AFANA Footy BBS

Okay...let's play a little fantasy game here...you've been put in charge of organizing and promoting a North American exhibition AFL match.

• Where are you going to play? Is there a venue in North America with a large enough playing surface? As I recall, many American football stadiums were too small or barely large enough for consideration for the World Cup soccer matches.
  
• When are you going to play? Pick any time you want between the GF and the start of the next season. It can even be a Wizard cup game.
  
• How are you going to promote it? Assume that the hope is to draw a larger crowd than the paid membership of AFANA. Now, what are you going to do to make them want to come?
  
• Who do you want to play? Why those teams?
  

 -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

OK, I'll give this a go. I've written several articles about this on my blog so I'll try not to be too repetitive.

• > Where are you going to play? Is there a venue in North America with a large
  > enough playing surface? As I recall, many American football stadiums were too small
  > or barely large enough for consideration for the World Cup soccer matches.

  It's not likely there is a ready made venue, however alternatives exist. One would be to use some truly huge venue (e.g. a former Olympic stadium) however places like the LA Coliseum aren't economic. A better bet, the first time out, is a temporary venue created for the necessary field size but with limited seating (say 25,000 max) and suitable parking and facilities.

• > When are you going to play? Pick any time you want between the GF and the start
  > of the next season. It can even be a Wizard cup game.

  Either immediately following the AFL season in October or it's best to wait until late February or March. Weather (not just locally to the match but nationally for travelers) and avoiding competing sports events will be important.

• > How are you going to promote it? Assume that the hope is to draw a larger crowd
  > than the paid membership of AFANA. Now, what are you going to do to make them want
  > to come?

  The game must be promoted nationally using the cooperative resources of AFANA, FOX Sports World US / Canada (hopefully), and the footy clubs around the US. If the event is properly organized with travel agent support, recommended accomodations, etc. it will work just fine. My guess is that you'll get fans from all over the US who will make the trip just to see footy live (perhaps for the first time in their lives).

• > Who do you want to play? Why those teams?

  I don't think it's terribly important, at least initially, which AFL clubs participate. The first or second year out the novelty alone will compensate. Obviously some clubs would be better draws than others but our fan survey last year showed that every AFL club has between 9 and 21% of the fan base here.

  There's lots more to this but off the cuff, I think this is a start.
  
  

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

>> Where are you going to play?
> It's not likely there is a ready made venue

Ah yes, but where? My understanding is that San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are all popular US destinations from Oz. While I personally would love to see the game played in KC (preferably in the suburbs in the southwest part of town), I'm thinking one of the above venues would be more likely to draw travelers from Australia.

During the Olympics, the San Diego media liked to point out their similar climate to Sydney. That might be an argument for playing there.

Would the weather in Las Vegas conducive to playing footy October through March?

>> When are you going to play?
> Either immediately following the AFL season in October
> or it's best to wait until late February or March.
> Weather (not just locally to the match but nationally
> for travelers) and avoiding competing sports events
> will be important.

Some ideas

• Following the season, and in conjunction with the US Nationals. Teams would already be planning to attend, so it would reduce the travel expense burden. It would also be an opportunity to promote US footy.
  
• Within a couple weeks of the New Year. This is when Australian schools are on their summer break, which could play into the Australians traveling to the US angle. But then you would almost need to be between Christmas and Jan 2, when American schools are on their winter break. And that would put you in competition with the college bowl games.
  
• I can't figure out how you would do it, but a tie in with the Super Bowl would be intriguing.
  
• Bring a Wizards' Cup game to America. The advantage to this would be that it would be a game that (sort of) meant something.
  
• Best possibility of all, and most unlikely of all, would be a regular season game. Perhaps at the bye week?
  

I can think of two arguments here.

• One is Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Brisbane. The advantage, from a promotional standpoint, is that these are cities that Americans have heard of.
  
• The other is Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond or Carlton. The advantage with the Big Four teams ties back to the idea of promoting the game as part of a trip to America.
  

  -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

Good debate started here.

> Ah yes, but where? My understanding is that San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas
> are all popular US destinations from Oz. While I personally would love to see the
> game played in KC (preferably in the suburbs in the southwest part of town), I'm
> thinking one of the above venues would be more likely to draw travelers from
> Australia.
> During the Olympics, the San Diego media liked to point out their similar climate to
> Sydney. That might be an argument for playing there.
> Would the weather in Las Vegas conducive to playing footy October through March?

