Burraston warns of codes calamity

[Pumba]

Burraston warns of codes calamity
BY ROBERT DILLON

STEVE Burraston has warned that the soccer World Cup may have a crippling effect on the Newcastle Knights if the financially embattled NRL club was forced to vacate EnergyAustralia Stadium for eight weeks in two consecutive seasons.

The Newcastle chief executive has added his voice to the chorus of concern surrounding Australia's World Cup bid and the impact it could have on Australia's rival footballing codes.

Football Federation Australia has bid for hosting rights to the 2018 or 2022 World Cup tournaments but the logistics are creating a groundswell of angst among administrators from the ranks of rugby league, AFL and rugby union.

To satisfy FIFA requirements, Australia would have to provide 12 stadiums able to accommodate crowds of 40,000, and rival codes would not be allowed to use those venues for eight weeks, midway through their respective seasons.

The same disruption would happen 12 months before the World Cup year, when the Confederations Cup would be staged in Australia as a dress rehearsal.

One of the grounds earmarked is EnergyAustralia Stadium, which would require further development to reach the required capacity.

When the new western stand is complete, the stadium is expected to accommodate 33,000.

Burraston said yesterday that he supported Australia's World Cup bid but was concerned about how it would affect the Knights' tenuous financial position.

"I understand the importance of the World Cup and think it's a great event and if we could host it in Australia that would be wonderful," he said.

"I'm just not sure how the logistics would work out, with two seasons disrupting the foundation codes, which have major following and major support.

"There is the potential it could be crippling for some of those clubs and they could wind up insolvent if they had two disrupted seasons like that."

Since their foundation season in 1988, the prospect of insolvency has been a persistent threat for the Knights, who finished last year with about $2.5 million in accumulated losses.

Burraston said his only information concerning the World Cup had come via the NRL but there had been no indication clubs would be compensated for any inconvenience.

"I understand that there is no compensation or funding available to the clubs," he said. "As I understand it, the only legacy will be significant upgrades to several stadiums.

"Our concern would be that having two seasons interrupted for eight weeks is probably not ideal from a financial point of view or a membership point of view. The worry is that the fans would disconnect."

The Knights have been major tenants at EnergyAustralia Stadium for 21 years and have a lease that does not expire until late 2017.

But the club is embroiled in a dispute with the Hunter Venues Authority, the State Government body that manages the stadium, which will not be resolved until an arbitration hearing in March.

Herald

 

[Joker's Wild]

Now Mr Frank Farina has come out and told the NRL/AFL to grow up and cop this on the chin because the Soccer World Cup is "bigger than them".

I freely admit that I dont like soccer and that may make me bias, but to expect this countries biggest professional codes to just vacate their comp for 8 weeks, 2 years in a row mind you, without any compensation for losses incured while the FFA pockets all the profits is lunacy and quite simply plain arrogant of Australias governing body of "The Beautiful Game".

Upgraded stadiums is not enough FFA. Show us the money or GTFO

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Soccer is a minority sport well behind League/AFL/Cricket its even behind Union and probably not that far ahead of basketball and Netball. Why should sports be inconvenienced by this.

The more I think about this world cup the more I see it as being more trouble then its worth.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Burro loves to state the obvious. Australia does not deserve the World Cup. Not until the A League rules the roost.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Burro loves to state the obvious. Australia does not deserve the World Cup. Not until the A League rules the roost.

Then we should be given it in the year 5022 then

 

[Timmah]

Soccer is a minority sport well behind League/AFL/Cricket its even behind Union and probably not that far ahead of basketball and Netball. Why should sports be inconvenienced by this.

The more I think about this world cup the more I see it as being more trouble then its worth.

Are you seriously that simple?

Whether you like it or not, soccer is arguably the biggest sport in the world (despite it's relative minority status at a professional level in Australia). Even in Australia it dominates junior sport figures by a long stretch, well ahead of League, AFL and Union.

Sports should and will (especially AFL :lol be inconvenienced by this because of the tourism prospects, sponsorship and business prospects, merchandising opportunities - you clearly don't understand the gravity of the event - as such it's probably an idea not to comment on it.

A FIFA World Cup would easily surpass the "hugeness" of either the RL or RU World Cups held here this decade and would only be surpassed in major event status by the Olympics in 2000.

 

[Timmah]

I love that Burro's whinging that his club would be getting a state-of-the-art 40,000 seat stadium though, that's gold :lol:

 

[Jobdog]

I'm not too sure why everyone's getting so upset by Australia bidding for the World Cup. Firstly, there's no guarantee we're going to get it, and secondly, if we do get it, it can only be a good thing not only for football (soccer) in Australia, but also for sport in general.

