AFL Goldfields has defended charging entry into junior finals of the Ballarat Football Netball League.
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Despite free entry being granted throughout the home and away season, spectators will be forced to part ways with $10 per adult for finals and $12 per adult on grand final day.
In a statement published on its website, AFL Goldfields said the admission prices were vital in giving money back to the clubs each year.
It says the payment system has been in place for more than 20 years.
Junior Finals Series 2017
- Adults - $10
- Family (2 adults & 2 children) - $20
- Pensioner - $5
- 8 - 16yo - $5
- U/8 – Free
- Car – $1
- Footy Record – Free (While stock lasts)
Junior Grand Final 2017
- Adults - $12
- Family (2 adults & 2 children) - $26
- Pensioner - $7
- 8 - 16yo - $5
- U/8 – Free
- Car Parking – $5
- Footy Record – $4 (SPECIAL EDITION)
The full statement can be read below:
“In today’s Ballarat FNL Junior competitions, we are lucky to be in a position to provide free admission into Junior Grounds each week of the home & away season, which is regarded as a brilliant success, allowing Mums & Dads, Grandparents and all family members to attend games on a weekly basis.
There is little doubt that this saves families a significant amount of money over the course of a season. What must be recognised is that Junior Clubs need to raise approximately $150k - $200k per annum to meet costs. This is an enormous burden for Club volunteers. The BFNL and our clubs therefore consider it appropriate to continue with charging Admission prices for Junior Finals, a practice that has been in place for over 20 years.
All proceeds from the Gate Takings at Junior Finals is largely used by the BFNL to subsidise Club costs in the following season, therefore easing the burden on Club volunteers to raise funds. Likewise, some of the income is used to fund Junior Interleague and representative programs.
What must also be recognised, is that if the BFNL did NOT charge an Admission price for Junior finals, then the BFNL would be unable to subsidise Club costs in the subsequent season, meaning that in turn Clubs would have to factor an increase into Memberships, registrations, to cover this shortfall. The bottom line is that this money must be raised somehow, and we are of the view that a small admission price to view high quality Junior Finals is a fair and equitable way of doing so, and which is a proven and accepted practice right throughout AFL Victoria Country.
We ask that you remember this when entering a BFNL Finals venue over the coming weeks and refrain from taking any frustrations relating to admission prices out on our Gate Keepers.”
