Etihad Stadium to undergo massive $225 million makeover in grand footy deal
A LANDMARK deal that will see a $225 million upgrade of the Etihad Stadium precinct will help freeze ticket prices and keep footy affordable, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says. The deal has also locked in the Grand Final in Melbourne for 40 years.
VIC News
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A LANDMARK deal that will see a $225 million upgrade of the Etihad Staduim precinct will help freeze ticket prices and keep footy affordable, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says.
The agreement between the AFL and Andrews Government will pave the way for Melbourne Cricket Club to embark on a $1 billion redevelopment of the MCG’s Great Southern Stand in about a decade, increasing the capacity above its current 100,024.
Etihad’s revamp will focus on improving fans’ viewing, with better seating for the footy and other major events on the bottom level.
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It is part of a larger cash splash on sport, worth almost half a billion dollars, to be included in the May state Budget.
The package includes $242 million to upgrade facilities at suburban grounds and local clubs — including making Ikon Park in Carlton the home of women’s football.
In return for the Etihad upgrade money, the AFL will frequently have to open the ground to other major events and sporting codes, including rugby and soccer.
Footy clubs hosting games at Etihad will get “fairer” deals. And women’s change rooms will be upgraded.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the deal was a huge win for footy fans and would help keep the game affordable.
“These sorts of deals mean that we have more money going into clubs, we recut the user agreements for all Victorian clubs and it means we can keep the game affordable,” he said.
“It’s still $5 for kids, free on Sundays and $25 minimum price for adults and we have kept that price and we are committed to keeping our game affordable.”
McLachlan said it was a great deal for Victorians.
“It’s outstanding value because Australian Rules is such a huge part in this town and the AFL alone is a $3 billion economic impact for this state,” he said.
“It’s competitive and you need first-class facilities to go forward, so for a reasonably modest sum the Government has secured the redevelopment of Etihad Stadium and the MCG for generations so I think it is a very good deal.”
Debate has raged whether the Grand Final should be shared around interstate venues.
McLachlan said the sheer size of the MCG meant it was the preferred choice for the annual decider.
“We want to as many people to go to the Grand Final as we can, we are lucky in this country to have a 100,000 seat venue that is loved by sports followers and we are lucky to have this as part of our game, it is part of our heritage,” he said.
“I think people understand when come to win a Grand Final you come to the MCG where we maximise capacity and put our game on the biggest stage.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said the funding was designed with supporters in mind.
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Mr Andrews said: “This is for the fans, giving them the best venues, better access to the sports they love, and keeping the Grand Final where it belongs — at the MCG — for the next 40 years. This landmark deal will bring more footy to the regions, boost AFLW facilities, and make sure Victoria stays the sporting capital of Australia.”
But Shadow Treasurer Michael O’Brien said a Coalition Government would redirect the money to grassroots sport.
“This is a $225 million freekick from Daniel Andrews to the AFL,” he said.
“It is junior sport, local sport, grassroots sport and womens sport that will miss out as a result.
“Daniel Andrews doesn’t have the mandate for this and we’ve said ‘put it to the election’.”
The MCC is expected to be ready to start the Great Southern Stand redevelopment in 10 years, with the project spanning three years. It is anticipated the capacity will increase by at least a few thousand and as much as 10,000.
Plans are also underway to create a new major walkway linking an upgraded Richmond Station directly to the ground.
Hosting rights for the Brownlow Medal will also be locked into Victoria for 10 years.
Inside Etihad, concourse flooring will be added and a revamp of bottom-row seating should give fans a better view of the action.
The AFL has proposed that the arena be opened to Harbour Esplanade and a waterfront entertainment zone, to breathe new life into Docklands.
The league is expected to fund a new headquarters in the precinct and a hotel and retail complex at least 11 storeys high, including a 1500-seat column-free ballroom to host events such as the Brownlow Medal.
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HAND FOR COMMUNITY SPORTS GROUNDS
SUBURBAN sporting clubs across Victoria will share in a $242 million state government package to improve grounds and facilities for women.
The state Budget spendathon will include $20 million to redevelop Ikon Park in Carlton North — previously Princes Park — as the “home of women’s football”.
A further $15 million will be locked in a Female Friendly Facilities Fund. And $60 million will be available for community sporting grants.
The grants will be distributed across all sporting codes.
The government’s sports overhaul guarantee regional Victoria more footy. A deal with the AFL guarantees Ballarat two matches a year over the next decade and Geelong eight to nine matches a year.
Other major winners from the package include:
MOORABBIN Oval, which gets $13 million for Stage 2 of its redevelopment, allowing the St Kilda AFLW team to play there from 2020;
CASEY Fields and Whitten Oval, which get a $10 million boost to share;
VICTORIA Park, which gets $2 million for infrastructure improvements.
In a push to get more community sports facilities without hurting the Budget bottom line, the government will also open up a $100 million infrastructure loan facility.
Under the scheme, which will cost taxpayers $5 million in fees to operate, local sporting clubs from across Victoria will be able to apply for interest-free loans to repair grounds or build facilities.
The reforms have been decided on because sports ovals and pitches are at capacity in many areas of the state, and some of them are in disrepair.
Sport and Major Events Minister John Eren said the new spending comes on top of a major deal with the AFL to enhance Etihad Stadium and upgrade the MCG.
“We’re redeveloping our biggest sporting precincts in Melbourne and across regional Victoria to keep the best events right here where they belong,” Mr Eren said.
In a state election year, political campaigns from both major parties are likely to involve promises about local infrastructure upgrades.
Some clubs are crying out for more space and facilities.
Earlier this year, after the Herald Sun revealed details of the potential deal between the AFL and the government, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy declared voters should get a choice on whether to splurge on Etihad Stadium or focus on local sporting facilities.
Last month, he told the Sunday Herald Sun: “If I’m elected in November, I’ll take every dollar (Premier) Daniel Andrews commits to the AFL to spend on Etihad Stadium and give it to local sports ground upgrades, including building new female change rooms.
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“It’s about time that our suburban and country sporting clubs rather than just the AFL got some support from the state government.”
The money for the Etihad Stadium upgrade will now be locked into the State Budget in 2018-19.
Under the government’s plan, more than $15 million would also be spent on upgrades at Albert Park, Yarra Bend, and other “key suburban sporting precincts”.
Another $18 million would go towards a Significant Sporting Events Program which will fund more than 75 major events on the sporting calendar every year.
The Andrews Government says that about half of those national and international quality events would be held in regional Victoria.
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