Official Club Stuff 2024 Club Membership Updates

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31.07.24 AFL Club Membership breaks all-time record

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has today announced a new all-time AFL Club membership record of 1,268,403 * members (year to date).

The 1,268,403 number surpasses the record of 1,198,833 that was set in 2023. An increase of 6%.

One in 22 Australians is a member of an AFL club.

Three clubs Carlton, Collingwood and West Coast Eagles all have over 100,000 members respectively. All four northern market clubs (Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS and Sydney Swans) have delivered double-digit membership revenue and growth.

Cut off for 2024 membership is August 31 with the clubs and AFL to announce total and final numbers in September.

“With more than 1.26 million members and so far, 6.45 million fans attending the matches around the country across the first 20 rounds of the home and away season – our fans are like none other in world sport,” Mr Dillon said.

“The work the clubs do to engage with the communities and draw more people year on year to the footy is outstanding. AFL supporters are unlike any other fan in the world. The dedication of our fans have to our game is unmatched and I am so incredibly proud of all the work that goes into delivering our game to homes all across the country.

“The next few weeks we will see football at its best. With AFL Finals heating up, the start of a new 2024 AFLW Season and community football finals all across the country, the best of football is ahead of us.

“On behalf of the AFL, I’d like to thank all our fans and every club member whose passion and support continues to make footy the greatest game in the world.”

So far seven clubs including Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Geelong Cats, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS, Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs have announced all-time club membership records.

Collingwood, Carlton, West Coast Eagles and Richmond lead the 2024 membership tallies, with Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS and GWS GIANTS showing the highest percentage increase in year to date membership growth.

Home and Away attendance for the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season continues to be on record pace with 6,458,859 fans attending the opening 20 rounds, while participation in Australian Rules Football has also reached an all-time high, surpassing 530,000 nationally.

This season, we’ve had the top 3 highest attended rounds of all time in 2024 including Round One (413,405s) Round Seven (408,433) and Round Eight (403,452). Only four home and away rounds in history have exceeded 400,000 fans with the only other occurring in Round One, 2017 (400,401).
I hope zero bonuses are paid on these dodgy numbers down at AFL House and individual clubs.

The freebies clubs were giving away the last 4 to 5 weeks to make numbers look better is BS.
 
I hope zero bonuses are paid on these dodgy numbers down at AFL House and individual clubs.

The freebies clubs were giving away the last 4 to 5 weeks to make numbers look better is BS.


What ‘freebies’ were Clubs giving away the last 4-5 weeks?
 
What ‘freebies’ were Clubs giving away the last 4-5 weeks?
Don't know, did you have a members day on SEN? Several clubs who had those days were giving away memberships.

Did lapsed members get emails saying, comeback, we will give you a 3 game membership. A couple of clubs did that.
 

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Don't know, did you have a members day on SEN? Several clubs who had those days were giving away memberships.

Did lapsed members get emails saying, comeback, we will give you a 3 game membership. A couple of clubs did that.
Don’t recall that. Hawks membership department are hard-arses. Won’t give you anything.
 
Don't know, did you have a members day on SEN? Several clubs who had those days were giving away memberships.

Did lapsed members get emails saying, comeback, we will give you a 3 game membership. A couple of clubs did that.


Don’t recall that. Hawks membership department are hard-arses. Won’t give you anything.

Same as Carlton.

There were Members Days on SEN earlier in the year and some Clubs were offering 6 game Gen Admin M/ships & you only pay for 3 games.

Don’t recall any Clubs giving away free M/Ships.
 
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Same as Carlton.

There were Members Day on SEN earlier in the year and some Clubs were offering 6 game Gen Admin M/ships & you only pay for 3 games.

Don’t recall any Clubs giving away free M/Ships.
Essendon's pitch was buy 4, get 4 free.
 
Don't know, did you have a members day on SEN? Several clubs who had those days were giving away memberships.

Did lapsed members get emails saying, comeback, we will give you a 3 game membership. A couple of clubs did that.

the thing is though, while it might look like stat padding, theres some cicumstantial evidence this can work long term. In 2021, Carlton literally gave away memberships, and their actual numbers - including revenue in this area that suggest such an approach can work.

In 2021, the Blues offered a free Carlton membership to every Carlton member to gift to someone else.

"In return for your incredible support throughout a tough 2020, we would like to offer you an additional 2021 membership on us!"

Blues members rose 21% that year, and are up another 30% since. Revenue from Membership, gate and merch rose only 9% in 2021, but climbed 30% in 2022 and a further 7% in 2023. Although form undoubtedly plays a part with a larger gate. (the blues dont separate gate and membership).

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Essendon's pitch was buy 4, get 4 free.
Yes that’s right. All the clubs basically offered a 50% discount for the day on whatever package they were offering. But my understanding is these clubs only sell about 150-200 memberships on the day. In the end it’s more a day of fan engagement and a win for the network who get some players / coaches throughout the day to interview.
 
the thing is though, while it might look like stat padding, theres some cicumstantial evidence this can work long term. In 2021, Carlton literally gave away memberships, and their actual numbers - including revenue in this area that suggest such an approach can work.

In 2021, the Blues offered a free Carlton membership to every Carlton member to gift to someone else.

