Barr opens door to boost A-Leagues funding - but there's a catch

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is open to renegotiating the Canberra A-League bid's government funding to bring it in line with the Big Bash's whopper $3 million election promise . Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue But he said it would come down to them showing they had the same "media value" as the BBL and WBBL.

Canberra's A-League bid leader Michael Caggiano has called on the government to give soccer a fair go after Barr revealed his $3 million election promise for a Big Bash team. That's how much the Chief Minister will pay a future Canberra team if he's re-elected next month. There's a feeling in the ACT's soccer community they don't get the same funding as other sports - despite being the biggest participation sport in the capital.



Caggiano said increased funding would help close the multiple investors he's currently in negotiations with to back a Canberra A-League Men's team. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is open to paying Canberra's A-League bid more. Pictures by Sitthixay Ditthavong, Getty Images It could also save A-League Women's team Canberra United from extinction, with Capital Football unable to keep running the club beyond the upcoming summer.

Caggiano has a $1.2 million-per-year in-principle agreement with the ACT government for an ALM team, while Canberra United get $250,000 per annum. He wants that brought in line with the money cricket's set to get if Canberra gets a Big Bash team.

The Canberra Times revealed he wrote to the soccer community about the vast discrepancy between what the two sports would get paid. It's believed the Australian Professional Leagues, who run the A-Leagues, have written to Barr and Sports Minister Yvette Berry backing Caggiano's call. Barr was asked about whether he was open to matching the A-Leagues money with the Big Bash on Thursday.

Barr said a Canberra's team's funding agreement depends on the 'media value' they offer. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong "We're certainly going to have that conversation," he said. "The exact commercial arrangements differ between the sports.

"Important point to make with Big Bash is it is both men's and women's in equal measure. So it's a club that will have 10 games, five men's and five women's. "Commercial arrangements .

.. they need to reflect the nature of the competition, their broadcast arrangements, the level of media value, if you like, from sponsorship placement, as well as the markets that they will be broadcast into.

"So every sport is different ...

but broadly speaking, yes." APL boss Nick Garcia has written to Barr about a potential Canberra team's funding. Picture Getty Images Barr's comments imply the AFL and AFLW carry the biggest bang for the government's buck in terms of exposure given the GWS Giants receive $2.

85 million per annum for just five games - three AFL and two AFLW. The code has teams based in most of Australia's capital cities, while it also has the biggest combined TV audience and attendance. His comments also imply the Big Bash is the second biggest show in town - ahead of the NRL, Super Rugby Pacific and the A-Leagues.

Canberra's Manuka Oval would potentially host five BBL and five WBBL games each summer if the ACT got a team. That's a lot less home games than the 11 the Canberra Raiders play in the NRL each year - plus they play another four home games in the NRLW - as part of their $2.6 million annual agreement with the government.

Canberra's A-League bid leader Michael Caggiano wants the government to bring soccer's funding in line with cricket's. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong Super Rugby has a $1.8 million contract for seven men's and two or three women's games, while an A-League team currently has the smallest agreement.

That's despite the fact they'd play at least 13 home ALM games and 11 ALW games as well. "The Australian Professional Leagues is working hard to progress and confirm expansion in Canberra," the APL told The Canberra Times in a statement. "We continue to be in discussions with a number of interested parties, and we welcome and support this request for funding - to help propel the proposition of a Canberra A-Leagues club and attract the right owner for this passionate football region.

" Barr was also asked what Canberra's A-League bid needed to have to get more government funding. "Very sharp commercial arrangements," he said. "All the other sports come to the table with very clear propositions and value propositions for their sponsors.

"It should be no different for football." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy David Polkinghorne Sports journo Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job.

Email: [email protected].

au Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.

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