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AFL Fans’ Association lodges complaint

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joffa corfe 

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Joined: 13 Nov 2003


PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 8:09 am
Post subject: AFL Fans’ Association lodges complaintReply with quote

AFL Fans’ Association lodges complaint to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on variable ticket pricing


THE AFL’s unpopular new variable ticket pricing faces a fresh challenge with angry fans calling in the nation’s competition watchdog.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has confirmed it was assessing evidence put before it regarding variable ticketing at the MCG and Etihad Stadium.

It follows a formal complaint lodged by the AFL Fans’ Association last Thursday on behalf of disgruntled club members.

The supporters have asked the ACCC to examine whether the AFL’s decision to change its pricing regime after fans had paid for their 2014 season membership constituted “misleading and deceptive conduct”.

At some games this year under the new system, the AFL has advised club members they need to pay an extra fee for a reserved seat.

Members were further angered when the AFL then changed its mind and removed the extra fee after some fans had already paid it.

HOW TO GET FANS BACK TO THE FOOTY

An ACCC spokesman said on Thursday night: “(We have) received a complaint about the AFL’s Variable Pricing Strategy.’’

“At this stage, the ACCC hasn’t formed a view on whether the conduct may raise a concern under the Australian Consumer Law.’’

AFL spokesman James Tonkin said: “The AFL confirms it recently met with the ACCC to address queries about our new ticketing model.’’

“It was a productive discussion and we welcomed the ­opportunity to detail how the model seeks to give fans more ticketing and seating choices. We also re-emphasised that ticketing revenue is returned to the competing clubs,” Mr Tonkin said.

ETIHAD STADIUM CROWDS AT ALL-TIME LOW

The AFL announced a variable ticketing policy for games at Etihad Stadium, the MCG and Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast in February.

It has the dual aim of generating more revenue from high-demand games, while offering fans better seats at cheaper ­prices at matches expected to draw smaller crowds.

Adult ticket prices range from $25 to $62 at the MCG and Etihad.

Confused fans reacted ­angrily to the changes, which come on top of exorbitant food prices at venues, and AFL crowds this season have dropped to seven-year lows.

The issue flared after last month’s Geelong-Hawthorn blockbuster when about 1200 general admission members were allowed to swipe into the AFL Members’ Reserve without charge.

Because the game had been designated as an A-Reserve match under the new model, other general admission club members had earlier been ­advised to upgrade and pay extra for a reserved seat.

Ten other AFL matches in Melbourne were slated as a A-Reserve matches.

AFLFA president Brian Clarke, who represents about 1600 members, said: “The fans who contacted us all told us the same thing, that they had purchased a membership from an AFL club and entered into a contract. They paid a certain amount of money and in return were promised a certain amount of games.

“What they were outraged about was that the AFL, a third party, came in over the top and said: ‘You know what? We’re going to bury that contract and you’re going to pay more’.

“We are not accusing the AFL of being misleading or deceptive, but we are acting in the interests of our members who wanted us to approach the ACCC on their behalf.”

Michael Warner
Herald Sun
May 22, 2014 11:00PM

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Brenny 



Joined: 05 Apr 2011
Location: Westpac Centre

PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 10:26 am
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Well done, Joffa!

What many don't realise is, that clubs that play at Etihad that don't get a certain sized crowd have to PAY Etihad in compensation.

Clubs like St Kilda would have to open their cheque book every home game they play there!

We talk about equalisation, and helping the smaller and less fortunate clubs and then they have to fork out their hard earned because they don't get sizeable crowds!

My point is, add in variable ticket pricing which means people can't afford to go and people don't show up and then their club struggles.
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Holbrook Bloke Aries



Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Location: Sydney, but Holbrook beckons

PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 2:30 pm
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Good luck to the Association on this issue. Saw the article today and wondered if the variable price is the same each game or are their tiers.

Would love to see what price was charged in games where variable pricing is applied and whether Collingwood if the most affected club because of the proportion of bigger games we play in.

What about sell-out games in SA and WA? Or is it just the poor Vic supporters who cop it?

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Woods Of Ypres 



Joined: 27 May 2003
Location: Yugoslavia

PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 3:54 pm
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Dimi not happy about it:


OUTGOING AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has taken a swing at the leader of the AFL Fans' Association after the supporter group ramped up its push to overhaul the League's variable ticket pricing system.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-23/demetriou-slams-ticket-stunt
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Dave The Man Scorpio



Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Location: Someville, Victoria, Australia

PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:17 pm
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Good Luck With THat.

