Carlton FC announces elimination of debt and new membership record

February 2, 2021

The Carlton Football Club has announced that, for the first time since 1996, it is debt free while also revealing it has reached an all-time club membership record.

The Board has ratified a management recommendation that will see the Club’s remaining $4 million of historical debt wiped out immediately and has informed the AFL that it will no longer be a financially assisted club of the competition.

The removal of their longstanding debt was one of the Carlton’s 10 targets within their strategic plan, launched in 2019.

The achievement comes as AFL giant announced that they have reached an all-time club membership record, with over 67,000 members signed on prior to the 2021 season, surpassing the Club’s membership record for a fourth consecutive year.

Commending the club and its fans, Carlton Chief Executive, Cain Liddle (pictured below) stated “to clear almost $7 million of debt in just three years is an incredible effort by our Board, made even more incredible when you consider the challenges of 2020. It’s been a total unified club effort, by our board, our players, our staff, our members and our commercial partners and sponsors. A totally united club.

“We have now surpassed our all-time membership record of 67,035 (set in 2020), to achieve that this early in the season is almost unprecedented.

“We remain well on track to hit 80,000 members in 2021, which represents approximately 50 per cent growth in three years and keeps us on track to hit our ambitious strategic target of 100,000 members by 2023. We just couldn’t be more appreciative of our members who have stuck with us and re-signed for 2021, particularly during what has been an especially challenging period for so many.

“We’ve said multiple times that it has felt as though our members picked us up, put us on their shoulders and carried us forward and today’s announcements confirm that is exactly the case. Every Carlton member should feel a great sense of pride.”

The Club now feels it has a greater level of flexibility and capacity to invest further into its Ikon Park Master Plan redevelopment and alternative revenue streams such as the Carlton College of Sport and Carlton IN Business, that continue to go from strength to strength. Most importantly, it ensures that maximum investment remains in both its AFL and AFLW programs, giving its players, coaches and members the very best opportunity to achieve on-field success.

1st February 2021 - Unreleased review reveals ‘systemic racism’ at AFL’s Collingwood FC

28th January 2021 - Ticket Sale Success and ‘This Is Us’ Campaign marks AFLW 2021 Season launch

27th January 2021 - Work commences on new elite women’s facilities at Melbourne’s Ikon Park

24th December 2020 - AFL announces broadcast agreement extensions with Foxtel and Telstra

21st October 2020 - Quayclean staff the unsung heroes of the AFL season

12th October 2020 - VicHealth and AFL encourage families to get active on way to school as restrictions lift

2nd September 2020 - MCG secures AFL Grand Final contract extension

2nd September 2020 - AFL announces Brisbane’s The Gabba as 2020 Grand Final venue

25th August 2020 - AFL restructuring sees integration of management at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium

24th August 2020 - Decline in income forces AFL to restructure operations with 20% of staff to be cut

23rd July 2020 - AFL and NRL show year-on-year value gains

25th June 2020 - Victorian fans to be prevented from attending NRL and AFL games in NSW

9th June 2020 - AFL season restart to see 2,000 fans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday

15th May 2020 - AFL announces that season will restart from 11th June

30th March 2020 - AFL looks to secure $600 million loan

29th March 2020 - AFL and players agree pay-cut deal through Coronavirus shutdown

7th February 2020 - AFL’s Carlton on track to be debt free by 2022

4th September 2018 - Carlton partners with La Trobe University to launch new College of Sport

9th November 2017 - Carlton Football Club appoint Cain Liddle as new Chief Executive

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