Falcons flinch at stadium hire costs
THE Geelong Falcons have told AFL Victoria they can no longer afford to play matches at GMHBA Stadium, blaming the costs involved with hiring the venue from the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust.
The Falcons have called on AFL Victoria to underwrite the hire fee, believed to be about $4000 for a stand-alone game, in a bid to keep TAC Cup matches at the AFL ground.
Falcons talent manager Michael Turner said the hire costs were “significantly” higher since the Trust took over management of the ground from the City of Greater Geelong.
“I’ve already told AFL Victoria that unless they underwrite it, I don’t want any games at GMHBA Stadium, because it’s too costly, it’s too expensive,” Turner said.
The Falcons only have two home-and-away matches at Kardinia Park this season, having scaled back games at their traditional home in recent years to save money.
Turner said the need to get the club’s budget right was heightened by the growth of the TAC Cup Girls program in the past two years.
Tomorrow, Geelong will play a home match against Calder Cannons at Ballarat’s redeveloped Mars Stadium, a venue Turner says comes with no hire charge. This match was previously played as a marquee night match at GMHBA Stadium to showcase the two top TAC Cup clubs to recruiters on an AFL-like stage.
The Falcons also play home games at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval for free and pay a small $250 hire fee, plus a cleaning charge, for matches at Colac’s Central Reserve.
Deakin University is also a cheap, viable alternative venue of MCG size.
“Every time this happens (issues over cost of playing at GMHBA Stadium), people say, ‘Oh, the AFL should be paying’,” Turner said.
“It needs to be pointed out that the AFL gives us budgets, but it costs a fair bit of money to run the Falcons.
“The AFL does give us money, but I’ve got to rationalise the budget, and five games at Kardinia Park costs me $20,000 and I could be spending that in other areas.
“I could be spending that in women’s footy. The girls’ footy is a new expense for us and that’s where that money could go. Or it could go into staff, resources, all those things.
“The AFL clubs and AFL recruiters want players playing at the best stadiums. GMHBA is one of those … but they’ve spent $15 million in Ballarat and about $12 million at Werribee too.
“It (Werribee) is not as big but it’s as good in terms of a football facility.”
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive Michael Brown said he was surprised to learn of the Falcons’ concerns yesterday.
“The Trust are unaware of any issues from the Geelong Falcons surrounding the cost of holding stand-alone games at the GMHBA Stadium,” he said. “The Falcons are a fantastic club and have a great tradition of playing at the stadium. We look forward to talking to them about their concerns directly. ”
The Geelong Advertiser has previously been told the charges — which vary — cover areas such as venue hire, stadium management, ground preparation, bench communications, staff and supplier costs like security and cleaning.
The charge also varies depending on the number of grandstands opened. The use of the light towers also adds up to another $2000.
The Falcons are the latest local sporting body to feel the pinch of hire fees, with the State Government last year stepping in to end a dispute between AFL Barwon and the Trust over the cost of GFL finals at Kardinia Park.
“It’s a great asset for Geelong and other events, don’t get me wrong at all, but those other events can recoup their costs and I can’t — that’s the difference,” Turner said.
“It’s become cost restrictive for us and we cannot recover the expenses.
“If I could recoup the expense, it wouldn’t be an issue. The VFL, AFL Barwon, Geelong and anyone who uses the ground, they can recoup the expense, we can’t.
“I’m trying to get a better outcome. I’m not being critical. I understand the commercial aspects of it all, but because we can’t recoup any of it, it’s becoming too expensive for us.”
Falcons matches are free for the reason they are mainly attended by family, friends and AFL recruiters.