A-League should heed Dynamic Ticketing issues

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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Dynamic Ticketing is seen as a new revenue builder by struggling clubs in Europe needing to inject more funds into their clubs. However, the backlash reported by supporters worldwide should make clubs think twice about this divisive option.

Dynamic Ticketing is a system that gives tickets adaptable prices based on demand. The most recent upheaval on this system has come from the Oasis reunion tickets, where fans have queued up for hours expecting tickets to be $292.39 only in a few hours, skyrocketing to $699.38.

This has caused outrage and even opened an investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

The footballing world has recently been riddled with ticket price controversy. Aston Villa fans raised concern at the prices of their Champions League tickets for their first return to competition since its earlier iteration, the European Cup, which they competed and won in 1982, 42 year ago.

A Champions League home ticket for Aston Villa has been increased form the cheapest non-season home tickets at $167.37 AUD rising up to $191, with a discounted price for season ticket holders ranging from $137.83 to $163.43. This comes at a 55% increase for non-season holders and 21% increase for season ticket holders from the clubs official cheapest ticket bracket of $108.

This decision has been defended by Aston Villa’s president of business operations Chris Heck saying that the financial problems facing the club and fears of Financial Fair Play (FFP) stepping in have made the ticket increase a viable option.

Other clubs such as 2023/24 Premier League champions Manchester City prices range from $74 to $123. Liverpool, 6 time champions league winners charge $59 to $120.

Valencia and Celta Vigo have taken it a step further by already imposing dynamic pricing onto its game tickets explaining prices will rise closer to the date of the game based on demand.

From a business point of view, clubs losing revenue see Dynamic Ticketing as an easy cash stream back into the club.

It is no lie that the A-league is under a strain financially, with little respite in sight. The league’s attractiveness as a business venture is vastly diminishing.

Ticketing for the A-leagues has much more financial importance than other more lucrative leagues in Europe. Also, it is worth mentioning that dynamic ticket price range would be substantially smaller than the larger supported and wealthier European clubs and leagues.

A more financially stable league would presumably result in more quality signings and revenue injected into youth development and infrastructure.

The negative effects for the fanbases, however, are glaring.

Supporters are not blind to the recent worldwide football news and know that fan’s frustrations at rising prices and where this profit goes, often falls on deaf ears. These same people could be the first to be hit hard.

The clubs in Spain that have imposed Dynamic Ticketing have caused uproar by their respective fans and other fan bases around the country. It has also soured an already fraught relationship between supporters and club owners.

Many view it as blatant greed, that they treat fans as customers and not as supporters important for the dynamic of the club.

The stage of development that Australian football is currently at means the fans have an important impact on the club’s activity. The popularity of leagues such as the Premier league or even La Liga club management see the benefits outweighing the negatives. This room for decision does not correlate with the popularity of the sport in Australia.

Football clubs should be finding angles to increase attendance and not increasing prices that could minimise interest in matches, with the cost-of-living crisis taking a hit to the public, individuals are thinking twice on where to spend their money.

Big games such as derbies draws in the largest attendance, with last season’s Sydney derby drawing in 28,152 and 27,998 for respective home and away games. Wellington Phoenix’s top of the table clash against Melbourne Victory back in May had the largest attendance at 33,297.

These type of games would be the key moments for Dynamic Ticketing and an increases in prices. The argument is that increased prices could cause less attendance for the casual viewer and an increase of season tickets pricing.

The not as important games could also be effected if they seem to increase in price. This has been mentioned by many fan groups as an increasing occurrence from worldwide clubs struggling with ticket prices.

The A-league clubs must still be realistic with their push to gain more support for football in Australia’s saturated sporting environment.

Australia is no stranger to successful rises in domestic league viewership and stadium-goers.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is recorded to have helped garner a big increase in casual viewers to regular supporters for domestic leagues.

It’s possible this profit-building option in Australia could backfire tremendously and impact the league’s development and fan numbers. Something it cannot afford, quite literally.

The league needs more investment there is no denying that, but this volatile option could do more harm than good for Australian football.

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The A-Leagues Final Series important status also a secret hinderance

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The Isuzu A-League finals series is a huge event in the footballing calendar, though its contribution to stagnant attendance numbers in the league is something to be said.

If the 2025/26 finals series follows similar patterns to those before it, it will gather huge traction and strong ticket sales.

It is the largest event for the domestic league, bringing in massive amounts of viewership through media and gate receipts.

Finals series from years past have shown this, with the 2024/25 final, a Melbourne derby, being sold out within 48 hours and gathering significant viewership online.

The idea of a finals series lies within the Australian sporting ethos; the other sporting codes have had this tradition for most of their existence, especially in recent history.

Football, though, is different from the rest of the sporting codes in Australia, unique even. This has historically contributed to its inability to integrate into the same supported status as other codes.

Many in the Australian footballing community, supporter groups, players, coaches, and even the new Director of Football Australia, have voiced concerns over fan numbers in the league competition.