"In return for your incredible support throughout a tough 2020, we would like to offer you an additional 2021 membership on us!"

Blues members rose 21% that year, and are up another 30% since. Revenue from Membership, gate and merch rose only 9% in 2021, but climbed 30% in 2022 and a further 7% in 2023. Although form undoubtedly plays a part with a larger gate. (the blues dont separate gate and membership).

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It was a great promo. It’s one reason why they’re sitting on 105k now. It coincided with them going up the ladder so many of those free ones are now being paid for. It was Caine
Liddles big win.
 
There's other things like buy a next year membership early and get 3-5 games this year free or whatever, too.

Point being as Wookie said above, it works - we have membership revenue numbers across clubs from a bunch of years, plus databases and engaged supporters etc. is obviously valuable to sponsors and general engagement/growth strategies.
 
So, not offering free memberships then. Just discounted ones.
Defeats the point of what membership is supposed to be.

Membership used to mean commited people to the club.

Buy 4 under your name and it gets 4 mates access to games, dont have to give details of who they are, is more ticket sales not membership sales.
 
Defeats the point of what membership is supposed to be.

Membership used to mean commited people to the club.

Buy 4 under your name and it gets 4 mates access to games, dont have to give details of who they are, is more ticket sales not membership sales.
Thats true, but who cares? If it gets ‘4 mates’ to the footy, 2 of whom love it and go more often, then buy a membership next year then it works.

The Carlton drive on the surface was ‘freebies’ however it’s now paying them back in spades. Thats the point of most promotions. Create awareness, generate trial in order to create repeat purchases and loyalty. Traditionalists might not like it but welcome to the competitive world of raising revenue and growing a supporter base.
 

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Defeats the point of what membership is supposed to be.

Membership used to mean commited people to the club.

Buy 4 under your name and it gets 4 mates access to games, dont have to give details of who they are, is more ticket sales not membership sales.
I bet they sold less than 10 of buy 4 get 4 free. Reckon they didn’t sell any. If there is no name it doesn’t count anyway. In the same way pet memberships don’t count.
 
Membership totals as of August 1. The total broadly matches the 1.26 million in the AFL announcement.

AFL Clubs2023 (Total)2024 (1/8)
Adelaide68,53670,000
Brisbane54,67655,000
Carlton95,277105,035
Collingwood106,470100,000
Essendon86,27482,716
Fremantle62,06462,005
Geelong82,15586,385
Gold Coast23,35923,360
G.Western Sydney33,03635,127
Hawthorn80,69880,000
Melbourne70,78564,730
North Melbourne51,08450,076
Port Adelaide64,04166,602
Richmond101,34997,000
St Kilda60,23959,043
Sydney65,33272,709
West Coast103,275100,000
Western Bulldogs56,30259,751
Club Total1,264,9521,269,539
Record



Crows announced "more than 70,000 for the first time" on 30/7

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More: https://www.footyindustry.com/2024/08/01/2024-afl-club-memberships-as-of-1-8/
 
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Collingwood = 110,000

Announced at the ground this evening, and Craig McRae confirmed it in his post-match presser.
 
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04.08.2024

The following letter was sent to Collingwood Members on behalf of Collingwood President Jeff Browne this morning:

Dear Member,

I am thrilled to announce, for the second consecutive year, we have broken our membership record with 110,102 devoted and loyal Members.

This is an outstanding achievement and only made possible by the unwavering support from each of you, our Magpie Army.

Last year our Club broke the league record for the highest-ever Membership number in the history of the VFL / AFL competition with 106,470 Members.

To go one better and raise our record from last year is truly an extraordinary achievement made possible by you, our most loyal supporters.

On behalf of the Board, players, coaches, and staff, I would like to thank you for your commitment to our Club. Your support has helped us develop our facilities and programs to the highest standards.

We celebrated all our devoted Members at Collingwood’s Round 21 match against arch-rival Carlton last night.

It was an evening full of record-breaking moments, with our great leader Scott Pendlebury playing his 400th AFL game, joining only five other players to reach the milestone.

Our Magpie Army is like no other. Your commitment to get behind our teams – AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW, Wheelchair, and our Reclink community team – is a testament to your loyalty and support.
We hear your chants and see you fill the stands across the country with black and white.

You are our 19th player.

It is your presence that continues to fuel our teams' determination to win and our Club’s desire to fly higher and continue to get better.

A special mention to our Membership Department and staff members who strive to deliver the best experience and service for all Members and supporters.

We thank you all for your commitment so far in 2024.

Floreat Pica – may the mighty Magpies flourish.
 
Curious as to how many of the 110,000 have voting rights.
It used to be around 12,000 before the board reformed the constitution last year with voting rights being expanded to more members.

Not sure what the current figure is though in light of recent changes.
 
Update

Collingwood = 110,102
Carlton = 105,035
West Coast = 100,000
Richmond = 97,000
Geelong = 86,385
Essendon = 82,716
Hawthorn = 80,000
Sydney = 72,746
Adelaide = 70,000
Port Adelaide = 67,499
Melbourne = 64,730
Fremantle = 62,028
Western Bulldogs = 59,751
St Kilda = 59,043
Brisbane Lions = 55,000
North Melbourne = 50,076
GWS = 35,127
Gold Coast = 23,360
 

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