I don't think drawing visitors from Australia should be the issue. We'll take their money and we'll welcome them but the focus must be on selling tickets to Americans and Canadians. After all, the whole point of having a match here should be to popularize the game with the present and future fans here. Ex-pats and visitors are a transient population. The biggest concentrations of footy fans in North America are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, New York City, and Washington DC. Those are your candidate locations. Las Vegas and San Diego are in tier two based on AFANA's data.

> Some ideas
>
• Following the season, and in conjunction with the US Nationals. Teams would
  > already be planning to attend, so it would reduce the travel expense burden. It
  > would also be an opportunity to promote US footy.

  That's clearly one option. Exhibition games are principally a marketing exercise. The AFL doesn't do squat for fans here and this would be their chance. I believe that you are grossly underestimating where the interest in this match would come from. USfooty is one source but pales in comparison to the general fan base for the sport here (even now). We'd sell the clubs hard but we'd also want to target the general footy fan. Take 5,000 general footy fans and their families (and that would be 3% of the hard core US and Canadian fans) and you've made it profitable for the AFL.

• > Within a couple weeks of the New Year. This is when Australian schools are on
  > their summer break, which could play into the Australians traveling to the US angle.
  > But then you would almost need to be between Christmas and Jan 2, when American
  > schools are on their winter break. And that would put you in competition with the
  > college bowl games.

  I think that early December to late January won't work for precisely the reasons you mention. Holidays and competing sports events. I'd never get my significant other to forego Christmas events to travel to a footy match. I doubt many other footy fans would be any more successful. Again, I really don't think the Australian school holidays are an issue.

• > I can't figure out how you would do it, but a tie in with the Super Bowl would be
  > intriguing.

  We'd get lost in the hoopla as some side show. Not to mention that hotel rooms in Super Bowl cities are double or triple the usual rates.

• > Bring a Wizards' Cup game to America. The advantage to this would be that it
  > would be a game that (sort of) meant something.

  AFANA has advocated this for years. Not sure the AFL is listening though.

• > Best possibility of all, and most unlikely of all, would be a regular season
  > game. Perhaps at the bye week?

  Based on previous conversations with the AFL, that won't happen until we establish exhibitions are big successes. Or you find some big financial underwriter and if we had that, the rest of this discussion would be renedered irrelevant.

Well, we can but it shouldn't be the driving concern.

> I can think of two arguments here.
>
• One is Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Brisbane. The advantage, from a
  > promotional standpoint, is that these are cities that Americans have heard of.

  But if all we are doing is promoting a footy holiday tour to America for Aussies, what's the point? Fans here should be the point. The future of the game here should be the object. If it isn't then the AFL doesn't need AFANA, USfooty or anyone else. They can schedule it whenever they want, hire an Aussie travel agent and reserve Disney World.

• > The other is Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond or Carlton. The advantage with the
  > Big Four teams ties back to the idea of promoting the game as part of a trip to
  > America.
  

However, from the standpoint of footy starved natives here, they could bring over Fremantle and Geelong and it would draw just as well. Sure, some fans here will say, as would an Aussie, if it ain't (fill in the blank) I won't go. But those fans are already lost causes and I won't worry about them. Remember, not one US or Canadian citizen has seen a footy match on US soil in 15 years. If that isn't a selling point, I don't know what is.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

Some of our larger baseball stadiums should be able to accommodate a small-sized footy field. For example, Tiger Stadium in Detroit is 440 feet from home plate to the center field wall with an additional 20-30 feet behind home plate. This would give a field size close to the Sydney SCG.

Tiger Stadium has been abandoned since the Tigers built their new stadium in 1999 so the rental should be reasonably inexpensive, possibly the price of a pair of bolt cutters. You could market it to the Aussies by telling them it’s similar to the outback, housing strange creatures they’ve never seen before. You could even market a package deal including game tickets, no-limit rat hunting license and after game cookout (rats on the barbie).

If the Detroit police say anything just tell them that it is one of the mayor’s "private parties" and it would be best if they didn’t know any more (wink when you say this). Not only will they leave you alone, but the will probably also clear the neighborhood of all "undesirables" until the event is over. Some may even contribute a few dollars to the cause if you promise to pass their names along to the mayor.

Seriously though, with all the new baseball stadiums built in the past few years is it possible that one of the older replaced fields may be available for a reasonable price? Also, what about minor league fields (especially Florida or Arizona before spring training) or college fields?

