Industry News – Wednesday, May 31st 2017

AFL

• Clubs have become increasingly frustrated at protracted negotiations over a new Etihad Stadium deal despite AFL assurances an agreement will be in place for 2018.
• A TOP-TWO finish is set to earn Greater Western Sydney a golden run to this year’s Grand Final with the AFL expected to lock Spotless Stadium in as the club’s venue for home finals. But Geelong will be left sweating on its plans to stage September games at the upgraded Simonds Stadium with the match-up and the AFL’s forecasted attendance to decide where the Cats play home finals.
• WA’s position for seeking financial contributions for the Perth Stadium from the AFL and the Federal Government is not strong, Treasurer Ben Wyatt believes.

NRL

• The NRL has been at war with the clubs for some time. Now it’s at war with its players. It’s running out of people to pick a fight with.
• Greenberg on Tuesday hit back at suggestions the NRL had mismanaged the game’s finances, maintaining the governing body was distributing funds to ensure all stakeholders – from grassroots to the elite level – were able to operate as successfully as possible.
• The 66-page document that has driven a wedge between the NRL and its leading players heading into tonight’s opening game of the State of Origin series reveals an alarming $290 million gulf in the revenue projections of the governing body and the players’ union over the next five years.
• The Canberra Raiders have reached 19,000 Members for the first time ever in the club’s history. http://bit.ly/2rzykIp 
• Melbourne want to host one of three Origin matches for up to 10 years as part of a move to lock more “best of the best’’ fixtures into Victoria’s major events calendar for longer.
• Paul Kent writes that the NRL must take pay dispute seriously — or it could be the administration’s biggest error
• SINGAPORE has emerged as a serious player to host a State of Origin game as the NRL prepares to reopen talks this week about bringing extra Origin matches and a grand final to Suncorp Stadium.

Super Rugby

• The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has lifted its moratorium on Super Rugby player contracts and promised to honour all deals, including for those who sign with a team that’s subsequently axed.
• HOST of Western Force stars led by Wallaby Adam Coleman are set to sign with rival franchises now the ARU’s contract moratorium has been lifted, further dimishing the Perth club’s prospects of survival.
• The Western Force are resisting an Australian Rugby Union ­attempt to direct them into arbitration as a means of deciding whether they can survive as a Super Rugby team next season.

General

• CRICKET Australia has revealed the runaway success of the Big Bash has lost $33 million over its first five years and hasn’t been the cash cow many believe.
• The Australian Grand Prix, which has historically been the season’s opening race, is set to be moved to avoid its annual clash with the start of the Australian Football League (AFL) season next year.
• KFC has become an official partner of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.