Richmond set to sell out Round 1 clash against Carlton
THE highest-ever Round 1 crowd is expected to witness Richmond unfurl its premiership flag in this year’s season opener against Carlton with the Tigers also on track to break their membership record.
Richmond
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RICHMOND’S home season-opener against Carlton is expected to break the AFL’s Round 1 attendance record and turn into a financial bonanza.
The Tigers will unfurl their premiership flag against the Blues on Thursday, March 22 as they celebrate their drought-breaking premiership.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale told the Herald Sun the prospect of an MCG sellout was a real possibility.
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“We will be unfurling the premiership flag at the season opener against Carlton and are expecting a huge crowd, in excess of 90,000 and potentially a sellout,’’ he said.
The AFL’s highest-ever Round 1 game drew 87,119 in 1995 when Carlton played Collingwood, with the highest season-opener Richmond’s 2009 clash against Carlton (87,043).
The MCC said it expected the clash would draw over 90,000 given the celebration of the premiership and the rabid Tiger Army.
The Tigers are pushing for 90,000 members, currently at 74,500 and expecting to break their all-time record in the next week.
“We have been advising our fans that the best way to ensure they don’t miss out (on the game) is to become a member. Members will get priority access when tickets go on sale,” Gale said.
Richmond and Carlton play only once this season, with the Blues having torn up a gate-sharing arrangement in 2015 that saw them split proceeds if they played two home-and-away games.
Gate receipts are dependant on how many members and opposition supporters turn up but a sold-out MCG game can net a club between $700,000-$1 million.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said there was no reason why Carlton and Richmond fans wouldn’t post a full house.
The 2009 contest drew a massive crowd when Ben Cousins arrived at Richmond but the Tigers fans who packed the MCG through the finals should turn out in their droves.
“We are excited about the approaching season and rapt that the premiers are opening the season at the MCG,’’ Fox said.
“We would hope for and anticipate a very big crowd. We are hoping for 90,000-plus.”
The Tigers declared a $3.06 million profit off last year’s premiership, with many of the financial benefits flowing into the following year.
They have a full board of sponsorships, a fixture with eight Thursday and Friday games and no debt.
Any crowd over 70,000 hands a club a significant payday but the more non-members and rival supporters who attend, the bigger the cash windfall.
Richmond led the league in home attendances last year, their average of 55,958 more than 5000 greater than Essendon’s 50,812.
This year they have big-drawing home games against Carlton, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Geelong and Essendon.
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