eelofwest wrote:now lets take into account that the AFL average crowd has dropped nearly 4 k this year and it is clear to anyone that the 4FTA games are loosing your clubs huge amount of money through the gate.
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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/a ... 6457723256
THE AFL has been encouraged by attendances this season in the initial year of its new five-season broadcast agreement, where all games are shown live against the gate for the first time.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said yesterday there had been a positive correlation between live television audiences and match attendances.
The league yesterday pointed to the example of Friday night games on free-to-air and Foxtel up to round 20 which have experienced a 43 per cent increase in average audiences, while average crowd numbers are up by 16 per cent on last year's figures.
McLachlan said the AFL had budgeted for a fall-off in average crowds because of the introduction of smaller clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, but was heartened by the increased attendances in Western Australia and South Australia in particular.
The number of home-and-away games has increased from 176 two years ago to 198 this year, with 44 involving Gold Coast and GWS, and premiership matches in every state and territory.
"We are restructuring for the future and we've now got a framework to build on, which we see carrying us forward for the next 15 to 20 years," McLachlan said of the impact of two new clubs in 18 months.
"So essentially, what we've done is we've invested in the future for growth, and when you do that, you have to re-align the baseline."
Taking into account ground redevelopments at the SCG and Simonds Stadium, where capacity has been vastly reduced this season, average attendances are slightly higher than in 2010. Overall, the 2010 average attendance of 38,635 has been slightly less this season -- 38,525 -- from fewer games between the traditional clubs.
"Crowds are an important reflection of brand strength," McLachlan said. "There are a whole series of measures, though they're one, and when you put in two new start-up clubs in developing markets that are, by definition, smaller than the existing 16 clubs, you have to expect a drop in the average. We understand the numbers, we are behind them, and we recalibrate the baseline given a new framework for the next 15-20 years, (it is) a new structure."
McLachlan explained the AFL's philosophy concerning the growth of the game compared with crowd numbers, by saying: "A sell-out crowd and a fabulous game in front of 15,000 to 16,000 people in Hobart, I think is a better outcome for the Kangaroos and for football nationally than losing 7000 or 8000 in attendance if the match was played at Etihad. That brings the average down, but in my view, it's the right outcome for football."
Queensland average crowds decreased by 32 per cent between 2010 and last year due to market-specific factors, including floods and the state of the economy, but have since stabilised. More than 50,000 more fans have attended AAMI Stadium this year than last on the back of a stronger Crows, while the rise of the Dockers has been the main reason for overall attendances to increase to 675,000 at Patersons Stadium.
Another 100,000 fans have experienced an AFL game in NSW this year due to the entry of GWS, despite SCG crowds decreasing by an average of 6000 due to the redevelopment.
Crowds in Victoria are down by about 150,000 due to less exposure between the traditional clubs because of the 10 games played by Gold Coast and GWS at the MCG, Etihad Stadium and Simonds Stadium.
