What does Oval deal do for fans?

Local football fans have been promised they will see the benefits from the signing of the long-awaited stadium deal

ALL the men who sat at the table during the 237-day Adelaide Oval stadium review - the SANFL, the Crows and the Power - are happy with their new deal. But what about the fans?

After the carve up of the millions the fans will handover to watch AFL games at the Oval, what do the members and supporters get?

CHEAPER tickets next season? No. The arms race to fund football departments in the chase for an AFL premiership demands the Crows and Power keep lifting their revenue streams - and that includes lifting membership and ticket prices next year.

But - as Power chief executive Keith Thomas noted yesterday - that does put a demand on the clubs to keep delivering more and more value in game-day experiences.

CHEAPER food and drink? No. Despite the 20-40 per cent cut in prices at the MCG, the Stadium Management Authority is standing firm on the prices it has set for this season.

There is a written agreement between the AFL and SMA that the pressure applied to the MCG will not unfold at the Oval. The catering revenue is critical to underpinning the new stadium deal for the Crows and Power, the SMA's management budgets and the SANFL's budgets.

Football fans Ben and Amelia Mislov and their three children Leila, 7, Lucas, 5, and Eliza, 3. Picture: Noelle Bobrige

So what does the fan get while the Crows and Power pocket an extra $3.1 million this season and $4.1 million in 2016 and 2017?

"For our members," says Thomas, "they will be thrilled that they can fully believe that as they walk into the Adelaide Oval their club is being adequately rewarded. That is a great sense of relief.

"Knowing the club is better off financially at the Oval makes them feel pretty good.

"Also, the experience the fan had at Adelaide Oval in 2014 has delighted our members and people. The feedback we get is overwhelming - and you can see that in our record membership number this year."