Why we’re not sold on the AFL’s plan to relocate its games to Australia
The AFL’s relocation plans are so convoluted it makes you want to start a game with your friend, says the CEO of one of the country’s largest sports organisations.
In fact, we’re already sold on their plan to move its games from Melbourne to Adelaide.
“I’ve seen the relocation plan, I’ve seen it done by other sports organisations, I’m not sold, I can’t see how you could do it, I mean, it’s just such a ridiculous and unnecessary plan,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Tuesday.
It’s a plan that will leave a gaping hole in the competition, with the AFL already short of money for a new stadium in Sydney and the league set to have to seek help from the state government to cover its costs.
The AFL has also been told it will need to find a way to pay its players more, despite a recent increase in the salary cap.
There is still a lot of work to be done, including in the recruitment of players and the development of a new structure that will provide an environment where the players can compete and develop, the AFL chief said.
But despite all of this, the idea of moving its games overseas has been put on the back burner for the moment, at least for now.
And with that, the future of the AFL is in doubt.
An AFL spokesman said the AFL had been in contact with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about its plan to take the games to Adelaide and the Victorian Government about moving the games from Perth to Adelaide as well.
He said the commission was interested in having a conversation with the clubs about moving to Adelaide in the future.
However, the commission said it would only be involved in discussions with the club about the relocation of the games if it had a clear understanding of the club’s plans and that the AFL was not involved in any discussions about the clubs plans.
With the AFL not even getting a chance to meet the clubs, the CCC will now have to consider all the options, including moving the matches to Adelaide, the spokesman said.
“If the clubs are not willing to do this, then we are looking at all the other options,” he said.
“We will be looking at every possible option.”
He also said the CVC would also consider the options of relocating the games elsewhere, including South Australia.
“We will continue to work with the CAC [Australian Competition and Cultural Authority] to consider the possibility of relocations in future, as we have done previously with our games in Queensland and Victoria,” the spokesman told The Australian.
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