- The MCG is to increase the price fans pay for a draft beer this week
- The changes are expected to remain in effect for the next twelve months
- The MCG had previously increased food and drink prices earlier this year
Melbourne Cricket Club will reportedly increase the price fans will pay for a beer and several other food and drink items ahead of this summer’s Boxing Day Test.
According to 7News Melbourne, the changes will come into effect on Wednesday, in time for the Melbourne Stars’ first home match in the Big Bash League against the Brisbane Heat.
Victorian footy fans experienced similar changes to the MCG’s food and drink prices at the start of the 2024 season. The price of a 425ml draft beer had risen to $11.50, and the MCG now plans to charge that fee increase by another 50 cents, to $12.
A 560ml Carlton Draft has also increased from $12.50 to $13.50. Premixed liquor in a can costs $15.
The price changes are expected to remain in effect for the next twelve months.
Other items including bottled water and Coca-Cola have risen by 20 cents, while if you’re hungry a box of fish and chips will now cost you $15.50, up from the previous price of $14.90.
The MCG will increase draft beer prices this week ahead of the Boxing Day Test
Cricket fans can expect to pay $12 for a 425ml lager or $13.50 for a pint of Carlton Draft
It came after the MCG announced price increases for footy fans at the start of the AFL season
The changes come as MCG bosses explain Melbourne’s iconic arena is also looking to keep up with the cost of living.
“I think when we talk about the cost of living, we at the ‘G’ are not immune to it, we want to subsidize it as much as possible,” Tanya Gilling, commercial operations and partnerships manager, told 7News.
Despite the increase in costs, several fan favorites remain the same.
Hot dogs, jelly donuts, meat pies and fries will all remain the same price in 2025.
The MCG also plans to add chicken tikka burgers, ‘naanchos’, tandoori chicken rice and samosas to their menu for this summer’s Test.
But some fans were critical of the price changes Fox sports after noticing that the price of a 425ml beer in 2017 was $8.
Some went to X to question the rising prices, with one writing: ‘These gangs are getting money hungry.’
Another added: ‘How can they justify the increase in the price of alcohol?’
Some fans criticized the price changes with one writing: ‘How can they justify the price increase on alcohol’
A spokesperson said the MCG wanted to ‘subsidize prices as much as possible’, but added that the cost of living crisis was a factor
‘Wow! $12 for watered down beer!!! Rip off…’ wrote another.
Conversely, one fan wrote, “That’s not unreasonable.”
In March, MCC chief executive Stuart Fox told Channel 9 that the organization had worked hard to balance cost-of-living pressures by ensuring fans did not have to pay to buy food and drink at the ground.
“We have worked hard to find the right balance between covering necessary operating costs, food inflation and wages, while maintaining an accessible price point for fans,” Fox said.