Stuart Amos
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and AFLQ CEO Micheal Conlon were this morning welcomed by Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson to officially open the AFL facilities at the Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex.
There has been much activity since the announcement of a Regional AFL office based at the complex, including the installation of goal posts and 10m high netting behind the posts.
Junior AFL is a strong, growing sport across the Northern Rivers and the investment AFL is making into the complex will increase the opportunities to bring AFL teams to the region for games.
Northern Rivers Junior AFL President Bob Lodge said ‘this event today will mark an exciting milestone for not only junior AFL but AFL as a whole on the northern rivers, generating widespread media and sports tourism exposure for the area.’
‘Victorian AFL teams are already requesting pre season and mid season training camps here in Byron Bay,’ he added.
Mr Demetriou, a long-term admirer of the northern rivers, unveiled the official plaque to commemorate the establishment of the AFL field in the northwest corner known as the ‘Cornell Family Fields’ together with Delvine Delaney.
After the event Mr Demetriou headed off to attend the 2013 AFL Draft on the Gold Coast later today.
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