AFL Chief Backs Adelaide CBD Stadium

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou has publicly declared his support for Aussie Rules football to again be played at a venue in the Adelaide CBD.

Speaking after a meeting with South Australian AFL football and cricket leaders in Adelaide this week, Demetriou stated "on a global scale ... most stadiums are located in the CBD," adding "they are not just for sport, but are an entertainment precinct ... we have seen that in (Melbourne) with Etihad Stadium and the MCG."

However, Demetriou (pictured) conceded he had still not engineered a deal for either a new city stadium or a new partnership between the SANFL and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) at Adelaide Oval, advising that the refurbishment of AAMI Stadium was also a possibility, "that was one option discussed today and obviously we talked about the Adelaide Oval option which requires a bit of dialogue.

"Football should be played in this state where it is most advantageous to football.

"Currently, that is AAMI Stadium because football has a magnificent asset (at West Lakes) and controls its own destiny (there)."

Prior to the meeting, speculation developed that Demetriou was forming an alliance with South Australia Treasurer Kevin Foley to end Adelaide's long-running stadium debate by taking the SANFL back to Adelaide Oval with Foley believed to the considering transferring the South Australian Government's promise of $100 million in funding for AAMI Stadium's refurbishment to the redevelopment of the SACA-controlled venue.

Demetriou's visit to Adelaide also focused on reaching a new deal for Port Adelaide Power to improve its income from playing at AAMI Stadium.

Demetriou, who recently agreed new deals at the MCG and Etihad Stadium for Victorian-based AFL clubs, added "we're always looking at how we can extract more revenue out of our stadia - we've done that in most of the stadia around the country."

Under current arrangements, Adelaide and Port Power will, by AFL projections, rank in the bottom-four in stadium returns during the 2010 AFL season. 

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