As far as what teams, I don’t think it matters. It doesn’t even have to be 2 established AFL teams. As long as you can get enough AFL players to make up 2 teams it should be enough. Maybe it could be an informal State of Origin matchup. Current fooly fans will be happy to see professional footy even if the players are from different teams. For those not familiar with footy, the object should be to familiarize them with the basics of the game, not build team loyalties.

Funny one, Bob. But good point though.

> Some of our larger baseball stadiums should be able to accommodate a small-sized
> footy field. For example, Tiger Stadium in Detroit is 440 feet from home plate to
> the center field wall with an additional 20-30 feet behind home plate. This would
> give a field size close to the Sydney SCG.
...
> Seriously though, with all the new baseball stadiums built in the past few years is
> it possible that one of the older replaced fields may be available for a reasonable
> price? Also, what about minor league fields (especially Florida or Arizona before
> spring training) or college fields?

Certainly, there are lots of potential "non-traditional" venues that could be used for a one off event. AFANA offered to work on this issue as part of a larger marketing plan for the AFL in North America a few years ago. The AFL didn't even have the courtesy to say no but just ignored the offer. So, they'll do something a lot less imaginative.

> As far as what teams, I don’t think it matters. It doesn’t even have to be 2
> established AFL teams. As long as you can get enough AFL players to make up 2 teams
> it should be enough. Maybe it could be an informal State of Origin matchup. Current
> fooly fans will be happy to see professional footy even if the players are from
> different teams. For those not familiar with footy, the object should be to
> familiarize them with the basics of the game, not build team loyalties.

I concur completely. I can only hope that those individuals the AFL is working with to bring about an exhibition here have thought this through carefully. However, evidence remains scant about just what their intentions are. What we continue to hear thru the grapevine is that they want to do this at UCLA (why? where?) around Australia Day in late January. I'm not impressed that this makes any sense whatsoever. I'm even more troubled that this has taken place without any contact with the major fan organization (AFANA). It doesn't bode well for the outcome.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> Funny one, Bob. But good point though.
> ...

> Certainly, there are lots of potential "non-traditional" venues that
> could be used for a one off event. AFANA offered to work on this issue as part of a
> larger marketing plan for the AFL in North America a few years ago. The AFL didn't
> even have the courtesy to say no but just ignored the offer. So, they'll do
> something a lot less imaginative.

> I concur completely. I can only hope that those individuals the AFL is working
> with to bring about an exhibition here have thought this through carefully. However,
> evidence remains scant about just what their intentions are. What we continue to
> hear thru the grapevine is that they want to do this at UCLA (why? where?) around
> Australia Day in late January. I'm not impressed that this makes any sense
> whatsoever. I'm even more troubled that this has taken place without any contact
> with the major fan organization (AFANA). It doesn't bode well for the outcome.

> -Rob de Santos
> AFANA Chairman

I love the idea of having an AFL exhibition staged during the US Nationals. It would be a great opportunity for us amateurs to see the "big boys" play and for them to see how the game has grown here.
Plenty of people already attend the nationals and this would bring more.
As for the grounds, as a participant since 1998, they have improved out of sight since the early days of the USAFL so a game on one of the fields already prepared for the nationals would be perfect for AFL teams.
THere would be no problem of promoting then, with the USAFL involved.
We already take over a large section of the local hotel. What's another 50-60 people? Plus the host city could probably get even better discounts for all involved on the rooms.
Lisa

I remember reading somewhere on the web that the AFL/VFL did play a couple of exhibition games in both BC Place in Vancouver and SkyDome in Toronto. Canadian stadiums have larger playing surfaces due to the CFL than NFL stadiums. In fact I think if you were to cover the whole surface of BC Place with turf, it is roughly an oval shape.


> Okay...let's play a little fantasy game here...you've been put in charge of
> organizing and promoting a North American exhibition AFL match.
>

>
• Where are you going to play? Is there a venue in North America with a large
  > enough playing surface? As I recall, many American football stadiums were too small
  > or barely large enough for consideration for the World Cup soccer matches.
  >
• When are you going to play? Pick any time you want between the GF and the start
  > of the next season. It can even be a Wizard cup game.
  >
• How are you going to promote it? Assume that the hope is to draw a larger crowd
  > than the paid membership of AFANA. Now, what are you going to do to make them want
  > to come?
  >
• Who do you want to play? Why those teams?
  >

