Preliminary Final Venue?

[Xie Shan]

Geelong haven't played at ANZ since 2010 and North have only played there once in 2008.

[barry]

ANZ's length is better to fine tune our game plan for the expanses of the MCG.

Plus a longer ground makes it easier to operate two key forward like Buddy and Tippet.

(And before this turns into a slanging match, I have made no comment on the SCG dimensions).

[KTigers]

Apparently we have won our last seven finals at ANZ. Obviously our record during the home-and-away isn't as good, but it's the games
in September that really count. I purchased 4 return flights to Melbourne for the GF weekend this morning for myself and the family.

[Mel_C]

The AFL have dropped ticket prices this weekend, after two 70K+ crowds.

Surely they will do the same in Sydney for the prelim.

I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully the AFL have learnt from 2012!

[ernie koala]

It seems the venue hasn't been finalised yet...As stated towards the end of the article about Mals hammy...

There is also some doubt over the venue for next Friday night's preliminary final, with the NRL finals potentially impacting on the availability of ANZ Stadium.

If there is a clash, the SCG may be used instead, but Longmire's only concern is that the game is held in Sydney.

[Dave]

I found out something this morning that I was unaware of with ANZ Stadium. Mike Fitzpatrick led a consortium to buy it a few years ago. Not sure whether he still has an interest in it but it certainly would work in his interest for games to be played there.

No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au

"Mr Fitzpatrick, who founded Hastings Funds Management before selling a controlling stake to Westpac, will take a 50 per cent interest in ANZ Infrastructure Services."

I apologize in advance if this was already common knowledge.

[stellation]

In this article on afl.com.au it says

Meanwhile the AFL has confirmed the first preliminary final hosted by the Swans will be played on the night of Friday 19 September at ANZ Stadium.

The AFL have dropped ticket prices this weekend, after two 70K+ crowds.

Surely they will do the same in Sydney for the prelim.

The discount for the Cats/North SF is available to members only I believe, which would be great if they did it obviously for the PF but might not help us massively in a push for a massive crowd as casual fans who are probably the least likely to pay the high prices would generally miss out. It would still be a big help for a big crowd, and I'm sure there'd be a lot of members buying tickets for interested friends etc.

The AFL had included a discount along these lines in their ticket planning for the finals when prices were first announced- so members who bought tickets using their membership barcode in week 1 would receive a 20% discount when buying tickets in week 2, they may have just extended that slightly by removing the "had to buy in week 1" restriction- based on the crowds there was probably a good turnout of members from both North and Geelong, so it may not be an added benefit to too many beyond what was planned (and may just be easier on their system to apply a blanket 20% discount instead of checking if the barcodes were used in week 1).

[Danzar]

Stellation is correct unfortunately.

The price reduction isn't a discretionary response to low crowd numbers following week one. Appears to be designed to ease the load for those members who are facing the prospect of paying for three finals, not two.

[erica]

Stellation is correct unfortunately.

The price reduction isn't a discretionary response to low crowd numbers following week one. Appears to be designed to ease the load for those members who are facing the prospect of paying for three finals, not two.

It appears to be only for the Victorian teams in semi 2? I haven't read anywhere that the Freo/Port members get the same benefit for semi 1. Is that right?

[annew]

The pricing of tickets for the preliminary final is way too expensive. Looking at the pricing and the designated areas, there are hardly any of the cheapest sets available and personally $104 for a ticket is ridiculous.

[ugg]

These were the prices for the 2012 prelim against Collingwood

[jono2707]

The pricing of tickets for the preliminary final is way too expensive. Looking at the pricing and the designated areas, there are hardly any of the cheapest sets available and personally $104 for a ticket is ridiculous.

Agreed - the pricing for the Sydney preliminary final is disgusting. Would be somewhat understandable if it was guaranteed to be a sellout, but the stadium will likely to 50-75% full (or 25-50% empty). In no way is this taking a swipe at the venue, but the pricing alone will be a huge factor in keeping the attendance to this game at an unfortunately disappointing level.

[mcs]

Agreed - the pricing for the Sydney preliminary final is disgusting. Would be somewhat understandable if it was guaranteed to be a sellout, but the stadium will likely to 50-75% full (or 25-50% empty). In no way is this taking a swipe at the venue, but the pricing alone will be a huge factor in keeping the attendance to this game at an unfortunately disappointing level.

If we get it 75% full with the ridiculous preliminary final prices of the afl, it would be an outstanding achievement. Anything over 50k will be a really good crowd if you ask me, given the prices.

The pricing is just ridiculous - especially when a competing product in the nrl will have a game on elsewhere with tickets probably less than half the price (of course at only week 2 of their finals, not week 3).

The afl has to seriously reconsider its pricing for sydney finals if it wants to get the casual fans in that are needed to get a really big crowd on friday week.

[barry]

$70 to sit at the top of the wings looking through your knees. Tell em their dreaming. All level 6 should be GA $30

[stellation]

It appears to be only for the Victorian teams in semi 2? I haven't read anywhere that the Freo/Port members get the same benefit for semi 1. Is that right?

I believe the Freo/Port members received the discount if they'd bought tickets using their membership to their respective week 1 games- they may not have made as big a deal about it because it's likely to be a much smaller percentage of members that would attend a week 1 & 2 fixture for those clubs since it would require travel.