Potentially some great news for our wretched stadium deal:

AFL close to buying Etihad Stadium in win for Victorian footy fans

THE AFL is on the brink of buying Etihad Stadium in a win for Victorian fans.

Sources have confirmed “significant movement” in talks between league chiefs and the consortium that operates the Docklands ground.

A sale worth about $150 million is tipped before Christmas.

The AFL could take ownership of the stadium for just $30 in March 2025, but has been negotiating its early release.

A deal would dramatically improve gate returns for three of the stadium’s five tenant clubs — North Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. Essendon and Carlton have different arrangements.

The AFL is planning for a $300 million revamp of Etihad Stadium, including a new waterside gateway, open-air bars, restaurants, parks and a running track, as revealed by the Herald Sun *!earlier this year.

The league hopes an overhaul of Etihad would kill off a rival plan pitched by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire to build a $1 billion stadium next door to the MCG.

But a redevelopment is dependent on the State Government forking out the costs.

McGuire’s concept involves the bulldozing and sale of Etihad and construction of a 60,000-seat venue in Melbourne Park.

Commercial real estate experts estimate that if the AFL decided to sell the 7.5ha Etihad Stadium site to developers, it could reap a $1.3 billion payday.

A state government taskforce was established in June to decide the future of Melbourne’s sporting stadiums and precincts.

The Cabinet committee, led by Premier Daniel Andrews, is exploring a series of proposed redevelopments of Punt Rd, Brunton Ave, Richmond railway station, Olympic Park and the Docklands.

Plans to build over the railway tracks that separate the MCG from the Melbourne Park Tennis Centre are also being examined.