Sports fans will "pay more for pies, hot chips and drinks" at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this year, according to Peter Rolfe of the HERALD SUN. The price of chips and pies will rise by 10c, soft drinks will cost 20c more and salads will be 30c dearer than last year at "Australia’s home of sport." Hotdogs will cost A$4.20 ($3.15), up 20c, while sushi will retail for A$5.20 ($3.90), up from A$5 ($3.75). The increases "come after a review of MCG food and beverage pricing found a forecast loss" of A$2M ($1.5M) that the venue was "willing to cop to make catering more affordable for fans" would actually cost A$2.5M ($1.9M) this year. Having "significantly dropped the price of popular items at the MCG last year," Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stephen Gough said the club was "still committed to maintaining affordability but needed to pass some cost increases on to fans." Research by the Australian Football League last season showed the MCG’s move to lower prices "more than any other venue had increased satisfaction levels among fans" and was a key issue identified by regular attendees. The new prices will apply for all MCG events, including AFL, cricket and football, starting with the AFL season opener between Richmond and Carlton on March 24 (HERALD SUN, 3/13).
