AFL stands behind Adelaide Oval deal as review begins

While the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval has been a massive success, both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide have been disappointed at their poor financial returns from the venue.

With Port Adelaide having received just $35,000 in match-day profit from hosting its historic AFL Premiership clash with the Crows, both clubs are blaming high costs placed on them by the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority. 

During the round two showdown, Port was charged $18,000 for match-day traffic management, whereas the MCG charges clubs $1,000 for the same service. 

The Adelaide Oval contract, seen as one of former AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou's major successes, is now being reviewed.

However, according to a report at AFL.com.au, current AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan is defending the initial stadium deal at the redeveloped venue, despite it being reviewed within its first season.

McLachlan recently chaired the start of the review, which will see the AFL, Adelaide, Port Adelaide and the SANFL "open up their books and see where they stand".

Given how much AFL's move from West Lakes back into the heart of Adelaide had achieved, McLachlan said it was unfair to criticise the need for a review of the deal.

He explained "we've had a whole series of changes go on over the course of a short period of time …Adelaide Oval has been the extraordinary success everyone hoped it would be, it's seen huge financial uplifts for both clubs and the SANFL and for cricket.

"To get both clubs, licenses transferred, moved out of AAMI (Stadium), moved in here and all the success that's flowed.

"I actually think the deal that was done is a credit to both clubs and to the SANFL and to the SACA (South Australian Cricket Association)."

With crowds for the Power and Crows at the new stadium outperforming the clubs' initial expectations, both clubs want a larger slice of the revenue.

Only Collingwood has attracted more fans to its home games this year than the Crows; the Power are averaging more than 43,000 fans to their home games – up from almost 27,000 last year.

Port Chairman David Koch is on record claiming the sides wanted 70 cents from every dollar made on match days – the same as clubs made at the MCG.

McLachlan refused to speculate as to the appropriate share of revenue at Adelaide Oval.

He added "they certainly believe (they deserve a greater share, but) I'm not going to comment on that without going through the review, that's the point, to actually understand where everyone is at.

"My view is it has to be the right share, the right share for the two clubs and the right share for the SANFL."

While both clubs want the review completed by the end of the AFL season, McLachlan concluded that the "notional timeframe" was three months.

Click here to view the original article from Harry Tring at AFL media.

5th May 2014 - AFL CROWDS UP 42% AT NEW ADELAIDE OVAL