Here we go.. here's the article

"The VFL's foray into the North American market in 1987 was an immediate success when a crowd of 32,789 witnessed the first ever match of Australian Football to be played in an indoor stadium featuring a synthetic surface. The B.C. Place domed stadium located in downtown Vancouver, Canada hosted the first game in a World Series sponsored by Fosters."

http://www.iafc.com.au/history/intmatch.html

> I remember reading somewhere on the web that the AFL/VFL did play a couple of
> exhibition games in both BC Place in Vancouver and SkyDome in Toronto. Canadian
> stadiums have larger playing surfaces due to the CFL than NFL stadiums. In fact I
> think if you were to cover the whole surface of BC Place with turf, it is roughly an
> oval shape.
>

> I love the idea of having an AFL exhibition staged during the US Nationals.

In theory, this wouldn't be a bad idea but I'd suggest it would likely overshadow the nationals. The ground would still be inadequate not on a participant level but on a spectator level. You need seating and facilities for 20,000.

> THere would be no problem of promoting then, with the USAFL involved.

Not quite. The USAFL is very experienced at promoting their clubs and themselves. Running an international sports exhibition is an entirely different matter. It's not clear either AFANA or the USAFL are up to the task by themselves and would need outside assistance.

> We already take over a large section of the local hotel. What's another 50-60
> people?

50 or 60?? Try 15,000. Any properly promoted and run exhibition will draw fans from all across the USA and Canada. This is exactly why AFANA is so concerned about the plans for an event "at UCLA".

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> "The VFL's foray into the North American market in 1987 was an immediate
> success when a crowd of 32,789 witnessed the first ever match of Australian Football
> to be played in an indoor stadium featuring a synthetic surface.

I've seen that article and the "reports". Problem is what it doesn't tell you. The AFL players hated the synthetic turf. They weren't used to it and given their lack of padding and pants sustained numerous "rug" burns. Attendance wise, that particular match was a success unlike most of the other North American exhibitions of that era. It was promoted more properly and probably was a financial success.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> I don't think drawing visitors from Australia should be the issue. We'll take
> their money and we'll welcome them but the focus must be on selling tickets to
> Americans and Canadians.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the success of the event is entirely dependent on the North American response. I also believe that promoting the event to an Aussie audience could pay significant trans-Pacific benefits.

In retrospect, my arguments for which teams would be best should be reconsidered. Which clubs have the largest numbers of upscale fans who would consider making the trip. Large membership teams appear the best bets, but not if they're all working class folks with minimal discretionary income.

> The biggest concentrations of footy fans in North
> America are in Los Angeles

And you wondered why "somebody" wants to put together an event "at UCLA".

> Las Vegas and San Diego are in tier two
> based on AFANA's data.

I was of the understanding that San Diego has a very large ex-pat population. But you have better data than I do.

> Take 5,000 general footy fans and their families (and that would
> be 3% of the hard core US and Canadian fans) and you've made it profitable for the
> AFL.

So the approximate fan base is 165,000? This is a much bigger number than I suspected it would be. Well, let me think about this...that's still only 0.05% of the US & Canada population. If Footy fans were alcohol in the bloodstream of the population, North America wouldn't qualify as too drunk on Australian Rules to drive.

I see in this weeks Sports Illustrated that a US professional Cricket(!) league has been formed. Apparently the game has been Americanized to turn a one-day match into a three-hour match. Makes you wonder what it would take to get SI to the US Nationals. Hmmm...what would happen if you offered Rick Reilly or Steve Rushin the opportunity to make the inital bounce of the Grand Final?

  -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

> Don't get me wrong, I agree that the success of the event is entirely dependent on
> the North American response. I also believe that promoting the event to an Aussie
> audience could pay significant trans-Pacific benefits.

I just think that from a marketing perspective, to spend a significant effort selling the event in Australia is a unnecessary and wasteful diversion. There are several "sports tour" companies in Australia. Sign'em up and let them do what they do. If they sell a few tickets, all for the good but don't waste effort on this end.

> In retrospect, my arguments for which teams would be best should be reconsidered.
> Which clubs have the largest numbers of upscale fans who would consider making the
> trip. Large membership teams appear the best bets, but not if they're all working
> class folks with minimal discretionary income.

But if you agree that the success depends on sales to Americans and Canadians, then who cares. Market to the the target audience, not the secondary one. And in that instance, club choice is not relevant IMHO.

> And you wondered why "somebody" wants to put together an event
> "at UCLA".

