It has been revealed the Tasmanian Government’s new five year deal with the Hawthorn Football Club could cost taxpayers more than the publicised price tag.
The ABC has obtained a copy of the agreement to pay the Hawks $18million to play four AFL games a season in Launceston and for Tasmania to be the club’s major sponsor.
The 21 page document includes clauses that could bump up the price of the deal.
Hawthorn will get an extra unspecified amount from the state government if only one of its four games in Launceston is against one of the clubs based outside of Victoria; Adelaide, West Coast, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.
First published: 2010-12-23 05:59 AM
And, Government backs South’s AFL bid
THE State Government has officially joined the campaign to bring AFL games to Hobart with Sports Minister David O’Byrne yesterday revealing he would be part of talks to secure games at Bellerive from 2012.
Speaking live from Wrest Point on Melbourne’s Radio Sport 927AM, Mr O’Byrne said he would jump boots and all into negotiations with all stakeholders.
“We will engage with all levels of government and I will be meeting with local business people, the AFL and Cricket Tasmania. We are absolutely committed to it,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“We are committed to looking at options for getting AFL footy into southern Tasmania.”
Mr O’Byrne revealed there was nothing in the Government’s contract with Hawthorn that prevented the Hawks from playing in Hobart.
Hawthorn is contracted to play four roster games a season in Tasmania until the end of the 2016 season, all to be played in Launceston.
However, if the AFL schedules a fifth Hawks game in Tasmania when the competition expands to 18 teams in 2012, the extra game could be played in Hobart
