03/04/15
Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and its hospitality partner Epicure have announced an AUS$14m (US$11m) investment over the next seven years to deliver fans more affordable food and beverage offerings at all Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) events.
From April 1, sports fans will be able to purchase food and beverage items at the MCG at prices not seen for more than a decade, following the new agreement. According to MCC, prices will fall by as much as 40% on a range of items such as meat pies, hot chips and hot dogs. Healthy food alternatives such as salads and sushi will also be reduced in price. The price of bottled water will also drop from AUS$5 (US$4) to AUS$3 (US$2.35), which MCC says is consistent with what patrons paid for water back in 2001.
“This is an unrivaled initiative in the venue industry,” said MCC CEO Stephen Gough. “In fact, we are reasonably confident that no major venue or sporting event in the world, other than perhaps Augusta National Golf Course, has or can match what we are offering today.”
An MCG kids’ meal deal will also be available, providing families with an affordable alternative for feeding their children at the stadium.
“We have listened to the fans, we understand their affordability concerns and we are very confident that this initiative will be extremely well received,” said Mr Gough. “This will take the MCG hospitality offering to a new level.”
While the new prices will apply from the start of the 2015 AFL season, they will be maintained for other MCG events in 2015 and beyond, including international and domestic cricket, State of Origin rugby league and soccer.
