METRICON MAGIC!
AFL MOVES 10 CLUBS TO QLD, NOW FOR GF ON THE GC
THE Gold Coast will reap millions in free publicity from the relocation of the AFL from COVID-ravaged Victoria to the Sunshine State.
The southern state’s 10 teams will now all be based in Queensland for at least 10 weeks covering the remainder of the home-and-away season after emergency meetings with AFL bosses.
League boss Gillon McLachlan phoned Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday morning and agreed to bring the remainder of the competition to the state, though he has refused to be drawn on either Metricon Stadium or the Gabba hosting the Grand Final in lieu of the traditional MCG.
“(This) is clearly a big decision, but we are less cornered than if we hadn’t made the decision,” he said.
Many of the teams are expected to be based on the Gold Coast, news which is delighting tourism and political leaders.
Destination Gold chief executive Annaliese Battista said the move would provide significant relief for accommodation providers putting up hundreds of players, families, support staff and administrators until September.
“This is the perfect time to show off the beautiful weather of the Gold Coast while it is cold and miserable down south,” she said.
“Something we have noticed in the first few weeks of football players coming here was they have been posting images of the city to their large social media fanbases and the more they do this, the better.
“It is great publicity and you cannot buy this kind of endorsement of the Gold Coast.
“The staging of the AFL in Queensland acknowledges that we are recognised as a safe destination for tourists and right now there is no better asset than being safe.”
Premier Palaszczuk on Wednesday submitted a bid for the state to host the Grand Final for the first time, saying it would be worth millions to the economy.
Mayor Tom Tate said the city’s response to the
COVID-19 pandemic had made it a safe location to visit and host sporting events.
“The Gold Coast is open for business and as long as all COVID-safe measures are applied, we look forward to hosting any new teams who want to set up camp here,” he said. “It can only be good for local businesses who have been doing it tough.
“And anyway, why wouldn’t they want to come here?
“There’s no place anyone would rather be right now than the Gold Coast – it’s safe, there’s sunshine and so much to do.”
MORE AFL P50-51
THERE’S NO PLACE ANYONE WOULD RATHER BE THAN THE GOLD COAST. IT’S SAFE, THERE’S SUN AND SO MUCH TO DO MAYOR TOM TATE