Why AFL Grand final is Australia’s most successful event
The Melbourne Cricket Ground will be packed with AFL fans on Saturday when the Sydney Swans play Hawthorn.
The AFL is Australia’s most popular sport and generates more revenue per capita than any other national sports code. In 2012, it generated $425 million in revenue from ticket sales, memberships, and television rights.
Tennis Australia, National Rugby League, and Football Federation Australia each generated $186, $136, and $95 millions respectively.
It’s not surprising, given the AFL’s large number of spectators. In 2013, the AFL attracted 6.4 million fans for its home and away matches, with another 559,000 attending the finals. The total attendance for the season was over seven million.
The NRL racked up just under 3.1 million admissions for the season, while the A League gathered 1.8 million “fan visits”.
AFL is the most popular sports betting site, except for horse racing. In 2012, horse racing generated $20 billion, while AFL and NRL brought in $900 million each, backed by a 13% growth rate.
It is not a bad result for a company that technically isn’t for profit. There are no shareholders, and the enterprise isn’t required to pay out dividends. AFL, as a company limited by guarantees, is able undertake commercial initiatives but does not pay tax on profits since it, according to law, only makes surpluses.
The surplus funds are re-invested in the company, to use a phrase, to “grow” the business into the future.
Second, as the highlight of Australia’s sporting calendar, the Grand Final receives a lot of media coverage. Its national television audience peaks around 4.5 millions, making it the most popular Saturday afternoon television event in the year.
The NRL grand finale is also the most watched football event, with an average of just over 3.9 million viewers.
Melbourne also benefits from the AFL grand finale. The excitement starts with the Brownlow Medal count, which determines the best player for the season. It builds up with the parade of players in the streets of Melbourne on Friday and culminates with the frenetic play-out of the game Saturday afternoon. It’s an old ritual, but it is a good one.
The majority of fans are from out-of-towners. From a business perspective, the more “out-of towners” you have, the better. The game on Saturday is expected to attract 30,000 interstate supporters.
This will give the local economy a boost of $42,000,000. This is a significant boost to the local economy.
Melbourne gains more than just commercial benefits by hosting the AFL Grand Final. Psychological, social, and cultural advantages, while less tangible, are far more important. The AFL grand finale is much more than just a football game. It is also more than just an event. This is a sporting event that brings people together. The class divisions disappear, social bonds form, friendships grow, civic pride increases, and people feel alive.
The city is filled with optimism and a sense of community. It allows us to reflect upon our democratic traditions and celebrates our egalitarianism. The festival also celebrates our rich cultural heritage and, in particular, the incredible achievements of aboriginal footballers. This is a perfect way to enjoy spring.
Critics claim that the AFL has become a place for ugly, hyper-masculine displays, a forum for racist and homophobic comments, a sport that marginalizes minority groups, and a venue for violence against women. The AFL responded by claiming that it was actively trying to alter the culture which enables such problems.
The AFL Grand Final benefits both the economy and society. The AFL Grand Final is Australia’s socially responsible sporting enterprise. It contributes a great deal of social utility to the wider community. It’s a great indigenous sport, an icon of the first order, and a treasure for Australia.