As a sports fan I hope we do get it, but as a Knights fan, although it's not ideal, didn't we play 5 games away from home at the start of a season a few years back? If you include our two byes in this 8-week stretch, it's just another away game on top of what we did a few years ago. It's not that big of a deal, just not ideal ...

 

[roopy]

Burro is just putting in an early compo claim - which is what he needs to do.
The soccer WC will make billions, and none of it should be at our expence.

 

[Rolla]

Soccer is a minority sport well behind League/AFL/Cricket its even behind Union and probably not that far ahead of basketball and Netball. Why should sports be inconvenienced by this.

The more I think about this world cup the more I see it as being more trouble then its worth.

Minority sport? Football is by far the most played sport in australia mate. it is by light years the worlds most popular sport (and australia's). Only reason it doesnt dominate here is because the A-League is so sub par, and hard to watch.

Our codes are only saved on tv because EPL and liga league are played so late at night.

If we step away from bias for a second, this could be the biggest sporting event in Australias history, great for tourism and the nation. But concerns for other codes need to be concidered.

Remember just because the A-League can't attract crowds doesn't mean Football as a sport doesn't have more supporters here than anything else.

Just playing devils Advocate i guess.

 

[Joker's Wild]

What pisses me off is that the FFA, FIFA, etc just expect the 2 biggest codes in this country to bend over and cop the perverbial just because they think their sport is bigger than Jesus.

RL will recieve nothing besides possible stadium upgrades but be expected to cop major losses due to interuption to their seasons.

FFS guys, it really isn't tough to see why so many are angered by this attitude from Soccers higher ups.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Are you seriously that simple?

Whether you like it or not, soccer is arguably the biggest sport in the world (despite it's relative minority status at a professional level in Australia). Even in Australia it dominates junior sport figures by a long stretch, well ahead of League, AFL and Union.

Sports should and will (especially AFL :lol be inconvenienced by this because of the tourism prospects, sponsorship and business prospects, merchandising opportunities - you clearly don't understand the gravity of the event - as such it's probably an idea not to comment on it.

A FIFA World Cup would easily surpass the "hugeness" of either the RL or RU World Cups held here this decade and would only be surpassed in major event status by the Olympics in 2000.

Not simple @ all mate, and just dont like Soccer or anything Soccer related.......

I realise its huge I just dont care!

However apparently that makes me dumb....... Go figure!

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Minority sport? Football is by far the most played sport in australia mate. it is by light years the worlds most popular sport (and australia's). Only reason it doesnt dominate here is because the A-League is so sub par, and hard to watch.

Our codes are only saved on tv because EPL and liga league are played so late at night.

If we step away from bias for a second, this could be the biggest sporting event in Australias history, great for tourism and the nation. But concerns for other codes need to be concidered.

Remember just because the A-League can't attract crowds doesn't mean Football as a sport doesn't have more supporters here than anything else.

Just playing devils Advocate i guess.

Obviously its the most popular game in the world, and yeah lots of kids play it........ Bully!

Have a look @ how it rates on TV.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

What pisses me off is that the FFA, FIFA, etc just expect the 2 biggest codes in this country to bend over and cop the perverbial just because they think their sport is bigger than Jesus.

RL will recieve nothing besides possible stadium upgrades but be expected to cop major losses due to interuption to their seasons.

FFS guys, it really isn't tough to see why so many are angered by this attitude from Soccers higher ups.

No JW. You are simple. BWAHAHAHA.

 

[Timmah]

Minority sport? Football is by far the most played sport in australia mate. it is by light years the worlds most popular sport (and australia's). Only reason it doesnt dominate here is because the A-League is so sub par, and hard to watch.

Our codes are only saved on tv because EPL and liga league are played so late at night.

If we step away from bias for a second, this could be the biggest sporting event in Australias history, great for tourism and the nation. But concerns for other codes need to be concidered.

Remember just because the A-League can't attract crowds doesn't mean Football as a sport doesn't have more supporters here than anything else.

Just playing devils Advocate i guess.

In terms of participation you're bang on the money - put in terms of popularity I'd beg to differ. The TV money and crowds in Australia all go to AFL and RL during winter and cricket during summer. Soccer doesn't rate at a professional level in Australia compared to those three sports, although the A-League has definitely improved it's standing.

