The eye-watering price for a pie and pint this footy season revealed

Fans will be forced to fork out more money for pies, burgers, buckets of chips and drinks at the MCG this AFL season, with fears a family day out at the footy will no longer be affordable.

Footy fans Tim Hill and Luke Draffen with their favourite tucker at the MCG, which will increase in cost this season. Picture: Jay Town

AFL fans face a footy food price hike at the MCG with the cost of the most popular items increasing this season.

Fans flocking to the MCG for round one can expect to pay more for a pie, bucket of chips, beer or coffee — but will have two new bars and Mexican food served at the venue for the first time.

The cost of a Four n Twenty pie, hot chips or 600ml bottle of soft drinks will all cost $6.20, up from $5.50 last footy season.

A 600ml bottle of water will increase from $4 to $4.70.

Hot dog prices will be hiked $5.50 to $6, chicken burgers are to cost $1 more and a coffee will go up 50 cents, to $5.50.

Beer drinkers will see the cost of a schooner rise $1 to $11.50 or a pint of Carlton Draught increased from $12.50 to $13.50.

AFL Fans Association spokeswoman Sheridan Verwey said the cost of living crisis was “causing a lot of grief for families’’ so she was surprised at timing of the price hikes.

“Increasing food and drink prices for fans by more than 10 per cent is going to make it more difficult for fans to justify spending limited discretionary money,’’ she said.

“This will likely impact on attendances at AFL games and make an affordable experience at the footy more difficult.’’

From left: Georgie Karsten, Harry Schaffer, Giacomo Zoccali, Jackson Voss and Charlotte Smillie are looking forward to the 2024 footy season. Picture: Ian Currie

But MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said the price hikes were less than or equal to cost increases suppliers had passed on to operators of the MCG.

“Like every business, the rising cost of living has also impacted us and … we had to review our pricing structure,’’ he said.

“We worked hard to find the right balance between covering necessary operational costs, food inflation and wages while maintaining an accessible price point for fans.’’

It is the second year straight prices of pies, chips, hot dogs and beer will rise by $1.

Before last season, there had been no price increases on hot chips, pies, soft drinks and water at the ‘G since the 2019 AFL season.

In better news for fans, two new public bars and a chain of Mexican restaurants will open inside the MCG for the first time at Thursday’s traditional season opener between Richmond and Carlton.

Cocina Mexicana will open four MCG outlets, with tacos, nachos, quesadillas and Mexican bowls.

The new Ponsford Atrium Bar and Betty Cuthbert bars will each have their own food outlets.

The Betty Cuthbert Bar replaces the Betty Cuthbert Lounge on level two at the Olympic Stand and The Ponsford Atrium Bar will open on the same level of the Ponsford Stand.

Mr Fox said prices introduced for the summer of cricket at the MCG would be extended throughout the 2024 AFL season.

He said the two new public bars offered “an elevated sports bar experience’’.

Fans will also be able to skip queues at two new “MCG Express” outlets in the Ponsford Stand that use Artificial Intelligence to serve food an drinks without the need for check outs.

It works by tapping your bank card, picking up food and drinks you want and being charged while walking back to your seat.

“Fans will also be able to buy their favourite food and beverage items faster than ever before,’’ he said.