Coronavirus will inflict financial pain on the AFL and NRL. But who will pick up the bill?
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus will inflict financial pain on the AFL and NRL. But who will pick up the bill?

ABC  

In the time of COVID-19, to discuss anything short of global catastrophe is to risk being accused of trivialising the greatest social disruption since World War II. While the AFL does not provide average values when trumpeting its vast pool of "proud, passionate and paid-up" club members, season tickets are the second greatest source of revenue after media rights revenue for clubs. Over the past decade, in the AFL particularly, there has been a strong sense of membership-shaming, with club propaganda designed to suggest you are not a real fan if you don't buy a membership — regardless of your financial circumstances, your lifelong commitment or even your ability to attend the games for which you are hectored into subscribing. On Sunday Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys made an audacious and badly mistimed call for a $200 million government gift to prop up his sport. So as sport bleeds money, does revenue share also apply when the money pile collapses — a question some had been pondering before COVID-19, given the possibility media rights deals have peaked.

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History of this topic

Premier League yet to agree bailout for lower league clubs - Football News - Sportstar
4 years, 3 months ago

Premier League yet to agree bailout for lower league clubs - Football News - Sportstar

The Hindu  

Premier League clubs are yet to agree to a financial bailout for England’s lower-division clubs, who are struggling to cope with games being played without fans. The 20 topflight clubs held a virtual meeting on Tuesday, two days after the government asked the world’s richest league to play its part with support for the English Football League. The Premier League …

Community clubs facing financial ruin as coronavirus restrictions bite
4 years, 6 months ago

Community clubs facing financial ruin as coronavirus restrictions bite

ABC  

One in five community sports clubs could disappear within three months if current COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, according to new data. Key points: The Australian Sports Foundation estimates 24,000 sport clubs may not survive the pandemic Many clubs have lost thousands in sponsorship and member fees Even after restrictions on sport lift, many clubs will take much longer to …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Australian Cricketers Association questions CA's claims of financial crisis, massive pay cuts
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Australian Cricketers Association questions CA's claims of financial crisis, massive pay cuts

Firstpost  

Cricket Australia’s warnings about its finances taking a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been questioned by the country’s players’ association which has said the game’s position remains positive. Melbourne: Cricket Australia’s warnings about its finances taking a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been questioned by the country’s players’ association which has said the game’s position remains …

Football, cricket and rugby chiefs to face government questions on how coronavirus has ravaged sport
4 years, 8 months ago

Football, cricket and rugby chiefs to face government questions on how coronavirus has ravaged sport

Daily Mail  

Football, cricket and rugby chiefs face a grilling from MPs next week on how coronavirus has impacted their sports. It is the first time the Government has stepped in to rescue a sport, in an intervention which was hailed by organisers of next year’s Rugby League World Cup in England. Questions will range from grassroots to top level where the …

Coronavirus: Australia won't be greedy in pay talks - Paine
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus: Australia won't be greedy in pay talks - Paine

The Hindu  

Tim Paine says Australia's players will not be greedy if they are asked to take a pay cut as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. "Players need to know the absolute financial positions of the game and the players aren't going to be greedy," he told ABC Radio. "So at the moment if a pay cut for us is on …

AFL, NRL need a united front to get their seasons started again following coronavirus shutdown
4 years, 8 months ago

AFL, NRL need a united front to get their seasons started again following coronavirus shutdown

ABC  

Peter V'landys and Gillon McLachlan — get a Zoom! I don't mean the separate speculative dates when the bullish NRL insists it will start up and when the more circumspect AFL believes it might recommence. McLachlan, the AFL chief executive, and V'landys, the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, should formulate a united plan that ensures that — when the time …

NRL faces difficult post-coronavirus future, but league hopes to satisfy sport-hungry crowds after crisis
4 years, 9 months ago

NRL faces difficult post-coronavirus future, but league hopes to satisfy sport-hungry crowds after crisis

ABC  

The days of the million-dollar rugby league player could be over as the coronavirus shutdown will see players' salaries slashed, football departments downsized and stop the money coming into the game. Key points: The coronavirus pandemic forced the NRL to suspend its season indefinitely on March 23 after just two rounds The league admitted it was in a financial crisis …

Coronavirus: Matt Hancock tells Premier League players to ‘play their part’ and take pay cuts
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Matt Hancock tells Premier League players to ‘play their part’ and take pay cuts

The Independent  

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told Premier League …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Rugby nations engaged in 'unprecedented amount of dialogue' as pandemic leaves sport in tatters
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Rugby nations engaged in 'unprecedented amount of dialogue' as pandemic leaves sport in tatters

Firstpost  

The coronavirus pandemic has left rugby on its knees over the last two weeks, with the prospect of more pain to come because of the uncertainty over whether leagues, lucrative tours and international competitions can resume or go ahead. The chief executive of England’s Rugby Football Union, the world’s richest union, said on Thursday there has been an “unprecedented amount …

Coronavirus: PFA chief urges allegiance to wage cuts by clubs
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: PFA chief urges allegiance to wage cuts by clubs

The Hindu  

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor says rules relating to the financial conduct of clubs must not be relaxed amid discussions over potential wage deferrals due to the coronavirus. The PFA is talking with the Premier League and the Football League about the possibility of players deferring salaries in order to help their clubs manage the impact of the …

Coronavirus: Tottenham cuts non-playing staff wages by 20 per cent
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Tottenham cuts non-playing staff wages by 20 per cent

