The Conversation - would expect better from an academic.

[insert.pause]

26 September 2014, 12.32pm AEST
Why AFL grand final is the most successful event in Australia

As Australia’s dominant sport competition, the AFL generates more revenue than any other national sporting code. In 2012 it attracted $425 million comprising ticket sales, memberships, television rights, sponsorships, merchandise, gaming, and sundry income.

In contrast Cricket Australia generated $206 million, while Tennis Australia, National Rugby League, and Football Federation Australia secured $186 million, $136 million and $95 million respectively.


AUTHOR


Bob Stewart
Associate Professor in the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Victoria University
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Bob Stewart does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations.
http://theconversation.com/why-afl-grand-final-is-the-most-successful-event-in-australia-31984

Now maybe I am being too cynical but why would you compare revenues from 2012 when you have 2013 available?

Could it be because it was the first year of the AFL's billion dollar broadcast rights agreement while it was still the last year of the NRL's existing rights agreement and therefore makes the differences between revenues far more pronounced than what they are today?

 

[Dragon Jim]

Bob Stewart
Associate Professor in the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Victoria University

Another self-gratifying article from south of the border.

 

[insert.pause]

The second point to note that as a highlight of the Australian sporting calendar, the grand final receives saturated media exposure - its national television audience usually peaks at around 4.5 million, which makes it the highest rating Saturday afternoon television event for the year.

It is additionally the highest rating football competition, with NRL grand final viewership usually peaking at just over 3.9 million.

lol, using peak figures instead of averages and claiming the AFLGF is the 'highest rating football competition', well no, its not, SOO had two games this year rate over 4 million, average, not peak. SOO has outrated it for years and the last time the swans were in the grand final against the same opponent in 2012 the NRL grand final outrated it.

These arrogant and ignorant puff pieces left unscrutinised is why there is a facade in Australia about the AFL's dominance.

 

[taipan]

Perhaps this so called Sport's expert could update his figures.The NRL has a $200m pa Tv deal for a start.Add in merchanise,membership,ticketing,sponsorship and the 2013 figures would be well up,on the figures he used.These fumbledball tragics love to play with figures to suit.
I wish I could respond to the gimp.

 

[_snafu_]

It's an opinion piece, ignore it.

 

[insert.pause]

Perhaps this so called Sport's expert could update his figures.The NRL has a $200m pa Tv deal for a start.Add in merchanise,membership,ticketing,sponsorship and the 2013 figures would be well up,on the figures he used.These fumbledball tragics love to play with figures to suit.
I wish I could respond to the gimp.

The NRL's revenue has only increased by nearly 200m annually...:sarcasm:

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

All fumble fans I have come across on forums and blogs all seem to use the old figures every time, they're an insecure bunch.

Yep, no News limited sucking the life and money out of the game anymore, they ignore this too, they also ignore how News Limited treats the game as well by trashing it at every opportunity even to the extent of making stuff up.

I don't know why they need to puff themselves up so much and go to the extreme of hiding the truth or plain lying just to make their chosen sport look bigger than it is.

I know RL isn't as big as Soccer and Union around the world, stiff, doesn't mean I can't enjoy my favorite game because it's smaller, I couldn't care less what those other sports are doing.

edit: btw you can leave a comment, i didn't bother, waste of time.

 

[insert.pause]

It's an opinion piece, ignore it.

Problem is academics are perceived by readers and news outlets as authorities on issues and these sort of things usually get syndicated by other outlets such as sbs;

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/09/26/why-afl-grand-final-most-successful-event-australia

 

[jono]

Guys I am not an AFL apologist and I am Parramatta through and through but I love most sports and I'm going to the AFL GF tomorrow.
I went to the 2012 AFL Grand Final and I believe Melbourne really leaves Sydney for dead for running a sporting or entertainment event. I also went to the Australian Open tennis last January and felt the same way. The only event that comes remotely close from Sydney, for atmosphere, presentation and community engagement, is the 2000 Olympics.
I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney , I've supported Parra for 40 years and been a member for 30. I am a league man first and foremost , but I will always appreciate a good Aussie Rules contest.
But as far as event presentation goes , Melbourne really is better than Sydney

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

Yep - typical fudged figures...

Firstly - it isn't the NRL, it's the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and it had 2013 revenues of $314m. The ARLC is actually now ahead of Cricket Australia (which ended 2013 on $296m).

