Like I’ve said in the past. The argument that a Tasmanian AFL side isn’t economically viable is so disingenuously presented by the AFL. It infers that AFL clubs are in the main, all financially self sustaining.
But over the last decade. If it weren’t for cross subsidisation, more than half the clubs would be extinct. As in, 10 of the 18 clubs are no more “economically viable” than a Tasmanian AFL team in their own right. It’s the AFL as a collective product that has been financially sustaining, not necessarily the individual clubs. More accurately, the AFL CHOOSES to subsidise economically unviable legacy clubs (and two marketing projects on the Gold Coast and the western suburbs of Sydney) INSTEAD of a Tasmanian team. That’s their prerogative. But I wish they presented it honestly, rather than half truths and lies.
And with the revenue growth on the TV rights flattening, I think there are some fears at AFL house that they may struggle to keep funding all of these unviable clubs into perpetuity, as they do now. This is why the AFL (and Eddie) would prefer to push North Melbourne to Tasmania if they could. If they can fool some other sucker (the Tasmanian taxpayer) to fund $20mil per year. It reduces the tab on one club the AFL system is currently subsidising.
But over the last decade. If it weren’t for cross subsidisation, more than half the clubs would be extinct. As in, 10 of the 18 clubs are no more “economically viable” than a Tasmanian AFL team in their own right. It’s the AFL as a collective product that has been financially sustaining, not necessarily the individual clubs. More accurately, the AFL CHOOSES to subsidise economically unviable legacy clubs (and two marketing projects on the Gold Coast and the western suburbs of Sydney) INSTEAD of a Tasmanian team. That’s their prerogative. But I wish they presented it honestly, rather than half truths and lies.
And with the revenue growth on the TV rights flattening, I think there are some fears at AFL house that they may struggle to keep funding all of these unviable clubs into perpetuity, as they do now. This is why the AFL (and Eddie) would prefer to push North Melbourne to Tasmania if they could. If they can fool some other sucker (the Tasmanian taxpayer) to fund $20mil per year. It reduces the tab on one club the AFL system is currently subsidising.
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