*Extract from 2010/11 MCG Trust Annual Report :
Introduction
I am delighted to report another outstanding year for the MCG.
AFL attendances broke all-time records, plans progressed for improvements to the Great Southern Stand and Yarra Park, and ground finances continued to be strong. All in all, the MCG is a picture of health.
As ever, the MCG is all about sport and it was another year of memorable sporting occasions at the ground.
We witnessed the epic drawn Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda, only the third in VFL / AFL history. Congratulations to Collingwood on their performance in the Grand Final replay to secure their first AFL premiership in 20 years!
The first day’s session of the 2010 Boxing Day Test at the MCG proved to be the pivotal point of the Ashes series, with England placing itself in an unassailable position through a superb bowling performance in conditions that suited its seaming bowlers.
We also hosted a One Day International celebrating the 40th anniversary of the world’s first One Day International played between Australia and England on 5th January 1971 – played where else but the MCG. Many of the Australian and English team members from that day joined us for this occasion – another reminder of the ground’s great sporting history.
Great Southern Stand Upgrade
A central part of the MCG Trust’s mission is to ensure that the ground remains the benchmark sports stadium in Australia.
This means, among other things, state of the art facilities.
Consequently, we have been planning for some time for a major refurbishment of the 20 year old Great Southern Stand. Plans for this were finalised during the year. They will result in a significant improvement to the AFL members reserve as well as improved facilities for all spectators in the stand.
Our team has reviewed world’s best practice in sports stadium design, management and facilities in planning the improvements.
It is expected that construction work will commence at the end of the AFL season in October 2011 with completion of the work expected by December 2012. The construction work will be planned to minimise disruption to activities at the ground during this period.
The $55 million cost of the project will be funded predominantly from ground cash flows with additional support from the State Government. The support of the State Government is appreciated.
Yarra Park
Plans have also been finalised for a substantial investment in Yarra Park over the next four years to ensure its sustainability and public amenity.
After a long and thorough planning process and significant communication with a range of stakeholders, contracts have been finalised and work has commenced on a new 180 megalitre capacity water recycling facility for the park.
This facility will ensure an adequate supply of class A water for use on the grass and trees of Yarra Park, as well as substantially reducing the volume of drinking water usage within the MCG.
The additional water will enable a significant improvement to the irrigation system within Yarra Park. Together with a programme to manage better the park’s magnificent trees and plan for their replacement as they reach the end of their natural lives, the replacement and irrigation of much of the grass over the next four years should ensure that Yarra Park continues to be one of Melbourne’s finest park lands.
The upgraded surface will enable car parking to continue with much less effect on the park land. The provision of low cost car parking is an important community facility for events not only at the MCG, but also at the adjacent Melbourne and Olympic Park sports complex.
Plans for Yarra Park are set out in the publicly available Management and Improvement Plan which receives annual approval by the State Government.
Attendances at the MCG
The total attendance of 3.56 million at MCG events during the year was the best for many years and compared with 3.25 million in the previous year.
Attendances at AFL matches at the MCG totalled 3.1 million, representing 43% of AFL attendances Australia-wide during the 2010 season. This figure underscores the MCG’s central role in the modern game of AFL, more than 150 years after the game was first invented by Tom Wills and friends in Yarra Park.
We congratulate the AFL on its record-breaking new five year broadcasting agreement for 2012-2017 announced recently. Additional funding for the game will help it grow and prosper in a highly competitive sports market place.
We note that the agreement provides for a substantial increase in live-against-the-gate broadcasting of matches, which has the natural potential to impact on ground attendances. We are pleased that there has been no recent evidence of any adverse link – in fact, the best attended matches at the MCG have also been broadcast live-against-the-gate.
We are also pleased that the AFL remains strongly committed to maximising patronage at matches. We will, however, watch developments with interest.
In relation to cricket, total attendance figures for the Boxing Day Test were over 200,000 - we believe the largest aggregate crowd figure for a cricket test anywhere in the world for 2010. Even then it felt like there were many more in attendance, such was the contribution of the Barmy Army.
In the shorter form of the game, Australia bounced back from its Ashes defeat to perform well in the ODI series. Attendances for the traditional 50 over ODI format continue to be under pressure. Twenty20 cricket continues to attract strong community interest beyond traditional cricket audiences.
Promotion of Gambling at Sporting Matches at the MCG
One issue causing the Trustees significant concern is the rapid increase in the promotion of gambling during matches at the MCG, especially live betting odds.
We see this as a poor development for the ground, for the sporting codes and for the community.
The Trust has raised these concerns with relevant sports codes and our stadium media partners.
It is our objective to see an end to the promotion of betting odds during matches at the MCG.
Finances
Ground finances continue to be strong, with debt reduction from the Northern Stand project still well ahead of schedule. Net debt at 31 March 2011 was $256 million, some $102 million lower than the level forecast at the time of the Northern Stand project was undertaken.
This strong financial position indemnifies our and the MCC’s ability to undertake the substantive new ground improvement projects discussed in this review, earlier than would otherwise have been the case.
Trustees
I thank all Trustees for their valuable contribution to the activities of the Trust during the year.
There were no changes to the composition of the Trust during the year. The Hon Patrick McNamara was re-appointed as a Trustee for a further three year term.
We welcome Graeme Sinclair as the new Executive Officer of the Trust, following the retirement of Paul Exell during the year.
Melbourne Cricket Club
We congratulate Paul Sheahan on his election as the 26th President of the MCC. Paul joins the illustrious company of Hans Ebeling as the only test cricketers to have been accorded the honour of becoming President of the MCC.
We are confident Paul will fill this position with distinction and elan. We look forward to working with him and his Vice Presidents David Crawford AO, Stephen Smith and Stephen Spargo, and the entire MCC Committee.
I place on record my sincere appreciation to retiring MCC President, David Meiklejohn AM, who retired in early 2011 after completing a four year term as President. I and the Trust have greatly enjoyed working with David not only during his Presidency but also in his previous roles as Vice President and Treasurer of the MCC.
David has served on the MCC Committee for an impressive 24 years and has made a very substantial contribution to the Club and the ground.
In particular, he has played active roles in the two projects during this period that have resulted in the near-total reconstruction of the ground, namely the Great Southern Stand project from 1989 -1992 and the Northern Stand redevelopment from 2000-2006.
John Wylie AM
Chairman
June 30, 2011
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