sorry if this not allowed but it is interesting to see how other sports are going with the pandemic.

This is nrl 

https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-makes-desperate-plea-to-government-as-it-announces-season-will-go-ahead-c-745711

The NRL will forge ahead with the season despite the coronavirus pandemic but concede the possibility of suspending the competition is still on the table.

The league confirmed on Sunday that round two would proceed next week as scheduled, but still behind closed doors.

The Warriors will stay in Kingscliff given New Zealand’s two-week isolation period imposed on international travellers.

It’s likely they will face Canberra on the Gold Coast next week, rather than host them in New Zealand.

The NRL has also implemented biosecurity and pandemic experts to advise them and said they would play on until they were told to do otherwise.

“In the interim we will continue round two. At this stage we will play round two and assess the situation,” ARL commission chairman Peter V’landys said.

“Any decision we make today could change tomorrow.


“We are going to review all options, including isolating players and suspending the season.

“This situation is fluid and is changing by the hour.

“We will continue to take experts’ advice ... And we will continue to act on that advice.”

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg conceded that if any player tested positive, it would have massive implications on the game.

V’landys urged the federal government to offer its financial support, with clubs expected to start losing money from next weekend with no crowds.

The league would also take a drastic financial hit if matches were forced to be cancelled, with the NRL’s main income its $2 billion broadcast deal.

“I can’t stress enough our game has never faced a challenge like this,” V’landys said.

“The longer it takes, the more pressure on our financial viability. It could have catastrophic effects on us going forward.

“Our money will only last so long and once its extinguished we are in big trouble.

“An Australia without rugby league is not Australia.

“The government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing.


“Rugby league has been a fabric of our society for hundreds of years. It is people’s escape, it is people’s relaxation.

“And we have to do everything we can to continue the tradition of rugby league.”

Meanwhile, Warriors players Peta Hiku and Patrick Herbert have returned home to New Zealand for family reasons.

afl deciding tonight what they will do 

“The government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing.”

they’re getting smashed for that comment - totally detached from what is happening in the rider economy. JJ handled that question really well. 

Their TV revenue is what, only $1+ Billion? Poor souls!

Hundreds of years! Well,  one anyway as Rugby League only started in 1908. Hyperbole writ large. 

should just play all games in empty stadiums, get foxtel to give everyone 30 days free to watch all the games(maybe to exist club members? so the money gets funneled into the clubs?), I doubt foxtel struggling atm with everyone stuck at home... Pretty sure netflix sign ups went up 30% just in the last month.

That will at least keep ratings up and advertisers happy.

FFT.  It started in northern England in 1895.

Elite sports stars are only a threat to themselves if they play games behind closed doors. I honestly don't see the big deal especially since they have access to doctors and medical assistance better than the average Aussie

In times like these we need an entertainment industry. Being able to turn on the telly and watch a few games of football under these circumstances are going to make more of a difference than the potential risk that 40 people playing sport for a few hours is going to make the virus spread faster or put a greater strain on the medical community

Not one to know - has all local sport been banned?

No. 

For the AFL and NRL it feels like its just a matter of time before players or coaches get the virus.Then that ends everything.
FFA are rightly trying to finish as soon as possible.Whether they can beat the virus is anyones guess.
Probably not the way things are progressing
As for the NRL crying poor.......How cringeworthy........Businesses all over the planet with employees are much more important.Sport is just a game.It can start as soon as the virus has passed.......players and their over inflated income will be fine.
I wonder how many businesses and employees can be as confident?

Agree on all points.
Having listened to the A-League and AFL press conferences, the NRL one ended up sounding, well, scandalous, to be honest, to have the temerity to put your hand out for taxpayer money, words fail me.

Let’s say from today there are 18 months to go

Union #gone

AFL & NRL will have massive problems

AL will probably collapse

but soccer probably has the easiest to bounce back. Due to player numbers worldwide and interest. 

What does 2 years of no AFL or NRL mean to those codes? those people may get new hobbies like playing with their grandkids and gardening (your own food).

The NRL press Conf was appalling. 

Let’s say it goes for 2 years. AL players can be cannon fodder. Football can regroup.

if AFL losses too much time they don’t have the player pool. Probably same for NRL although not as bad. 

AL clubs may have the opportunity to build a SE Asian league. Other codes can’t.

Imagine you're running a business, that has done reasonably well for the past 30 years. You would think that in the space of 30 years you would have owned your own office/building and no longer renting. You'd have enough in reserve to sustain your business for one year at least, should there be a rainy day. You don't go living day by day, you'd have a means to survive during the tough times.
Are Australian sports clubs in debt up to their neck? Or do they just not have deep pockets? Despite how many years of history the clubs have, they just couldn't survive without support from the governing body.

NRL and AFL control most revenue streams like ip. 

They control the tv revenue.

The governing bodies have set the system on reliability in place. 

Why own your stadium when state governments build you flashy stadiums and upgrade old ones?

AFL and NRL clubs make millions in revenue but chose to blow it all on their player wages rather than invest in their own assets or non match-day related revenue sources. Thats why they still need to drum up sob stories in the media for government funding for slightly better multi million dollar facilities every year because they blow all their money on player wages. 

This. Outside a handful of the biggest clubs, the majority have nothing in reserve. Worse than that we all know there's a handful of AFL clubs that are held up by the league because overall it benefits the tv deal.
The AFL in conjunction with the various major state leagues have suspended all semi-professional Australian Rules Football as well (be curious to know if all agreed with this) - but this will hurt some of the state league clubs really badly.
Interesting times.

The AFL is on the verge of extending its current TV rights deal for two years, despite being set to embark on a shortened home and away season.

