MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18: Carlton fans celebrate a goal during the 2021 AFL Round 01 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Carlton are in discussions with the AFL to see their balance of home games shift in favour of a majority being held at the MCG instead of Marvel Stadium.
The Blues will host six games at the Docklands venue this season, one more than their five home games fixtures at the MCG, which has a capacity twice the size of Marvel Stadium.
Carlton recorded 328,424 fans through the gates across their five home matches at the MCG last year for an average of 65,684 per game, while their Marvel Stadium tally in 2022 sat at 219,204 (36,534 average) from six games.
The Blues have played just one game at the MCG to start this year, recording an attendance of over 55,000 in Round 2 against Geelong, while both of their home matches at Marvel Stadium so far have sold out to the general public.
Unable to get further fans on seats a the AFL-owned Docklands venue, the Blues are now hopeful the league will hand them more MCG games than Marvel Stadium games from 2025.
The current deal with the league's stadium allocation will run for another year before the Blues have the chance to submit their request for at least six MCG home games in a year.
"Our preferred position is to have six (games) at the MCG, and five (at Marvel Stadium)," Carlton CEO Brian Cook told 3AW on Friday.
"So I'd like to rotate that. We think we've deserved that in terms of the crowds we get.
"We had an average crowd last year of 50,000 per game at home, which is a lot when you play at Marvel. We were the No.1 attended team at both Marvel and the MCG.
"We think that probably gives us some right to push for a sixth game at the MCG, that's what we're trying to do right now.
"The AFL own (Marvel Stadium), so they want as many good games on this oval as possible. We think the best balance for the industry and for us is 6-5 (in favour of the MCG)."
Carlton pulled in 45,548 fans on Friday night for their loss against Brisbane, adding to two sold-out appearances at Marvel Stadium already this year (one home and one away).
The Blues will return to the Docklands next week when they host the Western Bulldogs, before further games at Marvel Stadium against Port Adelaide, West Coast and GWS later in the season.
Carlton's remaining home games at the MCG will see Michael Voss' side play host to Collingwood, Melbourne (twice) and Gold Coast.