AFL concedes season could be lost to soccer World Cup

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AFL concedes season could be lost to soccer World Cup

Authored by: Joel Adin Porretta
on Tuesday, December 08 2009 @ 09:55 am ACDT

To be honest I think that FIFA may even be scared of other codes such as Football gaining popularity with international fans. Maybe thats why no other major sporting events are allowed to take place. And here's a word to FIFA: This is our country and AFL is our Game and if you don't like it get lost.

AFL concedes season could be lost to soccer World Cup

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Tuesday, December 08 2009 @ 10:15 am ACDT

Main thing for AFL - - - if AFL and NRL are able to access host cities during the tournament - then, the AFL wants Docklands.

The FFA wants Docklands and the MCG.

Impasse.

So, given the only %100 govt funded stadium is a dedicated soccer/rugby rectangle venue and is too small (well, the foundations allow it to go to 50K but the roof doesnt), it then is astounding that one of the possibilities that the FFA has tabled includes $130 mill Govt funding for rectangularising the MCG.

Why not spend the money on expanding the new rectangle stadium.

As it is, the AFL is still wanting a govt injection for a 3rd Melb venue - the missing link. The 30K boutique venue - - what should have been built instead of the Swan St stadium (as it is today).

There's a bit of media talk about Demetriou 'scare mongering' - but, the reality is that a lot depends on whether FIFA deigns to permit AFL and NRL to play in host cities or not. ANd that the FFA STILL can not answer this indicates that the FFA hasn't actually dared bring up this topic with FIFA. How hard is it to get this clarified??

AFL concedes season could be lost to soccer World Cup

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Tuesday, December 08 2009 @ 03:36 pm ACDT

Quote from another article:

Collingwood president, and Victoria Major Events Company board member, Eddie McGuire said he was starting to believe Australia's bid to host the event was becoming too problematic.

"Why would the AFL give its major rival not only a free kick, but blow up its own product for an entire year," McGuire said.

"So, the question is - is the World Cup just too big and too long for this country to have in the middle of a football season? I'm beginning to think it might be."

and:

FFA boss Ben Buckley, a former senior AFL executive, said the proposed $130 million reconfiguration was just one option.

"That's a very, very expensive option and it's not necessarily one that we propose to push forward with," he said.

"(But) I think quite correctly we've done the homework to look at what would create the best spectator experience at the MCG."

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

AFL concedes season could be lost to soccer World Cup

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Wednesday, December 09 2009 @ 02:57 pm ACDT

And the news today did see Sydney based morning FTA breakfast shows mention about the Docklands stand off. And the odd point that expanding the new Swan St soccer/rugby stadium to 50K is deemed too expensive. It raises the question. If $150 mill to expand it and remove any issues over Docklands is too expensive - - - then just how much or little money is in the kitty for this thing?? Why build a showpiece roof and stadium if it's going to be either vacant - or hosting displaced NRL matches - during the tournament. And - does the FFA know that the AFL need not worry about Docklands because K.Rudd has already assured that AFL and NRL will be shut down no matter what???? Presently - a lot of anti-AFL people are accusing Demetriou of putting the bid in jeopardy. PEople need to understand though - the stadium 'bid book' isn't required to be submitted until May. So, given that Demetriou has just returned from paternity leave to find Docklands being claimed - it's best to raise the issues now before Christmas. THere's a ripping article in the SMH that summarises it nicely , football and friendship in headon collision.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

AFL concedes season could be lost to soccer World Cup

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Saturday, December 12 2009 @ 08:16 pm ACDT

In reference to some of the comments by "hello"', I think all of us at WFN appreciate the passion and the sentiment, but I'm pleased you apologised for some of the comments. Everybody is perfectly entitled to play whatever sport they like, and it's certainly not just English migrants who bring soccer to Australia, and they can call it football if they wish, they just shouldn't get too strident that it's the ONLY football.

It's a good reason why internationalising Aussie Rules is important. The expectation for the next 50 years is that Australia will continue to have a large migrant intake. Hoping to get them to embrace Aussie Rules will surely be easier if they have at least heard of the sport.

And we have to remember that this site is about promoting Australian football in other countries, so our sport could easily be seen as an interloper, a foreign invasion. What we do expect in both cases is that the "invading" sport be treated fairly and likewise treat the existing sports with respect. No one should be able to demand that a country shut down certain sports whilst only one is played. Clearly that is using government coercion to squeeze out a competitor. If they are not a competitor then why push for it?

Some people are arguing that Australian football should use it as a great chance to promote itself to visitors - that argument collapses if FIFA demand the AFL shut down during the period in the cities where the soccer would be held, i.e. most Australian capitals.

Some say purely in regional venues. With an average crowd of around 35,000 and most regional venues only holding up to 10,000 in a real squeeze, that's 25,000 less per game, so conservatively around 200,000 less per round, so if say 4 rounds were shifted, that would be 800,000 less attending, so over $10 million lost revenue, plus a lot of expense (millions) bringing regional venues up to scratch, and there would be lost membership value as less games are offered. I would however desperately hope that a few games could be shifted to places like New Zealand. Yes there would be a lot of WC focus, but I think still plenty of attention could be obtained. And by 2022 we'd certainly hope there would be quite a few Kiwis in the AFL.

Some people are arguing the likelihood of Australia getting the WC is very slim. As I argued in another post, if a European gets 2018 as is very likely, then being realistic about other bids Australia would be down to virtually a head to head race with the US for 2022. And by the time of the decision it will be too late for the AFL to argue for concessions as the bid will be locked in.

And of course there are many crude arguments that the AFL is insignificant so who cares? Apparently millions of fans and millions of dollars and thousands of long term jobs don't matter.

I suspect all it will really take to make all the cards fall in place is an agreement by FIFA that the MCG will not be out of action for more than 8 weeks, Etihad for not more than 6 weeks or an alternative found, and some modest compensation from the Federal Government for the AFL presumably playing a season that would start a few weeks early and run for a few rounds less.

One thing is for sure, the debate in Melbourne will quickly move from AFL versus soccer (something the AFL could hope to break even on in the case of the WC) to instead the city of Melbourne versus the city of Sydney as major hosts - and that would quickly weaken the AFL's support as Melburnians face their arch rival.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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