Not simple @ all mate, and just dont like Soccer or anything Soccer related.......

I realise its huge I just dont care!

However apparently that makes me dumb....... Go figure!

:lol: You make an unqualified statement about something you don't know, people will call you dumb and narrow minded. In future, maybe preface your remarks by what you said - you don't like soccer. That's all you need.

Obviously its the most popular game in the world, and yeah lots of kids play it........ Bully!

Have a look @ how it rates on TV.

Bully? :lol: He was simply stating facts for you.

As for JW - he isn't simple, he raises a good point that our administrators rightfully stand to lose a fair bit of $$ if the World Cup bid was to progress. His point was nothing like your simple one, where you wondered why it was a big deal...

 

[macavity]

The soccer WC will make billions, and none of it should be at our expence.

Nail -----> Head.

The FFA are proposing to impose externalities on the NRL/AFL, and are not proposing to compensate them for those externalities.

Neither the NRL nor AFL are fundamentally opposed to a soccer WC here - it is just a matter of it should not be up to other codes to in effect subsidise it.

I would love to watch Uzbekistan and Belize go at it at EAS - but not with the Knights indirectly picking up the bill, which is what the FFA proposes.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

:lol: You make an unqualified statement about something you don't know, people will call you dumb and narrow minded. In future, maybe preface your remarks by what you said - you don't like soccer. That's all you need.

Timmah I stated from the start I dont like Soccer which is why at the present stage I dont want it here, it annoys me @ their arrogance of expecting us to drop everything without any mention of compensation.

Plus I'll state again I dislike soccer...........

How is this ignorant?

 

[Timmah]

Nail -----> Head.

The FFA are proposing to impose externalities on the NRL/AFL, and are not proposing to compensate them for those externalities.

Neither the NRL nor AFL are fundamentally opposed to a soccer WC here - it is just a matter of it should not be up to other codes to in effect subsidise it.

I would love to watch Uzbekistan and Belize go at it at EAS - but not with the Knights indirectly picking up the bill, which is what the FFA proposes.

I was sure I read somewhere that the government will incorporate some sort of compensation fund into the bid for major sports adversely affected by the WC. I imagine it was glossed over for the stories that sold more papers.

Timmah I stated from the start I dont like Soccer which is why at the present stage I dont want it here, it annoys me @ their arrogance of expecting us to drop everything without any mention of compensation.

Plus I'll state again I dislike soccer...........

How is this ignorant?

You didn't state it from the start, you made unqualified comments about it, suggesting (and I quote): "Soccer is a minority sport well behind League/AFL/Cricket its even behind Union and probably not that far ahead of basketball and Netball. Why should sports be inconvenienced by this.

The more I think about this world cup the more I see it as being more trouble then its worth."

You made two completely incorrect claims about a sport you know nothing about, and that is why people have laid into you, not because you don't like it.

 

[macavity]

I was sure I read somewhere that the government will incorporate some sort of compensation fund into the bid for major sports adversely affected by the WC. I imagine it was glossed over for the stories that sold more papers.

you are right.

the figure was 10mil - in total.

18 AFL clubs, 16 NRL clubs, 5 super rugby clubs.

even on the unlikely assumption that the whole of the 10mil went only to clubs, that works out to $256,410 for each club.

to forfeit 16 weeks of competition in total.

so that works out to $16,025 per game compensation.

probably about right for the ruggers lol: if they are even around come 2022), but for the AFL and NRL, who make hundreds of thousands per game in gate alone, without even accounting for all the flow on effects of such a disruption (memberships, sponsors, TV revenue, etc etc).... well.......

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

You didn't state it from the start, you made unqualified comments about it, suggesting (and I quote): "Soccer is a minority sport well behind League/AFL/Cricket its even behind Union and probably not that far ahead of basketball and Netball. Why should sports be inconvenienced by this.

The more I think about this world cup the more I see it as being more trouble then its worth."

You made two completely incorrect claims about a sport you know nothing about, and that is why people have laid into you, not because you don't like it.

Mate being we are talking about a world cup in Australia and I mentioned Cricket.

Surely its safe to assume I am talking about being in Australia.

But hey if you cant man up and apologise for an error which I'll accept thats your prerogative.

And Timmah it is you who have laid into me with a vengence mate. Rolla made a comment about it being the most played sport in Australia and I made a comment about it being the least watched.

I am not in the mood to get snooty or debate like a pair of bitch's so why not just apologise Timmah you ran your mouth a bit god knows I've done it before and had to apologise.