2011/12 MCG Trust Annual Report - Melbourne Cricket Ground

Chairman’s Review
Executive Officer’s Report
In cricket, last year’s Test match at the MCG
against India created a new record aggregate
attendance (189,347) for matches between our
two countries. The most pleasing innovation
in the code was the launch of the new domestic
20/20 Big Bash League competition, which
quickly won significant public following.
Other Ground
Developments
During the year a statue of Shane Warne was
unveiled as the first statue of the Australia
Post Avenue of Legends outside the MCG. It is
entirely appropriate that the first statue in this
series is of one of Australia’s – and the world’s
– greatest all time cricketers, who over many
years thrilled crowds with his performances
at the MCG. We were delighted to see Shane
return to the hallowed turf with the Melbourne
Stars in the Big Bash League.
We were also very pleased to see the removal
of live gambling odds during AFL matches
at the MCG at the end of the 2011 AFL season,
following a stance taken by the Trust and
the MCC.
Trustees and the
Melbourne Cricket Club
I thank my fellow MCG Trustees and Executive
Officer Graeme Sinclair for their effort and
valuable contribution again this year. It is a
pleasure to work with them.
Chris Lovell stepped down as a Trustee in
November 2011 after nine years of valuable
service. We are very grateful for his legal
knowledge, judgement and all-round
contribution over this time.
I congratulate Tony Stewart on his recent
appointment as a Trustee for a three year term.
The Trust looks forward to the benefit of his
extensive legal and commercial experience.
Finally, congratulations to the MCC
management team led by CEO Stephen Gough
and the MCC Committee under President Paul
Sheahan for their continued highly effective
stewardship of the ground. The partnership
between the Trust and the Club is harmonious
and effective, and I believe it serves the
interests of all patrons of the MCG and
Australian sports lovers very well.
Ground Attendances
In 2011/12 the MCG has experienced another year of very strong attendances. The ground
has clearly retained its status as the leading major events sports stadium in Australia and is
recognised as the home of Australian sport. Attendance at all events at the MCG during the year
was 3,502,725, only a slight decrease from the previous year’s record of 3,569,792.
AFL attendances continued to be strong. The continuing good performance by many of the
Victorian teams during the 2011 season, together with the continued strength of Australian
Rules Football amongst sports fans in Melbourne, resulted in consistently large attendances at
AFL games at the MCG.
Cricket attendances were slightly lower with interest in the tour by India not quite matching
the level of interest in the previous year’s Ashes Test tour by England. Attendances in the first
season of the new domestic “Big Bash League” 20/20 cricket competition provided encouraging
signs of attracting crowds back to the domestic cricket competition.
There were no other major events staged at the MCG in 2011/12.
Football
Total attendance at all AFL home-and-away and finals matches was 7,139,272 in the 2011
season, almost identical with the 7,147,052 in the previous year. Of this total 614,250 attended
the finals, which included 99,537 at the grand final at the MCG. The good performance
of the Victorian teams during the year meant that the MCG again hosted seven finals.
The MCG’s proportion of total AFL attendances in 2011 was again a very significant 43%.
The average attendance at football matches at the MCG in recent years has continued to grow.
After a further 1.4% increase in the 2011 season, the average reached 56,842, assisted by an
improvement in the average attendance at the finals.
Finances
Ground finances continue to be strong with the
debt reduction programme running well ahead
of projections despite the continued substantial
reinvestment in ground improvements.
The Trust will monitor with interest the effect on ground attendances of the introduction of new
teams into the AFL competition which have virtually no supporter base in Melbourne. This,
together with the effect of live telecasts of all games could negatively affect attendances at the
MCG in future years.
Football Attendance At The MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust
The Trust’s assets were revalued this year
as a part of a regular five yearly revaluation
programme. The Valuer General, who
conducted the valuation for the first time,
decided upon significant increases in the values
of the MCG land and the Yarra Park land which
are reflected in the attached accounts of the
Trust. The new values reflect the increasing
value of the assets for which the Trust is
responsible, despite the fact that the values are
never likely to be realised.
John Wylie AM
Chairman
30 June 2011
Season
Total
Attendance
at MCG
’000
Number of
Games*
Average
Attendance
’000
MCG Share
of Total AFL
Attendance
%
2011 3,069 54 (7) 57 43.0
2010 3,082 55 (8) 56 43.1
2009 2,792 53 (7) 53 40.0
2008 2,779 53 (7) 52 39.2
2007 2,536 50(5) 51 36.0
*Number of games includes finals shown in brackets.
Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust
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