Footy at Unley

[HOORAY PUNT]

From Eastern Courier

THE Sturt Football Club is considering buying back its Oxford Tce headquarters to secure its long-term future in Unley.

The club originally owned the building but sold it to Unley Council 14 years ago to clear crippling debts.

The council is conducting a review of its assets and has floated giving Sturt first option to buy the clubrooms if they are offered for sale.

Sturt rents the building from the council for $30,000 a year. Its lease expires in September, 2012.

The building houses Sturt’s administration and the Unley Community Sports Club.

The property has a market value of $970,000.

“The council is looking at all its buildings in its strategic building review,” Unley chief executive Ray Pincombe said.

“If we keep it we need to maximise the use of the premises.

“Sturt would have first option to buy the property if we were to sell it.”

Unley councillor Peter Hughes said it was important Sturt stayed in Unley.

“I’m very keen for Sturt to stay in Unley,” Cr Hughes told the Eastern Courier Messenger last week.

“It’s important for Sturt to have its administration building right next to their oval.”

Double Blues chief executive Matt Benson said while a long-term lease of the Oxford Tce site was its first option, it would consider buying back the building to stay in Unley.

“A long-term lease is what we want,” Mr Benson said. “But if the council was looking to sell then we would be looking to buy it.”

Sturt moved it games away from Unley for 13 seasons, from 1985-1997, playing instead at Adelaide Oval. In more recent times there has been speculation the club might move to Mt Barker or Wayville Showgrounds.

But Mr Benson said the club wanted to stay in Unley.

“The Sturt Football Club is committed to staying at our spiritual home at Unley,” Mr Benson said.

“Sturt is a key part of the history and fabric of Unley. We’ve been around here for 110 years and we hope to be around for another 110.”

[SDK]

Yes stay at Unley but do something about the actual oval it is a disgrace !
A million bucks wont be easy to find though and leasing would be the best option.

[o five]

From Eastern Courier

THE Sturt Football Club is considering buying back its Oxford Tce headquarters to secure its long-term future in Unley.

The club originally owned the building but sold it to Unley Council 14 years ago to clear crippling debts.

The council is conducting a review of its assets and has floated giving Sturt first option to buy the clubrooms if they are offered for sale.

Sturt rents the building from the council for $30,000 a year. Its lease expires in September, 2012.

The building houses Sturt’s administration and the Unley Community Sports Club.

The property has a market value of $970,000.

“The council is looking at all its buildings in its strategic building review,” Unley chief executive Ray Pincombe said.

“If we keep it we need to maximise the use of the premises.

“Sturt would have first option to buy the property if we were to sell it.”

Unley councillor Peter Hughes said it was important Sturt stayed in Unley.

“I’m very keen for Sturt to stay in Unley,” Cr Hughes told the Eastern Courier Messenger last week.

“It’s important for Sturt to have its administration building right next to their oval.”

Double Blues chief executive Matt Benson said while a long-term lease of the Oxford Tce site was its first option, it would consider buying back the building to stay in Unley.

“A long-term lease is what we want,” Mr Benson said. “But if the council was looking to sell then we would be looking to buy it.”

Sturt moved it games away from Unley for 13 seasons, from 1985-1997, playing instead at Adelaide Oval. In more recent times there has been speculation the club might move to Mt Barker or Wayville Showgrounds.

But Mr Benson said the club wanted to stay in Unley.

“The Sturt Football Club is committed to staying at our spiritual home at Unley,” Mr Benson said.

“Sturt is a key part of the history and fabric of Unley. We’ve been around here for 110 years and we hope to be around for another 110.”

I reakon Sturts lease is about to go up.

[Grahaml]

Would be excellent news for Sturt if they managed to own the clubrooms. Agree something needs to be done to the oval though, hopefully they manage to get permission to develop it somewhat. A permanent fence would be a start. Opening up more of the ground for spectators would be another priority. I know everyone loves their own club and what they have, but sometimes you wonder whether Sturt players and officials look at the dogs and envy more than just the on field performance.

[Barto]

Would be excellent news for Sturt if they managed to own the clubrooms. Agree something needs to be done to the oval though, hopefully they manage to get permission to develop it somewhat. A permanent fence would be a start. Opening up more of the ground for spectators would be another priority. I know everyone loves their own club and what they have, but sometimes you wonder whether Sturt players and officials look at the dogs and envy more than just the on field performance.

I think that's a given. I'm envious of the fitness facilities that Centrals have, the players are bound to be as well.

I think there's more to life than money when attracting players and I know for a fact that we missed out on a player bidding war a couple of years ago when another club vying for this players services told him to drive past Unley and take a look, telling him: "it's just a dog turd park! herp derp" leaving out the fact that fences go up on game day etc.

[Sojourner]

Dont think its a very good idea, I agree with the sentiment though that getting the building back would restore assets to the club and so on, yet Sturt have only just begun to turn over a small profit and to take on a million dollar debt to save 30k per year seems a huge step backwards financially, just the interest alone to service the loan will be more than the 30k they are currently on.

Sturt need to put there money into assets that generate income, my suggestion has been for some time that the clubs themselves need to get together and go shares in something like a city hotel and split the profits between them to provide at least base level operating income to keep each side going.

