AFL Membership- Is It Really Worth it?

[Captain_Carlton]

For those of you with one, what do you think of it?
I have come to the realisation that overall, it is a bit of a rip-off. There have been times this year where it has really been great, but more often than not, there have been times that it has just made me scratch my head as to why a large amount of money is paid for the value that you get back. I'll highlight some of the reasons I think this way:

Having already paid a large sum of money, you would think that would be it for forking out ridiculous amounts of money to go to the footy, in terms of ticketing and seating. There have been numerous times this year where I have had to open my wallet time after time, and it has really made me question the point of even having an AFL membership if a lot of the time, we have to pay anyway.

In addition to that point, given the money that has been paid, you would think that the AFL would make sure that quality seating is available for walk up to generally every game in the season...at least at the MCG. By this, they could keep a couple of sections off-limits from pre-booking...this way, everybody is kept happy...those who refuse to fork out more money can still go to the footy, and the people who reserve tickets (who the hell knows what for as they already have an AFL membership..) don't miss out either.
I have not paid hundreds of dollars to be sitting in the thin air watching ants run around an oval. I could have saved myself the trouble of buying a membership and done that by paying about 15 bucks per game and paying about half the amount all up than I have with AFL membership.

My points may be a little unclear, but I hope you understand. I'm really unconvinced as to whether I will sign up as an AFL member next year, as for a fair few games now it has blindly ripped me off, which IMO, should not happen given the price of it.

Thoughts?

 

[Hoops]

New someone who was an AFL member who would make all his money back by selling his ticket at Grand Final time, to me

 

[Adz]

For those of you with one, what do you think of it?
I have come to the realisation that overall, it is a bit of a rip-off. There have been times this year where it has really been great, but more often than not, there have been times that it has just made me scratch my head as to why a large amount of money is paid for the value that you get back. I'll highlight some of the reasons I think this way:

Having already paid a large sum of money, you would think that would be it for forking out ridiculous amounts of money to go to the footy, in terms of ticketing and seating. There have been numerous times this year where I have had to open my wallet time after time, and it has really made me question the point of even having an AFL membership if a lot of the time, we have to pay anyway.

In addition to that point, given the money that has been paid, you would think that the AFL would make sure that quality seating is available for walk up to generally every game in the season...at least at the MCG. By this, they could keep a couple of sections off-limits from pre-booking...this way, everybody is kept happy...those who refuse to fork out more money can still go to the footy, and the people who reserve tickets (who the hell knows what for as they already have an AFL membership..) don't miss out either.
I have not paid hundreds of dollars to be sitting in the thin air watching ants run around an oval. I could have saved myself the trouble of buying a membership and done that by paying about 15 bucks per game and paying about half the amount all up than I have with AFL membership.

My points may be a little unclear, but I hope you understand. I'm really unconvinced as to whether I will sign up as an AFL member next year, as for a fair few games now it has blindly ripped me off, which IMO, should not happen given the price of it.

Thoughts?

I think it's pretty good. Cheap if you get a concession membership.
But yes, being a Collingwood member, unless you get there early or prebook a ticket, your seating is limited.

 

[nugget_12]

I too am a AFL Member and i think its a great Membership to have!

I do see where your coming from but you need to realise that you are a Carlton supporter and the blues normally draw a big crowd!
Its the same for Richmond no matter how crap we're going.

The added bonus is week 1 and 2 finals entry and prelim preference if your side is playing.
Not to mention after 6 - 8 years you qualify for Full membership which gives you Grand Final Tickets.

personally i think its better than a MCC or club membership, MCC still have to pay to go to the Dome and i think 42 games a year plus guest passes is pretty good. If you get in early for games its only $5.50 to book seating online and its clearly cheaper then rocking up to the ground and upgrading!

Good Deal IMO

 

[Strawbs]

I am a Richmond member with reserved seating for home games at both The 'G' and Etihad. I must admit if the money didn't go to the club I would probably not be a member. From a purely financial point of view it is not really great value compared to simply walking up and paying at the gate. And to add insult to injury the club had a loyalty program in place for long term members in relation to finals tickets (yeah, I know, not often an issue for us) but gave it the flick in favour of a one-off fee which guarantees you a GF ticket. I other words, holding us to ransom. I realise they are a business but loyalty should count for something, especially when we fork out hundreds a year for little success.

