Australian Football League side Richmond Tigers' "drought-breaking flag" has fueled a A$5M ($3.9M) cash "bonanza," according to Michael Warner of the HERALD SUN. Record merchandise sales and the "biggest memorabilia clearance in the history of Australian sport have sparked the Punt Rd windfall." The resurgent Tigers are "also aiming to become footy’s first club to crash through the 90,000-member mark." Richmond President Peggy O'Neal said, "Clearly the success this season is going to drive a significant off-field result, some of which will flow into next year's financial figures." Richmond's contentious yellow "clash strip" worn in the Grand Final win against Adelaide sold out across the country with a new batch to hit the shelves in the coming weeks. Major sponsor Jeep recommitted until the end of '20, while health insurer nib replaced Bingle as the club's other major partner. Apparel supplier Puma was "one of nine second-tier sponsors to join the club" during the '17 season. Richmond also established a major subsidiary business, Aligned Leisure, managing eight leisure centers in the Shire of Cardinia as well as the Eltham Leisure Centre. O'Neal said, "The club has been prudent in its financial management ... and we are now in a very sound position" (HERALD SUN, 10/24).
