North Melbourne Secures Landmark Deal for Home Games in Western Australia for Three Seasons
A landmark agreement will allow North Melbourne to play two home games annually in Western Australia for the next three seasons. This deal, involving the WA government and the AFL, aims to provide financial relief for North Melbourne while benefiting local teams West Coast and Fremantle. The arrangement includes games at Optus Stadium and in Bunbury, promoting tourism and expected to generate over $6 million for the Kangaroos.
A landmark deal is set to see AFL struggler North Melbourne play two home games a year in Western Australia for the next three seasons.7NEWS AFL reporter Ryan Daniels has revealed that the WA government, the AFL, and North Melbourne are about to sign an agreement that will see the Roos sell two of their home games to WA.Daniels says the move will provide some "financial relief" for the Kangaroos while also providing some fixture relief for West Coast and Fremantle.Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today "North Melbourne will travel to WA in the middle of next season, stay for two weeks, and play two games," Daniels said."They'll 'host' West Coast and Fremantle, with one game to be played at Optus Stadium, the other set to be in WA's south-west, with Bunbury's Hands Oval the likely destination."That's the key to this deal — as it ties in with WA tourism, promoting direct flights from Melbourne to Busselton — with Kangaroos fans likely to make the trip west.
"The game at Optus will see North earn around $1.2 million (but) the state government contribution for the south-west game will take North's purse over the $2 million mark."The deal will be signed for three seasons."Locking in six games, and more than $6 million for North. It will give the Eagles and Dockers an extra game in their home state (and) one less week of travel."More to come ...