31 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

PLs fwd your ideas to Peter Jackson.....

Oh I don't know, maybe any business that doesn't involve gambling.

41 minutes ago, drdrake said:

Sorry, we went into debt to purchase these machines but we won't use the money from the sale to pay off our debt.  Something a bit smelly going on, I will take a stab at it and this is my take only could be way off the mark but makes sense to me.

A month ago we go to the media about establishing a home base and finally bringing our club together.  I reckon the AFL, State and Federal governments have gone OK we are in but you need to contribute X to make this happen.  We don't have X and can't finance the X amount with our current debt.  You know what lets take the Moral high ground sell off an asset get the coverage as a socially responsible community club but more importantly raises the X amount we need to contribute for our home base.

To me if you have the money to pay off your debts you do it and save the interest, to me if what the age is stating is correct it will be money in money out

Dr have you consider that the money may be invested in a new club facility near Goschs ? 

4 hours ago, Eelesie said:

Makes a difference. Great from a social aspect but the obvious question remains - How to we supplement the revenue?

Gaming & Social Revenue                     

• Collingwood – $22,887,477
• Hawthorn –  $19,087,366
• Carlton – $18,825,869
• Brisbane – $15,687,630
• Essendon – $13,351,296
• Melbourne – $11,641,049
• Geelong – $10,537,358
• Richmond – $7,180,170
• Western Bulldogs – $7,061,232
• Port Adelaide – $6,784,180
• St Kilda – $1,934,045
• Gaming Profit
• Collingwood – $6,037,992
• Brisbane – $3,744,228
• Melbourne – $3,720,679
• Carlton – $3,169,884
• Essendon – $2,276,154
• Western Bulldogs – $1,390,994
• Richmond – $942,060
• St Kilda – $616,340
• Port Adelaide – $301,173
• Hawthorn – No costs available
• Geelong – no costs available

Revenue without Gaming

• West Coast – $64,013,222
• Richmond – $57,984,202
• Adelaide – $54,954,790
• Collingwood – $54,848,992
• Essendon – $51,814,111
• Hawthorn – $51,655,098
• Port Adelaide – $51,123,008
• Sydney – $50,837,971
• Fremantle – $49,263,474
• Geelong – $47,266,694
• St Kilda – $46,018,621
• Western Bulldogs – $44,883,240
• GWS – $42,605,892
• Melbourne – $40,347,662
• Carlton – $39,793,007
• North Melbourne – $39,717,822
• Brisbane – $36,372,790

Profit/Loss without Gaming

• St Kilda – $4,651,074
• Essendon – $2,778,032
• Richmond – $2,121,238
• Western Bulldogs – $252,056
• North Melbourne – $242,656
• Sydney – $105,186
• Port Adelaide ($272,562)
• GWS – ($522,896)
• Melbourne – ($2,357,619)
• Carlton – ($2,502,081)
• Brisbane –  ($6,006,218)
• Collingwood ($8,770,616)
• Hawthorn – Not available
• Geelong – not available.

 

Sausage sizzles with a vegan option.

Very pleasing news. Hopefully there is a plan to minimise or ideally negate the impact to the bottom line.

The argument that this does nothing to address the social issue because someone else will just pick up the licenses is just rubbish. The best way to initiate change is to lead it, and that's what the MFC have done. Let's see how many other AFL clubs are still operating these venues in 3 years time.

53 minutes ago, drdrake said:

Sorry, we went into debt to purchase these machines but we won't use the money from the sale to pay off our debt.  Something a bit smelly going on, I will take a stab at it and this is my take only could be way off the mark but makes sense to me.

A month ago we go to the media about establishing a home base and finally bringing our club together.  I reckon the AFL, State and Federal governments have gone OK we are in but you need to contribute X to make this happen.  We don't have X and can't finance the X amount with our current debt.  You know what lets take the Moral high ground sell off an asset get the coverage as a socially responsible community club but more importantly raises the X amount we need to contribute for our home base.

