Departing AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has admitted concern over crowd numbers in Melbourne despite the league’s consistent popularity.
Club membership figures and television ratings remain strong, however attendance at AFL games 11 weeks into the 2014 season has left a bad taste in the mouth of Demetriou, departing from the sport’s top job this week after holding the position for the past 11 years.
An unbelievable 20 games have attracted 20,000 or less spectators already this season, four of those at Etihad Stadium and another two at the MCG.
The influx of two new clubs in recent seasons has contributed to an increasing number of one-sided matches with many home and away rounds featuring just a small number of must-watch contests.
“There is no doubt our game is in good shape, and we have great numbers with memberships. television ratings are up, our crowds are down in Melbourne, but on average up when you consider what is going on in Adelaide,” Demetriou said Wednesday.
The success of the renovated Adelaide Oval has diverted attention away from the issue to a degree, however crowds will remain at the top of the agenda for incoming CEO Gillon McLachlan.
“There is certainly something going on around a combination of variable pricing, affordability, the schedule, the start times, we have trialled some games aggressively as part of our broadcast rights, and we are starting to find out what is working and not working.”
Poor attendance continued in Round 11 including reigning premiers Hawthorn attracting just 17,900 to last week’s hit out with Greater Western Sydney and last Friday night’s lone scheduled game between Collingwood and St Kilda drawing a shade under 35,000 fans.
McLachlan will oversee a number of changes in the not too distant future, including the inclusion of a US sport-inspired luxury tax to crack down on salary cap overspending, aimed towards building greater on-field quality.
The new “soft cap” system will penalise the clubs spending more projected industry average spend plus $500,000 by taxing teams that breach the limit by 37.5% next season and at 75% in 2016 (up to $1 million).
“Non-player football department spending has been growing at about ten per cent a year for ten years now,” Mclachlan said.
“There’s an acceptance (the luxury tax) is necessary. We’re trying to find a complex way through.”
Get amongst CraveOnlineAU on Twitter and Facebook for daily sport, music, entertainment and gaming news.
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
