B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Cannes Lions
  • WPP
  • State of Origin
  • NRL
  • B&T Women in Media
  • Thinkerbell
  • imaa
  • AFL
  • Pinterest
  • Anthony Albanese
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • AI
  • Agency Scorecards
  • Meta
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: AFL Left Red-Faced After “Sell Out” Shanghai Match Turns Out To Be Utter Flop
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Media > AFL Left Red-Faced After “Sell Out” Shanghai Match Turns Out To Be Utter Flop
Media

AFL Left Red-Faced After “Sell Out” Shanghai Match Turns Out To Be Utter Flop

Staff Writers
Published on: 3rd June 2019 at 11:25 AM
Staff Writers
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

The AFL has been left red-faced after hyping up a game between St Kilda and Port Adelaide in Shanghai, which in reality turned out to be an utter flop.

The game was advertised as a sell-out match, but the photos from Sunday’s game have revealed a different story.

More than half the crowd was missing at Shanghai’s Jiangwan Stadium, and social media were quick to point out the empty chairs.

One person tweeted: “This must be the least crowded place in China.”

Another said: “Shanghai falling in love with the game. 0.002 per cent of the city packing the occasional seat.”

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 11.35.50 am

The AFL’s decision to head to China has been an issue of contention for the past few years, as many people, perhaps rightly so, saw it as a waste of money.

AFL chief executive Gillion McLachlan has no qualms about the empty stadiums, however, telling afl.com.au it was a “big risk” but it was starting to pay off.

He said: “This is our third year and it’s been going well.

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 11.36.19 am

“The game has been breaking even since year one, and that first couple of years has been significant.

“It takes time to build relationships but if you take a medium-term view, as I said, three-to-five years, then there are proper targets, because we believe in our game and we believe in the opportunities with Chinese business.”

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: AFL, China
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

Heaps Normal Launches Mobile Sound System To ‘Turn Pubs Into Stadiums’
16/07/2025
Delicious. Produce Awards Turns 20
16/07/2025
Mountain Dew & PYRA Launch ‘Dew Drip’ Fashion Capsule Via VaynerMedia
16/07/2025
Agency Scorecard: Publicis Worldwide
16/07/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?