Demetriou backs Skilled Stadium World Cup bid

[jeffers]

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has supported Geelong's bid to host soccer World Cup matches at Skilled Stadium

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[GameTipper]

Finally a positive step fwd by the AFL on this World Cup issue! Strange how the FFA hasn't come out with anything yet - wonder if they are still hoping for The Dome to change their minds?!

[adam]

I dont understand why the AFL have an issue with the use of Etihad Stadium during the world cup. FIFA rules stipulate that NO OTHER major sporting league or event can be run at the same time as the world cup, so that means that the AFL and NRL etc will all be out of action for a couple of months.

The AFL wont be using Etihad during the world cup, so whats their issue with world cup games there..? Doesn't make sense.

[GameTipper]

Adam, I think it's been stated that the other comps will still run during the World Cup - I'm fairly sure that in other WC that local sports have continued to run without penalties. I also believe that the stipulation on what an "Event" is comes down to major sports such as, say an international game like Aust vs NZ rugby.

The whole thing is a mess anyways, soccer/football people are saying it's unfair for the AFL/NRL to have a say and basically cost Australia a shot at a World Cup bid, while the AFL/NRL side of things will kick up a stink for having to (supposedly) stop playing for 6-8 weeks. Other codes WILL file law suits to cover a possible loss of income in this time and cost the Gov/FFA 100 times more than what they have already invested in a bidding process (which I think was around $20-$30 mil so far).

It needs unity to go fwd, and I think the AFL have slightly opened a door here to allow this to progress now... the bid for 2022 will most likely include local sports to go ahead, hence the new tact of providing extra 44k seated stadium (FIFA's min attendance requirements) for WC to go ahead.

[adam]

Oh, i wasnt aware of that actually GameTipper. I remember reading somewhere that they couldn't play other major competitions while the world cup was on so assumed that included AFL and NRL as well.

I really cant see us getting the World Cup any time soon unfortunately. If it could be held in our summer it would be simple, but that cant happen for obvious reasons. Hosting the world cup would do wonders for the game down under, its a shame all this politics is getting in the way of it all.

[GameTipper]

Adam, I was going off "Media" reports - so who knows what the real state of play is. I'd love to see it come here, we (Melb) is one of the, if not THE sporting capital of the world, if we can't get a world cup here, then no one in the Southern Hem will ever get it.

Our A-League would go through the roof the minute Australia is awarded the World Cup - the comp would expand, the wages/caps would go up and you'd also see a lot of international's coming here to play also. This would have a knock-on effect right down to local leagues... Australian Football would be strong for 20-30 years minimum.

[adam]

I agree about the A-League comment. You only need to look back four years ago when we qualified. A-League attendences went through the roof, particularly Melb Victory who averaged up to 40,000 a game that season. Infact they got nearly 60,000 to the grand final that season. It was magic, its still one of the best sports events ive been to in my life that game.

Im hoping the same effect can happen this year but it may be a little tougher. There is no doubt having the world cup here in Australia would pay big dividends though. Its just that soccer is so divided here, either people love it or they hate it, there doesnt seem to be a medium.

Ya get the people who says "its boring, too many 0-0 draws and no action" or "its a girls game" etc. They are the people we need to convert, and those are usualyl the AFL/NRL fans. I think we'll host it one day but it wont be 2018 or 2022 unfortunately.