ARLC / NRL Revenues have risen by 69.3%.

These are figures provided by IBISWorld and published in The Australia Top 500 private companies.

 

[mongoose]

Its like they're trying to convince themselves that AFL is relevant. Aslong as NRL is making money, is a fair comp and is able to pay its superstars enough to keep them then who cares which code makes the most money. The NRL gets players from many different nations from England to PNG to France and all the pacific islands. The AFL has one or two Irish farmers and the rest are white anglo aussies. Not much flavour in AFL.

 

[gUt]

Guys I am not an AFL apologist and I am Parramatta through and through but I love most sports and I'm going to the AFL GF tomorrow.
I went to the 2012 AFL Grand Final and I believe Melbourne really leaves Sydney for dead for running a sporting or entertainment event. I also went to the Australian Open tennis last January and felt the same way. The only event that comes remotely close from Sydney, for atmosphere, presentation and community engagement, is the 2000 Olympics.
I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney , I've supported Parra for 40 years and been a member for 30. I am a league man first and foremost , but I will always appreciate a good Aussie Rules contest.
But as far as event presentation goes , Melbourne really is better than Sydney

I don't think anyone would take issue with your opinions and preferences. What annoys me is these sorts of opinions being presented as facts from inside the Melbourne bubble and amplified by a national media who are seemingly desperate to shove AFL down everyone's throat while shitting on RL.

FTR I went to the Aussie Open too and it was very good. A great party atmosphere etc. But going to the footy at Suncorp Stadium is pretty much the same.

 

[insert.pause]

Yep - typical fudged figures...

Firstly - it isn't the NRL, it's the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and it had 2013 revenues of $314m. The ARLC is actually now ahead of Cricket Australia (which ended 2013 on $296m).

ARLC / NRL Revenues have risen by 69.3%.

These are figures provided by IBISWorld and published in The Australia Top 500 private companies.

the article uses revenues from 2012 of 136m, so revenues of 314m in 2013 is actually an increase of 130%

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

the article uses revenues from 2012 of 136m, so revenues of 314m in 2013 is actually an increase of 130%

It's Friday afternoon so I'm not doing any arithmetic right now... I suspect IBISWorld is using a different 2012 figure to the author. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's made up every figure in the article. He's been called out on the TV ratings already.

 

[insert.pause]

It's Friday afternoon so I'm not doing any arithmetic right now... I suspect IBISWorld is using a different 2012 figure to the author. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's made up every figure in the article. He's been called out on the TV ratings already.

I noticed your comment, Good job! Keep the bastards honest!

 

[Garbler]

This article is typical of The Conversation; more amateur than academic.

But what do u expect from a government subsidised factory farm of "higher education".

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Usually when a bloke is feeling insecure he buys himself a cars ....

Cherrypicking numbers for a favourable opinion piece is, if nothing else, a creative midlife crisis.

 

[Perth Red]

Typical fluff piece but damn they do it well and perception is far more important than reality in this day and age. Their constant "national game" message is a clear strategy for the way they are setting themselves up for the decades ahead.

Re money, of course it matters, with the massive extra money the afl has had they have been able to turn the Vfl into a truly national capital city competition whilst NRL is still isolated to its homelands with one outpost in melbourne. An equivalent aggressive NRL expansions they had had the money and vision would see two teams in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and melbourne by now.

 

[mongoose]

Typical fluff piece but damn they do it well and perception is far more important than reality in this day and age. Their constant "national game" message is a clear strategy for the way they are setting themselves up for the decades ahead.

Re money, of course it matters, with the massive extra money the afl has had they have been able to turn the Vfl into a truly national capital city competition whilst NRL is still isolated to its homelands with one outpost in melbourne. An equivalent aggressive NRL expansions they had had the money and vision would see two teams in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and melbourne by now.

Until the AFL has a much higher representation of players from NSW and QLD which comprises of more than half of the national population, it wont be considered a truly national comp in my eyes. The AFL can write all the fluff pieces it wants but people from NSW and QLD are never going to invest so much time and support in teams full of players from Victoria, WA or SA.

 

[aads]

I wrote a letter to the ABC the other day about them pushing AFL, F1 Soccer, Cycling and one or two other segments before league on the tuesday night' Grandstand episode.

I did ask them do they not promote it because it is a network/pay tv product?

I noticed last night it was 20 mins into the show before they had league on.

I have had no reply as of yet