The AFL has released its financial results for 2011, announcing a loss of $23.6 million, despite posting record revenue of $343 million.
The loss was explained by Commission chairman, and former Carlton champion, Mike Fitzpatrick, as being a direct consequence of the AFL having fast-tracked the admission of two new teams over 2011 and 2012, referring to the Suns and Giants respectively.
With the new five year TV rights deal commencing in 2012, Fitzpatrick expects that the AFL will more than cover those losses over the next five years.
Other indicators for the AFL for 2011 were quite healthy.
Australian Football boasts record participation numbers of 791,178, up from 751,015 in the previous year.
There were also record club memberships of 650,373, up from 614,251 in 2010 (the trend year to date is that that figure will be surpassed in 2012).
Average attendances took a bit of a hit with the introduction of the Suns, but home and away average attendances still finished at 34,893, placing the AFL fourth across the world in attendances at club competitions.
Total attendances across all matches in 2011, including the NAB Cup reached an all-time high of 7,488,198, but of course that includes 11 additional home and away games compared to 2010 (although that year included the grand final replay).
Four players in 2011 topped the $900,000 annual salary mark, and they were Chris Judd, Nick Riewoldt, Jonathon Brown and Matthew Pavlich, although there has always been speculation that Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau are both earning more than that, but not as football salaries.
The financial news came through soon after the first ever official AFL combine had been completed in Dublin, with the testing of 15 Irish youngsters, most importantly, with the approval of the GAA.
This follows up on combines already held in Fiji and New Zealand with plans to expand the combine program into the USA and China.
AFL national talent manager, Kevin Sheehan, sees this as an important first step in adding significantly to the 23 players already on AFL lists who are born overseas.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- AFL, AFL TV rights
February 17th 2012 @ 12:50pm
Redb said | February 17th 2012 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
The $23M loss sounds bad until you factor in a $90M increase in revenue from this year due to tv rights which were always intended to fund the new teams.
February 17th 2012 @ 12:56pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
True.
Although it’s only 6.7% of total revenue, so it’s not really that bad, and we all know that introducing two new teams would be an expensive exercise, and then as you say, the increase in TV rights kick in this year, so it’s not an issue.
February 17th 2012 @ 1:10pm
JamesP said | February 17th 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Intersting how the AFL decided to committ to expansion prior to securing the TV money. That they secured $1.253 billion dollars is testament to their busniess nous and acumen. Obviously the 9th game a round added to their coffers. The NRL on the other hand, is looking to secure the TV deal first, before deciding where to go…
February 17th 2012 @ 2:08pm
Australian Rules said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Interesting figures Cat. Cheers
February 17th 2012 @ 3:19pm
TW said | February 17th 2012 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
This stuff has just been posted – An exclusive for AFL Roarers.
Stand by for the AFL taking further steps to have its own media address on the internet.
Would like some comments on this.
Link–
http://www.zdnet.com.au/afl-to-push-for-brand-domain-339331939.htm?feed=rss
Noted the total participation now up to 791,000 minus 190,000 Auskickers = 600,000 others. These figures now putting us up with Netball etc.
The Auskick figure according to A.D. earlier this year – Not sure how they work it out because the Heartland States run Auskick in the normal footy season and the Northern States run all year round because of school access.
February 17th 2012 @ 3:49pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
TW
really good link, and sort of tells us a bit where the AFL is heading with new media.
February 17th 2012 @ 7:48pm
Lachlan said | February 17th 2012 @ 7:48pm | Report comment
Not to worry, two new teams, will take their time, especially because they aren’t in traditional football strongholds, but the Tv rights deal, should eventually cover a lot of that loss. The game continues to grow at ALL levels and the national compoetition continues to reach new, exciting heights.
February 18th 2012 @ 9:10am
The_Wookie said | February 18th 2012 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Im not even sure the loss or demetrious salary should have been the bigger story how about the record revenue, membership, attendance, and participation. On the basis of the meagre details released yesterday there were 6 records set last year alone for the AFL –
■ Revenue up 2% to $343 million ( a new record)
■ Operating surplus up to $245 million (a new record)
■ Club membership up 5.9% to 650,373 ( a new record)
■ 791,178 Participants – up 5.3% ( a new record)
■ Total attendance including finals and NAB Cup – 7.5 million (a new record)
■ Distributions to clubs of $159 million (a new record)
Not only did GWS require $22 million in funding last year (reported in The Age only), but the AFL threw an extra $17 million at the club last year, so to come up $23 million short isnt too bad in that scenario.
What about the 600 clubs that have been able to develop projects worth $240 million since 2007 with the help and assistance of the AFL.
The loss should have been expected since they said they had probably had to borrow to get the teams off the ground. That shouldnt have been the main story
February 18th 2012 @ 9:34am
Redb said | February 18th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
$10M of that loss alone was the AFL’s contribution to Skoda stadium in Sydney. A one off investment.
February 18th 2012 @ 9:39am
The Cattery said | February 18th 2012 @ 9:39am | Report comment
And as Wookie says above, there have been other contributions to infrastructure. Also, either last year or the year before, another $10 million would have been contributed to the Carrara upgrade.
February 18th 2012 @ 10:37am
The Cattery said | February 18th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Just reading yesterday’s Age – it would appear that the GAA did not give their imprimatur to the combine.
Tadhg Kennelly had some role in organising it, and he instst tht the GAA had been informed of the names of the young Gaelic footballers invited to the camp.
It has been reported in the Irish press that the GAA bosses deny being formally notified by Kennelly.
Judging by the careful selection of words – I can’t help thinking that someone is playing funny buggers.
February 18th 2012 @ 11:02am
The_Wookie said | February 18th 2012 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Its the Irish as always. They’ve never liked their best talent coming here. Ricky Nixon used to do an Irish Combine thing I believe and Kennellys operation may be an offshoot of that.
February 18th 2012 @ 12:22pm
The Cattery said | February 18th 2012 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
I think it would be great for both codes to work together on this. If you have a dozen teenagers coming out on scholarships each year to give it a go, only one or two are going to stay long term, and the rest would return to the GAA as better players, and play with the GAA for the next 12 years. I don’t think there is a huge downside for them, and plenty of upside.
February 18th 2012 @ 12:06pm
It's called football said | February 18th 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
I think you pointed out in another post, Cattery, that the AFL is the only sports body that puts money into stadiums
February 18th 2012 @ 12:30pm
The Cattery said | February 18th 2012 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
In fact this article gives a bit more info on this aspect of AFL operations:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/afls-push-north-creates-a-23m-hole/story-e6frg7mf-1226274200075
AFL has invested in the redevelopment of the showgrounds, Carrara, the MCG and the SCG – all grounds in which the AFL has zero ownership stake.
February 18th 2012 @ 2:15pm
Trust Me said | February 18th 2012 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
AFL censorship is alive and well – remove any comments that don’t praise AFL and only allow comments from AFL supporters.
Why don’t you get rid of all of us and just start an AFL Self Admiration Society.
February 18th 2012 @ 2:54pm
The Cattery said | February 18th 2012 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
Trust Me
your comments are always welcome on my threads, as long as your courteous and respectful.
February 18th 2012 @ 8:11pm
The_Wookie said | February 18th 2012 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
same. Im not overly concerned about critical posts – as long as people arent trolling. I never report posts though. too lazy…