AFL fans could pay an extra $2 for general admisson tickets next season Jon Ralph and Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
October 24, 2013 FOOTY fans would pay an extra $2 for general admission tickets next season under a plan to protect battler clubs.
The equalisation tax is being strongly considered by the AFL as it seeks to reduce the gap between footy’s rich and poor clubs.
The AFL refused to comment yesterday, but many clubs including league powerhouses Collingwood and Hawthorn believe it will be introduced.
The Magpies have frozen membership prices for 2014 in anticipation of the levy being introduced.
Club memberships would be exempt from the price hike, with the tax added only on tickets sold at the gate or the equivalent online.
Half of the $2 gate levy would go to the home club and the other $1 to an equalisation pool, then distributed by the league.
With AFL annual attendances nudging seven million, the measure would drag millions of dollars from the pockets of footy fans.
Perennial battlers including the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide would pocket the lion’s share of extra revenues.
High-drawing teams Collingwood and Hawthorn agreed to the concept when it was raised at a meeting with the AFL last month.
The Pies and Hawks believe it is the best option for them from a number of equalisation proposals.
The power clubs believe proposals such as a football department spending cap would reduce the incentive to innovate.
The AFL has kept general admission ticket prices at $20 for four seasons, but have found ways to make millions more from adding reserved seat and tiered finals tickets categories.
Adult fans at the MCG already pay a $1.30 redevelopment levy for each seat to help the AFL fund its obligations for major works.
The Pies lured 610,357 spectators to home games this year, with Hawthorn drawing 422,614 fans to its home matches.
The extra $1 paid to home clubs is seen as a softener to big clubs, but with many of them having huge membership bases, it is not expected to be a lucrative money spinner.
Other equalisation measures will be introduced next year, with the AFL set to share millions of dollars to clubs through a restructured relationship with the AFL’s drinks partners.
The league has already trialled variable ticket pricing, and has considered a blockbuster tax that would put a levy on the season’s best games.
The league has made clear it will push more aggressive equalisation measures, with as few as three or four AFL clubs making a profit when AFL distributions are taken away.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-fans-could-pay-an-extra-2-for-general-admisson-tickets-next-season/story-fnelctok-1226745501283
