Footy fans to pay more for food, drink amid new MCG price hike

There will be few cheers from punters when they go to pay for their hot chips and beer at the MCG. See the new price list.

Footy food prices are set to rise at the MCG with the home of football to increase the cost of hot chips, pies, soft drinks and water for the first time in four years.

Beer, hot dogs and chicken burgers will also go up, in a move the MCC has blamed on rising costs.

Hot chips, a Four’N Twenty pie and hot dogs will rise from $4.50 last season to $5.50. A schooner of beer will rise by a dollar to $10.50, a 600ml bottle of soft drink will go up 80c to $5.50 and a bottle of water will cost 60c more than last year.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said it would be “the first increase to fan favourite items at the ’G – hot chips, pies, soft drinks and water – since the 2019 AFL premiership season”.

Dean Jordan with his daughter Ava enjoy some of the food on offer at MCG. Picture: Jay Town

There were no crowds allowed at the MCG for the Covid-impacted 2020 season and restricted capacity at Victorian venues for much of the 2021 season.

“We haven’t been immune to inflation, supply chain issues or the steadily rising cost of labour in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, making it necessary for us to adjust prices for some food and beverage items,” he said.

Some prices rose in October for the cricket season but Mr Fox confirmed they would remain as the masses returned to the MCG for the AFL season.

“We continue to strive to maintain price points that are manageable for all fans, and in particular families, coming to the footy,” he said.

In a win for fans, a branch of popular Melbourne restaurant Lucy Liu will open at the ’G.

The Lucy Liu Lounge, to be sited between the Members and Ponsford stands, will open in time for the start of the AFL season on March 16.

It is part of a push to feature some of Victoria’s best eateries at the MCG, with Guy Grossi, SPQR Pizza, Gami Chicken and Royal Stacks alongside more traditional footy fare.

Lucy Liu co-owner Zac Cribbes said the South East Asian street food-inspired lounge would bring “a brand new style of stadium dining”.

Madeline Gibellini, Peter Hough, Chloe Yeats and Laura Attana will be paying more to eat at the ’G. Picture: Supplied

“We want to bring the laneway Melbourne experience to the MCG, where you can enjoy the best that Melbourne has to offer in terms of shared style pan-Asian dining within a traditionally western food environment,” he said.

The Herald Sun this week revealed the AFL would freeze prices of popular items such as pies, hot chips, hot dogs and soft drink at Marvel Stadium.

The cost of a 425ml cup of Carlton Draught will rise by $1 to $10.50 and 600ml bottles of water will increase from $3.40 to $4 at the AFL-owned venue.

It means the cost of a Carlton Draught, water and soft drink will be the same at the MCG and Marvel.

Mr Fox said some food outlets in the MCG’s Ponsford and Olympic stands offered five items for $5, “which can help to make a trip to the footy super affordable”. These include popcorn chicken and chips, cheeseburgers and nachos.

Originally published as Footy fans to pay more for food, drink amid new MCG price hike