To me if you have the money to pay off your debts you do it and save the interest, to me if what the age is stating is correct it will be money in money out

The article really only mentioned that the funds from the sale of Leighoak will be invested in other areas - there's actually no cash coming in from not renewing the entitlement on the Bentleigh pokies in 2022. From what I understand most/all the debt we have relates to the purchase of the Bentleigh club outright, so they must be comfortable to hold that until they deal with what they do with that venue/land once the pokies cease to operate. I can't see the club holding onto a social club on such a big land holding, so they might look at either selling or a development project at that stage, which should cover the debt and more.  

I to think there might have been a bit of "assistance" offered by the AFL and Govt's that if we get out of pokies they'll help with home base model. 

In 2022 Poker machine licence holders are required to pay a premium or licence fee for the next ten years followed by another in 2032.

It will not be chicken feed

Edited April 4, 20187 yr by Diamond_Jim

Good move by the club.

From my reading of who’s who on the board of the club, they appear to be anything but fools. This whole exercise would have been discussed forensically and at length prior to the announcement. There is no way they would decide to ditch the pokies and afterwards think - gee, what are we going to do now!

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

By all means get rid of the bandits, get rid of  "too easy" betting. Am all for it. Until you do ownership  , as in who, is somewhat irrelevant.

I hope as a club we don't suffer for our martyrdom.

Exactly bub, if the machines are to exist I'd rather the profits go to the MFC than anyone else.

36 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

The article really only mentioned that the funds from the sale of Leighoak will be invested in other areas - there's actually no cash coming in from not renewing the entitlement on the Bentleigh pokies in 2022. From what I understand most/all the debt we have relates to the purchase of the Bentleigh club outright, so they must be comfortable to hold that until they deal with what they do with that venue/land once the pokies cease to operate. I can't see the club holding onto a social club on such a big land holding, so they might look at either selling or a development project at that stage, which should cover the debt and more.  

I to think there might have been a bit of "assistance" offered by the AFL and Govt's that if we get out of pokies they'll help with home base model. 

Would be nice if they assisted us by creating a competition with a level playing ground. AFL don't like clubs having pokies because they can see the huge windfall it is and more clubs willing to be independent of the AFL instead of just copping it sweet.

13 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Exactly bub, if the machines are to exist I'd rather the profits go to the MFC than anyone else.

Could not disagree more

15 minutes ago, Dee Dee said:

Good move by the club.

From my reading of who’s who on the board of the club, they appear to be anything but fools. This whole exercise would have been discussed forensically and at length prior to the announcement. There is no way they would decide to ditch the pokies and afterwards think - gee, what are we going to do now!

The only reason I'm not too concerned as they have made nothing but sound decisions since this administration took over in 2013.

Just now, binman said:

Could not disagree more

That's fine that's your prerogative.

I don't play pokies, I think they're horrible. I don't understand why anyone would pump money into a computer designed to take your money.

But the fact is they are legal. The MFC selling their licenses to another owner makes no difference to the wider community but it does make a difference to our bottom line. I want to see the MFC be a successful and powerful club, we don't have the resources of other clubs like Richmond, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Essendon, West Coast, Adelaide etc to draw on so giving up a highly lucrative revenue stream seems to be shooting ourselves in the foot. The benefit of doing so at this stage is unclear, maybe there isn't one and the AFL has strong-armed us into making this decision as we do not have the capacity to resist like a club like Hawthorn can.

3 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Absolutely, the machines are not illegal

Either is smoking. Would we like the club to sell cigarettes to make some money?

interesting from a strategic move; we have less to lose due to lower revenue than the bigger clubs who will feel enormous pressure to get out of this area.

We lose $11m but the Filth stand to lose double that.

 

10 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

Either is smoking. Would we like the club to sell cigarettes to make some money?

Was just about to post something similar.

Apart from the moral considerations of a community organisation profiting from a product that is explicitly designed to manipulate people into losing money and unequivically causes harm, ethical investment and being a good corporate citizen is increasingly good business. Look at the coverage this has received. Our sponsors would be rapt to be associated with us today

 

19 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

Either is smoking. Would we like the club to sell cigarettes to make some money?

