SANFL records profits boost after first season at redeveloped Adelaide Oval
South Australia's National Football League (SANFL) has recorded a surplus of $1 million and $700,000 in profits following its first full year at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval.
The league finished the season in a strong financial position despite absorbing more than $1.3 million in expenses during the move from Football Park at West Lakes in 2014.
Saying that the profit was an unprecedented achievement given the expenses incurred in the move, SANFL Chairman John Olsen highlighted "with a business case put in place, we (also) reduced our staffing numbers from about 120 to 66."
However, while the SANFL enjoyed a profit boosts, Adelaide Oval tenants the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power both announced operating losses in their first season at the redeveloped venue despite a massive growth in game attendances.
The Crows lost $408,000 and attributed it to higher-than-expected costs to play at the venue, while Port Adelaide declared an operating loss of $2.5 million.
A recently agreed revenue-sharing deal with the SANFL, reached after months of negociations, means the two AFL clubs will share an extra $3 million this year, and $4 million for the following two years.
Olsen said the SANFL was expecting a more modest profit from 2015, adding "principally because we have allocated significant uplift, further uplift to both the Port Adelaide and Adelaide Football Clubs in them sharing a greater proportion of the revenue from Adelaide Oval."
The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority has also announced a “connectivity upgrade” in time for the first AFL game of the season.
Telstra had upgraded the communications network at the venue to a standard that "guarantees" fans can make calls, send messages or access social media from their phone at any time during a game.
11th March 2015 - CROWS AND PORT REACH NEW ADELAIDE OVAL REVENUE SHARING DEAL
6th December 2014 - ADELAIDE OVAL DEAL REVIEW STILL UNRESOLVED
12th September 2014 - ADELAIDE OVAL’S AFL SEASON BREAKS RECORDS
5th May 2014 - AFL CROWDS UP 42% AT NEW ADELAIDE OVAL
11th November 2013 - NEW ERA FOR ADELAIDE’S AAMI STADIUM SITE
3rd September 2013 - CURTAIN FALLS ON AFL AT SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S FOOTBALL PARK
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