A mere 24-hours after the AFL changed their logo in a bold statement of support for marriage equality, the league’s headquarters in Melbourne has been evacuated after an apparent hoax threat was called into the facility.
All staff and personnel inside AFL House at Docklands were evacuated with Victoria Police conducting safety checks of the facility, following the hoax call earlier today.
The league’s official spokesman Patrick Keane confirmed the threat was a hoax, and that operations at the building were not expected to be disrupted for any great length of time.
AFL House had hoax threat phoned to building this morning.
All staff were removed while police checks proceed.
Expected to return shortly.— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) September 21, 2017
The league yesterday modified their logo at AFL House to include a giant “YES” in a public display of support for equality. The YES sign was removed this morning, having apparently only been designed to be a 24-hour promotion.
The call to the building was made earlier this morning, with police conducting the evacuation – which included diverting trams and cordoning off parts of Harbour Esplanade – as a “precaution.”
AFL House was closed to staff for approximately 30 minutes. Keane asserted that no “official” reason for the threat is known.
AFL staff heading back into the building.
Thanks for your interest and concern.
No reason given for hoax call.— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) September 21, 2017
Staff were allowed back inside at around 1:36pm.