Smallest crowd for a Sydney AFL final
By AAP, 7 Sep 2008 AAP is a Roar Pro
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The fair weather fan stayed at home as the Swans attracted their smallest ever crowd to an AFL finals game for last night’s elimination final clash with North Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.
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The pre-match prediction of AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou that the game would be lucky to attract 20,000 proved eerily accurate, with the fixture drawing an official 19,127 spectators.
It was well below the previous lowest crowd for a Swans final in Sydney of 36,076 who attended the qualifying final against St Kilda at the SCG ten years ago.
It was only around half the previous lowest for a final at ANZ Stadium.
Unfavourable weather didn’t help, with 78 millimetres of rain falling over the ground in the 36 hours prior to kick off.
Ironically, last night’s crowd could have comfortably fitted into the reduced capacity at the Swans traditional SCG headquarters, where capacity has been reduced this year because of the building of a new stand.
Demetriou told people at the prematch function that the AFL faced a battle to win the hearts and minds of potential supporters for the second Sydney team, which will debut in the 2012 season.
“We know it is not going to be easy and we know we are in for a battle for the hearts and minds of the Sydney people,” he said.
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Redb said | September 7th 2008 @ 8:26am | Report comment
“The greatest risk is taking no risks at all” – Ron Barassi 1977.
Redb
The Answer said | September 7th 2008 @ 8:34am | Report comment
Surely Redb that would also apply to your Melbourne Storm?
Redb said | September 7th 2008 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Sydney’s poor sporting crowds in 2008.
Economic, climatic and just pathetic.
Redb
Dave said | September 7th 2008 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Redb
Ahhh the weather, the economy etc etc. What about Adelaides lowest ever finals home finals crowd of 37,000 v Coll yesterday? The 2 clubs with the supposed largest support in Oz and the crowds were poor. Was it raining in Adelaide?
The AFL is strong in Melb but struggling elsewhere with crowds down around the country.
I think last nights crowd puts SFC crowds into perspective
Albert Ross said | September 7th 2008 @ 11:15am | Report comment
$45 per ticket would seem to be a clue here.
the truth said | September 7th 2008 @ 11:39am | Report comment
I heard that the AFL did absolutely nothing to promote this game and lets face it the Swans fans are petty much based in the eastern suburbs and hate ANZ
Rich_daddy said | September 7th 2008 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
The fact that it was North Melbourne who the Swans were playing probably contributed. North Melbourne is renowned for a having a small supporter base. They struggle to pull crowds to their games and the Elimination final between North Melbourne and Port in 2005 attracted just 25,000 spectators and this was in Melbourne. I think if the Swans were playing Collingwood, the crowd would have been much bigger. I think the cost of living and ticket prices mentioned already, are also factors.
Koala Bear said | September 7th 2008 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
Oh deary me only 19k at the Sth Melbourne swans game .. Now what was it, that Roy Masters said about the free tickets to the Northern state games .?. Hmm I would have to presume that Roy’s allegations in his article about free tickets stopped at the end of the season and does not include the Finals (?) hmm I wish Roy Masters was here so he could clear it up for us Lards..
Redb, I off to watch the Titans last game of the season for my father’s day present.. I shall report on the attendance when I get back. I hope it’s 19K with no free tickets for the pundits … except for me of course as I am a guest of my son.. God bless him …
Dave, Midfielder and all of the Football Lards,
A mighty win for the Footballroos.. Didn’t see it as I have no Fox TV but will try and catch up down at the CRSL if replayed..
~~~~~~~
KB
Midfielder said | September 7th 2008 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
the truth
You said “I heard that the AFL did absolutely nothing to promote this game”
Thats not true a friend of mine at Blacktown, son who plays RL, …… went a couple of months ago to a AFL gala day and signed on to kick a ball instructions, about two hours in total…… Wednesday the boy (16 years old) received a called at home and offered five free tickets.
oikee said | September 7th 2008 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Free tickets are better than no tickets, parramatta verse warriors, 5 thousand, Boo, now thats a low crowd. They would kill for 19 thousand. Afl should think themselves lucky.