the track. So what if we turnover tens of millions of dollars, that doesn't automatically mean we could do both. Revenue isn't as important as net cash flow from normal operations is.

Basic economics is scarce resources but unlimited wants. We had to chose - as we don't have the largess of a WCE or Collingwood, or the pokie profits of Hawthorn and other Vic clubs to move funds from substantial profits made by the men's teams to subsidize their AFLW teams.

 

[Steve Dore]

$150 mil is absurd.
Is there nothing else pollies can fund in that electorate?

Apparently the automotive manufacturing industry used to be a big employer in Geelong.

 

[malcheski]

In 2015 when Gil first started talking about the new comp, to deflect from the ongoing Essendon drug saga, there was going to only be 6 teams and none from SA because SA women's football was such a poor standard.

The Div 1 states at national championships would provide the 6 teams. 3 from Victoria - Melbourne and Bulldogs were assured a team, one from WA the second strongest state team who would push Victoria a bit, one from Qld who were always competitive against WA but got smashed by Victoria and one from NSW.

SA was a mid Div 2 team. Mr Gui rocked up in September 2015 and rapidly advanced the idea for a game in China and by February 2016 we had made a commitment to push the Shanghai beach head not in Guangdong where we had start in the mainland, before the formal MoU was signed in April 2016.

We gave Erin the captaincy of our proposed team a week or two Christmas as a bit of PR bullshit, because Gill had indicated AFLW was 3 years away from being a reality.

But just like our China play moved quickly, so did AFLW but not as quick as China.

The AFL Commission on at least 2 occasions knocked back Gil's submission to the full Commission for AFLW comp in 2017, in the first 6 months of 2016 because there were too many holes in his plans.

When was the last time the full Commission twice rejected a submission by the AFL executives??

The crows pounced on NT women's league and doing a JV set up. The AFL liked that because it pushed he comp into another state and territory and meant an 8th team had to be set up and it meant an extra Victorian team, and we all know how much the AFL loves protecting the Vic market and Vic teams.

The crows pissed off the NT JV after 3 seasons, it served their purpose.

So in February 2016 we had stitched up the opportunity for a multi-million dollar play and in June 2016 the AFL had twice rejected Gil's submission to the Commission and there was no idea about club costs vs AFL subsidisation and extra distribution, list size, what players would get paid, broadcast deals, when the season would be played, how many teams, how many games etc.

It was a no brainer why the club chose China. And no way could the club do both. We are barely a breakeven club. We had to search out a potential new revenue stream so we could fund an AFLW team down the track. So what if we turnover tens of millions of dollars, that doesn't automatically mean we could do both. Revenue isn't as important as net cash flow from normal operations is.

Basic economics is scarce resources but unlimited wants. We had to chose - as we don't have the largess of a WCE or Collingwood, or the pokie profits of Hawthorn and other Vic clubs to move funds from substantial profits made by the men's teams to subsidize their AFLW teams.

Exactly my point. At the time the China was, and still probably is, the right call. Nobody could have predicted how quickly AFLW blew up and the gravy train it rode in on, nor could anyone at the time predict a global pandemic that shut borders and geopolitical tensions that have driven large fractures between the two nations.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I have no idea where that comes from, but I am going to assume the Tsier as they said they had looked back 5 years at which clubs had received state and government funding in their Sunday Mail article.

There are 2 glaring errors in that list.

Western Bulldogs figure is wrong unless they have included the $15mil+ for the redevelopment of the Ballarat Oval.

The state government transferred land around Whitten Oval to the Bulldogs in 2018 valued at $16.1mil, and they gave a grant of $5mil for AFLW upgrades, spread out over 3 years and in 2020 picked up a further $900k - "from the State Government to complete the schematic design of the next stage of the Masterplan redevelopment of Whitten Oval and this schematic design was completed within the financial year."

Geelong did not get $100mil from the federal government. Geelong have looked at 2 different off site facilities, first one with Deakin Uni about 6 years ago and 3 years ago looked at Cape Otway Road Australia developers plan about 25km from Geelong, for a $350m housing and commercial development and a sports precinct that "will cater to nine of the 10 most popular sports in Australia, with world-class fields for AFL, soccer, rugby, cricket and tennis and facilities for swimming, gymnastics, running and cycling."

Neither of these developments have eventuated. The state government in their November budget confirmed they would fund the $142m redevelopment of stage 5 at Kardinia Park. Nothing I have read says that $100m is coming from the feds. Stage 5 included facilities Geelong were looking at, to be built at the 2 off site facilities they looked at over the last decade.

