God you talk some absolute rubbish - FFA were not involved in quoting the cost for upgrading AAMI Park to a 40,000 plus capacity for the World Cup. They actually submitted to the Victorian State Government that they would prefer to use AAMI park only for the government to reject it on the basis of cost. I've heard something from Grollo saying it could be done but at what cost nobody knows. Stop spinning ridiculous conspiracy theories, the buck stops with the Vic Govt who have the ultimate authority over what venues were built and they wanted to use the venues that would cost them the least $$$$$$. Absolutely zero to do with the FFA in any way, shape or form.
quote]
Stephen Reilly in the Australian Dec 10,
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...-sporting-venues/story-fn4l4sfy-1225808828663
A third option, dismissed at this point by the Victorian government and considered too costly by the FFA, would be to increase the capacity of Melbourne's 31,000-seat rectangular stadium which is expected to open in the Olympic Park precinct in March.
There would be agreements that protect Etihad from like-capacity competition to be overcome and a cost of $150 million to consider but, as expensive a solution as it would be, it is nonetheless an option.
Dan Silkstone, the Age, Dec 9,
http://www.smh.com.au/national/afl-block-to-world-cup-bid-20091208-khmw.html
The FFA had initially believed it would not need the venue, instead using the MCG and the new rectangular stadium on Swan Street as World Cup venues.
That stadium was supposedly ''future-proofed'' so that it could be enlarged to 40,000. But the FFA turned back to Etihad after it emerged that the distinctive bubble roof of the rectangular venue meant it would cost a prohibitive $150 million to enlarge it.
I'm happy to blame both the FFA and the Vic Govt!!!
At either rate - from the AFL perspective, how silly did it look that in May 2009, Govt minister Tim Pallas was famously quoted in May 2009 as saying "
if Melbourne were to play a part in hosting a World Cup we could go to 50,000"
I'm very happy to blame the Vic Govt.
At the time I pointed out to many that the AFL weren't at fault in all this - - it's not their bid to make work, and the AFL don't have to move out or shut down. It was contingent upon the FFA and Govts to sort it out. Imagine the folk at AFL house who back in May 2009 see the Tim Pallas quote and within 5 months that seems nothing but political waffle........okay, behind the scenes, probably more was known. Publicy though.
However, perhaps the Vic Govt always had the agenda of pushing for Geelong - John Brumby has given that impression. And perhaps that was the most intelligent option given that Sydney would always be the multi-venue city in which case niether Docklands or MRS (AAMI park) could be considered.