1 day Ago By Roy Ward
Essendon are standing firm despite complaints from some members about price hikes for their 2025 memberships. Bombers chief executive Craig Vozzo emailed members on Wednesday to explain the club was again raising prices for some memberships, mostly in the higher or premium categories, for the second year in a row. The Essendon faithful in full cry after the stirring win over GWS Giants in May.
Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images Some fans took to social media claiming they faced price hikes of 20 to 25 per cent to keep the same membership although some of those complaints combined increases over 2024 and 2025. The club reached out to their base of more than 83,500 members this week with prices for 2025 as they are required to inform members 28 days before payment plans kick into action in mid-October. Essendon have told members the majority of the money raised will go towards the football department along with countering rising costs across the business.
“Following our membership price freezes ahead of both the 2021 and 2023 AFL seasons, the club is in the final year of our two-year price revision which was designed to ensure we can both continue to invest in our football programs at a comparable level to other high performing AFL clubs, as well as seek to allow us to provide our members with the best entertainment product and member experience we can,” Vozzo wrote. The Bombers had the second-highest home attendance in club history in 2024 despite again missing out on the finals. Supporters at other clubs could see price increase coming their way when their club renewal notices arrive.
The Bombers believe increases of 20 to 25 per cent would be in the minority and possibly only hitting those fans who had price freezes in other years. They also believe their premium seat prices compare favourably with other leading Melbourne clubs. “Like everyone in this difficult economic climate, over the past 12 months we have encountered significant cost pressures across many aspects of our business.
For the 2025 season, while our premium membership categories will increase at approximately the same rate as in 2024, we are pleased to announce a price freeze on our junior entry-level membership categories and increases in line with inflation only for our adult members in this category,” Vozzo wrote. Bombers member Candice Jayde revealed the increase she faced for 2025 in a post on social media. “I’m a silver member home seat with away access this year was $620, now [for] 2025 it’s $732,” Jayde wrote on X.
Bombers member Scott “Scooter” McNeice said his membership had increased his costs 27 per cent over two years. “27 per cent rise in my club membership over last 24 months,” McNeice wrote on X. “I feel for people living pay check to pay check.
We don’t want to price fans out of the game re attending regularly.” Essendon stress that financial support via membership helps drive the club’s independence. “The support and loyalty our members have displayed in 2024 and over our long history allows the club to remain financially stable and to retain our independence as a football club,” Vozzo wrote.
“By investing in our club, you invest in our future. Your support helps us to grow - on and off the field. “We want to maintain our position as one of the AFL’s leading clubs and your membership contribution provides us with the financial platform that is essential to creating and maintaining the facilities, staff and programs required to support our players to be the very best they can be.
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