BIG GATE-MONEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 57, 6 February 1925, Page 12

BIG GATE-MONEY

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TESTS. WHERE THE PROFITS GO, SYDNEY, Jan. 17. World records for test match crowds were established during tho second test •of the English cricket team's tour and record crowds meant record gate takings. Many people cease to be interested in these great matches beyond the play or the results, but the financial aspect has its interests too, for weather conditions, sudden collapses in play which curtail the duration o'l a match, give tantalising possibilities of losses that may have to bo met, so that those charged with the financial arrangements do not rest upon a bed of roses. However, any remote anxiety in the tests so far this season has been quickly set at rest. In the second test match at Melbourne, Australia's 12 players (the 11th and 12th man) collected £3O each for their seven days—a total of £360 out of tho gross gate receipts of £22,463., The match was a glorious financial harvest for the Victorian Cricket Association and the M.C.C. of London. Of the gross gate £22,463, tho Federal entertainments tax will take up about £I6OO, the Melbourne cricket ground rental is 10 per cent, of the gross receipts after the tax is deducted, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground receives approximately £2060. Tho M.C.C. of England receives £9OOO. The players' expenses for board and railway fares is less than £250 while they are awarded a bonus of £3O each (a total of £360) for playing.

The Victorian Cricket Association has to pay entire ground staff, cleaners, attendants, score board staff, advertising, cricket balls and every other match expense. In 1921, when the second test was played in Melbourne, the total match expenses were £735. It may bo assumed that the charges for a seven-day match are greater than for the shorter game in 1921, but £IOOO would certainly cover the complete costs. Thus it may bo assumed that tho profit to the Cricket Association will be not less than £BOOO. The. approximate distribution of the test match receipts may be taken as follows: Federal tax ...£I6OO M.C.G. rent ... 2000 English, M.C.C. ... 9000 PlayerSj hotels, etc ... ... 250 Australian XI. bonus ... ... 360 Wages, M.C.G. staff, luncheons, match expenses, etc. ... 1000 Profit to V.C.A ... 8193

On the last tour the second test match gate was £10,201, and the English M.C.C. share was £3736, the expenses £735, and to these the tax, Melbourne Cricket Ground charges and 10 per cent, rental has to be added. It gave the Victorian Cricket Association a big profit.