Big stadium a big hurdle for GC17
By Crystal Ja, 28 Feb 2009 Crystal Ja is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- AFL, AFL Commission, GC17
Two things stand between the Gold Coast and its new AFL team – a 25,000-seat stadium and the mountain of money needed to build it.
Gold Coast mayor Ron Clarke has urged the AFL to seek alternate investors after what he says is a lukewarm response from the Queensland government.
The AFL needs to jointly raise $180 million from the state, federal and local governments for its new stadium at Carrara, generally understood to be the sticking point for the GC17 bid.
Clarke denies the future of the club depends on the Queensland government, but believes the AFL needs to look elsewhere if the stadium is to be built without further hurdles.
“I’ve said from the start you can’t rely on the state government for a major contribution,” said Clarke, who has already publicly put forward $20 million from council coffers.
“They’re not going to make any more stadiums.
“They’re running their own race on this issue.”
Clarke has so far been the only party willing to vent his frustrations at the on-going delays associated with the GC17 bid, with GC17 chairman John Witheriff standing by the AFL.
“It hasn’t made any difference to us in the practical sense, although that being said, it would be nice to know there is a licence,” he said.
Initially, a decision was expected in October 2008, then by December, before the latest postponement at the AFL Commission’s meeting earlier this month.
Clarke said he started getting frustrated back in December, claiming time was running out for the club.
“I’m not saying kick the state government out (of negotiations), if they want to contribute that’s fine, but the AFL needs to come up with a plan B so we can go ahead no matter what.”
It is not the first time the state government has thrown a spanner in the works – it initially planned to abide by a previous contract that ruled a second AFL club would have its home games held at the Gabba until 2015.
The AFL, state and federal governments are still engaged in protracted talks about funding, but have sworn a vow of silence about the progress of the negotiations.
While the global financial downturn has contributed to the AFL’s indecision, some sporting sources on the Gold Coast believe now is not the right time for a new football team.
The Gold Coast Football Club is otherwise on track to compete in the TAC Cup beginning in March.
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Sam said | February 28th 2009 @ 7:25am | Report comment
Seems like a lot of hot air from the AFL about this Gold Coast team..
Norm said | February 28th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
too right Sam. I’m waiting for pippy boy to come on board utter more untruths about how the afl never takes government money.
Albert Ross said | February 28th 2009 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
Norm
Do you mean our little fifth columnist lets slip the odd pork-pie?
Then after that we can expect 400 posts from Michael C explaining how the AFLs relentless march to world domination will be based on the new GC Club.
John Ryan said | February 28th 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
I think a lot of things are going to change with the GFC,including the GC AFL funny how they have all these members and they cant even fill the ground they have.
Seeing as how house prices on the Coast from what I have read are going west,and the QLD Govt looks like running a deficit,they ain’t gonna have the money to indulge Clarkes fantasises.
Dont tell me some others are getting tired of the relentless propaganda and porkies for the AFL control freaks Michael C and his echos Redb,pippy.
On the AFL never taking govt handouts what rubbish, they are trying to get the Govt in Perth to build them a 2 billion dollar stadium,which I assume they will expect to run,and the WAFC gets Subi Oval which I doubt the AFL has put much money in for the sum of $1 a year,and they still moan
oikee said | March 1st 2009 @ 7:44am | Report comment
If they build a stadium in Perth, it has to be a decent rectangle ground to support 3 codes rather than 1.
As for anymore expansion, forget it, the governments are bust.
