We have ticked over into October and the start of the new A-League Men’s season is just 17 days away. The Mariners are the reigning champs, Auckland FC are the new kids on the block and the Macarthur Bulls have a freshly won Australia Cup in hand after beating Melbourne Victory on the counter last Sunday night.
All thirteen clubs are engaged in an aggressive membership drive, or should be. Early bird prices for returning members have or are about to come to an end and the suite of options available to fans is extensive. Boutique membership and experiences are available to those a little more cashed up than others.
They offer unique experiences, close access to the playing squad and premier seating at the half-way line of the respective stadiums. For most, a general admission package will be the one more affordable in these troubled times. With three weeks remaining before the first ball is kicked for season 2024/25, I ran the rule over the A-League clubs and investigated which was asking the most from fans financially and who was meritoriously asking very little.
I began with Auckland FC, to see whether the new club might be doing all it could to attract its foundation members. Putting boutique experiences aside for all clubs, the price comparison was an interesting one to make.
The cheapest option for Auckland in terms of full membership is a $260 general admission pass for home matches, with $535 required for a platinum pass. A few other clubs fell very much into line. Reigning champs Central Coast are asking for $510 at the platinum level and just $200 for the lower tier.
Macarthur’s premium package is a little higher at $555, with $260 required for general admission, whilst Adelaide United is slightly more inflated at $579 for the more expensive option and $299 for the cheapest GA ticket available.
A new era of the UEFA Champions League is here, only on Stan Sport.
Melbourne City members pay $564 for attendance at the team’s AAMI Park appearances and a competitive $252 for an unreserved place in the ground. Strangely, the cheaper category excludes the Melbourne Derby; a match that would see fans given priority to redeem a seat if available, yet an opportunity that might feel a little expensive considering the additional cost.
A handful of clubs are doing their very best to keep prices down for loyal fans. Western United offer a $399 platinum season pass and demand just $199 for seated general admission. Brisbane Roar are in the same ballpark; just $445 for a platinum membership, yet are a little more expensive in the lower category at $305.
The Jets offer a more than affordable $435 package at the higher end and a Blue GA ticket will set fans back just $200 for the entire season. Considering the recent struggles Newcastle have faced, it would be difficult for the club to expect fans to pay any more.
Mariners fans. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
There is plenty of positivity in Wanderland with the arrival of Alen Stajcic and with a range from $380 for GA and $470 for the upper category, there is no reason for red and black fans to stay away from Commbank Stadium this season. The same cannot be said of a few clubs, who seem to be asking plenty of fans amidst some of the most difficult financial circumstances we have seen in Australia for some time.
Sydney FC demand $635 for a Platinum Plus season pass, with public transport free to and from Allianz Stadium if required, with the least expensive seated category setting fans back $320.
Melbourne Victory has a total of 18 separate membership categories, with Premium A seats setting patrons back $699 and a variety of general admission categories coming in at a little over $300. Phoenix fans would be pretty chuffed by the majority of the numbers above.
Attendance at Sky Stadium is excellent value when compared to the rest of the A-League venues. A Gold Season Pass requires an outlay of just $380 for seats on the half-way line, whilst entry into the active Yellow Fever area where the folks like to get their kit off whenever possible is a reasonable $290.
The numbers do not read as well for prospective fans of Perth Glory, with a whopping $845 required to secure a platinum reserved seat at HBF Park. Even a spot in the famous shed doesn’t feel particularly cheap at $350; far more than many other clubs are charging for active support areas.
The table below outlines the comparative cost of the premium or platinum reserved tickets for each A-League club and the stadium they occupy, outside of tailored boutique and unique experience categories. How does your club stack up in terms of value for money?
Club cost of reserved seating for 2024/25 A-League season as club member (upper category and outside boutique or unique experiences or packages)
Adelaide United $579
Auckland FC $535
Brisbane Roar $445
Central Coast Mariners $510
Macarthur FC $555
Melbourne City $564
Melbourne Victory $699
Newcastle Jets $435
Perth Glory $845
Sydney FC $635
Wellington Phoenix $380
Western Sydney Wanderers $470
Western United $399