[Greens-Media] Is two AFL games a good deal for Canberra?

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
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Thurs 17 Aug 06


Is two AFL games a good deal for Canberra?

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey is asking Canberra's Aussie Rules supporters if they think two AFL games that the ACT Government has secured is a good enough result.

"Paying $828,000 a year to buy a game or two from whichever AFL club needs the money is a disappointing outcome" Dr Foskey said today.

"With an average attendance of 10,000 for season proper games, and perhaps 5,000 for the  preseason games, that comes to almost $30 a ticket."

("The ticket prices for fans range from about $29 for the best adult tickets to $3.30 for kids in the outer.")

 "Everyone knows that all the football codes are now big business.  But footy clubs still have a social significance, too." 

"If Canberra is ever going to become a part of the AFL program then the local footy competition and supporters need to be building a real link with one of the AFL teams." 

"Today's media comments by the Western (Footscray) Bulldogs that they hope to return to Melbourne for all their home games when this deal runs out underlies the inadequacy of the current strategy."

"The ACT Government may have a role, but it is up to Canberra's Aussie Rules fans and the AFL itself to develop the game in Canberra. Simply buying a couple of games off the shelf every year is not a visionary way to approach it" Dr Foskey said.

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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
====== www.debfoskey.com ======= 
  
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