The Hindu  

Tottenham have reduced the wages of non-playing staff by 20 percent for the next two months, with chairman Daniel Levy hoping players will follow suit due to the financial crisis caused by coronavirus. Read: The worst passing stats in Europe's top-five leagues in 2019-20 “Having already taken steps to reduce costs, we ourselves made the difficult decision, in order to …

AFL, NRL clubs desperate to keep fans after coronavirus pandemic for financial reasons
4 years, 9 months ago

AFL, NRL clubs desperate to keep fans after coronavirus pandemic for financial reasons

ABC  

Professional sports clubs are doing what is forbidden in public and using their mailing lists to "reach out". As we've observed previously, AFL clubs particularly have come perilously close to shaming supporters into purchasing membership over the past 25 years with campaigns that created the underlying assumption that "You are not a real supporter if you are not a member". …

AFL, NRL seasons are in limbo due to coronavirus, but questions remain of what happens to members' fees
4 years, 9 months ago

AFL, NRL seasons are in limbo due to coronavirus, but questions remain of what happens to members' fees

ABC  

Nicole Watson has been an Essendon supporter for five decades but was appalled to see she was still being charged for her membership after the AFL season was suspended because of coronavirus. Key points: The AFL and NRL had begun their seasons before play was brought to a halt due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in Australia Games had …

Coronavirus: Australian football body slashes 70% of staff
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Australian football body slashes 70% of staff

The Hindu  

Football Federation Australia sent home 70 per cent of its staff on Friday in a bid to survive the coronavirus pandemic, as other sports were locked in crisis talks on how best to weather the storm. FFA chief executive James Johnson said the shutdown would inevitably hit revenue streams hard, including national registration fees, broadcast money, sponsorship, and ticket sales. …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Four Bundesliga teams create 21 million dollars fund for clubs in crisis
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Four Bundesliga teams create 21 million dollars fund for clubs in crisis

Firstpost  

Germany’s Bundesliga and second division are set to resume in April but the organising body’s executive committee has recommended the season be suspended until at least 30 April, which will impact revenues of clubs Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen have come together to create a 20 million euros solidarity fund to help German clubs in the …

Coronavirus UK: Leeds VOLUNTEER to take wage deferral so non-football staff at the club can be paid
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus UK: Leeds VOLUNTEER to take wage deferral so non-football staff at the club can be paid

Daily Mail  

Leeds United's players and coaches have volunteered to take a wage deferral to ensure non-footballing staff at Elland Road can be paid amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. And Leeds have become the first side to announce they will be deferring their wages 'for the foreseeable future' to support other staff at the club and training ground Thorp Arch while keeping …

Coronavirus: English footballers' union seeks talks to protect salaries
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: English footballers' union seeks talks to protect salaries

The Hindu  

The Professional Footballers' Association called on Wednesday for urgent talks with the Premier League and the English Football League over the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on players and clubs. The loss of match-day revenue has hit clubs hard, particularly in the three divisions below the Premier League, and raised the prospect of clubs asking players to accept wage …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Premier League club Brighton say thank you to medical 'heroes' with over 1000 match tickets
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Premier League club Brighton say thank you to medical 'heroes' with over 1000 match tickets

Firstpost  

Brighton’s chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said the gesture was one way of showing their appreciation to the NHS staff Brighton & Hove Albion are donating a minimum of 1,000 tickets for workers from Britain’s National Health Service to thank them for their role fighting the coronavirus. Brighton’s chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said the gesture …

Coronavirus: Missing sport? - these freebies could be for you
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Missing sport? - these freebies could be for you

The Hindu  

The coronavirus pandemic has caused widespread disruption with the global sporting schedule, but you can still get your fix if you know where to look. Read: Coronavirus: NRL, AFL, Zimbabwean cricket and a boxing title fight - Saturday's sporting picks We run down the best places to look if you're missing sport. FIFA OPENS UP ARCHIVES From Saturday, FIFA is …

An extended coronavirus shutdown may change sport as we know it in Australia
4 years, 9 months ago

An extended coronavirus shutdown may change sport as we know it in Australia

ABC  

As global sport has ground to a shuddering halt over the past few days, Australia's two biggest football codes have become conspicuous outliers. The NRL season began on schedule, while the AFL's men's competition could soon join its women's league in playing behind closed doors. The ABC has reviewed the membership terms and conditions of several AFL and NRL clubs, …

Coronavirus leaves sporting codes facing an uncertain future and bracing for a financial hit
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus leaves sporting codes facing an uncertain future and bracing for a financial hit

ABC  

The coronavirus outbreak has led to a great deal of uncertainty about the 2020 sporting calendar, with some sports in Australia already cancelling games. The AFL and NRL have announced that next weekend's games will take place behind closed doors, with the AFLW already taking that step this past weekend. Estimates suggest AFL clubs will average a loss of $1 …

AFL looking at cramming matches in case coronavirus outbreak postpones 2020 season
4 years, 9 months ago

AFL looking at cramming matches in case coronavirus outbreak postpones 2020 season

ABC  

The AFL is considering playing as many premiership matches as possible in the first weeks of the season in case the coronavirus outbreak forces the competition to shut down. Key points: The AFL has informed clubs they may introduce a five-day turnaround between matches The league is also considering shortening the length of matches and raising or removing the interchange …

Coronavirus hangs over Australian sport like an ominous sense of dread
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus hangs over Australian sport like an ominous sense of dread

ABC  

It says something of Australia's cheerful parochialism that it was only when local sport leagues suggested matches could be played behind closed doors that the potential impact of coronavirus fully resonated with some. James did not seem to realise it would only take one positive test from an active player to force the NBA's postponement — the fraught situation which …

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