AFL grand final signals major hospo boom – but operators should be cautious

['Laura Box', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] hospitality | Magazine 2025-09-22 23:07:50

Grand final season is here, with the men’s AFL grand final set to take place this Saturday 27 September. La Trobe University Discipline Lead and Senior Lecturer in Sport, Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management, Dr Paul Strickland, says about 31,000 interstate spectators are expected to visit Melbourne over the grand final weekend. “This equates to a boost of more than $36 million to the Victorian economy, from these fans alone,” says Dr Strickland. Dr Strickland says there are a range of ways for hospitality businesses to benefit from the event, especially those with liquor licenses. He says grand final weekend deals like AFL themed meals can generate tens of thousands of dollars through corporate sponsorship and two-way business deals.