The Australian Football League (AFL) has frozen prices for entry-level tickets for all matches in the first three weeks of the finals for the 10th successive year but it is not likely to dent revenue across the season.
The AFL, Australia's largest sporting body, said entry-level tickets would remain $35 for the first two weeks of the finals (4-13 September) and $65 for week three (19-20 September), continuing a price freeze in place since 2016.
It said entry-level tickets for the Grand Final on Saturday 27 September would increase for the first time since 2019 with the cheapest reserved seat set at $195, part of a 4% average price increase on all ticket categories from 2024 in response to rising costs.
The most expensive ticket would be $515, compared to $493 in 2024.
General admission prices for the Melbourne venues where 40% of AFL regular season games are played, the 100,000 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground and 53,000 person Marvel Stadium, have been frozen for seven years.
They cost $27 for adults, $18 for concession holders $5 for juniors and $54 for families.
Despite the freezes the AFL’s commercial operations revenue, which includes ticket sales, increased 12% to $465.589 million in 2024 because of higher sponsorship revenue.
Executive General Manager of Customer and Commercial Bec Haagsma said 2025 was poised to be the biggest in the game’s history with a recently announced record 1.32 million members and more than seven million attendees so far.
“We remain committed to keeping the finals ticket prices as an affordable option in recognition of the members and fans who support their clubs in record numbers,” Haagsma said in a media release.
