"David Stevenson, the AFL's general manager of China..." lol

So for what passes as 'journlism' these days  is non existent and is just paid AFL content and PR. 
Beyond a joke..

Reads like something out often Seinfeld. You're caught between laughing and wincing 

AFL continues China push with fourth Shanghai showdown

St Kilda and Port Adelaide confirmed for 2020 rematch at Jiangwan Stadium.

• Posted: September 13 2019
• By: Steven Impey

Getty Images

The Australian Football League (AFL) has confirmed that clubs St Kilda and Port Adelaide will once again go head-to-head in Shanghai next year as the organising body for Australian rules football continues its push into China.

The two teams faced off at Jiangwan Stadium on 2nd June during round 11 of this year’s regular season, which saw Port Adelaide defeat St Kilda 139-69 and coincided with the opening of the AFL’s first office in China.

After another successful event, the AFL will return to Shanghai for its fourth annual game at the stadium where both sides meet again at the same stage of the 2020 AFL campaign on 31st May.

• AFL teams up with Google on new fan voting features

David Stevenson, the AFL's general manager of China, said that the league was hopeful of “unlocking” the Chinese market by bringing games to the region.

"More than a game, the AFL's increased presence in China including an office opened earlier this year, extends beyond the match day, with Festival of Australia delivered in partnership with the Australian government around the game," he added.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to give the local AFL fans a match in their home town, encourage Australian-based football fans to travel to China and continue to introduce footy to a new set of fans."

http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/afl-st-kilda-port-adelaide-shanghai-china-2020-fixture

Sports Industry tweet

Mclachlan says the AFL broke even on China, while Port and the Saints made a million each. “(It costs us) not really anything … we might make a few dollars this year … we basically break even,” McLachlan said on 3AW.




Prety hard to believe this is true

Yes from Sky. He never used to have kind words towards football as neither did many in Sky. However over the last 2 or 3 years they’ve changed. No longer is footballer sneered on “ The Back Page “ for example and Bozza is constantly on Paul Murray’s show.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan admits the crowd at the China clash was “a bit” disappointing, but says the league won’t be abandoning its venture into Asia any time soon.

The clash between St Kilda and Port Adelaide had been billed as a “sell-out” in the lead-up but there were plenty of empty seats on gameday.

McLachlan told Neil Mitchell it was unfortunate, but said there were contributing factors that made it look worse than it actually was.

“There’s a challenge with the way the catering and service works that you need to be in a marquee,” he explained.

“There are a lot of people in tents and they need to be allocated a seat.”

He said the league would continue playing games in China.

“There’s this narrative that there’s a ‘cost’ – it’s not costing anything – that game breaks even for the AFL and the clubs are making money,” McLachlan said.

“A clear part of why we are there is because China is a very important market for Australia – our biggest trading partner – and we think we can make money in the end.

“Why are we doing that? So we can invest in community programs, in women’s football and all the places we do.

“It’s a huge commercial opportunity.”

Does anyone tell AFL fans that A-League clubs get crowds of 40k and millions of viewers in china? 

FFS, there was 13 million watching the Tevez Roar game....if only they knew. 

Vic Gov i paying as well. Port have a few commercial partners covering most of the costs.

THE Paul Murray from Sky? Thought he hated the game(or at least the domestic scene) on the back of some sneering BS towards the HAL Grand Final last year.


Very much so - he's virtually the only person in the entire AFL industry whom I'd implicitly trust w/any position of influence in Oz football.

Rohan is actually a football fan as well iirc? Some of the afl media are calling the afl and the hun particularly  for their biased reporting

Paul Murray called it out as well. They're onto it but the AFL diehards will believe anything about their great game.

The facts are the AFL is popular to only half a country with a total 25 million people and will never progress beyond that.

to be fair, I've seen a lot of the AFL media ridicule this. Rohan Connolly is one of the rare decent AFL media commentators

The Federal Labor Party offered the AFL around $28 Mill before the election to help them relocate a team to Tassie. Thankfully they lost the election. Football gets a once off $2 Mill to start a team in the Sydney Western Suburbs and we think all Christmas' have come at once.

Meanwhile the attendance at A-League club ACL games in China totals about 700k.

Not enough in Tasmania!

From my perspective, I hate it!

this poster on the herald sun nails it

" Bus driver error!!!!
Oh come on, PLEASE!!!!! What depths will Prof Hawking/AFL stoop to to defend their ridiculous decision to play a game in China. 
As an expat living in China, with a very keen interest in AFL, I can assure you there is ABSOLUTELY no interest in this game from ANYBODY in China. NONE. 
I have mentioned this before, I had an American mate who lives close to the stadium and was offered free tickets AND DRINKS if he would come to the game... he actually rang me to ask what it is all about. lol.
Haven't heard what the TV ratings were yet... bound to be millions according to CCTV, that way at least the AFL will retain interest in continuing this farce and the Chinese will continue to rake in the tourist $$$$ for virtually no out-lay. Sounds like good business to me.
There is a sucker born every day. 
Titus O'Riely absolutely nailed this. 
Embarrassment. "

A lot of afl writers are trying to fix things but making it worse.  Rohan Connolly is one of the few who are calling it out.

If you made it up no-one would believe it.  

Whats even more hilarious is they used this act of Keystone Cops stupidity to try and justify the tiny crowd.  Just priceless! 

Planned it for 9 months then sent the paid for fans to the wrong stadium. This is hilarious!

In all seriousness, did they even bother to consult Sydney FC or MVFC?

i heard they want to get the chinese people to bet on the afl matches 

Apparently it’s a mistake and they’re in the wrong location .... that’s the last time they’ll ask directions from a bus company !! 

I'm lol'ing at the tweets and excuses most die hard afl fans are coming up with.

Is it any wonder the buses went to the wrong stadium; all the street signs were in Chinese!  If they’d only been in ‘Strayan everything would have been fine.  

The Chinese navy has rolled into Sydney.  The VFL better get a picture with the Admiral holding a Sherrin.   

wow that is a headline i would never expect to see in melbourne 

Lol. Bus sent people to the wrong address? Really? Is that the best excuse they got?

https://10daily.com.au/news/sport/a190602tlhnu/afl-fails-in-china-again-as-buses-take-fans-to-wrong-stadium-20190602

The narrative from senior port and afl people is mind boggling...i suppose thats the PR training at its best

the media portrays is about growing the game , exposing AFL overseas to new fans
then its about commercial opportunites , sponsorship etc

then you get these tweets
"Hey @paulwkennedy love your work but don’t go bagging the @AFL’s China ventures. It’s got nothing to do with the number of people in the stands. It’s about sports diplomacy and commercial revenue opportunities for @PAFC and @stkildafc2:58 PM - 2 Jun 2019 "

and yet the crowd numbers were a joke. the commentators stated that " apparently major sponsor shanghai cred gave the wrong address to its fan base " is laughable...
and yet kochie and gil said its a sellout..
which story is it ?

then you have this guy https://twitter.com/AndrewHunter__ .... who gets paid to promote this tripe....