SEASON SLASHED AFL cuts rounds to 17
SUSPENDED State league comps in turmoil due to virus crisis
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BRISBANE could lose $5 million if it plays home matches in front of an empty Gabba in 2020, Lions CEO Greg Swann says.
Following Monday's announcement from the AFL the season would be reduced to 17 games, Swann said the club was still financial modelling a number of scenarios.
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"It depends which games you get, which games are in front of crowds and which aren't," Swann told reporters on Tuesday morning.
"The first four rounds are going to go as is, one of those is Collingwood, which was going to be Easter Thursday - that would have been a massive payday for us.
"From a gates perspective, it's going to cost us the best part of $5 million if we don't play in front of crowds."
On the back of playing finals for the first time since 2009 last year, Brisbane posted its first profit in 12 years, slowly righting a club that is in excess of $10 million in debt.
The Lions were rewarded with four blockbuster Thursday night and Friday night fixtures that are now in jeopardy.
Hosting Collingwood will still go ahead as it's in the untouchable first four rounds, but whether it's played in front of the sellout crowd Brisbane expected is up in the air.
One match they can scratch as a possible financial windfall was the round 15 Thursday night match against Hawthorn.
The two clubs are due to meet in round one at the MCG on Sunday, ensuring there will be no return bout with the reduced fixture.
Swann said it was impossible to project the total financial impact of the coronavirus.
"All the clubs are tightening their belts, we're all going through cost savings," he said.
"The players have agreed to take a pay cut, our staff have. We've put staff on reduced hours.
"Our business is pretty much grinding to a halt because we just can't deliver on those things we normally do."
Swann said the Lions, along with Queensland's other major football codes, were meeting with Stadiums Queensland – who run the Gabba – on Tuesday to discuss renting their facilities among other things.
Brisbane players trained on Tuesday morning at Yeronga and all are in good health.