Would not be a bad thing for each of the club presidents to travel to the Penrith Leagues Club, stay a week and spend some time talking to the board about how ownership of multiple venues is done, Penrith have 43 venues at the last count. One SANFL club would struggle on their own to acquire a roll of assets, the group together however could well put some investments together for the good of the whole group at a much lesser risk.

[Squawk]

Maybe the deal could incorporate a provision that Sturt buys the building and the proceeds of the sale (or part thereof) are redirected by the Council in to an upgrade of the Oval?

After all, it would be a 'windfall' for the Council and if it resulted in an improved Oval, then surely everyone would be the winners?

[HOORAY PUNT]

I think the assest may appreciate over time at Unley however.

[on the rails]

Dont think its a very good idea, I agree with the sentiment though that getting the building back would restore assets to the club and so on, yet Sturt have only just begun to turn over a small profit and to take on a million dollar debt to save 30k per year seems a huge step backwards financially, just the interest alone to service the loan will be more than the 30k they are currently on.

Sturt need to put there money into assets that generate income, my suggestion has been for some time that the clubs themselves need to get together and go shares in something like a city hotel and split the profits between them to provide at least base level operating income to keep each side going.

Would not be a bad thing for each of the club presidents to travel to the Penrith Leagues Club, stay a week and spend some time talking to the board about how ownership of multiple venues is done, Penrith have 43 venues at the last count. One SANFL club would struggle on their own to acquire a roll of assets, the group together however could well put some investments together for the good of the whole group at a much lesser risk.

Sturt have Barzaar on Unley Road with gaming machines - 28 and lease deal with the Castle Tavern that has 32 machines so they have 2 businesses up and running however I don't think they bring in the expected income they originally planned or hoped never the less it is a good base for them.

North has Grand North and the leasehold on the Northern Tavern - both with 40 gaming machines each and both venues do very well plus are looking at other options moving fwd despite putting $1.6 million into the Prospect Oval upgrade however any more asset additions will be dependent upon reducing the debt again, proposed pokie reforms and how much it will make running the new gym set up at PO which will be open to the public.

So to answer your question - clubs can do it independently however it takes guts to borrow or assets to borrow against plus carry debt for a period but you also need the venue / business to perform and provide the $$$ - PAFC is an example of buying a poor performer coupled with poor rent deal re the POW.

[JK]

North has Grand North and the leasehold on the Northern Tavern - both with 40 gaming machines each

32 machines per venue is the limit these days isnt it? (serious question .. Dont think it detracts from what you're saying anyway .. There is an investment and the there is an investment)

[on the rails]

North has Grand North and the leasehold on the Northern Tavern - both with 40 gaming machines each

32 machines per venue is the limit these days isnt it? (serious question .. Dont think it detracts from what you're saying anyway .. There is an investment and the there is an investment)

Not for profit clubs (and Hotels owned or operated by clubs) were allowed to keep the 40 machine maximum hence why North has 40 machines. Sturt sold some of their initial 40 machines which were at their Unley Oval Premises and since moved to Barzaar and when they took over the Castle Tavern it had already reduced it's numbers back to the max 32 allowed at Hotels after the change from 40 to 32 some years back.

[HOORAY PUNT]

I never knew Sturt sold any oftheir machines ?Maybe we didn't have the 40 to start with .

Barzaar is a great choice for a meal too , so ifyou are thinnking of a place to eat try Barzaar on Unley road.

[JK]

North has Grand North and the leasehold on the Northern Tavern - both with 40 gaming machines each

32 machines per venue is the limit these days isnt it? (serious question .. Dont think it detracts from what you're saying anyway .. There is an investment and the there is an investment)

Not for profit clubs (and Hotels owned or operated by clubs) were allowed to keep the 40 machine maximum hence why North has 40 machines. Sturt sold some of their initial 40 machines which were at their Unley Oval Premises and since moved to Barzaar and when they took over the Castle Tavern it had already reduced it's numbers back to the max 32 allowed at Hotels after the change from 40 to 32 some years back.

Far out, I never knew some clubs managed to keep the 40 machines .. An extra 16 machines is brilliant for the Roosters

[on the rails]

North has Grand North and the leasehold on the Northern Tavern - both with 40 gaming machines each

32 machines per venue is the limit these days isnt it? (serious question .. Dont think it detracts from what you're saying anyway .. There is an investment and the there is an investment)

Not for profit clubs (and Hotels owned or operated by clubs) were allowed to keep the 40 machine maximum hence why North has 40 machines. Sturt sold some of their initial 40 machines which were at their Unley Oval Premises and since moved to Barzaar and when they took over the Castle Tavern it had already reduced it's numbers back to the max 32 allowed at Hotels after the change from 40 to 32 some years back.

Far out, I never knew some clubs managed to keep the 40 machines .. An extra 16 machines is brilliant for the Roosters

The Northern only had 32 machines when we took over but we paid the $ and got in the extra 8 machines. Sturt could do or could have done the same at Barzaar) if they had the $$$, not sure about the Castle as their deal is alot different than the leasehold North has at the Northern Tavern and maybe Hotel rstricted re gaming machine numbers but in any case purchase or lease of new gaming machines (or second hand for that matter) is big $$$