26 April 2022

Brumbies and Raiders will keep a close eye on the new GWS deal

| Tim Gavel
Join the conversation
17
AFL at Manuka Oval

GWS Giants v Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval. Photo: File.

When the ACT Government announced a 10-year, $23 million deal with GWS to play AFL games at Manuka Oval in late 2010, it came as a surprise.

There was little indication at the time that a long-term deal to play three AFL premiership matches and a pre-season game each year was being negotiated, let alone on the verge of being announced.

In looking into this, I will focus on premiership games played rather than the pre-season as pre-season games have minimal significance.

From 2012 until COVID interrupted proceedings, GWS played three premiership games a season at Manuka. COVID was the main reason why some planned games did not go ahead. As a result, four will be played this year.

READ ALSO Brave players return to Phillip rink to conquer nation’s best

The 10-year contract included a number of key performance factors, including an academy program, pre-season games, as well as participation and community programs.

GWS development officers have been plentiful in the community and appear to be doing a great job. The establishment of the Academy and junior development programs will ultimately benefit GWS and the community.

This is the final year of the deal and negotiations are underway for another 10-year contract between the ACT Government and GWS.

It comes at a time when the ACT Government has announced deals with both the Brumbies and the Raiders.

The Raiders at Canberra Stadium

The Raiders at Canberra Stadium. Photo: File.

The Raiders’ five-year deal to play home games at Canberra Stadium is worth $13 million and includes assistance in establishing a women’s NRL team, community development and participation programs. Averaging out the deal, it works out at $2.6 million a season.

The Raiders average 12 home games a season at Canberra Stadium. This year it is 11, with one home game played in Wagga Wagga.

Brumbies at Canberra Stadium, season 2022. Photo: Jennifer Andrew.

Canberra Stadium home game for the Brumbies. Photo: Jennifer Andrew.

The Brumbies deal is worth $3.5 million over two years, with the team playing, on average, seven to eight home games a season, which this year is four less than the Raiders. The Brumbies deal also includes support for the women’s Super W team.

So in terms of premiership matches played in Canberra this season, the Raiders will play 11, the Brumbies seven and GWS four.

There has been reluctance from the Raiders and the Brumbies to publicly criticise the GWS deal because they are also the recipients of government funding.

The ACT Government has been questioned numerous times on the discrepancy in funding. The Raiders and the Brumbies play more games in Canberra, and their players contribute significantly to the local economy.

In response, it has been pointed out that ACT Government provided funding to establish the Brumbies training headquarters and the Raiders Centre of Excellence. In both instances, the government provided around $5 million.

READ ALSO How to grow up and be productive: an idiot’s guide

There has been money spent on Canberra Stadium, but the facilities at Manuka have also been improved over the years to cater for both cricket and AFL.

GWS also receives more funding per game than either the Brumbies or the Raiders because the AFL has a greater national reach in terms of television coverage than the other codes.

On that argument, the government has a point. Putting a dollar value on broader exposure isn’t easy, but sport is a significant tourism generator with fans travelling to Canberra and spending time and money in the city.

Part of the equation is the value to the city and the community, the lifestyle and the ability to watch sport live, and AFL fans have as much right as NRL and Super Rugby supporters in Canberra. It’s difficult to quantify, not just in terms of how GWS stacks up alongside the Raiders and the Brumbies, but also in terms of competing demands on government dollars for community activities.

This is why the current negotiations will come under so much public scrutiny.

Join the conversation

17
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

GWS came to Canberra a decade ago with great intentions of engaging with the locals. Since then they have gone missing with clinics and left a competition (NEAFL) that was established simply for reserve grade AFL teams to get a game that cost local clubs millions to establish. All they want now is to be paid to play in Canberra and cherry pick the occasional academy player. Cut them loose.

Vinson1Bernie6:31 pm 27 Apr 22

Simple. The AFL attracts different clubs each year from 5 states and because they travel and support their team they make a week of it filling the tourist spots , hotels, bars and are from a wider demographic. The raiders have been around for 40 years so the few NSW fans that travel from Sydney may only stay one night coz they have been here before.

Bahahahaha,
You think a lot of AFL fans travel to Canberra to see GWS (and their own team) play?

They have averaged a tick over 10k crowds whilst they’ve been playing here, the vast majority of which would be local Canberrans and the (small) GWS fan base from Sydney.

Capital Retro8:58 pm 27 Apr 22

Do you have surveys, statistics etc. to back that up about “staying a week”?

My information is that visiting sporting teams and their entourages can’t wait to get out of Canberra.

Pre COVID AFL game at Manuka get 12-14k attendance, Raiders get that or a bit more than that at each game and Brumbies get under 6-9k attendance. This might be a reason for the difference.

And the fact that Andrew Barr is a massive AFL fan has absolutely nothing to do with it……..

Capital Retro7:40 am 27 Apr 22

…….”sport is a significant tourism generator with fans travelling to Canberra and spending time and money in the city.”

Where is the proof of this?

Capital Retro11:23 am 31 May 22

I think the absence of a response gives the answer.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.