- The food and drink price hike at the MCG will anger AFL fans
- Meat pies, hot dogs, beer and bottled water cost more
- The cost of living crisis could result in lower crowds on game days
Footy fans will need deep pockets this season thanks to big price increases on many popular food and drink items at the MCG.
The iconic Four n Twenty cake, hot chips and 600ml soft drink bottles will all cost €6.20 – up from €5.50 last year, an increase of almost 13 percent.
Bottled water has risen by 70 cents, while the price of a cup of coffee has risen by 50 cents.
Beer drinkers won’t be happy either: Schooners now cost $11.50 and Carlton Draft pints are up eight percent from $12.50 to $13.50.
AFL Fans Association spokeswoman Sheridan Verwey warned the increases – which come amid the current cost of living crisis – could mean crowds at the ‘G will decline in 2024.
Footy fans will need deep pockets this season after a steep price increase on many food and drink items at the MCG (pictured, a St Kilda fan enjoying a pie)
Beer drinkers at the MCG on game day won’t be happy either – schooners will cost $11.50 and Carlton Draft pints will increase from $12.50 to $13.50 (pictured, a Geelong fan)
AFL Fans Association spokeswoman Sheridan Verwey warned the league after the increases – some as high as almost 13 percent – became public (pictured, Tigers star Shai Bolton)
“Increasing food and drink prices for fans by more than 10 percent will make it harder for fans to justify spending limited discretionary money,” she told the newspaper. Herald Sun.
“This is likely to impact attendance at AFL matches and make an affordable experience on the football field more difficult.”
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox was on a different page, pointing to an increase that suppliers had to pass on to operators – before promising ‘the an accessible price for fans.’
It’s also the second year in a row that prices of pies, chips, hot dogs and beer have increased by $1 on game days.
In better news for supporters, two new public bars and a chain of Mexican restaurants will be in operation at the MCG during Thursday’s traditional AFL season opener between Richmond and Carlton.
Cocina Mexicana will open four locations, with tacos, nachos, quesadillas and Mexican bowls on the menu.
And in a digital nod to the future, fans can skip the queues at two new ‘MCG Express’ stores in the Ponsford Stand, which use artificial intelligence (AI) to serve food and drink.
Customers simply tap their bank card and select which items they want.
There will then be a charge when fans return to their assigned seating.