Carlton and Richmond’s on-field struggles are having a direct impact on their bottomlineJon Ralph
Herald Sun
July 03, 2014 The Blues and fellow power club Richmond are both facing challenges to maintain crowd figures as they battle away at the bottom end of the ladder.
Richmond’s home-and-away MCG figures are down nearly 10,000 this year, but they have 65,453 members which will help their bottom line.
They drew only 22,074 fans to their MCG loss to Fremantle in Round 13 and 34,633 against Sydney on a Friday night a fortnight ago.
The Tigers averaged 49,347 fans across 22 games last year, but are down to an average of 38,674 at home and away after 15 games.
They are also 4-10, and take on interstate sides Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney at home as well as St Kilda and Essendon.
It will be a huge challenge to draw quality crowds to those games bar Essendon, again stripping profit from the bottom line.
CARLTON has been forced to significantly downgrade its profit forecasts this year given poor form, stagnant membership and sliding crowd figures.
The AFL’s fixture has seen Carlton play two Thursday night, two Sunday night and one Monday game, and while many of those are away games the Blues believe it has impacted their membership figures.
They are still at only 47,278 paid-up members, with just one of their six home games breaking the 50,000 mark so far (68,251 v Collingwood).
Carlton is aware its 4-10 win-loss record is hurting the bottom line but believes family and country members have not signed up in their usual numbers because of the inconsistent fixture.
The AFL normally fixtures Carlton and Richmond together twice a year with split gate takings, but the arch-rivals play only once this year.
The club denied the combination of events would see the club make a loss this year, but new president Mark LoGiudice is known to believe the fixture is partly at fault for poor financials.
He could address the fixture when he makes his maiden president’s address at the home clash against St Kilda this Sunday.
The Monday night fixture between St Kilda and Carlton drew just 26,708 earlier this year when both sides had recent wins on the board.
The Blues reduced debt by $1 million and made a $528,095 profit last year, after coach payouts including a deal for sacked coach Brett Ratten forced a $683,799 loss the previous year.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/carlton-and-richmonds-onfield-struggles-are-having-a-direct-impact-on-their-bottomline/story-fnelctok-1226975552995
