AFL football has gone to the next level, with the Tasmanian Government, TT Line, AFL, and the North Melbourne Football Club reaching an exciting agreement which will see more games and better talent pathways for Tasmanians.
Under the agreement, North Melbourne Football Club will play three roster games in Hobart per year between 2017 and 2021.
TT Line will be the naming rights sponsor and will be the sole contracting party with the NMFC.
This new agreement, combined with the recently renewed Hawthorn deal, means Tasmania will host a total of eight AFL games per year, locked in until 2021.
In addition, following the Garlick Review, which was commissioned following an agreement between the Tasmanian Government and the AFL last year, a number of additional actions have been agreed between the Tasmanian Government, the AFL, and the North Melbourne Football Club:
NMFC will establish ‘The Huddle’ in Hobart to conduct various programs supporting young people to strengthen their education and employment outcomes and address causes of disengagement to enhance social inclusion. These activities and initiatives will benefit not just Hobart, but are extended to regional Tasmania, including Devonport and surrounds.
The AFL, AFL Tasmania and North Melbourne Football Club will establish a Tasmanian AFL academy for male and female players for ages 11 and up.
The program will be implemented across the whole state and include NMFC, AFL Tasmania, and AFL resources.
The AFL has agreed that the elite programs set for Tasmania will encompass the Next Generation Academies, Female Academies, and a broader AFL Academy.
Next Generation Academies were recently launched by the AFL and involve clubs running football academy programs for girls and boys aged 11 to 15, with an emphasis on multicultural and indigenous youth.
In addition to providing pathways for women through the new Academy, the AFL has agreed to a specific focus on the presence of and opportunities for female football in Tasmania, including expanding pathways to the national league for Tasmanian women.
The AFL has also agreed to:
The Government has also provided $500,000 per year in last week’s budget to go toward supporting and developing grassroots community football.
AFL football provides a very important contribution to Tasmania’s economic, sporting and social fabric, particularly during winter.
The independent Socio-Economic Value of AFL Games in Hobart 2015 Report shows the socio-economic value of AFL games and related activities in greater Hobart in 2015 was conservatively estimated to be $43.7 million The report also found that more than 220 jobs were created as a result of a past deal with NMFC.
PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ report into Hawthorn Football Club’s contribution to the Tasmanian economy has found Hawthorn’s presence during the 2014 AFL season generated a total direct expenditure of $17.5 million for the State, with the partnership valued at up to $30 million in benefits to Tasmania.
TT-Line’s sponsorship deal with North Melbourne is commercial in confidence, however a Community Service Obligation of $894,000 per year is included.