It wouldn’t be absurd to say that maybe, though profitable now, the finals series is actually taking away from the league itself.

Consider the media image: the league winner is called the “minor premiership,” and ticket sales and viewership figures reveal a huge disparity between the two parts of the A-League.

It must be said that an alternative that could work in unison with the league and possibly increase viewership of the league itself would be a great advantage.

It would allow the league to gain more jeopardy and drama, which could build greater interest in attending league games.

One alternative is already here.

No other sporting code in Australia has both a league competition and a cup competition. Football in Australia does.

The Hahn’s Australia Cup is our equivalent to the FA Cup in England or the Copa del Rey in Spain.

These are competitions that offer a finals option in a different competition entirely. They generate huge traction while never diminishing the importance of the league and, therefore, its popularity.

These cup competitions cannot be discussed without acknowledging some obvious differences.

They don’t face the same popularity issues that football does in Australia. It’s obvious the Hahn’s Australia Cup doesn’t yet gain the traction that the finals series does.

However, for a healthy footballing environment with increasing fan numbers, it should.

The idea of elevating the Hahn’s Australia Cup and scaling back the finals series is a complex question, one that is treated like a “no-go zone” by many in the Australian footballing community, and that is understandable.

Though big changes like this might, in the end, be credible options for the future of the sport in this country.

Larger plans must be set in motion, strategies that can be worked towards and refined along the way. It is the process by which all large organisations, business models and even national governments build their strategies.

Such a shift will be scrutinised and pushed back against.

Though with further fine-tuning and smart investment in development, not to mention the introduction of promotion and relegation and the possibility of changing the footballing calendar.

It could replicate the success that these two-competition models already enjoy in other leagues.

The added importance that the premiership would gain, the reality that every game matters, could alongside other strategies entice fans to more games, increase viewership and ticket sales, and create more dedicated fan bases. It works in other nations, very well in fact.

The possibility of two teams lifting a trophy, rather than one single event defining it all, sounds like a strategy that could deliver more engagement over longer periods of time.

Maybe Australian football doesn’t need to answer this question just yet. It is complex, difficult and it would require a great deal of work, including significant investment into the game, which is another issue entirely.

Yet as low attendance numbers persist in the A-League, even alongside increased media viewership, something needs to change for football in Australia.

The rise in popularity of this game and its dedicated community deserves bold ideas and forward thinking.

Ideas like this could eventually begin to change the landscape of the beautiful game in Australia for the better.

How Husqvarna Is Helping Stadiums Cut Costs Without Cutting Quality

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Image Credit: Husqvarna

At a time when operational costs are rising across global sport, stadiums and football clubs are being forced to rethink one of their most overlooked expenses: turf maintenance.

From diesel consumption to labour hours, maintaining elite playing surfaces has traditionally been both resource-intensive and environmentally taxing. But new data emerging from venues like CBUS Super Stadium suggests a smarter, more sustainable model is already taking hold.

Leading that shift is Husqvarna, whose autonomous turf technology is quietly reshaping how professional venues manage their playing surfaces. Their product delivers measurable cost savings without compromising quality.

Cutting fuel consumption costs

At CBUS Super Stadium, the introduction of Husqvarna’s CEORA™ robotic mowing system has reduced diesel usage by approximately 20–30 litres per week. Over the course of a season, those savings compound into a significant reduction in both fuel spend and carbon emissions. This is particularly efficient for stadiums hosting regular fixtures and large-scale events.

CBUS Super Stadium General Manager Kristian Blundell said the robotic mower was a game-changer for the venue:

“This technology is not replacing staff but rather giving our grounds team the ability to do what they do best by helping to improve turf management processes, better manage fatigue and decrease our environmental footprint”

But the impact goes beyond fuel.

 

Time efficiency

By automating routine mowing, Husqvarna’s technology enables grounds teams to focus on higher-value maintenance tasks, from pitch recovery to detailed surface management. The result is not only greater operational efficiency but also improved turf consistency, which is an increasingly critical factor in elite football performance.

The benefits are being mirrored beyond stadium environments. At Oatlands Golf Club, Husqvarna’s autonomous mowing has delivered savings of up to 60 litres of fuel per week while freeing up staff for precision work. Quiet, round-the-clock operation also ensures surfaces are maintained without disrupting play—an advantage that translates directly to multi-use stadium settings.

Image Credit: Husqvarna

Importantly, Husqvarna’s lightweight robotic systems reduce the wear and tear typically caused by traditional heavy machinery. This not only protects the integrity of the playing surface but also reduces the need for costly repairs over time.

Football clubs navigating tight budgets at grassroots and semi-professional levels could benefit from such cost savings.

With rising energy prices, increasing sustainability expectations, and limited staffing resources, the ability to cut costs while improving performance is no longer optional. Solutions like Husqvarna’s CEORA™ are positioning clubs to operate more efficiently today, while preparing for a more environmentally accountable future.

As the sports industry continues to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: the next competitive edge may not just come from what happens on the pitch—but how it’s maintained.

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