TonyK
CibbuanoCollins open to Etihad hosting WC matches
December 10th 2009 03:48
ETIHAD Stadium chief executive Ian Collins says he is open to the idea of accomodating the soccer World Cup if Australia wins the right to stage the world's biggest sporting event in 2018 or 2022.
Collins, who is yet speak with the AFL about the prospect of the World Cup coming to Australia, admitted he would welcome matches being played at the venue but said the AFL and Football Federation Australia needed to sit down and work out a suitable arrangement.
"As you know we're a venue for hire, we're always interested in whatever is going on and we support maximising the use of our stadium and we need to do that," Collins said.
"Although I think the two major football bodies should probably sit down behind closed doors and sort out what's got to happen."
"We've got to work together, whether we work with rugby or soccer or Australian Rules football … we're here for the long run and we're here to have events."
Collins denied writing to the FFA to say that Etihad Stadium didn't want to be involved in the World Cup.
"We have written a couple of letters on other matters but not in regard to that," he said.
"We're not opposed to anything. Anything that brings sport to Australia is fantastic, if it's at international level I think that's terrific as well, but just got to make sure that we are able to live in harmony with all codes and I'm certain it wouldn't take long to sit down with a piece a paper and just work out what can and can't be done during that period of time which protects both factions."
Discussions have been held with the FFA but Collins said he wasn't sure of their requirements at this stage.
"We haven't seen the framework on that and at this point in time we're not certain how restrictive their conditions are - that's something that will come out if and when Australia wins a bid for the World Cup," Collins said.
"I wouldn't get too excited about what the conditions are at the moment. I'm not even certain what the dates of the World Cup will be and whether our venue will be used for one, two, three or four weeks."
Collins, who is yet speak with the AFL about the prospect of the World Cup coming to Australia, admitted he would welcome matches being played at the venue but said the AFL and Football Federation Australia needed to sit down and work out a suitable arrangement.
"As you know we're a venue for hire, we're always interested in whatever is going on and we support maximising the use of our stadium and we need to do that," Collins said.
"Although I think the two major football bodies should probably sit down behind closed doors and sort out what's got to happen."
"We've got to work together, whether we work with rugby or soccer or Australian Rules football … we're here for the long run and we're here to have events."
Collins denied writing to the FFA to say that Etihad Stadium didn't want to be involved in the World Cup.
"We have written a couple of letters on other matters but not in regard to that," he said.
"We're not opposed to anything. Anything that brings sport to Australia is fantastic, if it's at international level I think that's terrific as well, but just got to make sure that we are able to live in harmony with all codes and I'm certain it wouldn't take long to sit down with a piece a paper and just work out what can and can't be done during that period of time which protects both factions."
Discussions have been held with the FFA but Collins said he wasn't sure of their requirements at this stage.
"We haven't seen the framework on that and at this point in time we're not certain how restrictive their conditions are - that's something that will come out if and when Australia wins a bid for the World Cup," Collins said.
"I wouldn't get too excited about what the conditions are at the moment. I'm not even certain what the dates of the World Cup will be and whether our venue will be used for one, two, three or four weeks."
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