Shanghai billionaire Gui Guojie, the financial power behind Port Adelaide in China

SHANGHAI real estate tycoon Gui Guojie — the billionaire behind Port Adelaide’s move into China — expects the AFL to stay in China for a long time ... and not just for the big money.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Shanghai CRED real estate general manager Gui Guojie and Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas at the announcement of the first game in Shanghai. Picture: Stephen Cooper Port song gets Chinese twist

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SHANGHAI tycoon Gui Guojie — the billionaire behind Port Adelaide’s move into China — expects the AFL to stay in China for a long time ... and not just for the big money.

Gui, who immediately took to Australian football on seeing an AFL game (Port Adelaide-Fremantle) at Adelaide Oval in 2015, says the greatest hold on the Australian game in China will be the Chinese people.

“Last year, this game (Port Adelaide-Gold Coast), created an amazing memory for the Chinese people and our Shanghai citizens,” Mr Gui said ahead of Saturday’s second Power-Suns clash at Jiangwan Stadium.

“A lot of people asked me for tickets to this year’s game. This tells me Australian football is welcome and well received in China.”

Port Adelaide president David Koch and Shanghai billionaire Gui Guojie.

The AFL increased ticket allocations to Saturday’s match to 11,500 with half the tickets sold to Chinese nationals — up on 30 per cent last year.

Gui’s commitment to Port Adelaide’s “China Strategy” increased on Friday night with a new five-year, multimillion-dollar extension to his original three-year, $3 million deal with the Power.

“I believe this new commitment will make our ties — with sport, trade and Australian culture — even stronger,” Mr Gui said.

“The AFL has done a great job of bringing Australian fans to China.

“But you also have extended your great Australian game — and its importance to wellbeing — to the Chinese people. I say thank you.”

Mr Gui anticipates his financial commitment to Port Adelaide will keep Shanghai on the AFL fixture. The AFL Commission has a loose five-year commitment with the Power that is reviewed after each match.

Port Adelaide player Chen Shaoliang, left, and Australian Olympic gold medallist swimmer Kyle Chalmers instruct schoolchildren on the finder points of Aussie rules during a primary school visit in Shanghai, China on Friday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has made no public declaration on how long the league will lock Port Adelaide into games in China.

But he did say: “The possibilities in China are huge.”

Port Adelaide is anticipating an unexpected ally to its “China Strategy” — the Victorian State government which is already a sponsor of the Power’s matches in Shanghai.

The Victorian Minister for Trade Phillip Dalidakis declared at the official gala dinner at the St Regis Hotel on Friday night that his government wanted a Victorian-based AFL club playing Port Adelaide next year — and for the event include an AFLW match.

The Power’s most-likely new AFL opponent from Victoria would be St Kilda.

Port Adelaide’s new five-year deal with Mr Gui’s Shanghai CRED real estate includes plan for the AFL club to register as a business in China, set up staff in Shanghai and cut the red tape for Australian businesses wanting to trade in China.

Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak and Gold Coast Suns co-captain Steven May pose for a photograph overlooking the skyline in Shanghai, China this week. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

SA Premier Steve Marshall, in his first official trip to China, told the Sunday Mail the power of sports diplomacy through Port Adelaide for SA trade and tourism was “very effective”.

“We should have thought of opening doors in China with sport long ago,” Mr Marshall said. “I am very grateful the Port Adelaide Football Club has taken the lead with sports diplomacy. It is a very effective way to build relationships in China through sport.”

Mr Gui expects Port Adelaide to add to the 37 new commercial partners — and $15 million in new revenue — found in China.

“Last year’s game was a milestone — and we solved a lot of problems (to strengthen Australia-China relations) through sport,” Mr Gui said.

“This year we have even more support for the game — and it has become a platform for trade between our countries.”

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