 

[jonesy86]

I think it's great value. It's about $30 dearer than an 18-game Collingwood general admission membership and you get a choice of much better seats. Twice this year already they have had the comfy arm chairs, level 2 on the wing available for walk-up at Collingwood home games.

We have to reserve seats at Etihad at $5.50 per head on level 1 and with our Coll memberships it would cost about $35 per head in worse position. Throughout the season (all teams) there would be about 10 games we book tickets to so it's about $400 all up for the year for seats on the wing. Which is much better than the club membership IMO.

The best is games at Etihad where you rock up match day and get a level 1 upgrade for free with your AFL Membership.

 

[SirJimi05]

I think it's pretty good. Cheap if you get a concession membership.
But yes, being a Collingwood member, unless you get there early or prebook a ticket, your seating is limited.

Not everybody is a toothless unemployed Collingwood supporter.

 

[SirJimi05]

High Mark membership for Dons supporters is great value for money!

Not much more expensive than purchasing a standard membership + reserved seat and you get the best seats in the house. Level 2 at the Dome.

 

[Truetiger]

I have been an afl member for 10years with Richmond as club of support. Before that time I was only a Richmond member. Many of my mates are afl members as well because You get very little as a club member. All preseason games and finals - free entry or next to nothing to get in. 40 home and away games at the MCG and Telstra dome. As well as entry into the SANFL members for Port home games. With this membership you can turn up whenever you want and will get in. Finals tickets and ofcourse Grand Final tickets. Every year i get a grand final ticket and i often are up for the idea of selling it so i get the money back on my membership. I would be lost without my afl membership plenty of value for money unlike that of club memberships

 

[Mike B]

AFL member for 10+ years, before that was a Carlton Football Club 14-15? game member.

I find it's great value for what I get in return - I can sit on the wing at both the Dome and the G, see my team's home games, see most of their away games, and see bonus games when I feel like a bit of extra footy or want to see a match with mates.

I can see what you're getting at regarding the extra bucks for reserved seats, something I've done about 4-5 times this season and at $5.50 a pop it can quickly add up, but the view at Docklands on level three is equal to MCG's 2A and I don't mind sitting further back at the G either.

 

[Mike B]

High Mark membership for Dons supporters is great value for money!

That's great, but it's useless information in terms of the rest of the thread.

 

[fpm84]

I'm an AFL member w/ Geelong club support, and I have reserved seats at Skilled Stadium.

After being a club member for years I am so glad I made the switch to AFL membership. I think the range of benefits you get are amazing - I haven't missed an ANZAC Day game in 4 or 5 years and that's something I wouldn't get to go to if it wasn't for AFL membership.

I go to all Melbourne based finals in weeks 1 and 2 essentially for free (I pay a booking fee to reserve a good seat) and when it comes to booking prelim tickets as I've done in the past two years I get treated the same as all Geelong club members and queue up at the same time. I also get to enter the grand final ticket ballot if we make it, so my chances of attending the GF if we're in it is the same as anybody else's chance - all the while I'm progressing up the AFL membership ladder to be a full member with guaranteed GF access one day.

Seriously, can't recommend it highly enough. Great seats on the wing at the MCG and Etihad. Free entry into ALL NAB Cup games including the grand final (went to all pre season Geelong games this year including the grand final). The only downside would be if I didn't have reserved seats at Skilled - there's no specified AFL members reserve down there so if you don't have a reserve seat you're stuck in standing room or paying extra for a seat.

 

[magic_johnson!]

I'm an AFL member w/ Geelong club support, and I have reserved seats at Skilled Stadium.

After being a club member for years I am so glad I made the switch to AFL membership. I think the range of benefits you get are amazing - I haven't missed an ANZAC Day game in 4 or 5 years and that's something I wouldn't get to go to if it wasn't for AFL membership.

So, what's the go with AFL membership with Reserve seats at Skilled. I am loooking at this for next year (pay/buy a membership for next year and you get 10 tickets for this year also) and am wondering. Do you buy the AFL membership, get sent both GFC + AFL memberships, and walk into the cattery with your GFC membership card and say "can i upgrade this with seats" (on the seat resale day, or the day they decide to sell all of the seats for the new stand) or "can you put my current seats on this card"?

