Battle for your footy buckPeter Rolfe
Sunday Herald Sun
March 06, 2011 AFL clubs have turned to the weird, wacky and wonderful in a bid to persuade football fans to become members.
Cocktail parties with coaches, barbecues with players and signed photos of club captains are being offered by Victorian and interstate clubs trying to bolster their membership ranks and revenue bases.
Richmond fans willing to part with $900 can get a private room and bar for two at a Tigers' match with a pre-game address by one of the assistant coaches.Melbourne fans paying $835 for "Legends" membership get a pass to the Demons' change rooms for one game and a chance to meet players after every MCG match.
Brisbane coach Michael Voss will host a cocktail evening for the Lions' best paying members.
Port Adelaide fans get lunch with two Power players and an assistant coach for their $1800 premium membership.
And members of St Kilda's exclusive "300 club" membership can enjoy a pre-season barbecue and open training session and reserved car park.
As rival AFL clubs pull out all stops to get their hands on supporters' cash, Collingwood is clearly winning the war with their sights set on pushing through the 70,000-member mark for the first time.
The black-and-white army is set to break an AFL record for membership before the first bounce of the 2011 AFL season. With about a month before the season begins, the reigning premier already has a membership base of almost 54,000 - only 4000 shy of the record paying supporter base it set last year on the way to its drought-breaking Grand Final victory.
Such is Collingwood's dominance of the membership market, it has even sold out of premium "Legends" membership. At a cost of more than $800, it comes with guaranteed Grand Final tickets.
Standard club memberships start at $170 for an 11-match pass to home games.
Typically, a team cap or scarf, key ring, bumper sticker, fridge magnet and magazine are included.
A rich source of revenue for clubs, packages are sold for adults, families, children and even pets.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fierce-battle-for-your-footy-buck/story-e6frf7kx-1226016434352