Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell has declared the club’s heavy interest in entering the Indian market, as the AFL continues to build overseas links.
The Bombers, along with Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and Adelaide, are off to India next week to explore the possibility of potentially bringing the game into a new marketplace.
Campbell says it has been a six-to-seven year project to grow the Indians roots, and it’s a viable option for AFL clubs.
“India is a big strategic objective for us,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“The north-west of Melbourne has a strong Indian population.
“We have guys going across with the AFL in the next couple of weeks to build contacts and networks over there.
“The landscape for modern professional sporting organisations is changing really quickly and we want to ensure we are adaptable and progressing with that change.”
Campbell also explained why Essendon views India as a growth area, pointing out how the club already has a connection to that community.
“What was traditionally our heartland, the modern geographic has changed and we want to ensure that we remain relevant to those who start there,” he said.
“For us, there are opportunities for us to do more work overseas, there are different companies coming in from India to Australia, so it presents commercial opportunities and fan engagement and growth opportunities for the membership base.
“We have an Auskick devoted to Indian migrants in Craigieburn, and that’s another opportunity for us to engage on a different platform to help the education process around AFL football.”
The AFL played a home-and-away game in China for the first time ever last season, and will do so again in 2018, with Gold Coast and Port Adelaide hoping to make it a regular fixture.
Listen to Xavier Campbell’s chat on SEN Breakfast in the player below!