AFL members offered multiple options for 2020Peter Ryan
The Age
20 May 2020AFL members have been encouraged to choose one of four options that "best suit" the person's situation in an email sent from the league on Monday night that outlines options for 2020.
While club members wait to hear from their respective clubs, AFL members have been told they can either maintain their AFL membership, convert to an absentee membership, pause their upcoming payments or ask for a full refund and cancellation, as crowds are unlikely to attend games at the MCG in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If a member chooses to maintain their AFL membership for 2020 they will receive a 30 per cent discount on their 2021 membership and, if a club support member, their financial contribution will remain with the club they have nominated.
They can then attend games if crowds are allowed at any point in 2020 and are also eligible for several member packs including tickets to games next season and food and beverage packs.
Those who choose to become an absentee member will be refunded but will not receive a 30 per cent discount on next year's membership or a members' pack. However, they will be required to pay a $170 fee for adults, which would allow them to attend matches in 2020 if crowds return, as well as renew their membership for 2021.
Many members will have already paid the $170 in 2020 through their automatic monthly membership payments.
Members making monthly payments were given the option to pause their upcoming payments having already been contributing through the shutdown. If they do so they will receive a 15 per cent discount on their 2021 membership, a member pack and the ability to return to games if crowds return.
Members had already handed over six of the 10 monthly payments so the pause will save them money but enable the AFL to retain the revenue received.
AFL members who cancel their membership for 2020 will not be able to automatically renew for 2021 and will "no longer receive benefits and entitlements for the 2021 Toyota AFL premiership season and beyond".
The AFL and clubs have been working with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the tax office to work out a range of options to present to members, with clubs expected to roll out the options in the next couple of weeks leading into the June 11 restart.
The MCC is reviewing the full impact to their membership season, which runs from September 2019 through to August 2020, following the AFL's announcement.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire urged members to hold off on asking for a refund if at all possible when the shutdown started, saying they didn't want a "run on the clubs", but AFL CEO Gill McLachlan has tread a more diplomatic line since, saying the league understood if people needed a refund.
Membership provides a significant proportion of revenue for all clubs but some Victorian teams such as Geelong and Essendon also earn a large percentage of revenue through their reserved seat income.
Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond surveyed a percentage of their members in recent weeks to gain feedback on which options might be most suitable to them. The Bulldogs said they have had very few members cancel their memberships despite not being able to attend games.
Even with games returning, clubs are being hit hard financially as the broadcast revenue earned through games being played without crowds goes to the AFL rather than clubs. Clubs make money through gate receipts, membership and sponsorship.
Club CEOs such as Carlton's Cain Liddle, Richmond's Brendon Gale, Collingwood's Mark Anderson and Hawthorn's Justin Reeves have been working on arrangements for members since the season was interrupted.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-members-offered-three-options-for-2020-memberships-20200519-p54u91.html
