Changes to AFL ticket prices as crowds return
The AFL has slashed ticket prices in a bid to get crowds to embrace the game again after lockdowns. Here’s what’s changing.February 20, 2022 - Sunday Herald Sun
Victoria
Cut-price family footy tickets will be introduced by the AFL in a bid to get fans back in the stands.The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal families of two adults and two children will now get into the footy for $50 with a new family pass.
And in another move to reignite the love of footy after lockdown, the AFL will send an extra 100 staff to schools to grow interest in the sport, increasing participation from 50 to 85 per cent of all schools.
Thousands of free tickets will also be given to community footy clubs in a rallying cry to get spectators back and reward volunteers who have kept teams alive during lockdowns.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the league wanted to help bring crowds
back to the city, filling restaurants, shops and bars as well as the MCG and Marvel Stadium.
“Footy can hopefully help bring the heartbeat of the city back to Melbourne and back to the state of Victoria,’’ he said.
The AFL’s new family pass will cost $50 for two adults and two children. Picture: Alex Coppel
The AFL is also investigating establishing an entertainment precinct around the MCG for Round 1 to create a festival atmosphere to celebrate the return of the game.
A price freeze on general admission tickets will see adults charged $27, concession holders $18 and kids $5 for all matches at the MCG and Marvel Stadium.
Kids aged four and under will get in for free.
The new family pass will allow two adults and two children aged up to 14 entry to matches in Melbourne from rounds one to five, before being assessed for potential extension.
In a nod to the importance of the grassroots game, the league will give two AFL tickets and two AFLW seats to all 1292 community clubs in the state to reward volunteers.
The AFL will write to community clubs this week, offering free tickets to the final AFLW round and AFL opening week.
It will recruit 25 volunteer support officers, to spend 30 hours per week dedicated to on the ground support for suburban and regional community clubs.
Mr McLachlan said community footy clubs would play an important role in bringing the community back together.
“There is no doubt they have done it tough over the last two years and we just wanted to say thank you for the role they play not only for footy, but in connecting families and friends,’’ he said.
AFL tickets will go on sale to club members on March 1 and the general public on March 2, ahead of the season opener on March 16.
In another win for footy starved Victorians forced to watch their team on TV during successive lockdowns, ticket box offices closed due to the pandemic will reopen at stadiums for the first time in two years, allowing fans to buy tickets on the day.
Members will be allowed to return to reserved seats and fans previously restricted to zones separate zones will be allowed to meet at bars around the ground.
AFL customer and commercial executive general manager Kylie Rogers hoped fans would return to matches en masse.
“We are back and want to return to that familiar match day ritual and routine that everyone loves about our game,’’ she said.
“Our commitment remains to keep footy prices as affordable and accessible as possible and thanking members and fans who have stuck by their clubs.’’
It comes after the Herald Sun last week revealed uncapped crowds would be allowed to return to AFL matches in Victoria next month, with the state government removing attendance restrictions.
It means up to 100,000 fans will be allowed at the MCG for blockbuster season openers including the Grand Final replay between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs.
More than 400,000 fans are expected to flock to a “festival of football’’ of round one matches in Victoria, with all 10 Victorian teams playing each other on home soil to open the season.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/v...n/news-story/3e35d20c485b05ddb26eca5ad052508d
