There are big differences between the codes' finals, and the cost to attend, writes Roy Masters.
AFL fans will outlay nearly three times the amount NRL supporters pay for finals tickets this month, despite total spending in each code on football-related activities being about the same.
According to a report from research and analysis group IBISWorld, AFL fans will spend $32 million on finals tickets leading to the grand final on September 25 at the MCG, compared with an NRL outlay of $12.6 million, before its season decider at ANZ Stadium, Homebush, a week later on October 3.
Total spending on travel and accommodation ($135 million), bar sales ($134 million), alcohol for home consumption ($64 million), sports betting ($53 million), tickets and consumer durables, such as flat screen TV's and barbecues, through to merchandise ($3.9 million) is similar: AFL $283.8 million and NRL $234 million.
So why the discrepancy with the yield from finals tickets? Both sports have a top eight, nine finals matches and the code administrations, rather than the clubs, set the prices and keep the ticket receipts.
But the AFL adopts a strict commercial approach to the playoffs, while the NRL rewards teams for their performance throughout the season, and fans for their loyalty.
The AFL finals system is designed to produce top-quality, close games, at big stadiums, with ticket prices aimed at the corporate market.
The NRL rewards top teams by scheduling them against lower-ranked teams, allowing them to play at suburban grounds with affordable tickets.
The AFL's first weekend of semi-finals saw a close contest between second-placed Geelong and third-placed St Kilda watched by 64,000 at the MCG, while 42,000 watched Sunday's thriller between the fifth-placed Swans and eighth-placed Carlton at ANZ Stadium, Homebush.
Collingwood's demolition of the Bulldogs, also at the MCG, and the one-sided win of the Dockers against the Hawks at Subiaco Oval in Perth didn't support the AFL's object of close contests, although 66,000 and 42,000, respectively, turned up.
The NRL's final eight system produces the perception of one-sided meetings, with games scheduled according to a team's position on the ladder after 26 rounds: first plays eighth; second versus seventh; third versus six; fourth versus fifth.
Next weekend, minor premier St George Illawarra plays the eighth-placed Sea Eagles at Kogarah; the second-placed Panthers will meet the seventh-placed Raiders at CUA Stadium, Penrith; third-placed Wests Tigers play the sixth-placed Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium and the fourth-placed Titans meet the fifth-placed Warriors at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.
The NRL allows the home team to choose the venue for the first round of finals, meaning the Dragons have opted to play in front of an 18,000-person sea of red and white at Kogarah, rather than ANZ Stadium with 80,000 seats.
Why wouldn't they? After all, the Dragons hand the gate takings to the NRL, but they can possibly gain a share of Kogarah Council's revenue from food and beverage sales. And they haven't won a premiership since 1979. While Manly fans are notoriously poor travellers, had Sunday's Dragons versus Sea Eagles match been scheduled for the SFS, it's likely the crowd would have doubled to 36,000. At an average ticket price of $40, that's $720,000 the NRL has missed for treating the first round of the semi finals as if it were round 27 of the home and away season.
Wests Tigers, which play at three grounds Leichhardt, Campbelltown and the SFS have opted to play at the 45,500 capacity SFS, despite it also being the home ground of their opponents, the Roosters. Strangely, some fans have accused the club of being "greedy", although it does not gain anything from catering sales and is accommodating the Roosters' season ticket-holders.
The AFL's two games of the second weekend of finals matches will both be played at the MCG, while the NRL allows the winners to play at venues in their home cities.
This means the Titans, Warriors and Raiders could be playing at their home grounds, which have about a quarter of the MCG's capacity.
The AFL's approach to finals football attracts the criticism the code is too much of a business to be a sport while the NRL could be accused of being too much of a sport to be a business.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Why do AFL finals ticket sales generate much more revenue than NRL finals ticket sales?
AFL finals ticket revenue is higher largely because of the AFL’s commercial pricing strategy and the use of very large stadiums. According to IBISWorld figures in the article, AFL fans will spend about $32 million on finals tickets leading to the grand final at the MCG, compared with $12.6 million for the NRL. The AFL administration sets prices aimed at the corporate market and keeps the ticket receipts, which boosts headline ticket income.
How does total consumer spending around AFL and NRL finals compare (tickets, travel, bars and more)?
Although ticket revenue differs, total spending on football-related activities is more comparable. The article cites totals of about $283.8 million for the AFL and $234 million for the NRL, covering travel and accommodation ($135 million), bar sales ($134 million), alcohol for home consumption ($64 million), sports betting ($53 million) and merchandise (about $3.9 million).
Who sets finals ticket prices and who actually keeps the ticket receipts in AFL and NRL matches?
In both codes the administrations — not the individual clubs — set ticket prices and retain the ticket receipts for finals. The article emphasises that the AFL administration adopts a strict commercial approach to pricing, while the NRL’s structure tends to reward clubs and fans through more affordable, locally staged matches.
How do the AFL and NRL finals systems differ and how does that affect match competitiveness and venues?
The AFL finals system is designed to create close, top‑quality games at big stadiums (like the MCG), often targeting corporate buyers. The NRL’s system schedules higher‑ranked teams against lower‑ranked opponents in the first week, allowing winners to play at home venues — often suburban grounds — which can produce one‑sided perceptions but keeps tickets more affordable and supports loyal local crowds.
Can an NRL club’s choice of venue affect revenue, and what example does the article give?
Yes. The article describes St George Illawarra (the Dragons) choosing to play at Kogarah (about 18,000 capacity) instead of ANZ Stadium (about 80,000). Gate takings go to the NRL, but the club can benefit indirectly (for example, from local council catering revenue). The piece notes that if a crowd had doubled to 36,000 at SFS at an average $40 ticket, that would have represented about $720,000 in additional gate revenue that the NRL didn’t capture at Kogarah.
What recent finals attendance figures illustrate the difference in crowd sizes between AFL and NRL venues?
The article gives several examples: 64,000 at the MCG for Geelong vs St Kilda; 42,000 for Sydney Swans vs Carlton at ANZ Stadium; 66,000 for Collingwood’s win over the Bulldogs at the MCG; and 42,000 for the Dockers vs Hawks at Subiaco Oval. It also notes NRL suburban grounds typically have much smaller capacities — often around a quarter of the MCG.
What are the revenue implications of hosting finals at large stadiums versus suburban grounds?
Large stadiums like the MCG enable higher ticket revenues and stronger appeal to corporate buyers, which benefits the code administration that retains gate receipts. Suburban grounds used by the NRL produce smaller crowds and lower ticket revenue per game but can foster loyal local attendance and generate local catering and community revenue that may benefit clubs and councils rather than the code directly.
Does the article suggest the AFL or NRL favours business over sport, and why should everyday investors care?
The article states critics view the AFL as ‘too much of a business’ because of its commercial finals approach, while the NRL can be seen as ‘too much of a sport’ to maximise business returns because of its focus on home venues and fan loyalty. For everyday investors this highlights how different commercial models (corporate pricing and big‑stadium events vs local, fan‑centric venues) drive where and how revenue is generated in each code.
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