AFL would just laugh at it.

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Dave The Man Scorpio



Joined: 01 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:18 pm
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You must have some Great Evidence on why it should Change
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Proud Pies Aquarius



Joined: 22 Feb 2003
Location: Knox-ish

PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:10 pm
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Holbrook Bloke wrote:
Good luck to the Association on this issue. Saw the article today and wondered if the variable price is the same each game or are their tiers.

Would love to see what price was charged in games where variable pricing is applied and whether Collingwood if the most affected club because of the proportion of bigger games we play in.

What about sell-out games in SA and WA? Or is it just the poor Vic supporters who cop it?


my understanding is that it's just MCG, Etihad and Metricon on the Gold Coast.

It's interesting that they implemented this variable pricing only in February this year and most people had to pay for their Memberships from about October 2013. Many people were caught out by this and unable to attend walk up games with their Memberships as they previously were able to. Had this been brought in before Memberships went onsale, I'd assume that many Members without reserved seating wouldn't have splashed the cash for Seasons Tickets and Country Memberships.

It's right that it should go to the ACCC.

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David Libra

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Joined: 27 Jul 2003
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PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:15 pm
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Demetriou's ad hominem response just goes to show how arrogant and out of touch he is. Who cares what Clarke's history is? This is clearly an issue that affects many fans, and Demetriou's preference for character assassination over confronting the issues shows the extent to which the AFL needs to be shaken up.
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Member 7167 Leo

"What Good Fortune For Governments That The People Do Not Think" - Adolf Hitler.


Joined: 18 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: Fri May 23, 2014 7:46 pm
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Good effort. I fully support your actions.

Don't worry about Dimmi. He is yesterday's man and will soon be crawling back under his rock.

The plan is obviously a failure as indicated by the fall in attendance. Dimmi has opted to attack rather than have the guts to accept responsibility for the situation. Typical reaction of a guy who has bitten off more than he can chew.

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Brenny 



Joined: 05 Apr 2011
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PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 12:34 am
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Ed didn't sound too positive about the whole thing on Fox Footy tonight. Dismissed it pretty quickly.

Though Ed admitted the cost of 'parking and pies' is out of the hands of the AFL but working together was needed for the ticket side of it.
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David Libra

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Joined: 27 Jul 2003
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PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 1:30 am
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I'm not really sure that Eddie would be on our side on this one.
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Nick - Pie Man 



Joined: 04 Aug 2010


PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 5:44 pm
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They are all threatened by it, not just the AFL. Remember the club has been - exploiting - its members for years
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Woods Capricorn



Joined: 21 Aug 2013
Location: Melbourne

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:13 pm
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The verdict is in...

Competition watchdog muscles AFL over hidden charges for fans

28 Aug 2014

The competition and consumer regulator has fired a warning shot across the bow of Australia's biggest and most cashed-up sporting code over its failure to fully disclose the real cost of attending popular games.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned the Australian Football League and a number of AFL clubs about their failure to adequately disclose to consumers that attendance at certain high-demand games would incur costs in addition to membership fees, the ACCC said in a statement this morning.

The ACCC said it decided to act following complaints relating to the introduction of the AFL's variable pricing policy earlier this year.

The consumer watchdog was concerned that the AFL and certain clubs used marketing material that was likely to mislead consumers about the price and benefits associated with membership.



"In the ACCC's view, the material was likely to have created the impression that the membership fee entitled a member to attend a specified number of games for no additional cost. In fact, AFL members and general admission AFL club members were required to pay additional costs in order to attend 'reserve' classified games that had originally been promoted as part of their membership entitlements.

"The additional costs were between $8.50 and $39 for general admission AFL club members and $7.50 for AFL members." The ACCC said in a statement this morning.


More at: http://www.smh.com.au/business/competition-watchdog-muscles-afl-over-hidden-charges-for-fans-20140828-109cef.html#ixzz3Bflj1Zjs
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Big T 



Joined: 18 Oct 2003
Location: Torino, Italy

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:14 pm
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Fat Andy is such a wanker.
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David Libra

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Joined: 27 Jul 2003
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 5:40 pm
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Great result. Hopefully the first of many victories for the AFLFA, and a reminder in general that a well-organised group, no matter how small, can often hold the powerful to account.
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