Leading economist Tim Harcourt sees the NT AFL case as strong
The NT is seen as the sentimental favourite to claim the 20th AFL licence and while there’s plenty of work to be done, a leading sports economist believes the business case is strong.
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The Northern Territory is seen as the sentimental favourite to claim the 20th AFL licence and while there’s plenty of work to be done, a leading sports economist believes the business case is strong.
Darwin has pitched its ambitions to become the next team to join the country’s premier sporting competition after the Tasmanian Devils were given the conditional 19th licence.
However, ground work needs to be done from the community level up for that and the push for a CBD multipurpose stadium to become a reality.
Professor Tim Harcourt, chief economist at the Centre for Sport, Business and Society at University of Technology Sydney, said despite the work needed to be done, the NT footy case was strong.
He said the NT’s participation numbers, the potential job boom and the economic boost, which the Strategic Business Case outlines could add $116m a year to the NT economy, made it a great option.
He’s currently working on the business case alongside other fledgling teams with licences - the Tasmanian Devils in the AFL and Perth Bears in the NRL.
“It’s a place where there’s true believers, there’s already a great tradition of footy there and that’s a great asset,” Professor Harcourt said.
“It would be different to the Gold Coast and GWS where the AFL had to be missionaries to convert people while in the NT they already have that enthusiasm.
“There’s also a high level of talent, everyone knows the likes of the Riolis, Andrew McLeod and Nathan Buckley, and there’s been plenty playing interstate in the SANFL or WAFL.
“You add in the strong participation numbers and the footy case is really strong.
“What other options are there than an NT team that plays some games in Alice? Have GWS serve Canberra as it does, the Queensland sides for their north and the Darwin team for the Territory.”
However, the NT AFL club would need federal and NT government support to fund an operational funding gap of $18.89 million per annum.
And socially, Territorians currently have tackling crime first and foremost on their mind when given the option on what the future may hold.
“You can’t change your geography or climate, but they’re not factors that would completely stop you,” Professor Harcourt said.
“We do know there are social issues as well in the Territory but if you use the right development in terms of economic and social programs to tackle those it could help.
“This won’t be just a project for a nice stadium and corporate boxes, you want to develop pathways from Tiwi to Tennant Creek and beyond to build around this club.
“In Tasmania the AFL package is to build all parts for Tasmania so they see the Devils as a sort of inspiration for everyone.”
Professor Harcourt also drew parallels to the $600m investment into the PNG NRL team and the strategic importance of the Territory.
“PNG is important for development and they love league there, but the geopolitical climate is part of why they’re doing it,” he said.
“Because China can build a lot of airports and infrastructure, but they can’t give you a rugby league team.
“But internal cohesion is also part of our security as a nation and we don’t want a widening gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest of us, and Aussie Rules is a great unifier.”
It comes as Tasmania Devils boss Brendon Gale said his team may be out of the job if the upcoming vote on the Macquarie Point Stadium falls over.
The Tasmanian government start the debate on funding the new Hobart stadium next month with a vote expected by early July which could confirm the AFL team.
In Darwin last week AFL boss Andrew Dillon said the Tasmanian licence was still only conditional and needed several matters confirmed, such as the stadium, to become unconditional.
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