Crows announce operating loss despite massive attendances at Adelaide Oval

The Adelaide Crows Football Club has recorded an operating loss of $408,000 in 2014 at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, despite a break-out year in game attendances.

Chief executive Andrew Fagan said it underlined the importance of a review in the arrangement the club struck to move to the city venue last year.

The review process includes the Crows, cross-town rivals Port Adelaide Football Club, and the Stadium Management Authority, coming to terms on the cost of hosting AFL matches and the distribution of revenue.

"It is crucial that we negotiate the best possible outcome with the stadium review and we move forward with a clear plan, which will assist us to transition into a period of growth," Mr Fagan said.

He pointed out, however, that the club remained in a "healthy position with $8.8 million in net assets".

Both the Crows and Port Adelaide FC enjoyed a total crowd figure at Adelaide during the home and away season of 1,016,514 and a combined average of 46,205 people a game.

The figures were well up on 2013's average at Football Park at West Lakes of just 30,264 a game and a total of 665,808 people for the year.

Despite the success, however, Port has also declared an operating loss of $2.5 million.

For the Crows, the shift resulted in a 43 per cent growth in home match attendances to an average of 48,046 - ranking first in the AFL - and a 23 per cent growth in membership to a record number of 57,231.

It also recorded 10 per cent growth in its national television audience.

'Higher than expected costs' to play at Adelaide Oval

The Crows said contributing factors to its operating loss were "higher than expected costs of playing at the redeveloped city venue" and an additional investment into the football department, including funding its new SANFL team.

Chairman Rob Chapman said the club's newly gained independence from its traditional owners, the SANFL, came with an agreement to pay an annual game development fee, which it has committed to paying for the next 15 years.

"The strength of our balance sheet allows us to formally recognise our multi-million dollar commitment to game development in SA," Mr Chapman said.

Meanwhile, the Crows have also announced the addition of premiership players Mark Ricciuto and Rod Jameson to its board as its first member-elected directors.

Mr Riciutto will serve for two years on the board and Mr Jameson for one.

Mr Chapman said more than 24,000 members were eligible to vote for the directors, with 19.7 per cent participating.

"Mark and Rod have already made a significant contribution to our club and they have been elected with emphatic support from our members," he said.