TonyK
CibbuanoWest Sydney team to call Blacktown home
July 16th 2008 04:59
THE western Sydney team will call Blacktown city its home when it enters the AFL in 2012.
The AFL announced today that the new franchise would use facilities at the Blacktown Olympic Park as a base for training and administration though it is expected that ANZ Stadium will be the home ground.
Pre-season matches could be played at Blacktown Olympic Park as part of the council’s 2025 vision to turn it into a first-class sporting facility by building a 10,000 seat capacity stadium and hosting both AFL and international sporting matches.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said that a team based in western Sydney was crucial for the growth of the game.
“The Western Sydney strategy is critical to the game,” Demetriou said.
“There is a huge population here (300,000 and growing), it has the fastest growing economy in Australia with the Gold Coast and we think there is a great sense of community out here, which is very common among our code.
“There are great benefits to our code in being out here but also great benefits to the community.”
Demetriou also said the AFL was in a strong position to increase the number of teams in the competition.
“The AFL had a debt six years ago of $50-$60 million and last year we became debt free. We put $82 million aside in the future fund in anticipation of what may or may not happen.
“We have long-term agreements in place so our finances are secure. Our broadcast agreement is signed to 2011; we have just extended our agreement with Toyota as our naming rights sponsor for another three years and we have a players agreement in place until 2011. We see this as a great opportunity.
“Our greatest risk is if we do nothing.”
The AFL announced today that the new franchise would use facilities at the Blacktown Olympic Park as a base for training and administration though it is expected that ANZ Stadium will be the home ground.
Pre-season matches could be played at Blacktown Olympic Park as part of the council’s 2025 vision to turn it into a first-class sporting facility by building a 10,000 seat capacity stadium and hosting both AFL and international sporting matches.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said that a team based in western Sydney was crucial for the growth of the game.
“The Western Sydney strategy is critical to the game,” Demetriou said.
“There is a huge population here (300,000 and growing), it has the fastest growing economy in Australia with the Gold Coast and we think there is a great sense of community out here, which is very common among our code.
“There are great benefits to our code in being out here but also great benefits to the community.”
Demetriou also said the AFL was in a strong position to increase the number of teams in the competition.
“The AFL had a debt six years ago of $50-$60 million and last year we became debt free. We put $82 million aside in the future fund in anticipation of what may or may not happen.
“We have long-term agreements in place so our finances are secure. Our broadcast agreement is signed to 2011; we have just extended our agreement with Toyota as our naming rights sponsor for another three years and we have a players agreement in place until 2011. We see this as a great opportunity.
“Our greatest risk is if we do nothing.”
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