Those who wish to smoke would buy them, i am sure, others would not

4 minutes ago, binman said:

Was just about to post something similar.

Apart from the moral considerations of a community organisation profiting from a product that is explicitly designed to manipulate people into losing money and unequivically causes harm, ethical investment and being a good corporate citizen is increasingly good business. Look at the coverage this has received. Our sponsors would be rapt to be associated with us today

 

are you describing capitalism, binman?

5 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Please, what benefit to society do pokies bring?

Clint, are you kidding ???  Revenue from pokies goes to support hospitals , schools infrastructure and not to mention, support programs for people with gambling addictions.  

Pokies bring enormous flow on benefits to the community whilst safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable amongst us.

Furthermore each venue is obliged to demonstrate how some of their profits go to support local community groups.

Collingwood  and hawthorn will never do this, funny people saying that the government saying get rid of pokies and we will give u money for new facilities, that is untrue the government makes the most money from pokies it drives the economy, the  Leigh oak is being sold to the racing club, all u Lefty's  applauding this decision a short sighted, this is really pretending to do something about a problem but really doing nothing. It only gives u a good feeling   about yourself. I don't believe in banning anything because people will always look for an alternatives to ruin their lives, ban alcohol more people will take drugs, or brew bootleg alcohol, take away pokies people will bet on horses or sports or poker, you can't save everyone man can't do this only God can give u Hope.

2 hours ago, binman said:

yeah, just like people choosing to disinvest from coal producers. i mean tge coal is still going to come out of the ground one way or another. so pointless

Nice image! I can just see an enormous mouth in the La Trobe valley spewing up lumps of brown rock ... because you just can't keep a carbon-based non-renewable energy source down!

44 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Those who wish to smoke would buy them, i am sure, others would not

no decent profits in selling smokes, wyl

2 hours ago, old dee said:

Dr have you consider that the money may be invested in a new club facility near Goschs ? 

Thats what i posted i reckon we need a certain amount of cash to fund a new admin training base we need to contribute so the afl local state and federal governments will chip in.

 

 

4 hours ago, Red and Blue realist said:

Few people jumping to conclusions, around lost revenue etc. without knowing, what the exact revenue and profits were for each venue, what sale proceeds they expect and what they will use those funds for. So far this administration has been pretty spot on with most of their moves (that's publicly visible) so happy to back them in until further info is provided.

Have heard some talk that the venue in Bentleigh would be worth a whole lot more if bulldozed and housing/units built. Maybe they'll enter into some sort of property development opportunity? 

No doubt about Bentleigh site being a valuable piece of land.

23 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Clint, are you kidding ???  Revenue from pokies goes to support hospitals , schools infrastructure and not to mention, support programs for people with gambling addictions.  

Pokies bring enormous flow on benefits to the community whilst safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable amongst us.

Furthermore each venue is obliged to demonstrate how some of their profits go to support local community groups.

The way your talking about them makes them sound positively wonderful.I had a family member addicted to the pokies....and Im not talking about losing the odd 20 bucks  on a Saturday night. BIG money goes into those things ..usually from the desperate and isolated...and in SO many cases ruins peoples lives and tears families apart.   Ive seen it first hand...just being real. The dees are one of my big loves and I want them to prosper and succeed ....but personally  Im glad we're getting sorted enough now to not  do it using these god awful things. I felt so strongly about it I bought a North Melbourne membership when they took a stand...and I hate the roos lol. 

I also believe the noise about using them to support AFL clubs is only going to get louder and louder as the AFL tries to promote a "clean" image. Of course the AFL will always be covered in mud and their is hypocrisy is stupidly large,  but  as others have pointed out I think we're ahead of the game in terms of reading public opinion. Hoping we use the money to start a new home base and use THAT to make money. 

6 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

They've made profits the last two years from memory.

There are other ways to make money other than gambling.

So why aren’t they already?