Collingwood call on AFL to issue clubs more grand final tickets as members miss out

• Magpies CEO says clubs’ allocation should rise from 17,000 to 20,000
• MCG atmosphere likely to be quieter due to corporate tickets

Collingwood’s chief executive has called for the AFL to provide clubs with more grand final tickets, after this week’s allocation process prompted anger and disappointment from members who missed out.

Footy fans that do get to the game at the MCG on Saturday against the Brisbane Lions have been told to expect an atmosphere that is quieter and a crowd that is less involved than previous finals matches, due to the relatively high number of corporate tickets provided.

Craig Kelly said on Monday that Collingwood would work with members who were entitled to tickets but experienced problems during the ballot process to ensure they have a seat.

Some Magpies members who paid for a premium membership this season, costing close to $1,000, expressed frustration on Sunday that they were allocated worse seats than fans on lower membership tiers. Others complained they were given standing seats when they needed to sit for the game.

There were also 37 top-tier members who were left without a ticket due to a failure to select the “standing room” option during the ballot process, even though their membership guarantees them a place. An additional 700 members whose credit cards either failed or had insufficient funds when buying their tickets in the ballot will get to keep their allocations.

Kelly used the opportunity in responding to these complaints to call for an increase in tickets for fans.

“We know grand finals are a case of high demand and limited availability which is why we call on the AFL to increase competing club allocations from 17,000 to at least 20,000 tickets,” he said.

The AFL offers an allocation of 17,000 tickets to each competing club for the grand final. About 15,000 tickets are set aside for corporate groups and sponsors. The AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) has long called for an increase in grand final tickets, and lobbied for the AFL to increase the allocation from 15,000 to 17,000 in 2017.

The AFLFA president, Ron Issko, said it was in the sport’s interest to let more fans into the showpiece game and called on the incoming AFL chief executive, Andrew Dillon, to make it a priority.

“At Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final there is 90,000 capacity and 60,000 fans attend, so we think from the world’s standards, we’ve got the balance wrong,” Issko said.

“If that means redirecting some of the corporate and sponsors’ tickets to competing club fans, so be it and that will make fans realise that Andrew Dillon is for fans, and that’ll be a great start for him.”

Collingwood has more members than any other AFL club, more than 106,000 at last count. A key selling point to its “Legends” membership tier is guaranteed access to buy a ticket to the grand final. The club doesn’t release how many top-tier members it has, but some lower-tier members were successful in the ballot.

Collingwood fans may also get to the game if they are AFL Gold Members, part of the Melbourne Cricket Club, Medallion Club or are connected with corporate groups or sponsors. Any of the Brisbane Lions’ 17,000 allocation that is unfulfilled will be redirected to Collingwood members.

Issko said while the grand final will be a great event with good atmosphere, it won’t compare to the preliminary final crowd from Friday, when 97,000 mostly Mapgies fans watched their side beat GWS by one point.

“There was just a handful of corporates, and that’s why the atmosphere was what it was,” he said. “That’s why they call [the preliminary final] the fans’ game, and that’s why they call the grand final the corporate game because less than half of the stadium is competing club fans, and it’s ridiculous.”

Kelly also called for Ticketek to “improve their system so that the moment funds are taken out of bank accounts, tickets are released to members immediately”.

A joint statement from Ticketek and the Melbourne Cricket Club, which manages the MCG, said the “ballot process ran as planned, and per instruction from the AFL”.

“Ticketek and the MCC welcome the opportunity to engage with the AFL and clubs to review the grand final ballot process and to ensure the best possible experience for members and fans,” they said.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaKugpL%2B1e5FpaWxno5q9cH6UaJifpF2btq%2Bty6xkrJ2inrK0eZFpaWxlk6S5rbXNoK6op5RisrnA0ZpkoKqRo7FussinmKVlpJ6wrLHTrGSmnZ2XsrO%2FjJqjpaeTlsGqu81mmpqknKg%3D