Seven set to sell off Telstra Dome

Telstra Dome is up for grabs, with Channel 7 looking to sell its stake.

The Herald Sun has learned a deal to sell its management rights to the state-of-the-art stadium could be worth as much as $200 million.

Seven owns all the income streams at the Docklands stadium: naming rights, signage rights, food and beverage rights, the Medallion Club and public parking, and is landlord to the AFL, which will play 50 games in 2006.

The venue also hosts major events, including international cricket and some of the world's biggest rock concerts.

The six-year-old Dome, which cost $450 million to build, is running profitably after the financial woes of its early years.

Seven has issued an information memorandum to the marketplace about a possible sell-off.

The AFL, which will take ownership of the venue in 2025, has emerged as a likely bidder for the lucrative management rights.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said last night: "If the management rights became available, we'd obviously have an interest because we're the prospective owners."

"We've heard on the grapevine that they have put out an information memorandum, and we'd be interested in having a look."

Seven is understood to have informally advised the AFL of its plans during the past 10 days.

Channel 7's Ian Johnson offered vague confirmation of the development last night.

"I suppose everything's for sale at some point in its life," he said.