Gold Coast’s entry into 2011 AFL competition in the bag
By Crystal Ja, 8 May 2009 Crystal Ja is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- AFL, Anthony Albanese, Gold Coast AFL
The Gold Coast’s entry into the AFL in 2011 is all but assured following a $36 million pledge from the federal government to help build its new stadium.
Federal infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced the government would fill the funding gap for the revamped 25,000-seat stadium at Carrara, clearing the way for a full licence.
The commonwealth’s $36 million injection bridges the shortfall needed for the $126 million stadium, after contributions from the Queensland government, local council and the AFL.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou called it the last piece of the jigsaw and said the Gold Coast’s inclusion into the league was now a sure thing.
“It’s been a long time in the making and these things don’t happen overnight,” he said.
“But there’s nothing else that has to be achieved and the only other matter … is a mere formality of paperwork.
“The Gold Coast’s dream of an AFL team is a reality.”
But a full licence won’t be granted until an agreement between council and the Queensland government to hand over ownership of stadium land is formalised.
Demetriou, joined also by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis and Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke at the announcement, said that was imminent.
“From our perspective, it’s all systems go and we’ll have to come up here for another announcement soon,” he said.
Clarke, a former Melburnian and footy fanatic, said he had been expecting the full licence on Thursday, adding the AFL could be forgiven for “milking it for all it’s worth”.
Demetriou also unveiled designs for the stadium, sporting sections of the teams colours of red, yellow and blue.
The venue capacity can also be expanded beyond 25,000 if needed in years to come.
There are hopes the stadium will one day host Twenty20 cricket matches and with any luck, the 2018 Commonwealth Games, should the Gold Coast win the event.
Construction is expected to begin sometime this year and be completed in time for round one, 2011.
Demetriou said the stadium alone would create hundreds of jobs, while the club, fully running, would contribute about $30 million a year into the local economy.
Albanese said the $36 million pledge was the largest single contribution from the federal government’s $800 million Community Infrastructure Program.
Carlton host Fremantle at Carrara on Saturday night in the first of three 2009 fixtures at the venue, which has a current capacity of 11,000.
A further three regular-season matches will be be played there in 2010 during the renovation period.
A western Sydney franchise is scheduled to enter the AFL in 2012, a year after the Gold Coast.
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Kurt said | May 8th 2009 @ 3:07am | Report comment
Great news, good to see the Feds putting money into infrastructure mainstream sports with significant following across the country and good growth potential rather than just niche sports such as soccer.
MVDave said | May 8th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Seeing as Kurt brought up Sokkah l will comment and make the point that l dont particularly care that the Feds in this case, have ‘donated’ money to the AFL for their new team (if the Govt s handn’t tipped money in to the tune of $100m plus this team wouldn’t happen). MC should be very happy as he has spent the good part of a year or more complaining that the Govt has given Sokkah a ‘free kick’ in Melbourne, what would we call this little deal then? Also the notion put forward that the AFL is so big and mighty that it can somehow survive without assistance from Govts has been well and truly put to bed!
Captain Random said | May 8th 2009 @ 7:14am | Report comment
Kurt -
Why mention soccer when it’s not actually relevant? It’s not like it was referred to in the article.
Redb said | May 8th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
This is great news for the Gold Coast team they worked hard to create an exciting list of mostly Queenslanders with kids from PNG and NT also involved. We now get to see how this team evolves over the next couple of years as it becones the blueprint for how the Western Sydney team should develop.
Obviously construction and service jobs will boost the economy with the stadium but the long term tourism benefits of Victorian AFL fans will ensure a steady stream of short breaks holidays to watch your team then lie on the beach in the cooler months.
The AFL should schedule as many big Vic clubs like Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond to the coast in its formative years. Packaged airfare.accom/sport breaks will prove more than popular.
Redb
Michael C said | May 8th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
MVDave -
how do you figure it a ‘donation’ to the new team.
of AFL.com.au
A study on the impact of a Gold Coast-based AFL side found that at full capacity, the club would generate more than 440 local jobs and $34 million a year, 92 per cent of which would flow to non-AFL businesses.
Seems like it’s less of a ‘donation’ to the AFL and more an investment in the Gold Coast community.
Given that we aren’t talking about Clive Palmer like privately owned clubs…….well…….what’s the problem??
btw -
my complaint re Melbourne is more about what the State Govt HAS NOT invested in the MCG or Docklands compared to what it HAS invested in the new rectangular stadium. But – no doubt you’re aware of the historical antagonistic attitude of State Govts as they ‘protected’ their MCG ‘interests’, failed to come thru on support for VFL Park etc etc. (AFL cocked up too, esp with Wayne Jackson hoping to force clubs to fold to reduce the Vic centric nature – - – well, in real terms, the ‘cock up’ was that clubs haven’t yet folded!!).
Anyway – - it annoyed me that people claimed the rectangular venue ‘completed the set’. It didn’t, doesn’t. If all were publicly owned – - with similar business models…….then perhaps. And that’s the thing, looking interstate – there’s better examples of ‘sets of stadia’ with common management structures.
(note – I’ve ‘tuned’ my ‘argument’ on this via the research conducted. But, note, unlike the new stadium in Melbourne which is 100% state govt funded, this stadium ‘upgrade’ is a funding mix – - state, fed and local, oh, and $10 million from the AFL……..question……is THAT the AFL ‘donation’ to the Gold Coast City Council??)
MVDave said | May 8th 2009 @ 4:05pm | Report comment
MC
And building the rectangular stadium jn Melbourne didnt create any jobs? or have potential for economic benefit with international teams playing games there etc?
The bottom line for GC is without the Govt money the AFL team would have been virtually dead and buried before it started.