ST KILDA says it will give Telstra Dome "back to our fans" next season in a novel initiative designed to combat the expected financial downturn. The Saints have been given permission by stadium management to sell to members level-two seats normally assigned to corporates who have paid to attend match-day functions.
The plan all but kills off the traditional club president's pre-match function.
St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said the anticipated revenue struggle, combined with the club's 2009 home fixtures - six Sunday and four Saturday games at Telstra Dome - forced a commercial re-think.
"Our members have always wanted greater access to that level and they've been saying they just want to go to the footy in their jeans, take the kids, have a can of Coke," he said.
"They can still go in to the function rooms if they want to have a sit-down meal, but they won't be locked in to it.
"We'll hopefully be able to get 4000 St Kilda members on to that level, make it a fortress."
Fraser said the club would retain a pre-match president's function, but for an invitation-only 30-50 people.
The running of St Kilda's corporate functions this year cost the club $900,000. It recorded a loss of $15,000.
Executives factored in the economic downturn and feared the possible loss in 2009 could reach $300,000.
Pre-match functions hosted by the Saints' coterie group Haloes will continue, for about 150 people.
THE teenager voted Ireland's best young Gaelic footballer will train with St Kilda this month as he weighs up a possible move to the AFL.
Forward Tommy Walsh, 19, was last month named the Gaelic Athletic Association's young footballer of the year.
