Commonwealth Games bid and new Myilly Point stadium

THE NT Government is so confident in the success of the Arafura Games, it is planning a Commonwealth Games bid complete with a new 50,000 stadium at Myilly Point which would be leased to a Chinese company after the Games to help finance the bid, sources have said.

Arafura Games Minister Natasha Fyles is so confident in the success of the Arafura Games she’s planning a Commonwealth Games bid. Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY

â–  THIS story was first published on April 1, 2019. It was one of several April Fool’s stories the NT News published that day

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THE NT Government is so confident in the success of the Arafura Games, it is planning a Commonwealth Games bid complete with a new 50,000 stadium at Myilly Point which would be leased to a Chinese company after the Games to help finance the bid, sources have said.

According to high level staffers in the portfolio, Arafura Games Minister Natasha Fyles has requested the department file a bid for the 2030 Games.

The source said Ms Fyles was disappointed the Territory had missed the December 31 cut-off for the 2026 competition.

“At that stage she wasn’t the minister in charge of the competition so she couldn’t ask for a bid to be made,” the source said.

“However, she has requested we contact the Commonwealth Games Committee and ask them to consider a late proposal should Adelaide’s bid not be accepted.”

An artist’s impression of what the Myilly Point stadium could look like. It would be leased to a Chinese company or a 99-year lease after the Games.

Although currently dealing with a wonky tennis court, the source said Ms Fyles wasn’t worried about the bid as she had a secret weapon up her sleeve.

“She wants to build a new 50,000 seat stadium at Myilly Point,” they said.

“The Chief hasn’t signed off on it yet, but she’s definitely got enough people on her side to support the suggestion.

“The Government has learnt its lesson from trying to build a museum at Myilly Point — clearly Territorians aren’t that arty. Really, it’s sport they’re going to get behind, which is why we’re going to build the stadium there.”

In a big to help finance the games the stadium would be leased to a Chinese company or a 99-year lease after the games.

And the idea seems to have support from the Opposition.

A staffer for Opposition Leader Gary Higgins said he was “100 per cent” on board with the Commonwealth Games bid and as a former NT sports minister “could completely see the benefit of a stadium on Myilly Point”.

The Arafura Games budget has already doubled its original plans.

It is not known how much the Commonwealth Games bid will cost the Territory, or how much the Government is set to spend on a new stadium.