You missed my point. The promoters, according to Australian press reports, intend to stage the event on the UCLA campus. My comment has nothing to do with the suitability of the Los Angeles area and everything to do with UCLA. One report even mentioned some "UCLA arena" -- whatever that means. Having spent a fair amount of time there myself and with UCLA grads on the AFANA staff, I can assure you there is no pre-existing venue anywhere in the area you can use. UCLA plays football at the Rose Bowl. It's a 30 minute drive under ideal conditions and twice that at rush hour. So, I've asked, repeatedly, for someone in this promotional group to step forward and explain just what they mean. So far, they choose not to. It's a very bad sign.

> I was of the understanding that San Diego has a very large ex-pat population. But
> you have better data than I do.

It does but going on the "zip codes" of our database it is behind other locales.

> So the approximate fan base is 165,000? This is a much bigger number than I
> suspected it would be. Well, let me think about this...that's still only 0.05% of
> the US & Canada population.

The hard core fan base is probably in that ball park. The "aware" fan base is in the millions. (The "aware" base matters for local marketing but not for national marketing.)

> I see in this weeks Sports Illustrated that a US professional
> Cricket(!) league has been formed. Apparently the game has been
> Americanized to turn a one-day match into a three-hour match.

Yes, and they have some crazy concept where the "professional" cricketers, brought in from elsewhere, are rotated among the clubs in the league and flown at great expense to and fro across the US several times a weekend. Curious to say the least. The verdict is still out but it is good sign for "footy" venues in the future.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> I just think that from a marketing perspective, to spend a significant effort
> selling the event in Australia is a unnecessary and wasteful diversion. There are
> several "sports tour" companies in Australia. Sign'em up and let them do
> what they do. If they sell a few tickets, all for the good but don't waste effort on
> this end.

We're really not in disagreement here. My point is simply "what can we do to improve their chance of selling those tickets?" And I think the answer is: given an option on teams, choose the teams most likely to produce the fans who will buy those tickets.

> You missed my point. The promoters, according to Australian press reports,
> intend to stage the event on the UCLA campus. My comment has nothing to do with the
> suitability of the Los Angeles area and everything to do with UCLA. One report even
> mentioned some "UCLA arena" -- whatever that means.

I would assume that means the Rose Bowl (possibly the Coliseum), as understood by somebody who hasn't studied the actual geography of the situation very well. The absence of solid knowledge about their proposed venue does not speak well to the possibility of such an event happening any time soon.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the US National Division I Grand Final as a curtain raiser for the exhibition would be my favorite solution.

  -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

> I've seen that article and the "reports". Problem is what it
> doesn't tell you. The AFL players hated the synthetic turf. They
> weren't used to it and given their lack of padding and pants sustained numerous
> "rug" burns. Attendance wise, that particular match was a success unlike
> most of the other North American exhibitions of that era. It was promoted more
> properly and probably was a financial success.

> -Rob de Santos
> AFANA Chairman
>

I wonder what the AFL would think of the new Montreal based "Fieldturf". I don't know if you know this but in the last few years the CFL (Canadian Football League) has been replacing the turf in their stadiums from the older "Astroturf" to this new type of turf from a Montreal based company called "Fieldturf". I've played football on it personally actually (American football) and it is very "grassy" in nature and has lots of give like real grass, it's not like a carpet on top of cement like Astroturf and is supposed to elimiate turf burn. I've heard even FIFA has approved "Fieldturf"

> I wonder what the AFL would think of the new Montreal based "Fieldturf".
...
> and it is very "grassy" in nature and has lots of give like real
> grass, it's not like a carpet on top of cement like Astroturf and is supposed to
> elimiate turf burn. I've heard even FIFA has approved "Fieldturf"

That's interesting and would certainly increase the suitability of a CFL stadium for an exhibition. I believe that "Fieldturf" has some competitors, too. The AFL is notoriously picky about the quality of venues it uses and you can only hope they have or will lay down the rules strictly for any venue used in an exhibition in North America. Unfortunately, the unwillingness of the AFL to engage in discussion about their plans here just reinforces our concern. Not just about the field quality but also the quality of the spectator amenities. Things like toilet facilities, food, parking, etc. Not to mention hotel accomodations, etc.

It more and more appears as if an exhibition will be held here early in 2005. So, I'll say it again...

