BIG GATE MONEY.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1925, Page 1

BIG GATE MONEY.

WHERE THE PROFITS GO. SYDNEY, January 15. AVorld records for Test match crowds were established during the second Test of the English cricket team’s tour, and record crowds meant record gate takings. Many people cease to he interested in those great matches beyond the play and the results, but the financial aspect has its interests, too, for weather conditions, sudden collapses in ■play which curtail the duration of a match, give tantalising possibilities of loses that may have to be 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 in Melbourne Australia’s twelve players (the eleven and twelfth man) collected £3O each for Their seven days—a total of £3GO out of the 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, £22,163. the Federal entertainments tax will lake up about £1,600, the Melbourne Cricket Ground rental i.s 10 per cent, of the gross receipts after the tax is deducted, and the. Melbourne Cricket Ground receives approximately £2060. The M.C.C. of England receives £9OOO ,the players’ expenses lor hoard and railway fares are less than £250, while they arc awarded a bonus of £3O each (a total of £300) for playing. The Victorian Cricket Association has to pay the entire ground staff, cleaners, attendants, score board staff, advertising, cricket halls, and every other match expense. In 1921, when, the second Test was played in Alelhourne, the total match expenses were £735. It may he assumed that the charges for a seven-day match arc greater than for the shorter game in 1921, hut £IOOO would certainly cover the complete costs. Thus it may he assumed that the profit to the Criclcfit Association will he not less than £BOOO. The approximate distribution of the Pc.st match receipts may be taken as follows: —Federal tax, £IOOO, AI.C-.G. rent. £2060; English M.C.C.. £9,000; players, hotels, etc., £250; Australian Eleven bonus, £360; wages, M.C.C. staff, luncheons, match expenses, etc., £IOOO. profit to V.C.A., £8193. On the last tour the second Test match gate'was £10,201 Gs 3d, and the EnglislT ALC.O. share was £3730 15s Gd. the expenses £735. and to these the tax, Melbourne Cricket Ground clinrees. and 10 per cent., rental has to he added. It gave the, Victorian Cricket Association a big profit.