It seems that more and more the football viewing public is gretting treated like **** to view the games for whatever reason.
Yesterday, the AFL, without much notice at all, allowed Geelong and Hawthorn members cheap entry into the AFL Members area, after previously having asked those same members to pay up to $29 more to reserve a seat for the match.
But, this next case takes the cake.
Footy dad charged $18 to take his two-week-old baby to AFL match at Etihad stadium
- Peter Rolfe
- Herald Sun
- April 22, 2014 12:00AM
A DAD who took his two-week-old son to an AFL match at Etihad Stadium was outraged to be told he had to buy an $18 seat ticket for the bub.
Point Cook father Jarred Magnabosco said two different Etihad Stadium staff members told him to buy a seat for son Jed, even though he was in a bassinet pram.
Mr Magnabosco, a Western Bulldogs fan, said: “We paid $30 to park at the ground, went to scan our tickets and the girl said, ‘Hang on, have you got a ticket for the child?‘ ‘‘ he said.
“I said, ‘He‘s only two weeks old‘, and she said, ‘It doesn‘t matter, you have to pay $18 no matter what because they have changed the rules‘.‘‘
Jed was eventually admitted for free, but Mr Magnabosco was told he would have to pay a fee in future.
Mr Magnabosco paid about $5500 for Bulldogs coterie group tickets for his family this season.
He said asking parents to pay $18 for babies was “over the top with greed‘‘.
“They‘re ruining football for young families,‘‘ he said.
“I‘m lucky that I can afford to pay but for the people that can‘t it‘s not fair for them.‘‘
Etihad Stadium spokesman Bill Lane admitted staff should not have asked Mr Magnabosco to pay for his baby.
“If a request for payment was made, then it was made in error, and we apologise for the staff member‘s action,‘‘ he said.
“We are also happy to discuss the issue with the affected patron.‘‘
But Mr Magnabosco said the fact a Melbourne mum two weeks ago told the Herald Sun she was asked to pay $18 to take her 17-month-old daughter into Etihad Stadium meant the system was failing.
“They said it wouldn‘t happen again, but it has,‘‘ he said.
AFL spokesman James Tonkin said the league had directed Etihad Stadium to let children under five years into the venue free unless they wanted to occupy a seat, and the AFL would follow up the issue.
“We will follow up again with the stadium to ensure they understand the arrangement,‘‘ he said.
Hundreds of fans flocking to the MCG for yesterday‘s Hawthorn-Geelong blockbuster signed an AFL Fans‘ Association petition calling for the league to scrap the contentious new variable pricing system.
With 2000 of only 5000 remaining tickets sold by 12.30pm yesterday the AFL Reserve was opened up to Hawks and Cats members who still had to pay at least $8.50 for a reserved seat on top of their membership for the “A reserve‘‘ match.