AFL, NBL talks on
THIS week could go a long way to setting Tasmania’s sporting agenda in national competitions with two vital meetings to take place.
Both the AFL Taskforce and NBL owner Larry Kestelman will meet with the State Government as the push continues for the state to enter Australia’s biggest domestic competition and its top basketball league.
The AFL Taskforce will meet in Hobart today and tomorrow as it continues its work on drafting findings and recommendations ahead of its presentation to the Government next month.
The taskforce’s chairman, Virgin Airlines co-founder Brett Godfrey, will update the Government and the State Opposition tomorrow.
The taskforce has been quietly compiling what is expected to be a compelling business case for the state’s push into the AFL, and has gained nearly 64,000 pledges of support on its website, unitedwestand.com.au – almost 14,000 more than its original target of 50,000.
Tasmania’s entry into the AFL will still rely on an AFL Commission decision to expand the league, but the NBL has a licence on the table waiting to go. But Mr Kestelman is seeking State Government funding to upgrade the Derwent Entertainment Centre before committing to the state and negotiations will continue on Thursday with a December deadline looming.
Although the Government is supportive of the state’s re-entry into the NBL, the two parties are far apart on just how much taxpayer money is required to make the 30-year-old venue 21st century compliant.
It is believed Mr Kestelman has tabled a range of proposals around the DEC, starting from $20 million for a basic refit all the way to $30 million-plus for a full redevelopment, as well as a $1.5 million a year commitment to help fund a Tasmanian team in the NBL.
It is part of Mr Kestelman’s master plan for the DEC and surrounding Wilkinson’s Point, with the Tasmanian home of an NBL team to be the centrepiece of a proposed $200 million sporting, shopping and restaurant precinct. It is understood he has reached an agreement with the Glenorchy City Council as part of his negotiations to buy the DEC and Wilkinson’s Point for about $18 million – but it is contingent on a commitment from the Government to fund the DEC redevelopment.