Double Blues ask Unley Council for stay on rent and reduced fees as money dries up
Sturt Football Club faces a 50 per cent drop in sponsorship and 25 per cent decline in membership, it says, as it asks Unley Council to cut its fees and waive its rent for July.
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The struggling Sturt Football Club has asked Unley Council to slash its match-day licence fee and waive this month’s rent on its ground and pub.
Councillors have agreed to cut the Double Blues’ match day fee in half – from $3000 to $1500.
But they want to see the club’s financial books before they agree to scrap rent on the club’s Oxford Terrace home-ground and Unley Road pub, BarZaar.
Sturt says takings at the pub – which reopened for lunch service on June 1 – are not covering operational costs.
Rent relief would amount to $17,165 for July alone – and it has already been given three months rent free due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The match-day fee covers the council’s costs to erect temporary fencing.
In a letter to Unley Council chief executive Peter Tsokas, Sturt Football Club president Jason Kilic said the club would find it “extremely difficult” to pay the fee due to reduced crowds.
He said funding from the AFL and SANFL was likely to be cut by more than half next year and the club was expecting a 50 per cent drop in sponsorship and 25 per cent decline in membership.
“Should government crowd restrictions still be in effect, match day revenue will be minimal,” Mr Kilic wrote.
“These negative impacts may result in the club having to secure additional funding next year.”
Cr Jane Russo said the council did not have “enough information to properly consider what that rent relief provision would be without having their financials”.
“We’re talking about two parts of this organisation – Sturt Footy Club, which is not-for-profit, and then BarZaar, which is a bar and gaming venue which makes it commercial.
“A lot of businesses are going through hardship through covid … and the same processes need to be followed with this decision.”
The council will not pursue the club for the rent in the meantime.
The matter will come back to a future council meeting.