Football worth $34m to Gold Coast
By Crystal Ja, 6 Nov 2008 Crystal Ja is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- GC17, Gold Coast
A new AFL team could inject $34 million a year into the Gold Coast economy if it takes up residency there, according to new research.
With the AFL’s official nod of approval the only thing standing between the Gold Coast and its first ever top-tier football team, an independent economic report today shed some light on how it would impact the region.
According to the report, accommodation and tourism operators will be the biggest winners, with the Gold Coast expected to benefit by $33.9 million each year from its first full year of operation.
Retail, hospitality and taxi companies are expected to benefit from day-trip visitors.
By 2016, the report suggests, the creation of a new AFL team would generate an additional 121,000 visitor nights and attract 221,175 people to Gold Coast games per season, 45 per cent of whom would be from outside the region.
The report is based on the assumption that by 2016 a new stadium on the Gold Coast would be operating and hosting 11 games a season.
GC17 chairman John Witheriff, who heads the Gold Coast bid to receive the AFL’s 17th licence, welcomed the report and said it showed how the community would be rewarded.
The report’s author Chris Hunn said the football club would help reinforce the Gold Coast as a sporting destination, more so than other codes.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests that the extent of place-marketing generated by GC17 is expected to be significant and will exceed that of other football codes,” Dr Hunn said in a statement.
He said a Gold Coast team would also lead to increased local sporting infrastructure and participation.
GC17, if granted a licence, will enter the TAC Cup next season, the VFL in 2010 before entering the AFL in 2011.
The AFL is expected to make a decision before the end of the year.
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- GC17, Gold Coast
Michael C said | November 6th 2008 @ 5:22am | Report comment
The simple fact is that Melbourne/Victorian based club supporters are FAR more likely to travel during regular season to Northern detinations than are the reverse via for example the NRL.
Many fans and families would plan their mid winter break around a club game in Sydney, or Brissie, or the Gold Coast. At what point though that the numbers don’t aggregated with a new ‘northern’ club and rather just spread more thinly over those available…………who knows. GFC can’t help in the short term, but, GC17 aren’t in the comp just yet either.
Forgetmenot said | November 6th 2008 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
By 2016, that is a fairly decent amount. Only about 8 years later and they have that figure. And with hardly any investment into the team at all.
We all know that football gets the bigger crowds meaning that the GC will receive more people than the other codes.
I cannot wait until the team comes in, will add another dimension.
Michael C said | November 6th 2008 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Forgetmenot -
especially the thus far home grown aspect – - and the gradual and public nature of it – - it’s interesting for all to see. Back in the days of the West Coast Eagles and Crows and Power, players were ‘hidden’ away and then suddenly there appeared a team and for many of us – - the realisation that our club had previously drafted player X, Y and Z 2 or 3 years earlier!!!
What will be really interesting will be the player trading that happens as GC17 seeks to build the age/experience hierarchy ‘on field’.
Westy said | November 7th 2008 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
The Gold Coast team will be successful. But can I have a look at the economic report. I just love reading their assumptions. This is part of a well practiced marketing strategy from the best marketed sport in Australia. I say this in admiration not criticism.. It is designed not to persuade the AFL Commission to grant the 17th licence but to to persuade the QLD government to get the AFL out of the Gabba deal or have the QLD Govermnment contribute to the upgrade necessary on the Gold Coast. this is not wrong and is what other sports also do. It is just that the AFL do it so well.
My point is let me read the report .it will bring a smile to my face…….independent economic report…..ABC Learning had one of those to….it helped to persuade the Federal Government to remove capping on child care grants.. .Tha AFL will contribute to the Gold Coast economy ………the 34 million may take a while
Forgetmenot said | November 7th 2008 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
I also would like to see the report, but i think it may have a few confidential marketing techniques in it which the AFL would surely not want the NRL and NBA to see and be able to conquer, and the ARU and FFA to see and copy.
Michael C said | November 7th 2008 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
after seeing some of the before predictions and after actuals for ‘economic benefit’ for some FIFA WC host nations……………I don’t see any reason to doubt that AFL GC17 $34m figure.
Millster said | November 7th 2008 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
One of my degrees is in economics and I must say I have absolutely no faith in the quantification of economic benefit of such events in the community. I don’t think its possible to do in any manner that is methodologically sound, nor do I think a dollar figure encompasses the balance of risks and rewards and potential community-building contribution of such initiatives.
Even as a non-AFL guy, bring on GC17 I say. If there’s a decent basic business case and it fits within the AFL’s strategy, do it. The Gold Coast may adopt the club or may confine it to an anaemic niche status. But the act of trying, taking the ‘educated guess’ on the expansion, has value in itself and is a leap off faith in the Sth QLD community.
Between the Titans, the new HAL team and the GC17… not to mention the daily surf… what a great place to be!
Pippinu said | November 7th 2008 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
Millster
the adjective “crowded” comes to mind
Millster said | November 7th 2008 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Pip – not so much a problem for football which only competes with the beach in the summer months…
Pippinu said | November 7th 2008 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
Millster
good point (stiff competition too) – but with the inevitable extending of seasons, one can expect a bit of overlap.
There will be many that are happy to pay for two memberships (as I do), there will be quite a few out-of-towners (the A-League would attract as many as the AFL I reckon) – but the Gold Coast must now be the smallest place in Australia where all three national football comps are in the one city.
It’s an interesting experiment.