AFANA wants to support an exhibition in North America not just be critics. It's been a goal of ours all along. We also want dialog with the AFL and the organizers. Our phone number is public knowledge. Call us.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> We're really not in disagreement here. My point is simply "what can we do to
> improve their chance of selling those tickets?" And I think the answer is:
> given an option on teams, choose the teams most likely to produce the fans who will
> buy those tickets.

Yes, if it was clear just which 2 or 3 clubs had the biggest fan base in both countries then it would be a no brainer. It's just not clear that choosing say Collingwood or Adelaide or Essendon (for example) really helps that much. If they have a 20% advantage down under and you might get 500 more from Australia is that really going to help sales overall? I think, in the initial stages, the advantage is at best marginal. I say this based on the fact that any choice will get that many more on this end due to any exhibition at all being a draw (rarity and novelty factors). But hey, if you let me choose which clubs..

> I would assume that means the Rose Bowl (possibly the Coliseum), as understood by
> somebody who hasn't studied the actual geography of the situation very well. The
> absence of solid knowledge about their proposed venue does not speak well to the
> possibility of such an event happening any time soon.

That was our initial assumption, too. However, either would be a difficult venue to sell enough tickets in to make money and 20,000 in either would look "empty" on TV undermining the impression you wish to get in post match news coverage.

In the past few days, we've seen a report based on something published in a "long range" plan of the USAFL that suggests they would use a cricket size field to be built at UCLA. However, last year AFANA contacted UCLA and their public information office claimed no knowledge of the event at all. We report. You decide.

> The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the US National Division I
> Grand Final as a curtain raiser for the exhibition would be my favorite
> solution.

And it's not a bad one. It fits well with the annual London exhibition concept in date and suitability from my standpoint.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> So the approximate fan base is 165,000?



Since Rob hasn't posted it here yet, I will. If you haven't read it, the link below contains the following comment about ESPN's coverage of Australian Rules:

back when we televised Aussie Rules Football -- which many still ask about -- no one knew the rules, so we put up a graphic that said, "If you want a copy of the rules, drop us a postcard." We got 65,000 requests.

  -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

LA Daily News Story about ESPN

> Says something about interest in the game, I think. Think about what ESPN's market
> penetration was in the mid-'80s, and think about the time slots given to Australian
> Rules. Then think about the fact that 65,000 households were interested enough to
> actually send the post card. I remember that graphic (or at least, I recall it now
> that he mentions it...I suppose he could be just implanting a false memory), but I
> never sent the postcard.

Thanks, Richard, you beat me to it. I actually did send in the postcard and still have the little booklet the VFL sent back via ESPN. Better than some of the stuff the AFL gives out today.

If you figure that in those early years ESPN was in at most 10 to 15% of American homes, that would translate into hundreds of thousands today. And those fans are still there if we could only reach them.

> Makes you wonder what would happen if they ever gave Aussie Rules 1/2 the promotion
> they give the Outdoor Games.

Which, as Richard knows as well as anybody, is why AFANA exists. It's no accident that so many people are still "closet" fans of this game but can't see it on TV and thus have largely stopped following it. BTW, you mean X-Games, I assume. :-;

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog

> BTW, you mean X-Games, I assume. :-;


Ummmm...NO, I meant the Outdoor Games. That's the event that ESPN has been heavily promoting these days. I'm going to assume that you didn't watch the Home Run Derby last Monday night, or you would have known what I meant. According to http://espn.go.com/gog04, ESPN and ABC are devoting 17-1/2 hours of airtime to events like log rolling and tree chopping.

In the midst of all this, there will be glimpses of Australian Rules in the new Gatorade commercial. I can't seem to find a link to the ad on the web. If you've not seen the spot, Aussie Rules is featured in shots that declare "a foul is a foul" and "football is football". It's a good commercial.

  -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

> Ummmm...NO, I meant the Outdoor Games. That's the event that ESPN has been heavily
> promoting these days. I'm going to assume that you didn't watch the Home Run Derby
> last Monday night, or you would have known what I meant.

No, sorry, didn't have that luxury. I know that one of my beloved Baltimore Orioles won it though.

> According to
> http://espn.go.com/gog04 , ESPN and ABC are devoting 17-1/2 hours of airtime to
> events like log rolling and tree chopping.

Wonderful. Do they sing "I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK..."?

Gee, another sporting event they probably own.

> In the midst of all this, there will be glimpses of Australian Rules in the new
> Gatorade commercial.

Yes, I've seen the advert. Caught me off guard the first time I saw it.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Blog