Michael C said | March 1st 2009 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
John Ryan -
You may love to keep picking on the AFL in Perth – - but, they AND the local football authority have invested MORE in that venue than the FFA could invest in 20 years – - :
Perth’s Subiaco Oval. In 1998, the local football authority, with the AFL’s endorsement, began a $35 million upgrade of facilities. In 1998, Ron Evans’ Spotless subsidiary, Mustard Catering, signed a new, 15-year contract to service the ground. About the same time, the AFL endorsed pumping another $35 million into Subiaco Oval as part of moving all Perth Games from the WACA to Subiaco. Ron Evans was an AFL commissioner at the time. In the lead up to the upgrading, Ron Evans visited Subiaco, but says he did not discuss the upgrading with anybody. Part of the $35 million upgrading means that AFL games in Perth will be moved to Subiaco. The crucial issue, which would be the central question of any inquiry into the catering deals – is that Ron Evans repeatedly refuses to say whether he had any foreknowledge of the upgrading of Subiaco when considering whether the catering contract should be renewed.
The reason I include all of this paragraph is that like most organisations, it’s hard for big money to be spent in Australia without some sense of a conflict of interest when talking about wealthy business folk on commissions or boards etc.
But, anyway, the WAFC pumped in $35 million, the AFL then pumped in another $35 million.
$70 million from the Aust Football fraternity just in that small timeframe.
Shall we expand our search for the direct investment into the facility??
Westy said | March 1st 2009 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Michael you are being baited.
Westy said | March 1st 2009 @ 9:15pm | Report comment
Michael C we are all a product of our environment me too. But your article about new Melbourne stadium being gifted by the state has strong parallels with AFL lobbying in QLD.for a new AFL stadium. Understandable but according to your standard definitely seeking a gift of the state. The only difference is the football /rugby boys got in while the funds were still flowing. i personally see the parallels.
I am not judgemental on the AFL seeking a second team in Sydney which is a good business move just about a certain Council committing 10 million and more in maintenance for the benefit of having a training facility in their area and a preseason game for a sport that covers less than 2% of its playing juniorsand will now seat only 10000.
The AFL games will be played at Homebush or at a new facility at Homebush but Blacktown thinks they have hit the big time. The Council had an opportunity to build a 25000 rectangular stadium for a Western Sydney A league football franchise that would actually play in Blacktown. The area is desperate for identity and something of its own playing in the area. Homebush is along way from Blacktown. The AFL will do well I am less sure about the benefit for Blacktown. The headlines were good.The morons do not even get the rent from the proposed offices.
Redb said | March 2nd 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment
Westy,
When you think about it, Government funding does tend to come in non traditional areas for each code, so it makes sense Govt money was used to build the rectangular stadium in Melbourne, just as Aussie Rules Football needed a leg up in QLD and western Sydney.
The lack of funding for the new GC stadium from the QLD Government is very much a result of that State’s burgeoning deficit coping with massive population shift and inadequate infrastructure. QLD is in danger of losings it’s AAA credit rating, pouring money into a sports stadium when the roads are a joke, hospital, schools requiring development and upgrades ,etc would be the deathknell for the incumbent Govt.
It is unfortunate timing for the AFL no doubt, but there wil be a lot of projects that get delayed in these times.
Redb
Michael C said | March 2nd 2009 @ 8:28am | Report comment
Westy -
I’d resisted the baiting, but stumbled across that bit of information and thought I’d whack it in here were some fellow is whinging about stadia in WA.
On Australian standards, a direct investment for ANY period of time by a code in a local venue of $70 million is certainly NOT to be sneezed at.
The govt, as Redb indicates, tend to interfere most with respect to non-traditional sports. Well – - on the Melbourne example – most certainly. Outside of that, the greatest benefit Aust Footy has had has been sharing with cricket and or Olympics.
And still people claim that it’s AFL specific spending that we should count ourselves lucky and not dare ask for more?!?!?!
Blacktown is an interesting example as the AFL has invested along with cricket NSW. ANd that’s providing high quality local facilities with potential for upgrade. The AFL has spent a heap on ensuring that there are high quality footy (and therefore cricket) facilities spread around so that a structured pathway can be established. Venues for decent regional finals etc.
There’s nothing wrong at all with Blacktown Council seeking to create a greater diversity of quality regional sports and sporting opportunities – in fact, they’d be negligent if they didn’t. There’s gotta be more to that region than 100% Rugby/soccer.