AFL to meet profit forecast
By Chris Lines
October 7, 2003

THE AFL will meet its forecast profit of $4.5 million in 2003, with the league buoyed by a year of increased crowds and television audiences.



AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou today said the league was likely to slightly exceed the predicted surplus, which was down from the $8.8 million profit recorded in 2002.

Attendances increased by 4.2 per cent in 2003 ? the biggest increase since 1998 but to an aggregate still less than 2001 ? kicked along by a strong finals series, particularly the 71,000 to the preliminary final in Sydney.

Crowds were flat for the first half of the season but improved markedly after the mid-season bye as national interest escalated, providing an overall attendance boost that turned around a drop in crowds in 2002.

Attendances were down marginally in Victoria for the year but improved in every other state, with the traditional Saturday afternoon slot popular with fans while Friday night crowds fell.

Fremantle, Sydney and the Kangaroos were the biggest improvers in attendance, with Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs tumbling.

The Demons and Dogs have now both recorded percentage double-figure attendance tumbles in successive seasons.

While AFL membership slipped by three per cent, club memberships increased by the same amount, fuelled principally by St Kilda, Carlton and Collingwood.

Sydney recorded the biggest fall, reflecting low expectations at the start of the season.

Television audiences improved by 10 per cent, highlighted by 21 per cent bigger viewership for the 2003 finals compared to 2002.

The AFL was now watched by an average 3.8 million television viewers per week, with audiences up sharply in Brisbane but down slightly in Adelaide, where interest in non-Crows and non-Power games fell.

The early Sunday afternoon games were dragging the chain for Channel Nine, with viewership barely improved over 2002.

Collingwood's' trip to Brisbane in round four was the most watched minor round match of the season, with the Magpies figuring in four of the top five home-and-away games as measured by television ratings.



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