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The spokesperson would not disclose how much the games would cost.
When announcing the three-year deal for NFL games to be played at the MCG, neither Premier Jacinta Allan nor Visit Victoria chair Andy Penn would say how much the government paid, insisting it was commercial in confidence.
Main man: Larry Kestelman, pictured with Chicago Bulls champions Scottie Pippen and Luc Longley, has been instrumental in securing an exhibition game here.Credit: Getty
The Australian Financial Review reported that the NFL deal put to the NSW government was in the “ballpark” of $15 million a game. This masthead confirmed that figure with a source familiar with the negotiations.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he rejected the proposal because the NFL, one of the richest sports by revenue, wanted a “king’s ransom”.
However, a source with knowledge of discussions said money was not the defining factor for the NFL. Rather, the opportunity to stage a game at the MCG, Australia’s most famous arena, the NFL’s relationship with the AFL, along with the training facilities and medical support on offer, meant Melbourne was the best destination.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman has met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver several times over the past two years to discuss how best the two leagues can strengthen their relationship.
Australian Dyson Daniels in action for the Atlanta Hawks.Credit: AP
Kestelman told this masthead last year that the most convenient way to have an NBA exhibition game here would be for it to have only the one NBA team touring during its pre-season campaign, rather than two NBA clubs having to travel here. However, NBL sources have left open the possibility of two NBA teams touring.
Local teams Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix or a combined team of NBL players are expected to take to the court, likely at Rod Laver Arena. The Australian Boomers hosted Team USA at Marvel Stadium in 2019.
United coach Dean Vickerman said the impending announcement would be “proud” moment for basketball in this country.
The NBA said full details had yet to be finalised. However, the league is likely keen to have a team featuring a leading Australian player. The Chicago Bulls, with Josh Giddey, the Atlanta Hawks, with Dyson Daniels, the Los Angeles Clippers, with Patty Mills, and the Houston Rockets, with Jock Landale, provided these players are not traded, are options.
The NBL has sent teams to the USA for pre-season games over the past decade.
The sports cash splash comes at a time when Victoria’s net debt is forecast to rise to $187.3 billion by 2028 from $155.2 billion this year.
Sam Groth, the opposition’s spokesman for tourism, sport, events, and hospitality, said to be a true events capital, Melbourne needed strategic partnerships that benefited the entire tourism economy, not just short-term gains.
“Overpaying for quick events after Labor slashed $25 million from tourism destination marketing isn’t being the events capital – it’s just pretending,” he said.
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While sports events can bring a healthy economic benefit to the state, as Allan pointed out on Thursday, with a huge number of tourists from interstate and overseas expected to visit, this did not stop former premier Daniel Andrews citing cost blowouts of nearly $7 billion as the reason why his government pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Victorian government spent $102 million on hosting the 2024 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, having injected $700 million into the race over the past decade.
The spokesperson would not disclose how much the games would cost.
When announcing the three-year deal for NFL games to be played at the MCG, neither Premier Jacinta Allan nor Visit Victoria chair Andy Penn would say how much the government paid, insisting it was commercial in confidence.
Main man: Larry Kestelman, pictured with Chicago Bulls champions Scottie Pippen and Luc Longley, has been instrumental in securing an exhibition game here.Credit: Getty
The Australian Financial Review reported that the NFL deal put to the NSW government was in the “ballpark” of $15 million a game. This masthead confirmed that figure with a source familiar with the negotiations.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he rejected the proposal because the NFL, one of the richest sports by revenue, wanted a “king’s ransom”.
However, a source with knowledge of discussions said money was not the defining factor for the NFL. Rather, the opportunity to stage a game at the MCG, Australia’s most famous arena, the NFL’s relationship with the AFL, along with the training facilities and medical support on offer, meant Melbourne was the best destination.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman has met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver several times over the past two years to discuss how best the two leagues can strengthen their relationship.
Australian Dyson Daniels in action for the Atlanta Hawks.Credit: AP
Kestelman told this masthead last year that the most convenient way to have an NBA exhibition game here would be for it to have only the one NBA team touring during its pre-season campaign, rather than two NBA clubs having to travel here. However, NBL sources have left open the possibility of two NBA teams touring.
Local teams Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix or a combined team of NBL players are expected to take to the court, likely at Rod Laver Arena. The Australian Boomers hosted Team USA at Marvel Stadium in 2019.
United coach Dean Vickerman said the impending announcement would be “proud” moment for basketball in this country.
The NBA said full details had yet to be finalised. However, the league is likely keen to have a team featuring a leading Australian player. The Chicago Bulls, with Josh Giddey, the Atlanta Hawks, with Dyson Daniels, the Los Angeles Clippers, with Patty Mills, and the Houston Rockets, with Jock Landale, provided these players are not traded, are options.
The NBL has sent teams to the USA for pre-season games over the past decade.
The sports cash splash comes at a time when Victoria’s net debt is forecast to rise to $187.3 billion by 2028 from $155.2 billion this year.
Sam Groth, the opposition’s spokesman for tourism, sport, events, and hospitality, said to be a true events capital, Melbourne needed strategic partnerships that benefited the entire tourism economy, not just short-term gains.
“Overpaying for quick events after Labor slashed $25 million from tourism destination marketing isn’t being the events capital – it’s just pretending,” he said.
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While sports events can bring a healthy economic benefit to the state, as Allan pointed out on Thursday, with a huge number of tourists from interstate and overseas expected to visit, this did not stop former premier Daniel Andrews citing cost blowouts of nearly $7 billion as the reason why his government pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Victorian government spent $102 million on hosting the 2024 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, having injected $700 million into the race over the past decade.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution
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