AFL Expansion and the Global Financial Crisis?

[Hondo]

The AFL were due to formally ratify GC17's entry last October or so. Due to the worsening financial crisis, they were forced to delay the final decision which they said would happen in December. Now the latest I read is that they still couldn't make a final D because the QLD Govt (in it's own financial crisis) had cancelled it's $300m commitment to the new stadium, leaving the AFL to potentially foot the bill

As I read it, the GC17 consortium is also now in a worse financial spot then they thought be because of the credit crisis.

Given the AFL had already committed to a draft and got all the teams panicked about future draft concessions could they still delay GC17? My feeling is they could if they had to.

Secondly, I assume this leaves the West Sydney expansion far further into the future then they planned.

Finally, I think the NMFC have to be given some credit for rejecting the GC offer when clearly, in hindsight, the AFL weren't ready with the stadium and were rushing. Where would NM be now if they had accepted the AFL's offer? At the time I thought NM should have gone but I admit I assumed the AFL were more organised than it turned out they were.

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/5324467/afl-body-remains-undecided-gold-coast

[HH3]

Does that mean after all the hype and everything the AFL havent even made a decision to actually have a GC team yet? What happens if they dont decide by the next draft? If the GC team doesnt get accepted into the AFL does that mean the kids drafted to them will need to wait till the 2010 draft to go for an AFL spot? That would mean there would be double the amount of potential draftees and after being drafted to an "AFL" team already they have to go through it again with a strong possibility they wont get drafted again.

The AFL should have built a stadium and got all the foundations set in stone before making such a fuss about it. West Sydney will never happen. And if it does they will go bust pretty quickly. Tasmania is where Id like to see the next team.

[Dutchy]

Port are looking for a new home

[Booney]

Port are looking for a new home

Get your facts straight...

[gadj1976]

My mate is a North supporter and said that the AFL kept saying in the media that the package to go to the GCoast was in the vacinity of 30mill. When the details came out the package of 30 mill was unjustifyable. Instead of re-dressing the 30mill discrepancy, they went to the media and harped on about how foolish the Kangas would be if they gave up the option. Apparently during the period of time where the Kangas were asking the AFL for justification, the AFL were busy spruiking the stupidity of the Kangas suggestion to stay in Melbourne.

I too had the thought that they'd be foolish not to go. My mate soon put me straight on that, as it was all AFL propaganda pushing them into a 'logical decision' with no financial basis.

[HH3]

It sounds like the AFL cant get their shit together. Maybe they need a new administration. If a club made the same sort of promises and stuffed them up as much as the AFL did their board would be replaced quicksmart.

[mighty_tiger_79]

if Port moved to the Gold Coast they wouldnt need to upgrade the stadium for more seating cos they already have enough seats

[Booney]

And female commentators get rubbished for using old worn out cliche's...

[Psyber]

Port are looking for a new home

Get your facts straight...

Yeah, the facts are that Port are just looking for enough members to pay their way, instead of being propped up with the profits the SANFL make out of the Crows.

[Pag]

Bin the second Sydney team idea altogether. What a stupid idea that is. The one team that's already there nobody gives a shit about anyway, getting 11k to a final is not that flash.

The Tassie team has the sponsorship, financial backing and facilities, plus a whole state that actually cares about the game. They should be given a license before both GC17 and Western Sydney.

[Booney]

Port are looking for a new home

Get your facts straight...

Yeah, the facts are that Port are just looking for enough members to pay their way, instead of being propped up with the profits the SANFL make out of the Crows.

Or we could crack open the coffers of the Foundation and roll in some cash for a while.

[heater31]

You would hope the Tasmanian bid have crossed their T's and dotted their I's as the AFL could be backed into a corner letting them in first, then go to the Goldy