The AFL contributed $30m to the initial construction, but also entered a contract to stage 45 matches per season at the Docklands for the next 25 years: this contract facilitated the remaining $400m needed. The state government paid nothing whatsoever: the Victorian public got all the benefits of a multi-purpose stadium without having to pay for it.It only paid $30m of $430m build cost for Docklands in 2000 which it would receive full title and rights to in 31/10/2025 for $10 transfer, yes $10, in a BOOT - Build, Own, Operate, Transfer model, but decided to pay $200m+ in October 2016 and get the cashflow of the asset 9 years earlier, and then in 2019 was able to squeeze the Vic government for $225m for upgrades to their asset, as well as another $250m for footy facilities in Victoria - professional and amateur.
I don't know how anyone looks at that and thinks that the AFL has gotten away with something they shouldn't have.