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With AFL finals excitement at fever pitch in Western Australia, the West Coast Eagles have become a victim of their own popularity.
Ten thousand families are on a waiting list for memberships and the club is experiencing a virtual sell-out first season at Perth Stadium, making West Coast's biggest issue now a question of how to hold onto fans who can't get tickets to a game, or have been priced out.
Despite an increase in capacity with the new stadium, going to a West Coast game is basically reserved for the privileged, or those who have been long-time supporters.
It comes down to supply and demand — there are thousands more Eagles fans than there are seats at Burswood.
Perth added more than 20,000 people to its population last year, to pass the 2 million mark.
And despite a sluggish economy and a high unemployment rate, demand for Eagles' seats is only expected to increase.
The new stadium does have the ability to expand to 70,000 seats, but that would be complicated, costly and reduce amenity in what is currently the best venue in Australia.
The best hope for a family now to get a season seated membership with West Coast is to inherit it.
If you wake up tomorrow and decide it is a good idea to get an Eagles membership and take your kids on a regular basis, forget about it happening soon — you will be waiting years.
Not just a local problem
This is not unprecedented — the Crows in Adelaide have a waiting list for seated membership.
To become a Melbourne Cricket Club member and get access to every event at the MCG takes about 20 years.
There are currently more than 225,000 people on the MCG's waiting list.
In American football, NFL team the Green Bay Packers' home stadium, Lambeau Field, has been sold out on a season ticket basis since 1960.
They reportedly have more than 130,000 fans waiting for a seated membership.
The strategy now for Packers' fans is to put their kids on the list and hope for the best they will get a membership in middle-age.
The New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos all have significant wait times, and we are reaching that point with West Coast.
Prices are rising
Even if you do get a seat to an Eagles game, there is still the issue of the cost.
"I think the recent ticketing announcements have been very steep," Premier Mark McGowan said in the lead-up to West Coast's preliminary final against Melbourne.
"But you know it is a final and people want to get in."
The ticket price has basically doubled since the Eagles defeated the Pies.
The cheapest ticket available for this weekend's now sold-out game was a restricted view seat for $65.
"We had a bit of a look at that over the weekend," Sport Minister Mick Murray said earlier this week.
"They are not that much more than what they are on the east coast for the finals, so that is the AFL's position," he said.
"And if they drive people away with that, that is their problem."
But there is another option for Eagles fans who can't get in to games, and it may be hard to stomach — start going to Fremantle games.
Not including this season, Freo has played in 11 finals and West Coast in 13 since the club's 2006 flag.
The Dockers look to be a fair way off challenging again at this point, but if you love watching football live, perhaps it is a good idea to get in before it is too late.
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, perth-6000, wa
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