AFL chairman buys control of ANZ Stadium
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick will sit out of any discussions involving the league's plans to increase its use of Sydney's ANZ Stadium after heading the consortium which has bought control of the venue.
The Fitzpatrick-led consortium has bought a controlling 50 per cent stake in ANZ Infrastructure Services (ANZIS), which owns the stadium.
Fitzpatrick will become chairman of ANZIS as a result of the sale.
The deal comes at a pivotal time for the AFL's future in Sydney.
The Swans currently play four matches per season at the 81,000-capacity Homebush venue.
But the AFL is planning to use the stadium more often once the proposed new club in western Sydney enters the competition, due to occur in 2012.
Fitzpatrick said in a statement his investment in ANZIS was a family business decision and would have no impact on the user agreements with the AFL or other sports at ANZ Stadium.
He added he would take appropriate steps to avoid the potential for possible conflict at ANZIS and AFL Commission meetings.
"As Chairman of the AFL and as the proposed chairman of ANZIS and its investment committee, I will absent myself on any issues relating to ANZ Stadium, at either ANZIS or the AFL and will receive no papers on the ANZ Stadium," Fitzpatrick said.
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