AFL fans call for more tickets
The AFL has been urged to increase the number of grand final tickets handed to fans in a move that would see 40,000 seats at the MCG filled by competing club members.
The AFL Fans Association will lobby the league to find at least another 6000 seats for spectators at the decider to satisfy record club membership numbers.
It has developed a threepoint plan to put more tickets in the hands of supporters, by taking them off corporate and cashed-up purchasers.
AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko said it would see the number of grand final tickets issued to members of competing clubs increased from 17,000 to 20,000 each.
“With record club memberships it’s time we reward members that go week in, week out in the rain, hail, shine and interstate to see their team play,’’ he said.
“These are the footy fans that deserve to be at the Grand Final.’’
The first step would see 4500 corporate sales tickets, traditionally between $2000 and $5000 a seat, redirected to competing members.
Secondly, AFL “contractual obligation” seats would be reduced by 600.
Finally, 900 tickets from other categories including clubs and past players would be reassigned to competing club members.
AFL spokesman Jay Allen said the Grand Final was “the most sought-after ticket in Australian sport”.
The issue will be put to fans in an annual fans survey to be launched on Monday.
Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly said 17,000 tickets to last year’s grand final for more than 100,000 members was “far from enough for our most loyal members”.