A team will definitely be on the Gold Coast by 2010

Oh When the Saints · Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:16pm

The AFL have given 30 days for the Kangaroos to respond to an offer of a phased approach with an increase in a number of games on the Gold Coast over the next three years.

If that is rejected, the AFL have said they are going to start a 17th team on the Gold Coast in 2010.

The special distribution fund will be reviewed beyond 2009, which does not guarantee the Kangaroos future, according to Demetriou.

Spinner · Post: # 484668Post **Spinner** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:17pm

Bring on Southport.

....as long as they dont poach Reiwoldt.

Mr Magic · Post: # 484670Post **Mr Magic** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:18pm

Spinner wrote:Bring on Southport.

....as long as they dont poach Reiwoldt.

and Sam Gilbert!

ausfatcat · Post: # 484671Post **ausfatcat** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:19pm

was going to happen, if kanga's don't move and noone else either merges or moves.... BYE BYE KANGA's

Oh When the Saints · Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:20pm

Demetriou affirmed that they want a Gold Coast presence, and would start a 17th team if the Kangaroos didn't comply.

The 30-day offer is ridiculous IMO - that is far too short amount of time for such a major decision to be made.

Many are saying the AFL are bluffing, and wouldn't start a 17th team. But it seems they are very committed to a presence there.

This will be massive over the next 2 months.

Spinner · Post: # 484673Post **Spinner** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:21pm

Is it fair to assume that Vlad is pushing this strongly to leave a certain legacy of his....????

saint66au · Post: # 484674Post **saint66au** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:22pm

Umm..unless I'm very much mistaken the current broadcast rights dont allow any change in the amount of teams. They run out at the end of 2011

ausfatcat · Post: # 484676Post **ausfatcat** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:25pm

saint66au wrote:Umm..unless I'm very much mistaken the current broadcast rights dont allow any change in the amount of teams. They run out at the end of 2011

minimum of 16 teams, was in the last eba but dunno about this one.

helsy3 · Post: # 484678Post **helsy3** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:26pm

Spinner wrote:Is it fair to assume that Vlad is pushing this strongly to leave a certain legacy of his....????

You think he wants to leave a legacy of being a lying bullyboy? When he started in the job in 2004, in his opening speech, he said "This competition is built on clubs who have history, in many cases over 100 years of history," Mr Demetriou said. "Our commitment is to 16 clubs and to the 16 clubs where they are."

Then he said that the AFL would like a presence on the Gold Coast by 2010, but in no way would the AFL try to force any Club to make any such decision.

Hes a big ugly liar.

sunsaint · Post: # 484683Post **sunsaint** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:31pm

SaintBev will be delirious
a possible Saints game live in her backyard

True Blue Sainter · Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:32pm

OK, why does Demetriou want a team on the GC so bad?

Brisbane (1.6-1.8mill approx people?) barely fills out the GABBA - why would a team a mere 70 k's south fill out a 20,000 capacity stadium? I don't quite understand the demographics....

mad saint guy · Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:36pm

The thing I just don't understand about this is why they think an AFL team at the Gold Coast would succeed. Sure, salary cap concessions and draft picks would mean that they would have a strong team for a few years, but Brisbane have the support of the entire state, yet the least amount of members of any team in the AFL.

I think Brisbane's membership is at about 21k at the moment. If the Kangaroos moved to the GC they would have about 18, and would be stealling a few from Brisbane. If Southport joined the league they would have about 12k and Brisbane would lose about 5k.

The entire state is a dead zone for Aussie Rules, and introducing another club would surely just be creating a new problem child for the AFL as well as hurting Brisbane.

saint66au · Post: # 484697Post **saint66au** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:40pm

Mad Saint Guy..you are right on the money...couldnt have said it better myself

Oh When the Saints · Wed 31 Oct 2007 6:58pm

Or you can look at it as one of the fastest growing areas in Australia.

There is no major sporting team in a major national sport based on the Gold Coast at the moment ...

High growth + vacuum for sporting team = opportunity

Combine that with an ageing population of baby boomers, who have shown a tendancy to escape to the sun-filled areas upon retiring, and have plenty of cash (and time) to spend attending sporting events.

I do believe that the move would work over the long-term, but it will take a generation, not five years. The AFL are obviously in for the long-haul.

Riewoldting · Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:05pm

saint66au wrote:Umm..unless I'm very much mistaken the current broadcast rights dont allow any change in the amount of teams. They run out at the end of 2011

1. Kangaroos fold end 2009
2. Create new Gold Coast team for 2010

= no change in the amount of teams

saintm · Post: # 484718Post **saintm** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:06pm

Oh When the Saints wrote:
The 30-day offer is ridiculous IMO - that is far too short amount of time for such a major decision to be made.

In reality, though, the move has been discussed for quite a long time and if I remember rightly, the candidates at the last Board election stood on whether or not they were pro a Gold Coast move.

If there is a final time-frame put on the decision then at least everyone will know where they stand.

