AFL Side Geelong Cats CEO Brian Cook Forecasts Break-Even Finances

Australian Football League side Geelong Cats, one of the code's "powerhouse" clubs of the past decade, is "proof of just how tough it is becoming for AFL clubs to turn a profit," according to Greg Denham of THE AUSTRALIAN. Despite "playing deep into the finals and recording a record membership this year," Cats CEO Brian Cook forecast a break-even scenario. Working with A$54.6M in revenue in '16, Geelong made a net profit of A$2.3M despite a A$1M injection into its football department and an AFL equalization payment of A$390,000 "to a pool shared by the poorer clubs." But the predicted break-even result "comes after successive preliminary final appearances and an all-time high membership of 54,854, up from 50,571 the previous year." Geelong's fixture wish list for next year "includes a request" to play all 11 home games at its GMHBA Stadium. Cook said that playing two home games at Etihad Stadium this year cost the Cats A$1M ($780,000) in lost revenue (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/12).