Michael Green, chief executive of the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, has outlined his plans for the multi-purpose facility after its recent sale to the AFL Aussie rules football league.
Earlier this month, the AFL took ownership of the 56,347-capacity stadium in a deal worth A$200m (€140.3m/US$152.6m) and there has been speculation that the facility could alter its forward strategy.
According to the Herald Sun newspaper, Green has vowed to drop darts from the stadium, following alcohol-fuelled problems at previous events. Green has also said that the venue could host more major music acts and shift its focus towards Aussie rules, cricket and football.
The Etihad Stadium recently signed a 10-year tenancy agreement with A-League football club Melbourne Victory, and extended a deal with the Melbourne Renegades cricket team. The venue is also due to host two Coldplay concerts in December, while Justin Bieber will perform to a sell-out crowd next March.
“The AFL are buying this business as an operating business and certainly our understanding is they’re intent on continuing it very much as a multipurpose venue,” Green said.
Green added that while the AFL has also given the green light for more offbeat entertainment, such as this weekend’s Australian Speedway Grand Prix, the venue will remain committed to a core Aussie rules audience.
“Our AFL commitments will be locked into the diary for the coming season; it’s (about) trying to work around that for any other events, whether they be rugby, rugby league,” Green said.
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