 

[Rob]

Unbelievable value. If I lived in Melbourne it would be the first thing i'd buy.

It's criminal that AFL members pay so little yet get 1/4 of the seats come grand final day.

 

[Speck]

No doubt it's awesome.

Been one for about 6 years I think. My dad signed me up and I've never looked back. Last year I went to 30 games including nearly every final in Melbourne + the Grand Final (been to the last 4). It is really, really worth it. Don't hold back as the full member waiting list is getting longer and longer. Only took me 3 to get mine a few years ago!

 

[TheWiseOne]

I have one it's not bad value, Just want it upgrading to Gold so i get that grand final ticket

 

[behind the northern goals]

wait until your team makes the big dance and all you need to do is rock up to ticketmaster at 8.30 sunday morning, pay $40 odd bucks and walk away with seats on level 2. worth every penny for that reason alone imho

 

[LightTower4]

I'm reasonably happy with it.
Access to first 2 weeks of finals.
Better than average Joe chance of prelim & grand final ticket and almost guaranteed if my team gets in *sigh*.
Half price cricket and Jihad entry.
Another big plus is the ability to see any game on a whim when I have nothing else on given I'm not that far from the G.

 

[fpm84]

So, what's the go with AFL membership with Reserve seats at Skilled. I am loooking at this for next year (pay/buy a membership for next year and you get 10 tickets for this year also) and am wondering. Do you buy the AFL membership, get sent both GFC + AFL memberships, and walk into the cattery with your GFC membership card and say "can i upgrade this with seats" (on the seat resale day, or the day they decide to sell all of the seats for the new stand) or "can you put my current seats on this card"?

I already had a reserved seat when I signed up for AFL membership, so just renew the same seat each year. My AFL membership card gets me into the ground, and then I have a separate GFC membership card with my seat number to show the security guards at the terrace.

If you're an AFL member with Geelong club support WITHOUT a reserved seat, you're essentially treated the same as all club members with general admission entitlements... you can ring up in advance and book a seat using your barcode number or try to do the same thing on match day, or just scan in and stand at the Ablett terrace.

I much prefer having my own seat especially because I come down from Melbourne each game and don't have to get there ridiculously early.

 

[Tom12]

I've got a stkilda membership. I'm in perth. People ask me-'why? It's not like you get to see them every few weeks' etc. But really, its supporting the club you love. Not getting value for money. I'll never forget the times I get to have breakfast with them when they come over.

 

[HerveyBayTiger]

I am an AFL member living in sunny SE Qld. I am a full member and get a country concession. I think it costs about $300.

No I am not nuts. Over $100 of that gets donated to my club. I get all the normal membership benefits at Richmond, including all the free mechandise at the beginning of the year, free entry to the Gold Coast match this year, and whenever hell freezes over, entry to all finals and the Granny.

For anyone looking at a discounted interstate membership package for their club this may be an opion.

For those of you lucky enough to go every week its even better.

 

[doodlefeatures]

Mine more than paid for itself when I got a seat on the wing for about $100 on GF day last year

 

[Gopies 2002]

The finals access pays for the membership IMO.

 

[Captain_Carlton]

The thing that really gets up my nose is these "reserve on demand" games that they like to have..
What is the point of it?
I just like to roll up to the ground knowing that I will have a decent seat on the wing, none of this stuffing around all week trying to book tickets which is a pain in the arse alone if you have ever tried it on the internet for this type of game.

 

[magic_johnson!]

I already had a reserved seat when I signed up for AFL membership, so just renew the same seat each year. My AFL membership card gets me into the ground, and then I have a separate GFC membership card with my seat number to show the security guards at the terrace.

If you're an AFL member with Geelong club support WITHOUT a reserved seat, you're essentially treated the same as all club members with general admission entitlements... you can ring up in advance and book a seat using your barcode number or try to do the same thing on match day, or just scan in and stand at the Ablett terrace.

I much prefer having my own seat especially because I come down from Melbourne each game and don't have to get there ridiculously early.

Sorry, I'm still confused.
I have reserved seats at Skilled. So, do i need to buy both AFL memberships and renew my gfc membership?