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AUSTADIUMS.COM NEWS //
Saturday 24th May 2008 |
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AFL wants ANZ Stadium |
The AFL wants to buy ANZ Stadium at Homebush Bay to guarantee its aggressive push into western Sydney succeeds.
It has been revealed that the AFL made a $200 million bid for the Olympic Stadium just over a year ago.
The ANZ-led trust that now owns the stadium prevailed, but it is understood a renewed offer is being devised as the AFL prepares to launch its western Sydney franchise in 2011.
Five Sydney teams play home matches at ANZ Stadium, and the venue now plays host to 38 NRL games a season. Should the AFL gain control of the venue, rugby league would be faced with a hostile landlord.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou spent half a day at Olympic Park five weeks ago. In company with NSWAFL supremo Dale Holmes, he met Stadium CEO Ken Edwards after taking a full tour of the 80,000-seater that the new western Sydney side will call home.
When asked this week if the AFL was preparing to buy the stadium, Demetriou responded with a "no comment".
But a source close to the negotiations said the AFL wanted to replicate its stadiums-ownership strategy in Sydney.
"It's clear they have an interest in establishing a team in Western Sydney, so it would make sense to try and buy ANZ Stadium," the source said.
"They effectively control Telstra Dome and it's been their business plan to control stadia around Australia." "They wanted to have a similar interest at ANZ Stadium but missed out first time round."
While the consortium's bid was attractive to shareholders, but was ultimately hampered by the fact ANZ owned the Stadium's $140 million debt. |
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