Cairns an option for Shanghai’s AFL game

[Sanctorum]

From today's Adelaide Advertiser:

"Port Adelaide’s China game against St Kilda could be played in Far North Queensland, as an announcement the clash in Shanghai will be shifted because of coronavirus concerns is expected shortly.

Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium is in the box seat to pick up the game, if it can secure the relevant funding.

The official announcement is expected to come this week, possibly as early as Monday.

An AFL spokesman said there was no change to their official position but they were still “closely monitoring the situation”.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said there were four contingency plans for the game, which would revert back to a St Kilda home match, if it was not safe to go to China.

“If we were just considering footy we could probably make a decision in May but it’s not. It’s about giving people confidence that they can travel to China and that we can hold an event in China that is safe,” Thomas said.

One of the options involves a Monday night game at Marvel Stadium, but Thomas last week said that was an option he did not favour. AFL Cairns have been on the front foot for months trying to land the game in Far North Queensland and have been in ongoing discussions.

AFL Cairns, Tourism and Events Queensland and Cairns Regional Council will now have to find the required funding, around $800,000, to bring the game to Cairns. TEQ are set to meet early this week to decide how much they can contribute to the game, with AFL and the local council to foot the remainder.

With the Saints set to lose upwards of $800,000 from the China game not going ahead, the option to take the cash from FNQ and play the game at Cazalys Stadium is now an attractive one.

St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis and the club’s general manager of football Simon Lethlean are a chance to inspect facilities in Cairns in the coming weeks before the game is officially ticked off.

Last year was the first in almost a decade when Cairns had not hosted a game, with AFL matches coming to Cairns every year since 2011. AFL Cairns have made no secret of their interest in bringing games back to the Far North.

“We are now working hard towards 2020,” AFL Cairns boss Gary Young said in late 2018."

[ausfatcat]

Why does it seem it's all upto to Port where this game is played, isn't it our home game?

[saynta]

Why does it seem it's all upto to Port where this game is played, isn't it our home game?

Because, like their president, they are arrogant up themselves pricks who believe they are better than everyone else.

[Life Long Saint]

Why not play it at Marvel...Make it another bushfire appeal game...
We did a great story on Kangaroo Island and the rebuild. Given that Brendan Lade is associated with both clubs, it would be a fitting gesture.
Market the life out of it and aim for 35,000 at Marvel.
If we're playing well and competitive then the crowds will come.

[tony74]

Will be Marvel

[saintspremiers]

Will be Marvel

Bummer it’s not MCG - we only play 1 game there and too many already at Marvel

[bigcarl]

Will be Marvel

Good. Ought to give us some chance of a win