According to veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson, the league has moved quickly to agree to a two-year extension on the current $2.5 billion deal struck back in 2017 amid the current state of uncertainty around the AFL brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the current deal which was set to expire at the end of the 2022 season, the AFL receives $418 million per year, and according to Wilson, the same agreement will now continue through 2024.

"We know that Channel Seven and Fox Footy will pay less money for the rights this year, 15-20 percent would be my guess," Wilson told Footy Classified

"Behind the scenes, the AFL is on the verge of announcing a two-year extension on the broadcast rights deal that currently runs until 2022.
.....

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/league-set-for-tv-broadcast-deal-extension-despite-shortened-season/605c74fd-6de4-4ca1-95a7-14a74f251bc9

more in article 

can we get a handout if they do

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/caroline-wilson-slams-arlc-chairman-peter-vlandys-for-asking-government-for-financial-assistance/89adc9c9-720f-4cb9-9007-030c5c66423d

on this occasion, she's right, under the circumstances it was an outrageous request, especially when rugby league clubs continue to enjoy massive pokies revenue

she's right but this is like a codewars sort of things that happens in media imo. nobody asked her opinion on it 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/richard-hinds-coronavirus-cost/12062036

“So do those who have bought their memberships ask for a refund? Or will they write off their loss as they might a non-refundable holiday booking, or even view it as a gratuity to their club for lifelong service? The answer might provide an indication of the emotional attachment fans have to their clubs, which is in many cases stronger than for the game itself.Although, in relying on this goodwill, clubs would do well to tread lightly if they are to make appeals to fans to accept less value for the same money this season.

Over the past decade, in the AFL particularly, there has been a strong sense of membership-shaming, with club propaganda designed to suggest you are not a real fan if you don't buy a membership — regardless of your financial circumstances, your lifelong commitment or even your ability to attend the games for which you are hectored into subscribing.

It would be unfortunate if the same baked-on fans who have been made to feel their membership investment is compulsory are also shamed should they ask for a refund.

Instead you can only hope when the time comes, clubs and leagues will not try to hug at heartstrings to keep money paid for nothing, and present a cogent economic argument.

This message should include an honest economic case about how the return of membership might impact the ability of clubs to keep functioning at their usual levels, and an explanation of the sacrifices other vested interests are making.

This in turn leads to the second emotional button that the AFL, NRL and other leagues might be inclined to push if they are to endure this crisis.

If fans are expected to make a financial sacrifice, surely so too will be the administrators, club officials and — most publicly — the players.”

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/richard-hinds-coronavirus-cost/12062036?pfmredir=sm

see what happens. Not exactly the same things but I paid div 1 prices for 5 years when we played in div 2 watching dire football. Barcelona season ticket was cheaper....

You’re  not a real footy fan if you want your money back 🤣

This one will be interesting. Aussie dollar looks stuffed and prices will go up on imports. 

“A five-question survey was handed out to players last night in which they told the AFL Players’ Association they are happy to be flexible, but many are angered with a proposed 20 per cent pay cut.

Many players were angry that the 20 per cent pay cut proposal was made public before being presented to the playing group.

Other options have been mooted instead of the 20 per cent cut, with some player managers believing that only those over a certain pay band should be affected, while others are proposing that any foregone money be placed in a loan agreement which will be paid back upon retirement.

The common view is that nothing will be agreed upon in the near future regarding the pay cut, with the prevailing view being that it’s unlikely the playing group will agree to the figure but there will be a mountain of factors to consider in the coming weeks and months.”

https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-denies-plan-for-unlimited-rotations-extended-squads-39234/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lMax5euqZ0

“Two of the AFL’s most influential media figures have launched a passionate plea to those involved in the game to work together in the face of the coronavirus crisis. It comes after the AFLPA announced on Tuesday it now wanted the league to explore the possibility of a 22-round home and away season, despite Monday’s announcement the season would be 17 rounds. “Is this the time for tennis?” Gerard Healy asked on 3AW. The Sportsday host said it was incumbent on the league’s players to trust those making the decisions, given the future of the sport was at stake. “It’s got to the point where the premiership is borderline irrelevant at this stage, it’s the survival of the bloody clubs, it’s the survival of the game,” he stressed.
 Leigh Matthews agreed. “I don’t know whether they (the players) realise how dire the financial situation is right now,” the AFL legend said. “If you play 17 rounds – that means the broadcast rights are down about $100 million, lets talk round figures. “Crowds aren’t at the games for the foreseeable future, that’s going to cost you another $100 million or so. “So that’s $200-250 million that’s disappeared from the game, even if it all goes according to plan. “I’d be saying to the players, pretty simply, you either take the 25 per cent pay cut, or you don’t play, and you don’t get paid.”

https://www.3aw.com.au/gerard-healy-and-leigh-matthews-discuss-the-dire-situation-the-afl-faces-right-now/

“NRL and AFL clubs have been warned to consider the extreme measure of operating under voluntary administration in a bid to stave off creditors.

7NEWS understands some of rugby league’s struggling teams were told it could be their safest option as the funds dry up in the COVID-19 crisis.”

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-and-nrl-clubs-forced-to-confront-possibility-of-voluntary-administration-c-749636

“On the eve of a season that may or may not start this week, the AFL players have pushed back against a league request for a 20 per cent pay cut — an amount that Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has called the "minimum" that the players should accept.
......
Kennett said 20 per cent was the minimum that the players should accept as a cut, and that if games were not played, close to 50 per cent would be closer to the right amount.”

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-players-baulk-at-20-per-cent-pay-cuts-20200317-p54b4c.html

AFL shouldn’t be in this position.