Carlton close-to-breakeven result as Charlie Curnow continues to make progress for a full season in 2021
Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle says the Blues are closing fast on two favourable outcomes for the club, which will go a long way to repaying the remarkable loyalty of members.
Carlton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Carlton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Carlton is daring to believe it might get close to a break-even financial position this season as it starts its Ikon Park redevelopment as early as October.
The Blues have kept almost all of their 67,000 members this season, with the $40 million-plus redevelopment of Ikon Park on track despite the financial headwinds from COVID.
Smaller clubs which had spent years paying down debts had believed they might lose as much as $4 million, with predictions power clubs could lose $10 million given lost gate takings.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle said on Friday the Blues were buoyed by the improved financial position as the club attempts to clear all debt and develop elite facilities.
“I think a lot of clubs are probably feeling a lot better than they were three or four months ago,” he said.
“From where we started it’s not going to be anything like what we had feared and you will see a handful of clubs with smaller structures who aren’t far off break even.
“If you spoke to most clubs they would talk about the unbelievable support that has come from their members. If our members had wanted to get out it would be a drastically different story for clubs.”
Carlton has offered members who remained with the club an extra membership in 2021 for a friend or family member.
Liddle said the club’s master plan for the redevelopment was going “full steam ahead” with $35 million of government money and $5.5 million from Carlton fundraising.
“It’s highly likely something will start happening at the club in October with the internal works which is building equitable changerooms for our men and women. So they will have the same sized changerooms next to each other and from a gender equality perspective which is an important part of our strategy, we will be the first fully integrated AFL facility whereby our women players have the same facilities as the men.”
Carlton remains confident Charlie Curnow will complete a full season in 2021 as he makes encouraging progress from a knee injury that wiped out the current season.
“He is going really well. He is now running and looks terrific,” Liddle said.
“He is back in our second home on the Gold Coast and he’s got his partner up, he’s spending some time with her and from our perspective we couldn’t be happier with him and we expect a fully fit, ready to go Charlie Curnow for Round 1 next year.”
MORE AFL