"Public Relations Disaster Looming" Over AC/DC's Melbourne Shows
June 12, 2009, 15 years ago
Theage.com.au is reporting:
The AFL has denied it is taking a hardline stance over a double-booking fiasco with legendary rockers AC/DC at Etihad Stadium as a tactic to broker better deals for AFL clubs.
A public relations disaster is looming after it emerged the Docklands stadium had been booked for three sold-out AC/DC concerts in February, clashing with the first round of the AFL's NAB Cup pre-season competition.
In the latest chapter in the fight between the league and Etihad Stadium over stadium deals for AFL clubs, league chief executive Andrew Demetriou today said the double-booking problem was not connected to the AFL's lingering fight with the venue.
"There's one issue we've got which is our clubs and what they're getting as a return (for playing matches at Etihad)," Demetriou told Radio 3AW."That needs to be resolved otherwise you're going to have disgruntled clubs.
"This is a separate issue. This is just a complete 'we're just going to double-book the ground and disregard the major tenant there and an agreement'. And they need to fix it."
Demetriou said the double-booking disaster was now in the hands of stadium boss Ian Collins and it was up to him to resolve it.
"He's got to come up with some solutions. We're trying to find places to find football to alleviate our issue. We've got the ground booked."It's crystal clear ... It is our right to have the ground for that period of time."
The AFL chief executive says he has sympathy for music promoter Garry Van Edmond, who is refusing to move AC/DC's three sold-out concerts on February 11, 13 and 15.
"He's entered into an agreement in good faith. But this is an issue for the stadium and they better fix it," Demetriou said.
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