Despite a "dismal two-win season and a downturn in crowds," Australian Football League side Carlton is set to announce a "strong profit" of more than A$700,000 ($513,700) for '18, according to Jake Niall of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The Blues managed to "remain clearly in the black" in '18 "in the face of another wooden spoon," the club's second in four years, and in spite of lifting spending on its football department by A$1.6M ($1.2M) this year. Carlton, which is still finalizing its financial result, "remained profitable via an increase in membership revenue" of 11-12%, healthy sponsorship income and the AFL's improved returns at Marvel Stadium, where the club played six of its 11 home games. Carlton's gaming operations, too, have been "a significant contributor to the bottom line for some years." These lifts in revenues "offset the slump in home attendances" from an average of 38,356 in '17 to 31,775 this year. There "appears to be more optimism" from Carlton's fans about '19, with membership up by 5,000 compared to this time last year (SMH, 12/4).
