AFL close to buying Etihad Stadium in win for Victorian footy fans
A sale worth about $150 million is tipped before Christmas.
The AFL could take ownership of the stadium for just $30 in March 2025, but has been negotiating its early release.
A deal would dramatically improve gate returns for three of the stadium’s four tenant clubs — North Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. Essendon has its own more lucrative arrangement.
The AFL is planning for a $300 million revamp of Etihad Stadium, including a new waterside gateway, open-air bars, restaurants, parks and a running track, as revealed by the Herald Sun earlier this year.