AFL Close to Purchasing Etihad

[Quivorir]

Just heard on the news the AFL is close (apparently before Christmas) to buying Etihad for 150 million dollaroos.

Good news if true.

Its behind the paywall, not sure on BF policy on this but article below:

THE AFL is on the brink of buying Etihad Stadium in a win for Victorian fans.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed the league was getting closer to securing the maligned venue.

The Herald Sun reported “significant movement” in talks between league chiefs and the consortium that operates the Docklands ground and a sale worth about $150 million is tipped before Christmas.

McLachlan said the AFL wanted to make the stadium better for fans and tenant clubs.

“There’s a chance, there’s a chance six months ago, a chance a year ago, we just keep chipping away, yeah, there’s a chance (sale finalised before the end of the year),” McLachlan said on 3AW.

“Really what we want to do is make it better, spend money in the stadium for our supporters and our fans and also our tenant deals for our clubs so they make some money.”

The AFL plans a $300 million revamp of Etihad Stadium.

The vision is to open the stadium up to the Docklands waterfront.
The AFL could take ownership of the stadium for just $30 in March 2025, but has been negotiating its early release.

A deal would dramatically improve gate returns for three of the stadium’s five tenant clubs — North Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. Essendon and Carlton have different arrangements.

The AFL is planning a $300 million revamp of Etihad Stadium, including a new waterside gateway, open-air bars, restaurants, parks and a running track, as revealed by the Herald Sun earlier this year.

The league hopes an overhaul of Etihad would kill off a rival plan pitched by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire to build a $1 billion stadium next door to the MCG.

But a redevelopment is dependent on the State Government forking out the costs.

McGuire’s concept involves the bulldozing and sale of Etihad and construction of a 60,000-seat venue in Melbourne Park.

Commercial real estate experts estimate that if the AFL decided to sell the 7.5ha Etihad Stadium site to developers, it could reap a $1.3 billion payday.

A state government taskforce was established in June to decide the future of Melbourne’s sporting stadiums and precincts.

The Cabinet committee, led by Premier Daniel Andrews, is exploring a series of proposed redevelopments of Punt Rd, Brunton Ave, Richmond railway station, Olympic Park and the Docklands.

Plans to build over the railway tracks that separate the MCG from the Melbourne Park Tennis Centre are also being examined.

michael.warner@news.com.au

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...s/news-story/8b5243944f24ebd4e3b8ba1c57dd2639

 

[The Unforgiven]

How long after that until it get bulldozed?

 

[blue harvest]

Surely you would just wait 9 years and get it for free.
If clubs are struggling there then just give them a few million each per year, still way cheaper than coughing up the $150M.

 

[rumply]

What's $150MIL these days? Makes sense to do it now.

 

[HBFlanker]

If the AFL redevelop the stadium as per those articles, it will be an amazing venue.

Etihad stadium is a world class venue, although a little tired now in its 16th year. Its still a great stadium compared to othrs around the world

 

[blue harvest]

If the AFL redevelop the stadium as per those articles, it will be an amazing venue.

Etihad stadium is a world class venue, although a little tired now in its 16th year. Its still a great stadium compared to othrs around the world

It's not really a redevelopment though, looks like they're just adding a track around the outside and a park on the waterfront side with some eating establishments. Whatever problems people have with the actual stadium will still be there.

 

[hoianbulldog]

Surely you would just wait 9 years and get it for free.
If clubs are struggling there then just give them a few million each per year, still way cheaper than coughing up the $150M.

So they can upgrade the venue. Current owners will spend nothing on improving the venue before 2025.

 

[HBFlanker]

It's not really a redevelopment though, looks like they're just adding a track around the outside and a park on the waterfront side with some eating establishments. Whatever problems people have with the actual stadium will still be there.

Also updating the seats in the venue and concourses all around the ground

 

[Damon_3388]

Whatever problems people have with the actual stadium will still be there.

Apart from it not being the MCG, as someone who lives outside of Melbourne, I've never quite understood the problems are that some fans have with Etihad. What more do people want in a stadium?

 

[Franc de Borges]

The stadium is fine but it's in a shit location. That killed Waverley an it'll end up doing the same here.

Should have put it where AAMI Park is.

 

[mcuzzy]

Rip up all the grass and just paint the concrete green

 

[The Unforgiven]

The stadium is fine but it's in a shit location. That killed Waverley an it'll end up doing the same here.

Should have put it where AAMI Park is.

It's in a great location for people commuting from the western suburbs or Geelong/Western Victoria. Jump out the V/Line, cross the bridge and you're there.

My issue with it is that it looks completely out of place. It was better in 2000 when nothing was around it, but now it's just been swallowed up by apartment/high rise buildings.

I honestly cannot see it being there in another 20 years. I think it will be bulldozed and made way for a Bourke Street extension over the railway lines to open up the Docklands to the rest of the CBD.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Etihad... ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

[Max Caddy]

I like they way they show some attractive chicks excercising and a sky full of balloons to make it look cooler.

 

[bombersfan4000]

If the AFL redevelop the stadium as per those articles, it will be an amazing venue.

Etihad stadium is a world class venue, although a little tired now in its 16th year. Its still a great stadium compared to othrs around the world

Lol old! FFS lets bulldoze it every decade and build a new billion dollar venue as money aparently grows on trees

 

[bombersfan4000]

The stadium is fine but it's in a shit location. That killed Waverley an it'll end up doing the same here.

Should have put it where AAMI Park is.

Lol shit location! And Waverley wasnt!
Etihad is more central and easier to get to for most than the mcg! You couldn't build a more central stadium

 

[Franc de Borges]

It's in a great location for people commuting from the western suburbs or Geelong/Western Victoria. Jump out the V/Line, cross the bridge and you're there.

My issue with it is that it looks completely out of place. It was better in 2000 when nothing was around it, but now it's just been swallowed up by apartment/high rise buildings.

I honestly cannot see it being there in another 20 years. I think it will be bulldozed and made way for a Bourke Street extension over the railway lines to open up the Docklands to the rest of the CBD.

So what?

 

[Franc de Borges]

Lol shit location! And Waverley wasnt!
Etihad is more central and easier to get to for most than the mcg! You couldn't build a more central stadium

Um, I mentioned Waverley in the very post you quoted.

 

[00Stinger]

Surely you would just wait 9 years and get it for free.
If clubs are struggling there then just give them a few million each per year, still way cheaper than coughing up the $150M.

I am sure the AFL has crunched the numbers and worked out it is cheaper to buy it now

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

 

[Brasher]

Surely you would just wait 9 years and get it for free.
If clubs are struggling there then just give them a few million each per year, still way cheaper than coughing up the $150M.

I think the AFL has in mind making more money than the $15m it would cost them per year for the next ten years.

 

[Matera92]

Just heard on the news the AFL is close (apparently before Christmas) to buying Etihad for 150 million dollaroos.

Good news if true.

Its behind the paywall, not sure on BF policy on this but article below:



http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...s/news-story/8b5243944f24ebd4e3b8ba1c57dd2639

Poor form not using dollarydoos

 

[Feerits Elf]

Just heard on the news the AFL is close (apparently before Christmas) to buying Etihad for 150 million dollaroos.

That's a steal, Etihad had a net profit of US$103 million and a total revenue of US$9 billion in 2015.

Outstanding business acumen from Gil, that's why he gets paid the big bucks I guess.

 

[Sando22]

 

[Quivorir]

Poor form not using dollarydoos

Dollaroos should be good enough.

 

[Billy ray]

any plans to remove the roof and just make it open air?