The Source: Kiss playing AFL Grand Final would be ‘Super Bowl’ level, says promoter

Victoria’s Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos has refused to be drawn on the key casting call which has Melbourne talking — should Kiss be asked to play the AFL Grand Final.

Kiss is ready and able to play the AFL Grand Final.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

Victoria’s Major Events and Creative Industries Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, has puckered up over discussions on whether US supergroup Kiss should play the AFL Grand Final halftime entertainment show.

Kiss, fronted by Paul Stanley and Blues fan Gene Simmons, have said they are available to perform at the MCG after the event suffered a string of high-profile cancellations.

The supergroup is playing a farewell show in Sydney on October 7, but have told longtime Australian tour promoter Andrew McManus they’ll come to Australia a week earlier to play at the MCG – if the AFL needs them.

“If they get the call, it will be the last time Kiss ever plays on Melbourne soil,” McManus said.

“This is not a maybe, this is a definite. And Kiss at the MCG would put the AFL grand final up there with the Super Bowl.”

McManus said the AFL had “set the bar sky high” with British superstar Robbie Williams’ grand final show last year.

“How do you follow that?” McManus asked.

“You follow up with Kiss.”

Dimopoulos has sidestepped Kiss grand final speculation.

Kiss, which is disbanding in December after 50 years, played the Super Bowl in 1999.

Last week, Crowded House sensationally pulled out of playing at the grand final, leaving the league 50-odd days to find another act.

Pop princess Kylie Minogue also declined an invitation to play at the 2023 grand final due to prior commitments.

On Monday, at an announcement that the Broadway hit Beetlejuice is coming to Melbourne in 2025, Mr Dimopoulos said: “A lot of people will have a comment on the (AFL Grand Final) halftime entertainment, but I’ll leave it to the AFL. They’ve got enough of a job to do.

“I will say we’ve got enough Australian talent, and I’d be very happy for them to choose from that Australian talent.”

AFL spokesman Jay Allen said the entertainment program will be announced in September.

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Dan cops backlash over Matildas social post

Social media has long been a strength for Premier Dan Andrews, who ignores mainstream media outlets which are not nice enough to him.

But has his strength become a weakness?

Andrews sought to celebrate the Matildas famous win on Saturday (in Brisbane) by posting the French an “au revoir”.

Then he referred to Wednesday night’s semi-final clash against England (in Sydney).

“Big game needs a bigger stadium”, he announced, as if unaware that Stadium Australia’s capacity of 83,500 is in fact 83,500 more seats than those available for the zero World Cup finals being played in Melbourne.

Andrews continued: “AAMI Park. Wednesday night. Be there.”

Big game needs a bigger stadium.

AAMI Park. Wednesday night. Be there.

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) August 12, 2023

Perhaps it’s too soon. Maybe Victorians will never forgive the Commonwealth Games fiasco.

The invitation — to attend an empty stadium, in the world’s sporting capital, to watch the biggest match in recent sporting history on a TV screen, because it is being played 800-odd kilometres away — was obviously too much.

Victorians started replying to the Premier’s tweets. They were not nice.

“To host the commonwealth games you mean?” said one.

Said another: “Bread and circuses for the plebs.”]

To host the commonwealth games do you mean ? 😂😂😂

— conservative 17 (@conserve1705) August 12, 2023

Hahahahaha I wouldn’t ever trust holding an event in “your” state

— ghost wood (@rayns_b) August 13, 2023

And so on.

“You really have your finger on the pulse. Well done.”

“You’ll probably cancel it.”

“FFA wanted the #FIFAWWC final at the MCG. AFL didn’t want that. But Vic Govt could’ve thrown their weight around if they backed in the #Matildas popularity. Dan doesn’t deserve praise here.”

Perhaps this post best summed up the tone: “How hated and truly despised you are. Read the room. The comments here are indicative of how truly loathed you are. … You can’t even get a nice word said about you when there is a popular public event. It is unprecedented how despised you are.”

We await Andrews’ post semi-final post.