The AFL has revealed the opportunity to buy Etihad Stadium ahead of schedule is closing, as it emerged league chief executive Andrew Demetriou was paid almost $2 million last year.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said the league remained keen to take hold of the stadium and its lucrative management rights, a move that would allow greater funds to be distributed to clubs.
This would also solve the problem of poor venue returns for Etihad Stadium tenants Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and St Kilda, although stadium bosses are tired of the criticism and maintain there is more to the story.
Saints president Greg Westaway recently led a renewed call for the stadium to be bought, but only if the Bulldogs, Saints and Kangaroos largely share in the spoils.
The AFL will take ownership of the stadium on March 8, 2025, for $1, so a deal to buy the stadium would need to be done soon.
However, Fitzpatrick said he could not agree with the price Melbourne Stadiums Ltd, acting on behalf of the five superannuation stakeholders in Etihad, had been asking for.
''We have had ongoing negotiations over several years on Etihad,'' he said. ''I think the base issue has simply been a matter of price. Strategically, we would quite like to own it, but we haven't been able to reach agreement with the institutional owners.''
Fitzpatrick would not disclose what the AFL thought was a fair price. However, it is understood Melbourne Stadiums Ltd wants more than $250 million for the remaining 12 years.
''There is a material difference between ourselves and the owners,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''Obviously, as time goes on, because we will essentially pick it up for nothing in 2025, the difficult issue for us is deciding at what stage it is worth picking up, because we could simply wait it out.''
Etihad Stadium spokesman Bill Lane said discussions were ongoing and management would continue to work in the ''best interests of the sports codes who use the venue and its 4 million superannuants who have an interest in the venue''.
The AFL has revealed Demetriou pocketed $1.88 million last year, in a season the league posted record revenue.
Demetriou was paid a base of $1.44 million, including superannuation, and a performance bonus of more than $400,000.
This was an increase on his salary of $1.8 million in 2011, but still below the $2.2 million he received in 2010.
The AFL said revenue for 2012 had been $425 million, up from $343 million.
Operating profit was $296 million, with net profit $6.7 million after distributions.
The AFL lost $23.6 million in 2011, largely due to its expansion plans.
Expenditure in 2012 was $130 million, with the league revealing it was introducing cost-cutting measures this year, saving about $6 million.
Attendances fell slightly, with the AFL citing the growing pains of expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
The release of financial details comes as the AFL executive and club chief executives and presidents prepare to meet on Wednesday to discuss equalisation issues.
Demetriou said he was worried about the growing gap in finances between clubs. A summary of suggestions to improve funding, particularly for the smaller clubs, had been distributed to clubs.
He said he had no issue with power clubs recently meeting as a group, as the league had been informed about this.
The likes of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Carlton and Richmond fear they will be hit the hardest if ''taxes'' are introduced.
Demetriou said the AFL would trial variable ticket prices for games during the season. Supporters could be charged more for blockbusters, while tickets would be cheaper for those matches expected to struggle for attendance.
Chris Lynch, the chief financial officer of Rio Tinto, will become the first AFL commissioner to be based outside Australia when he moves to London. Lynch played five games for Geelong between 1972 and 1974.
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