Riewoldting · Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:08pm

saintm wrote:If there is a final time-frame put on the decision then at least everyone will know where they stand.

Yeah ... knee-deep in shÂ¡t if you're a Roos fan

plugger66 · Post: # 484723Post **plugger66** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:09pm

mad saint guy wrote:The thing I just don't understand about this is why they think an AFL team at the Gold Coast would succeed. Sure, salary cap concessions and draft picks would mean that they would have a strong team for a few years, but Brisbane have the support of the entire state, yet the least amount of members of any team in the AFL.

I think Brisbane's membership is at about 21k at the moment. If the Kangaroos moved to the GC they would have about 18, and would be stealling a few from Brisbane. If Southport joined the league they would have about 12k and Brisbane would lose about 5k.

The entire state is a dead zone for Aussie Rules, and introducing another club would surely just be creating a new problem child for the AFL as well as hurting Brisbane.

The entire state is far from a dead zone for AFL. Last year they had more players drafted than WA so that is not a dead zone.

Ghost Like · Post: # 484729Post **Ghost Like** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:20pm

Demetri_OWH (the sound made by everyone he's bent over) is the most egotistical, arrogant, self important poor excuse for a human to even attend an AFL game (apologies to Joffa, the gold jacket variety) let alone hold a position in the League. Not only does he drink his own bathwater, he guzzles from Hutchies as well.

May he rot with whatever club he sacrifices in the name of his own immortality. To think that club let him become a premiership player. Turd!

evertonfc · Post: # 484734Post **evertonfc** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:42pm

Just say no, we're staying, then launch big campaign driven by JB, sign up high profile sponsors, Arch on the board, yada yada.

28,000 members next year.

They'll stay if they want it bad enough.

Zed · Post: # 484742Post **Zed** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 7:53pm

same arguments as when the Swans moved to Sydney 20 odd years ago

It took 15 years and some tampering by the AFL to finally make that move work ...

History is about to repeat ..

Spinner · Post: # 484752Post **Spinner** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 8:13pm

Oh When the Saints wrote:Or you can look at it as one of the fastest growing areas in Australia.

There is no major sporting team in a major national sport based on the Gold Coast at the moment ...

High growth + vacuum for sporting team = opportunity

Combine that with an ageing population of baby boomers, who have shown a tendancy to escape to the sun-filled areas upon retiring, and have plenty of cash (and time) to spend attending sporting events.

I do believe that the move would work over the long-term, but it will take a generation, not five years. The AFL are obviously in for the long-haul.

Correct.

The Gold Coast is the gateway to the rest of the world.

Its about getting our brand, our sponsors and our game to as many people. Australia and beyond.

Forget the figures MSG, it will be a gold mine....but not necessary in cold hard cash for the short term.

saintsRrising · Wed 31 Oct 2007 8:15pm

If one puts one's Victorian bias aside it is a pretty obvious move.

*There are too many clubs in Victoria for a true National Competition. And not just in terms of money but in terms of teams being where the people are. The competition is clearly out of balance.

*In terms of where the people are....the Gold Coast and environs has a huge growth rate...including many moving there from down South. The whole zone is a super-city.

*Top of all this growth with a lot of young families moving to the area....and an AFL team will give momentum to more kids playing with local teams.

*The are has its own airpots......with new International Low Cost airlines such as Air Asia now flying there.

*Make no mistake in two decades there are going to be a huge number of people living in this area.

The AFL is quite rightly targetting it....

The AFL is obviously thinking strategically and long -term. Not just the next few years , but where the AFL wants to be in 20-50 years...as Australia's truly national and dominant code.

The AFL for now must supply 16 teams for the TV treasure chest of cash. But it does not have to be the current 16.

a number of clubs have only been saved from folding by this TV cash....and the AFL is nw I think going to start putting more strings on this extra funding.

For the roos it will probably bea case that the extra cash can stay but only if they head north. If not the funds will go to start up a new AFL ...Southport......with the Melbourne Clubs being left to survive of die.

Those bitter about RB should remember that he has for the time being put us in a position where this is not our fate...but it could be. Lets hope that FF pull their fingers out and build upon our improved position.

For that matter ALL Saints fans need to pull their fingers out and start attending matches in higher numbers.....for this is the heart of the Roos problem.....simply way to few people go and watch them.

More teams will move....once the Roos are bedded down..in several years it would not surprise if the Western Bulldogs take up residence in Western Sydney but starting putting more bums on seats or it could be the Western Saints!!!!!...though that will be a harder nut to crack than the Gold Coast Region.

wildgoose · Post: # 484812Post **wildgoose** » Wed 31 Oct 2007 10:39pm

And when will Collingwood play there first game in the Gold Coast? 2020

Launcestonsaint · Wed 31 Oct 2007 11:00pm

wildgoose wrote:And when will Collingwood play there first game in the Gold Coast? 2020

I understand that by 2010 the AFL will have decided that the interstate teams have too many home games. In the interest of fairness to all teams, 4 interstate teams will have to play home games at the MCG against Collingwood each season.