Tenant clubs set for more lucrative deals as result of AFL’s purchase of Etihad Stadium

ETIHAD Stadium’s long-suffering tenant clubs — St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs — will strike new stadium deals with the AFL before the start of next season.

ETIHAD Stadium’s long-suffering tenant clubs — St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs — will strike new stadium deals with the AFL before the start of next season.

The Dogs have struck gold for the second time in a week and can expect to bank more lucrative gate returns when their premiership defence kicks off in March.

“We imagine that the AFL will be in contact with all of the tenant clubs and we look forward to those discussions,” Bulldogs president Peter Gordon told the Herald Sun on Friday.

The league will take control of the Docklands ground next month under a deal worth up to $200 million struck with the venues private operators.

Etihad’s two other tenant clubs, Essendon and Carlton, have enjoyed more generous stadium arrangements since the 54,000-seat venue opened for business 16 years ago.

“We know that the reason for the AFL’s interest in making this move has been stadium inequities, which have afflicted the clubs that have been the long-term tenants there,” Gordon said.

The AFL has purchased Etihad Stadium.

“And we know that the AFL has as big an interest as anyone else in making sure that those inequities get resolved.”

The Dogs made more money from one game played in Cairns than in 10 home fixtures at Etihad Stadium combined last year.

Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw last year slammed his club’s Etihad Stadium arrangement as the “worst stadium deal in the history of world sport”.

Kangas chief executive Carl Dilena said on Friday: “We look forward to sitting down with the AFL in due course to determine the detail of what this means for the club.

“It’s too early to estimate the positive financial or fan experience impacts this will deliver for the competition, but we are excited about the AFL’s plans for the stadium and the surrounding precinct.”

St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said the AFL “had kicked a great goal for the game”.

Etihad Stadium tenant clubs, including the Bulldogs, will have more lucrative gate returns as a result of the AFL’s purchase. Picture: Getty

“Etihad Stadium is a fantastic place to play and watch football — but it’s no secret the economics of the stadium deal have operated as a significant handbrake on the progress of our club for many years,” Finnis said.

“As a primary tenant club, we now look forward to working closely with the AFL to improve arrangements for the Saints, our players, members and fans via enhancing the facilities and re-engineering the match returns.”

The AFL is lobbying for a $300 million, State Government funded revamp of Etihad Stadium and the surrounding precinct, a move supported by the Saints and Bulldogs.

“This also provides an opportunity for us to have a new look at Etihad and that end of the city ... to make it more exciting, more vibrant and if we do that we will attract more people to the games,” Gordon said.

“There really is the opportunity to create something very special in that precinct of Melbourne.”

Originally published as Tenant clubs set for more lucrative deals as result of AFL’s purchase of Etihad Stadium