New $40m boost to complete GMHBA Stadium upgrade

The Victorian Government will fully fund the final stage of the upgrade to Geelong's home ground

www.geelongcats.com.au

GEELONG'S home ground at GMHBA Stadium will be able to hold more than 40,000 fans after the Victorian Government committed $40 million to complete the redevelopment. he latest boost is in addition to the $102 million previously announced by the government, bringing the total spend on Stage 5 of the project to $142 million.

This Kardinia Park Trust article confirms its 100% funded by the state government

Final Step For New Kardinia Park Confirmed - Kardinia Park Stadium Trust

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula announced that the Victorian Budget 2020/21 will include the additional allocation to fully fund Stage 5 of the Kardinia Park redevelopment. The Labor Government had previously committed $102 million to the project which will involve the...

www.kardiniapark.vic.gov.au

Stage 4 cost $89mil was built in 2016 after funding was stitched up late in 2015, $81m came from state and local governments and was funded mainly by the state government and Geelong City Council. See link below.

And stages 1 to 3 received substantial government funding across all 3 levels of government between 2005 and 2011. In the stadium deal threads I set out who funded stages 1 to 3.
Feds. $24mil
State $46mil
CGG.. $11mil
GFC.. $13.8mil
AFL.. $8.2mil
Total $103mil

Stage four gets green light

The Stage Four redevelopment of Simonds Stadium has been given the go-ahead by the city council.

www.geelongcats.com.au

Stage four of the Simonds Stadium redevelopment is on track to commence this year after the City of Greater Geelong agreed to an amended $6 million contribution to the project.

The council voted last week to support the project, but a number of conditions attached to the funding were unacceptable. The council met again on Tuesday night and addressed those issues to ensure the redevelopment will go ahead in 2016. The council's contribution comes in addition to a $75 million commitment from the state government, $4 million from the Geelong Football Club and $4 million from the AFL.

 

[Steve Dore]

so that carpark in the south-east area will presumably be used for crowd standing-space on game days: I'm not really in favour of Noarlungafication of Alberton Oval!

I had assumed it is to enable cars to park up against the fence on game days as that, Noarlungafication as you say, is the future direction of the SNAFL.

 

[Steve Dore]

I have no idea where that comes from, but I am going to assume the Tsier as they said they had looked back 5 years at which clubs had received state and government funding in their Sunday Mail article. ....

It is straight out of today's The Advertiser.

 

[jac147]

$150 mil is absurd.
Is there nothing else pollies can fund in that electorate?

Perhaps a premiership?

 

[Byrons Firen]

I had assumed it is to enable cars to park up against the fence on game days as that, Noarlungafication as you say, is the future direction of the SNAFL.

Liked for Noarlungafication

 

[Steve Dore]

Liked for Noarlungafication

Prison bar Pete's word, not mine.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

It is straight out of today's The Advertiser.

Is there a link to the story the graphic is attached to?

 

[Grave Danger]

I have no idea where that comes from, but I am going to assume the Tsier as they said they had looked back 5 years at which clubs had received state and government funding in their Sunday Mail article.

There are 2 glaring errors in that list.

Western Bulldogs figure is wrong unless they have included the $15mil+ for the redevelopment of the Ballarat Oval.

The state government transferred land around Whitten Oval to the Bulldogs in 2018 valued at $16.1mil, and they gave a grant of $5mil for AFLW upgrades, spread out over 3 years and in 2020 picked up a further $900k - "from the State Government to complete the schematic design of the next stage of the Masterplan redevelopment of Whitten Oval and this schematic design was completed within the financial year."

Geelong did not get $100mil from the federal government. Geelong have looked at 2 different off site facilities, first one with Deakin Uni about 6 years ago and 3 years ago looked at Cape Otway Road Australia developers plan about 25km from Geelong, for a $350m housing and commercial development and a sports precinct that "will cater to nine of the 10 most popular sports in Australia, with world-class fields for AFL, soccer, rugby, cricket and tennis and facilities for swimming, gymnastics, running and cycling."

Neither of these developments have eventuated. The state government in their November budget confirmed they would fund the $142m redevelopment of stage 5 at Kardinia Park. Nothing I have read says that $100m is coming from the feds. Stage 5 included facilities Geelong were looking at, to be built at the 2 off site facilities they looked at over the last decade.

