Australian Football League CEO Andrew Demetriou "has revealed the league is still a long way from being able to buy the privately-owned Etihad Stadium at a 'fair price,'" according to Jon Pierik of THE AGE.
Tenant clubs St. Kilda, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs "have long bemoaned that their deals to play home matches at the Docklands venue have significantly hamstrung their ability to generate money and have contributed to the financial disparity between clubs." The AFL "can wait and take control of the stadium on March 8, 2025, for $1 but several clubs want the league to buy it earlier in the hope this will allow deals with tenant clubs to be redrawn and improved." Demetriou said that "discussions had not been fruitful with venue owner Melbourne Stadiums, which represents five superannuation companies." He said, ''You would only do it if it was financially viable. We've always said … we would not put the competition at risk and we would only pay a fair price, and we are a long way from that'' (THE AGE, 3/3).
