The AFL has today forwarded its 2021 financial results to the Presidents and Chairs of the 18 clubs, in the lead-up to next month’s Annual General Meeting.
While the AFL recorded a cash surplus, the AFL’s underlying operating loss for 2021 was $43.0 million, compared to an underlying operating loss of $22.7 million in 2020. This result includes the AFL’s controlled state subsidiaries, Marvel Stadium and Champion Data.
Key AFL financial summary:The AFL’s revenue increased by $63.3 million to $738.1 million, due to increased broadcast revenue and improved commercial returns. This revenue assisted in covering the following costs:
* $300.9 million to AFL clubs;
* $29.5 million on the administration of the 2021 men’s and women’s season, including travel costs to relocate clubs impacted by state border restrictions and administer Covid-19 testing protocols;
* $53.0 million to Game Development; an increase of $21.0 million in line with increased activity at Community level nationally through 2021;
* $60.2 million to the AFLPA;
* $18.5 million in running the NAB AFL Women’s competition;
* $23.0 million to infrastructure comprising of elite and community facilities and contributions for stadia redevelopments; and $0.9 million to corporate and social responsibility initiatives.
Operating expenditure decreased by $22.5 million. In 2020 and 2021, the AFL covered travel costs for teams impacted by state border restrictions. There were significantly less travel and accommodation costs in 2021 compared to 2020. The AFL reduced its operating cost base in 2020; these cost savings were maintained through 2021.
Distributions increased $117.0 million through increases in club and AFL Players Association distributions; these were reduced in 2020 to offset lower revenue and increased costs of running the men’s Toyota Premiership season and returned toward pre-COVID levels in 2021.
The 2021 result includes a commitment to the AFLPA for a share of revenues captured over the 2017-2021 seasons. This is a combination of a commitment as set out in the current CBA agreement plus an allocation of overperformance of industry football-related revenue against the 2021 forecast – although AFL revenue for the year was still $55 million below 2019. A payment is due to be made to the players’ retirement fund in May 2022.
The total payments to AFL Executives equated to $9.8 million, compared to $7.0 million in 2020, and $10.4 million in 2019.
After all revenue, operating expenditure and distributions, the AFL recorded an underlying operating loss of $43.0 million, compared to an underlying operating loss of $22.7 million in 2020.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/704977/afl-releases-2021-financial-results