New $40m boost to complete GMHBA Stadium upgrade

The Victorian Government will fully fund the final stage of the upgrade to Geelong's home ground

www.geelongcats.com.au

GEELONG'S home ground at GMHBA Stadium will be able to hold more than 40,000 fans after the Victorian Government committed $40 million to complete the redevelopment. he latest boost is in addition to the $102 million previously announced by the government, bringing the total spend on Stage 5 of the project to $142 million.

This Kardinia Park Trust article confirms its 100% funded by the state government

Final Step For New Kardinia Park Confirmed - Kardinia Park Stadium Trust

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula announced that the Victorian Budget 2020/21 will include the additional allocation to fully fund Stage 5 of the Kardinia Park redevelopment. The Labor Government had previously committed $102 million to the project which will involve the...

www.kardiniapark.vic.gov.au

Stage 4 cost $89mil was built in 2016 after funding was stitched up late in 2015, $81m came from state and local governments and was funded mainly by the state government and Geelong City Council. See link below.

And stages 1 to 3 received substantial government funding across all 3 levels of government between 2005 and 2011. In the stadium deal threads I set out who funded stages 1 to 3.
Feds. $24mil
State $46mil
CGG.. $11mil
GFC.. $13.8mil
AFL.. $8.2mil
Total $103mil

Stage four gets green light

The Stage Four redevelopment of Simonds Stadium has been given the go-ahead by the city council.

www.geelongcats.com.au

Stage four of the Simonds Stadium redevelopment is on track to commence this year after the City of Greater Geelong agreed to an amended $6 million contribution to the project.

The council voted last week to support the project, but a number of conditions attached to the funding were unacceptable. The council met again on Tuesday night and addressed those issues to ensure the redevelopment will go ahead in 2016. The council's contribution comes in addition to a $75 million commitment from the state government, $4 million from the Geelong Football Club and $4 million from the AFL.

Still, you can't Coriover spilt milk.

 

[Steve Dore]

Is there a link to the story the graphic is attached to?

No idea, I have access to the digital edition.

Edit: see PM

 

[Tibbs]

The AFL said there would only be one SA team at the beginning. The Crows acted and jumped into bed with the NT, effectively winning the bid with that move, whilst we put our energies into China. We had a chance, we chose not to fight.

Like I said, its all hindsight and at the time the China strategy was about shoring up our future, however if we had concentrated on AFLW we would have had federally funded facility upgrades already.

That is just not true ... Check with the club. We were told the Crows would get the first licence. Regardless of that we did, they were always getting in first, and rightly so, as they were the first SA club, and at that stage were more financially stronger, and more more successful than us.

 

[El_Scorcho]

Poor strategy that by the AFL.

If we'd gone in to the AFLW first, Crows supporters would have been whipped into an absolute frenzy about it and it would have dramatically increased interest in the Crows AFLW team that followed, IMO, as well as cementing the rivalry at AFLW level.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

No idea, I have access to the digital edition.

Edit: see PM

Ok that is the article Grave Danger linked yesterday but I thought was in the Sunday Mail. It was written Sunday for today's paper edition. Interesting, the online article has the renders like the paper edition, but not the table of grants from state and feds for AFL facilities.

The article said 14 clubs got federal funding. In that list it shows 3 didn't, ie Melbourne, North and us, which just confirms Geelong got $142mil from state government and nothing from the feds.

 

[1954]

Hinkley looks a bit like a Cheap-As-Chips Putin.

Vladimir Hinkley does have a bit of a ring to it.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Poor strategy that by the AFL.

If we'd gone in to the AFLW first, Crows supporters would have been whipped into an absolute frenzy about it and it would have dramatically increased interest in the Crows AFLW team that followed, IMO, as well as cementing the rivalry at AFLW level.

If the crows didn't link up with NT, AFLW would have started in 2017 with 6 teams not 8.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[Duckimus Prime]

That is just not true ... Check with the club. We were told the Crows would get the first licence. Regardless of that we did, they were always getting in first, and rightly so, as they were the first SA club, and at that stage were more financially stronger, and more more successful than us.

Except they gave NSW to GWS over the Swans and they gave WA to Fremantle over West Coast.

As REH stated, the AFL were going to have 0 SA based teams in the AFLW, until the Crows got into bed with the Northern Territory and demanded a spot in the AFLW. We can call out the Crows for the silver platter gifts they've been given but the AFLW spot was not one of them. They're the ones that decided having a team in SA was vitally important and did the work that demanded the AFL have a team in SA.

Port could've done the exact same push as the Crows, going the NT joint venture and based on the GWS and Freo decisions, we probably would've been the favourite to get the spot bludging off their work for once.