AFL GAMES won't be played at a third stadium in Melbourne after a mega-deal to secure upgrades to the MCG and Etihad Stadium.
With a $225million cash injection, the 50,000-seat Docklands stadium and broader precinct is expected to be redeveloped over the next four years.
The MCG's Great Southern Stand is likely to eventually be rebuilt, although it could be more than a decade away.
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The funding plan agreed to with the Victorian government effectively rules out a third boutique venue for AFL games.
"Everyone knows clearly they're the two stadiums for this town, they'll be reinvested in, and they give us a plan for the next 30, 40 years," chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Friday.
"For home and away games in Melbourne our clubs average over 45,000 people a game.
"It's a great credit to them and to the passion our supporters have, so it's just hard to see games being played in small capacity venues when we've got an average crowd of over 45,000.
In addition to the Grand Final being locked in at the MCG until 2057, the Brownlow Medal will continue to be staged in Victoria for at least another decade.
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In the short term it will remain at Crown, but the AFL is considering building a luxury hotel on the current site of its headquarters looking out onto Victoria Harbour.
In other developments:
- McLachlan said the agreement secures the future of all 18 AFL clubs
- New, fairer user agreements will be put in place for the nine clubs based at Etihad and the MCG
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was holding a news conference Friday morning to release full details of his $500million sports package
- The MCG Trust was meeting Friday morning to ratify the agreement
- The AFL has 'contractually guaranteed' to host other major sports and entertainment events at Etihad Stadium for the next 30 years.
- The Docklands Stadium could be renamed with the current sponsorship with Etihad Airways nearing an end, it may or may not be extended
As part of the deal, Ikon Park, Whitten Oval and Casey Fields will be used as hubs for women's football and talent pathways.
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Fans can expect general admission ticket prices to remain low, with McLachlan saying these sorts of deals allow the League to keep football affordable for fans.
